Supporter Spotlight: UPAF Kasey's Fund

Thanks to the generosity of the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF)—specifically through Kasey’s Fund—First Stage is able to increase the number of Sensory Friendly Performances we are able to present this season.

Driven by the belief that the performing arts should be accessible to all who wish to experience them, UPAF created Kasey’s Fund in order to ensure the accessibility of the arts by eliminating barriers imposed by disability, special needs, geography and other physical and mental considerations.

 

Kasey’s Fund was inspired by former UPAF President & CEO Deanna Tillisch’s middle daughter Kasey. Kasey was born with chromosome deletion, 1p36, and as a result, she cannot walk, talk, read or write. However, music is one of Kasey’s greatest joys and one of the main ways she expresses herself.

 

Kasey’s story reinforces why the arts matter. The performing arts open up new worlds for people and has the power to resonate profoundly for those who may lack access due to disabilities or special needs, trauma or severe illness, or Alzheimer’s or dementia.

 

First Stage is proud to help continue the legacy of Deanna and her family by creating equitable theater experiences for our community—particularly through our Sensory Friendly Performances.  

This season, marks the tenth anniversary of First Stage presenting Sensory Friendly Performances. At these select performances, families with children on the autism spectrum are able to enjoy live theater in a comfortable and welcoming environment that includes the following:

·         Smaller audience sizes.

·         Sensory adaptations with the reduction of loud, jarring sounds and bright, flashing lights.

·         Modification of the house lights during the performance.

·         Audience members are free to talk or move during the show. 

·         Audiences are given the opportunity to not only increase their comfort with the show but also their understanding of the show through educational pre-show presentations.

·         Quiet areas available, staffed by experienced educators. 

·         Noise-cancelling headphones available for use during the performance, if needed. 

·         Social stories that outline the experience at the theater available; show-specific social stories created closer to the performance date.

·         TV monitors available in the theater lobby from which to view the performance, should an audience member need to leave the theater during the performance. 

·         Money back guarantee. If a family realizes before the performance that a trip to the theater will not be ideal on that day, First Stage offers a ticket exchange to another performance of their choice or a refund of their ticket purchase.

 

First Stage's 2021/2022 production of THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM - 1963
(one of our productions with a Sensory Friendly Performance)

Join us for this season’s remaining Sensory Friendly Performances:

-          THE DANCING GRANNY: Sunday, February 27, 2022 at 2:00pm

-          THE LEGEND OF ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS: Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 4:00pm

-          THE AMAZING LEMONADE GIRL: Saturday, April 30, 2022 at 4:00pm

-          LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET: Sunday, May 22, 2022 at 2:00pm

 

First Stage’s Sensory Friendly Performances are part of our Next Steps Program—our innovative acting and musical theater program designed for students on the autism spectrum and with other developmental disabilities.

 

First Stage Education Director and Director of Next Steps, Coltyn Giltner, shared the following story about his recent experience at a Sensory Friendly Performance: “I’ll never forget this one performance. There was this young person who came in completely dressed up—full suit, and jacket and hat—completely just ecstatic to be in the theater and as they’re walking out their guardian comes up to me and grabs me by my hands and shakes them and says ‘thank you.’ To see the enthusiasm to be in the space and to have such a sincere thank you from a member of the community, it really made it clear me that these [performances] aren’t just fun nights on the town, or just better versions of the production that are more accessible. For many, these [performances] are incredibly special and incredibly necessary for them to be able to engage in the art form. On behalf of First Stage, I would like to thank UPAF Kasey’s Fund for helping us in our mission to transform lives through theater.”

 

First Stage is a proud UPAF cornerstone member. As our largest donor, UPAF’s annual support sustains our organization’s ability to fulfill our mission of transforming lives through theater. 

Your support of UPAF in turn, supports First Stage. You can help the arts recover throughout Southeastern Wisconsin by donating here. Another fun way to play your part is to participate in the annual UPAF Ride for the Arts coming up on June 5, 2022. Tune up your bike and join First Stage’s team by May 9, 2022, and be sure to take advantage of Early Bird Registration that lasts through March 1, 2022.