Due to high demand and a growing wait list, Lincoln Center Education announces additional performances for the world premiere production of Up and Away, an original, multi-sensory theatrical experience specifically for young audiences on the autism spectrum. The previously announced 32 performances for school groups and the general public, running from September 29-October 25, have sold out. There will be eight additional public performances for families, October 27–November 1, 2015. Up and Away was commissioned by Lincoln Center Education as part of its 40th anniversary year and created and performed by the New York based Trusty Sidekick Theater Company, one of the leading theatrical companies dedicated to creating innovative work for young people.
“We are overwhelmed by the wonderful response from families and schools about this important original production,” said Russell Granet, Executive Director, Lincoln Center Education. “Lincoln Center’s goal is to make art accessible in all forms, and together with Trusty Sidekick, Up and Away is succeeding in being a crucial high-quality arts experience for young people on the autism spectrum and their families. We’re thrilled that we can extend this run and offer this unique experience to more families.”
Up and Away is at once a story and an interactive experience, inspired loosely by the imagination of Jules Verne and his famous book “Around the World in 80 Days”. The production features an immersive 360-degree installation design, with the audience seated in hot-air balloon seating units as they join the Fogg Family Balloon Society on their 1000th balloon ride.
Featuring puppetry, live music and interactive play, this “flight” travels through extraordinary places such as the Fog Bog, the Arctic Aviary, and Cloud Canyon, each with multi-sensory experiences. Each child in the audience has a one-on-one guide from the Fogg Family for the trip through the clouds. Along the way, they find that sometimes it’s not about the destination, as much as it is the experience of the journey.
Given the wide range of needs in the audience, and the challenges that young people with autism face in connecting with the world around them, the show is offered to eight audience members at a time (in addition to up to two accompanying caregivers or family members) and features one-to-one interaction (each child is paired with an actor for the duration of the show). This allows the show truly to reach each child and to be uniquely tailored to his or her individual needs. The show was designed to address the cognitive abilities and behavioral patterns of an audience with autism within the structure of the experience: a map of the journey they can follow through the show, physical and verbal repetition, multi-sensory engagement throughout, and music to score the entire experience. A social story video is available in advance to help introduce the show before arrival. During the performance, if needed, a quiet space will be available adjacent to the performance area for any children needing a break from the action.
Up and Away marks the first time a major cultural institution has commissioned an original work of this nature for this audience. While theater companies have begun offering “sensory-friendly” programming and/or adapted versions of existing theatrical works, Up and Away was created for an audience with autism in mind for all aspects of the production: script, design and experience. LCE and Trusty Sidekick engaged consultants Tim and Amanda Webb of the UK-based theater group Oily Cart, a pioneering organization that creates theatrical and performance works for young audiences with complex disabilities.
Up and Away is part of Lincoln Center’s commitment to making world-class performing arts accessible to families. Additional programming will be available as part of the previously announced LC Kids season. See Kids.LincolnCenter.org for more details.•
