Social stories help prepare theatre-goers of varied abilities for their visit to our theater and the subsequent show.  The goal of a social story is to prepare the theatre-goer for the experience, and possibly alleviate some anxieties or apprehension, by providing some predictability and possible choices for them to make when certain things happen. 

 

A variety of social stories are available, from a broad “Going to a Play” story, which focuses on key events and experiences they may encounter during their visits, to more specific stories that focus on special topics.

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We encourage you to read the story together. Feel free to personalize the reading experience to reflect your experience by adding dialogue or further descriptions. 

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• The goal is to anticipate potential challenges and provide information on what will happen and or coping strategies. 

• Try to avoid using absolute language like "will" or "must" and use more flexible language such as "might," "usually," and "may be".

• Try adding the coping strategies you know work. For example:

  • "The music may be loud. If it bothers me, I can ask for my noise canceling headphones."

  • "We might have to wait. I can look at a book or play with my bunny rabbit." 

  • "The actors will be talking to each other. I can listen like I do when I watch my tablet." 

 

Download the stories below or pick up a copy in the lobby before the show.

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• Going to a Play

• Waiting in Crowded Places. A story about waiting & crowds

• It's Pretend. A story about lights, sounds, and scary stuff

• I Need a Break.