Encouraged by past successes, Milwaukee Ballet and First Stage are offering sensory-friendly performances of their holiday shows for children with autism and their families.
Performances of "The Nutcracker" (6 p.m. Dec. 20) and "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (7 p.m. Dec. 21) will lower the volume of music and reduce strobe and flashing lights while keeping some house lights up. Audience members can move around freely or go to a quiet space if desired.
The purpose of these changes is to make a relaxed evening possible for people with sensory processing disorders and their families, said Milwaukee Ballet artistic director Michael Pink.
Jayne Schroeder of Wauwatosa brought her son Jackson Hickey to the sensory-friendly "Nutcracker" last year, thanks to a gift of tickets from her uncle Dave Begel. Jackson, an 18-year-old senior at Wauwatosa East High School, has Down syndrome and autism.
Schroeder was pleasantly surprised by how much effort the Milwaukee Ballet, working with Autism Speaks, made for the event. That included a social story, a document with words and pictures that walks through every element of the evening in advance, including driving to the Marcus Center, parking, intermission and bathrooms. She went through the social story with Jackson several times before going to see "The Nutcracker."
RELATED: Milwaukee Ballet's social story for "The Nutcracker"
Schroeder said Jackson also enjoyed the meet-and-greet before the performance, where he could see the Rat King, for example, in costume but with his head piece off.
She plans to return this year with Jackson and a larger group of friends and family. "I hope it becomes a tradition for us," she said.
Schroeder encouraged other parents of children with autism to go, too. "Try not to let your worst fears let you miss out," she said. The ballet has put "so many safety nets in place."
Read: 'Mockingbird' reflects First Stage's growing experience with autism
First Stage is a local trailblazer in teaching and performing theater for children on the autism spectrum. Its Next Steps Theater Academy offers classes for children with autism and other sensory-processing disorders. Last season, First Stage performed "Mockingbird," a drama in which the main character was a girl with Asperger syndrome.
First Stage also plans sensory-friendly performances this season of "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" (1 p.m. Jan. 20) and "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat" (3:30 p.m. Feb. 3, at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center).
IF YOU GO
Milwaukee Ballet performs a sensory-friendly "The Nutcracker" at 6 p.m. Dec. 20 at Marcus Center's Uihlein Hall, 929 N. Water St. For info and tickets, visit milwaukeeballet.org or call (414) 902-2103.
First Stage performs a sensory-friendly "A Charlie Brown Christmas" at 7 p.m. Dec. 21 at Marcus Center's Todd Wehr Theatre. Visit firststage.org or call (414) 267-2961.