Under the direction of Dauphne Maloney and Brian Nabors, the Mansfield Youth Theatre (MY Theatre) will present a free, sensory-friendly performance of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat on the stage of the Renaissance Theatre in Mansfield, Ohio on Saturday, April 21 at 1 PM.

Accommodations for the sensory-friendly performance will include:

  • Lower sound and light levels, especially during louder or more dramatic events
  • The freedom for patrons to leave their seats or talk during the performance
  • Designated quiet areas
  • Places to move or stand while still enjoying the performance
  • Lower crowd sizes
  • Pre-show visits and videos to acclimate to the theatre environment
  • Staff and volunteers trained in sensory-friendly accommodations

The performance is free for individuals with special needs and their families. Sensory-friendly accommodations are being made to the performance experience to provide a more pleasant experience for patrons particularly with Autism Spectrum Disorder, a complex developmental disability that affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others.

Advance registration is required for the sensory-friendly performance, as tickets are limited. To register, contact the Renaissance Box Office at (419)522-2726 or email Chelsie Thompson at [email protected].  The show will run without sensory accommodations April 20 through April 22. More information and tickets are available for the main performances at the Renaissance Box Office, via phone, and at MansfieldTickets.com. Joseph is presented as a part of the Mechanics Bank Education Series, with additional support from the Ohio Arts Council.

This is the third sensory-friendly musical the Renaissance has presented.; previous productions include Shrek The Musical and The Lion King, Jr.  Through the support of an anonymous donor, the Renaissance staff and several members of the Encore League volunteers received training in 2017 with Dr. Ryan Hourigan, a nationally-recognized author and advocate for the inclusion of students with disabilities in the arts, a teaching artist for the Kennedy Center Partners in Education program, and co-founder of the Prism Project at Ball State University.

Director Dauphne Maloney states, “As artists and educators, we know firsthand that the arts have the ability to impact the lives of everyone. The transformative power of the arts, and the ways in which an audience connects with an art form, should be shared with every audience member in a safe, supportive and inclusive environment.”

The cast is composed of 41 students ages 10-18 from the following schools: Ashland, Clearfork, Discovery – Mansfield, Homeschool, Knox County Career Center, Lexington, Mansfield, Mansfield Christian, Mansfield St. Peter’s, Mapleton, Ontario, Pioneer CTC Performing Arts, Shelby, St. Edward’s – Ashland, Willard, and Wynford.

Told entirely through song with the help of a Narratorthis irresistible family musical tells the story of Joseph, his father Jacob, his eleven brothers, and Joseph’s famous “coat of many colors.” After being sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph finds himself serving an Egyptian noble, but ends up in jail after refusing the advances of the nobleman’s wife.

While imprisoned, Joseph makes good use of his ability to interpret dreams, and finds himself in front of the mighty, Elvis-inspired, Pharaoh. Joseph’s solution to Egypt’s famine elevates him to become Pharaoh’s right-hand man and reunites him with his family. The energetic musical is full of catchy songs in a variety of styles, ranging from country-western to calypso, along with unforgettable classics, including “Any Dream Will Do” and “Close Every Door.”

Source, Photo: Renaissance Performing Arts Association

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