Arts & Culture

Syracuse Stage to Host Sensory-Friendly Performance of ‘The Wizard of Oz’

Friday, August 25, 2017, By Joanna Penalva

Syracuse Stage will host a sensory-friendly performance of “The Wizard of Oz” on Saturday, Dec. 30, at 3 p.m. Welcoming to individuals with sensory, social and learning disabilities and their families, the performance will have special accommodations that create a more relaxed theater experience without losing the magic of a live performance.

wizard of ozAll tickets are $25 and include a 100 percent refund right up to the start of the show. Tickets are available beginning Aug. 28 and can be purchased in person, by phone at 315.443.3275 or online.

In January 2017, Syracuse Stage held the first sensory-friendly performance in Central New York with “Mary Poppins.” In a post-show survey, 95 percent of responders said they would attend a future sensory-friendly experience in the Syracuse area and expressed joy for the chance to do something together as a family.

“We were so thankful for the sensory-friendly performance of ‘Mary Poppins.’ Thank you so much,” said Emily Blair, who attended the performance in January. “It gave my family a wonderful experience we otherwise may not have been able to have.”

“We went to the sensory-friendly performance of ‘Mary Poppins’… and it was amazing,” said Amie Eisnor Estrella, who saw the show with her family. “I always thought my son would love musicals, given the right atmosphere. He was mesmerized. … I hope you do this many more times!”

Syracuse Stage hopes this and other adaptations provide parents with an opportunity for the whole family to enjoy live theater without having to worry about abiding by traditional theater rules or disturbing other patrons.

“After seeing how successful our sensory-friendly performance of ‘Mary Poppins’ was, we knew it would be important to welcome families who may not be comfortable attending a regular performance back this season,” says Bob Hupp, artistic director. “The joy and communal experience of live theater is something that we want everyone, no matter any sensory sensitivities, to be able to enjoy.”

Special accommodations in the sensory-friendly performance of “The Wizard of Oz” include:

  • lower sound levels, especially for loud or startling noises;
  • reduced stage lighting;
  • increased lighting in the theater to allow easier movement if necessary;
  • preparatory materials provided to parents and children before the show so families know what to expect, from the box office to the seats to what costumes may be seen;
  • use of iPads or smart phones if being used as a child’s communication device;
  • designated rooms outside the theater for those who may be overwhelmed and need a minute to self-regulate; and
  • specially trained ushers, staff and volunteer.

Based on the 1900 novel by L. Frank Baum and the 1939 film, the much-loved musical “The Wizard of Oz” remains a popular production across the United States and the United Kingdom. Donna Drake directs with choreography by 2 Ring Circus and musical direction by Brian Cimmet. Co-produced with the Syracuse University Department of Drama, the production runs Nov. 29, 2017, to Jan. 7, 2018.

“While the great songs and beloved characters are the same, the experience is entirely new. This is one you and your family will be talking about long after Dorothy clicks her heels and makes her way back to Kansas,” Hupp says.

For more information on the sensory-friendly performance, contact Kate Laissle, assistant director of education, Syracuse Stage, at 315.442.7755 or kmlaissl@syr.edu.