The Old Globe

Grinch to Get an Autism-Friendly Staging

Steve Blanchard as The Grinch in the 2011 production of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! at The Old Globe. Photo by Henry DiRocco, The Old Globe.

The Old Globe in San Diego will offer an autism-friendly performance of the holiday musical Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! on Saturday, Dec. 15, at 10:30 a.m.  Following in the footsteps of successful autism-friendly performances of The Lion King and Mary Poppins on Broadway, The Grinch will be performed in a friendly and supportive environment for children on the autism spectrum and their families. 

Slight adjustments will be made to the production, including fewer loud noises and flashing lights that may be challenging for some audience members. Additional features will help make the experience safer and more enjoyable for children with autism and other sensitivity issues. To better prepare children for the performance, a preshow visit to the Globe will be offered to familiarize children with Balboa Park and the Old Globe Theatre. An online social story will also be available for parents to view and print at home that will outline in words and pictures the experience that families will undergo during their trip to see Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The lobby of the theater will serve as a quiet area if a child needs to leave their seat during the show. On-site volunteers will assist families as they arrive at the Old Globe Theatre and throughout the performance.  

Theatre Development Fund's (TDF) Autism Theatre Initiative (www.tdf.org/autism) serves as an advisor for The Old Globe's autism-friendly Grinch performance.

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is a whimsical musical based upon the classic Dr. Seuss book. Back for its 15th year, the family favorite features the songs “This Time of Year,” “Santa for a Day,” and “Fah Who Doraze,” the carol from the popular animated version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Old Globe Theatre will once once again be transformed into the snow-covered Whoville, right down to the last can of Who-hash.

Tickets to the Dec. 15 autism-friendly performance go on sale Sept. 9. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! for the general public will run Nov. 17–Dec. 29 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.  For additional information, visit www.TheOldGlobe.org/autism.

September 13, 2012

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