The Times Record: When Collins Rush brought out his Collier the dog costume before getting dressed on Saturday, the audience was delighted to pet the soft fur, talking excitedly about their own dog’s names. When Nicola Fava, playing Flutter the butterfly, came out and showed them how her “wings” lit up with bright rainbow lights, the audience again started talking excitedly.
2 comments:
This story was heartwarming right when I needed a pick me up. I am actually surprised at how rarely I see places doing these sensory-friendly performances or relaxed performances as I have heard them called. When I apply to places, I usually look at what they do for differently-abled people and it is rare how many places do. It makes the news when Broadway will do one, which is sad. I understand the commitment they take for a company to do but this activity is so important. We preach the need for arts education and people seeing the arts all the time but don’t always go methodically making theatre with everyone in mind. This point raises the question of how equitable we can be in the theatre to differently-abled people. I’m very interested in how MSMT does relaxed performances because I’ve never heard of them happening in a rehearsal space, however, I think this is a great idea. I’ve only heard of relaxed performances having a meet and greet and more gentle effects/an SM coming out and explaining everything before it happens so this was definitely a cool article to read.
I thought this was a fantastic article. I love how more theaters are providing theatrical experiences to a wider range of audiences. I have heard of performances like these before, but have not seen one. I think it is great that the actors come out without costumes on first to introduce themselves and explain what is about to happen. I think this provides a good opportunity for engagement between the audience and actors in a moment of fun education as well. I think more theaters, especially regional theaters, will be beginning more programs like these. It is something that is pretty feasible for most producing companies. I also wish that we, as theatre people, made the typical theatre experience a little more forgiving as well. Not judging people if they get up to leave, having pre-show "talk backs" and audio description shows, etc. I think the nature of theatre should always be inclusive.
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