Sensory Friendly "Henry and Mudge" at UCPAC This Sunday, April 28*

This Sunday, April 28th, at 2:00 PM, Union County's Sensory Friendly Theatre series will present TheatreWorks USA's performance of the musical Henry and Mudge. This show will take place at the Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) Mainstage, located at 1601 Irving Street in Rahway. Tickets for this event are $8.00 and may be purchased by calling the UCPAC box office at (732) 499-8226 or by visiting the website at: ucpac.org/sensory-friendly-theatre 

As Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski has noted, “Sensory Friendly Theatre provides an opportunity for children and their families to enjoy the enriching experience of live performances in a beautiful theatre, while providing a relaxed, judgement-free environment.” Below is some background on the series, an initiative begun under the direction of Freeholder Alexander Mirabella in 2012, along with notes on what to expect and what to keep in mind during the show:

For each of the Sensory Friendly performances, the environment at the Union County Performing Arts Center is adjusted to provide a sensory-friendly, comfortable and judgment-free space that is welcoming for all families. Autism Friendly Spaces implements the supportive atmosphere at the performances. 

What to expect at a Sensory Friendly Theatre event:

1. Each performance runs 60 minutes from start to finish, with no intermission.

2. Seating is general admission and a limited number of tickets will be sold to maintain a comfortably-sized audience.

3. Lights will remain up inside the theater auditorium.

4. Sound volume will be lowered and remain constant to prevent abrupt, jarring sounds.

Things to keep in mind during a Sensory Friendly Theatre event:

1. Children are free to talk and vocalize as they wish!

2. Children may only leave their seats with parental or guardian supervision.

3. A private area will be available in the UCPAC cafe where children and their families can relax.

4. Fidget and stress-sensory toys will be available for children to borrow for the performance.

5. Professional Autism specialists will be available throughout the performance to provide assistance if need be.

6. A printable copy of the "This Is My Theatre" Social Story Picture Packet may be downloaded here. Families are encouraged to use this packet to help acquaint their children with the experience of going to a live performance.

Finally, last month, I attended the Sensory Friendly Theatre production of Sleeping Beauty. The New Jersey Ballet Company's performance had the young people transfixed by the characters--including Puss 'N' Boots, Little Red Riding Hood, the Big Bad Wolf--and other fairy tale favorites. Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the ballet was beautifully performed by the professional troupe, which was established in 1958. I was also warmly greeted by a bus full of Plainfielders, who had come to see the show. I encourage everyone to spread the word about the series and to visit the UCPAC website for information on upcoming events.

Best,

Freeholder Rebecca Williams 

* Revised re-post!