PLANNING GUIDE for THEATRES

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PLANNING GUIDE for THEATRES

Basic steps on how to offer autism-friendly performances for children and adults on the autism spectrum and their families or caregivers

Focus on serving audience needs in the community

Open to individuals with other developmental or cognitive disabilities who may benefit

1 TDF 2014

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1.) METHODOLOGY: Ticketing, Autism Focus, Dedicated Performance…...3 2.) BASICS: Time Frame, Budget, Show Selection, Consultants...4 3.) SPECIFICS: Modifications, Ticketing System, Marketing………...5 4.) TROUBLESHOOTING: Terminology, Neutrality, Ticket Brokers…..……...6 5.) PREPARATIONS: Materials, Training, Supplies……….……….7 6.) DAY OF SHOW: Volunteers, Theatre Entrance, Front of House………....8 7.) FOLLOW UP: Audience, Volunteer, Consultants Feedback………...9 8.) PICTURES: Stanchions, Quiet/Activity Areas, Volunteers, Families….…10 9.) AUTISM THEATRE INITIATIVE: Advisory Partnerships………...………..16

2 TDF 2014

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allowing ticket buyers to see seating options and make the best choice possible for their family or group member/s with autism

offering supports for children and adults on the autism spectrum, while also welcoming people with other developmental or cognitive disabilities who may benefit

designating entire event (lobby, seating areas, production elements) as

“autism-friendly,” based on autism consultants recommendations, to ensure a warm, judgment-free environment

3 TDF 2014

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BASICS

TIME FRAME BUDGET SHOW SELECTION CONSULTANTS

▪ ▫ 6 to 12 months planning process ▪ ▫ 3 to 6 months ▪ ▫ 3 months ▪

▫ Use all seats

▫ Provide discount ▫ Distribute some free of charge (low income) ▪ ▫ Contract autism professionals ▪ ▫ Stock quiet, activity areas ▫ Order fidgets (handouts) to seating capacity ▪ ▫ Visual ▫ Music ▫ Dance

▫ Clear story line ▫ More action, less dialogue ▪ ▫ Preference of ticket buyers ▪ ▫ Judgment-free environment, atypical audience ▪ ▫ 3-4 autism professionals; one on spectrum, if possible ▪ ▫ Production adjustments ▫ Supports ▫ Best volunteers ▪ ▫ Educational sessions for cast, theatre staff, volunteers

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SPECIFICS

PRODUCTION MODIFICATIONS ▪ ▫ Sound – cap, 90 dB ▫ Lighting – cut

strobes, lights into audience ▫ Transitions – soften abrupt sound/light ▫ Audience contact – adjust participation ▪ ▫ Review changes recommended ▫ Run tech rehearsal

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▫ Preserve it; minimal changes TICKETING SYSTEM ▪ ▫ Indicate seat location choices; speakers, exits ▪ ▫ Suggest at time of online purchase for demographics

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▫ Sign up for ticket cancellations

▫ Notify about future shows MARKETING ▪ ▫ Organizations, schools, medical facilities, parent groups ▪ ▫ Developmental, cognitive disability programs/services ▪ ▫ E-mail notification, tickets on sale date

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TROUBLESHOOTING

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▫ Provide production modifications , supports for autism majority ▫ Welcome people with other developmental, cognitive disabilities ▪ ▫ Provide similar modifications ▫ Base on community preference for term, program sustainability ▪ ▫ Focus on providing a live performance theatre experience ▪ ▫ Avoid providing platform for other service providers, organizations to advertise

▫ If unavoidable, keep information table small, out of the way ▪ ▫ Print/emboss “autism-friendly” on face of tickets ▪ ▫ Clearly indicate on website “only official site to purchase tickets” 6 TDF 2014

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PREPARATIONS

MATERIALS _TRAINING SUPPLIES

▪ ▫ Online, download ▫ Word document for personalizing ▪ ▫ Music downloads ▫ Character visuals ▪ ▫ Assurance about bringing comfort items ▫ Reminder of lobby supports for breaks

▪ ▫ Theatre staff ▫ Cast ▫ Volunteers ▫ What to expect, day of ▪ ▫ About 25% autism professionals; 75% lay people, hands experience, autism ▫ Roughly same number volunteers as front of house staff ▪

▫ Mats, bean bag chairs, show-related toys, fidgets, etc.

