A sensory-friendly Christmas Carol
The Great Lakes Theater production team put on a sensory-friendly performance of A Christmas Carol at the Ohio Theater in Playhouse Square.
Director of Educational Services at the Great Lakes Theater, Kelly Florian, explained how the cast and viewers cherish these sensory-friendly plays.
The company takes pride in having a wide variety of accommodations for those who attend these plays. Some of those accommodations include: keeping lights at half dim rather than turning them completely off, keeping doors open to the lobby to allow those who need to leave to be able to do so, and having quiet rooms with bean bag chairs, toys and tents for those needing a break.
“The mission of Great Lakes Theater, through its main stage productions and its education programs, is to bring the pleasure, power and relevance of classic theater to the widest possible audience,” Florian said.
Thomas Kelbley, psychologist with the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, has been working with the company production for its third year of A Christmas Carol.
Kelbley said the Ohio theater has a warm atmosphere that makes the performance not only enjoyable, but magical.
“Folks with developmental disabilities may not have ever seen or experienced live theater, with all of the encompassing richness of sound and wealth of visual delight. And it is truly an experience reflecting emotional involvement of a very positive emotional response,” Kelbley said.
The stage manager, Tim kinzel, said this production is a very important aspect to the theater as well.
“We understand why some families are unable to attend normal performances, but it shouldn’t stop them from being able to witness the magic of live theater,” kinzel said.
The company is also planning for a sensory-friendly play of the Fantasticks in May at the Hanna Theatre in Playhouse Square.
