Imagine sitting still in an unfamiliar environment for hours watching bright, colorful lights and hearing booming sounds. The sensory stimulation of the theater experience can often be overwhelming for individuals with autism.
Connelly School of the Holy Child sought to make the experience more comfortable as they began their run of the Andrew Lloyd Weber musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” on February 24.
For the third year in a row, the all-girls college-preparatory school in Potomac put together a free sensory-friendly production. The students adjusted the musical to accommodate the needs of autistic audience members, who can experience anxiety and sensory overload during regular shows. The running time was shortened to 60 minutes. The students created gradual transitions between colors. The sound level was lowered by turning down the microphones.
The auditorium lights remained on, but dimmed, so the room would not be completely dark. Audience members were permitted to talk, walk around, and dance in the auditorium. They could leave or enter the auditorium at any time and a quiet room was provided for individuals who needed a break.
The reduced visual and auditory effects provided a comfortable environment for the audience. This was a learning experience for the performers, who had to rely more heavily on facial expressions and gestures to convey their acting.
In addition, the school offered a free downloadable pamphlet, or “social story,” to prepare children for the production. The social story informed kids about what they would hear and see, while encouraging them to cover their eyes or ears if they feel overwhelmed.
The Holy Child students did not put on their special performance alone. They worked together with Carrie Gillispie, a doctoral candidate in Special Education and Disability Studies at George Washington University who is also a performer herself. Gillispie educated the students about how individuals with autism experience the shows. She guided them through what to expect from the audience as well as ways they could assist the audience members’ sensory needs.
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” told the Biblical story of Joseph and the coat of many colors from the Book of Genesis almost entirely through music. The production was an opportunity for Holy Child students to show their compassion and better understand the experience of individuals living with autism.
Although Broadway and the Kennedy Center have held sensory-friendly shows, Holy Child is one of the first schools in the area to offer shows like this. Over 100 people attended last week’s special performance.
The full-length productions will be held on March 2 at 7 p.m. and March 3 at 3 and 7 p.m.
Article by MoCo Student staff writer Anna Chen of Richard Montgomery High School