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▫ Break areas, Family Restrooms ▪ ▫ Quiet/activity areas in lobby ▪ ▫ Sidewalk entrance, ticket lines; quiet/activity areas 7 TDF 2014

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DAY OF SHOW

THEATRE ENTRANCE

VOLUNTEERS FRONT OF HOUSE

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▫ Set up on sidewalk entrance, lines for ticket scanners, quiet/activity areas

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▫ Staff table near entrance or signage, box office window

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▫ Position by entrance to

welcome audience, hand out fidgets

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▫1.5 hour setup

before lobby opens

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▫ Quiet/activity

areas, signage, best use of lobby space

▪ ▫ Volunteer T-shirts ▪ ▫ Small fidgets, earplugs, etc. ▪

▫ Around lobby quiet, activity areas ▪ ▫ Lobby quiet, activity areas ▫ Inside theatre seating areas ▪

▫ Half hour before final curtain ▫ Volunteers

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FOLLOW UP

AUDIENCE FEEDBACK VOLUNTEER FEEDBACK

CONSULTANTS FEEDBACK

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▫ E-mail after show ▫ Ask about use of supports, future show interest, ways to improve

experience, etc. ▫ Offer 4 free tickets, incentive , filling out survey

▫ Gather material for future planning, marketing, funding

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▫ E-mail after show ▫ Ask for feedback about audience, overall event ▫ Give free gift

certificate or similar thank you

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▫ Schedule as soon as convenient, within two weeks ▫ Request brief,

written report from lead consultant

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TDF 2014 10 USE OF STANCHIONS – TDF AUTISM-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCES

The Lion King, walkway entrance, Minskoff Theatre, NYC

Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark, sidewalk entrance, Foxwoods Theatre, NYC (above); activity area, lobby (below)

Wicked, inside entrance, ticket scanners, Gershwin Theatre, NYC

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TDF 2014 11 QUIET & ACTIVITY AREAS – TDF AUTISM-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCES

Activity area, The Lion King, Minskoff Theatre lobby, NYC, pre show set up (above); in use with audience members (below)

Quiet area, Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark, Foxwoods Theatre lobby, NYC, use during performance (above, below)

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TDF 2014 12 SIGNAGE – TDF AUTISM-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCES

Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark, Foxwoods Theatre, NYC, lobby signs (left, above)

The Lion King, Minskoff Theatre, NYC, Quiet Area sign, to side of lobby space

Wicked, Gershwin Theatre, NYC, Activity Area sign, in front of lobby space

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TDF 2014 13 USE OF VOLUNTEERS – TDF AUTISM-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCES

The Lion King volunteers (above), ready to greet audience; volunteer (below) handing out fidget to audience member waiting in line

Disney Junior Live on Tour! volunteer (above) wearing show-related “Mickey” cap, engaging with audience members; volunteer (below) assisting in Activity Area during show.

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TDF 2014 14 USING EVERY SEAT – FULL HOUSE – TDF AUTISM-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCES

The Lion King, Minskoff Theatre, NYC: 1,700 seat capacity

Wicked, Gershwin Theatre, NYC: 1928 seat capacity

Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark, Forxwoods Theatre, NYC: 2,000 seat capacity

Disney Junior Live on Tour!, Theater at MSG, NYC: 2,000 seats (front sections only, back closed off, 5,600 total capacity)

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TDF 2014 15 PROVIDING A SPECIAL EVENT FOR WHOLE FAMILY –TDF Autism-Friendly Performances

The Lion King, Minskoff Theatre, NYC, 2011-2014

Disney Junior Live on Tour!, Theater at Madison Square Garden, NYC, 2014

Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark, Foxwoods Theatre, NYC, 2013

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TDF 2014 16 AUTISM THEATRE INITIATIVE

Theatre Development Fund 520 Eighth Avenue, Suite 801 New York, NY 10018-6507 Tel: (212) 912-9770 ext. *383 E-mail: [email protected]

www.tdf.org/autism

NATIONAL AUTISM ADVISORY PARTNERSHIP

TDF’S Autism Theatre Initiative (ATI) offers a limited number of advisory partnerships each year to professional theatres around the country seeking guidance on how to implement their own autism-friendly performances in their communities. For more information please call ATI at (212) 912-9770 ext. 383 or send an e-mail to: