COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – (August 9, 2016) The Glimmerglass Festival will present a sensory-friendly performance of Perfect Pitch, a baseball-themed musical revue, on Thursday, August 25, at 2 p.m. in the Pavilion next to the mainstage. The Kelberman Center, which offers programs and services for children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families, is providing support for this new initiative at Glimmerglass, thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties.
The Festival is working with a Kelberman Center educator to create a theatrical experience that may be enjoyed by youths or adults with autism or other sensory sensitivities. The event will provide a welcoming environment where talking, noise, and movement throughout the theater are encouraged. Additionally, special attention will be made to reduce sudden sounds and lighting cues, and a quieter space will be designated outside the theater.
“We are grateful to the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties and Kelberman Center for working with us to help provide this opportunity to families in our area,” said Francesca Zambello, Glimmerglass Festival Artistic & General Director.
A “social story” that offers an introduction to the campus and performance space will be provided on The Glimmerglass Festival website. Families are encouraged to bring anything that may make their theater-going experience more comfortable.
“The Kelberman Center is excited to partner with Glimmerglass in the creation of sensory-friendly theater,” said Kelberman Center Executive Director Robert Myers. “As a national leader in the arts, Glimmerglass is leading the way in making essential accommodations for people with disabilities. The Kelberman Center looks forward to sharing the sensory-friendly performance with arts enthusiasts from all backgrounds, including those with autism and sensory differences. We are immensely grateful to Glimmerglass for their leadership in the creation of inclusive theater!”
Perfect Pitch features members of The Glimmerglass Festival’s Young Artists Program, an apprenticeship for emerging performers, directors and coach/accompanists. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for youths.
The Glimmerglass Festival is located at 7300 State Highway 80 in Cooperstown. The 2016 Festival runs through August 27 and features mainstage productions of Puccini’s La bohème, Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, Rossini’s The Thieving Magpie and Robert Ward’s The Crucible. All tickets and information may be found at www.glimmerglass.org or by calling the Box Office at (607) 547-2255.
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The Kelberman Center, an affiliate of Upstate Caring Partners, Inc., provides state-of-the-art programs and services for children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. Specialized staffing is highly trained to meet the needs of individuals with ASD and includes psychologists, social workers and educational and behavior specialists.
The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties has invested more than $55 million in Oneida and Herkimer counties since 1952. The Foundation partners with a variety of organizations to make impactful investments in core areas of need, including economic development, education, health, arts and culture.
Contact:
Brittany Lesavoy
Director of Public Relations
The Glimmerglass Festival
(607) 547-0700 ext. 206
blesavoy@glimmerglass.org