As I sat in the Richard Rodgers Theatre watching “Hamilton,” it was an experience I will never forget. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s monumental musical, a fan favorite and now in its 10th year, gives us a memorable story of Alexander Hamilton, complete with amazing dance, rap, and fantastic costumes. But that was not what made this performance so incredibly moving and special — see, this production was one of the Theatre Development Fund (TDF)’s Autism Friendly Performances (AFP), in which the audience comprised families impacted by autism. It was so heartwarming to sit in the theater and witness these families having a marvelous time, witnessing theater presented in a way to accommodate their needs. This particular program of TDF, a non-profit dedicated to sharing the performing arts with everyone, is nothing short of a blessing
The program operates under the umbrella of TDF Accessibility Programs. To create an autism-friendly setting, the shows are performed in a supportive environment for children and adults diagnosed with autism or other sensory sensitivities and their families. Slight adjustments are made to the production, where possible, including the reduction of jarring sounds or strobe lights focused into the audience. Staffed break areas are available in the theater lobby in case audience members need to leave their seats during the performance. For AFP, TDF purchases every seat in the theater and makes the tickets available at discount prices exclusively to families, groups, and schools, whose members include individuals on the autism spectrum.
Ginger Bartkoski Meagher, Vice president of TDF Programs shared the 13-year history of this program. “TDF began its Theatre Accessibility Program in the ‘90s after the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed. We worked to make theatre accessible for folx with low vision, blindness, hearing loss, deafness, and mobility issues. Autism Friendly Performances evolved out of a need for high support environments in these same spaces that aren’t always immediately sensory friendly and the interest and desire from the ASD community to be included in those spaces. Broadway theatres, while beautiful, are often 100 years old and were not designed with access in mind. AFP’s bring together all the folx in those spaces and we learn how to maximize the space to make it hospitable and welcoming to ALL folx so they feel cared for and comfortable. Looking around, making considerations for your guests, changing some of the standard practices in these spaces can make a world of difference, making theatre going a pleasure as opposed to an obstacle. It’s vitally important to TDF that we serve this audience, and our industry, in welcoming all people to access and enjoy live performance on their terms.”
As I looked around the theater I saw youth and adults dancing, singing with the cast and having a marvelous time. It was incredibly uplifting to behold. I totally agree with TDF’s purpose, that theater should be an experience for all, because to me, theater is a gift from God when it is done well.
Participating shows have included The Lion King, & Juliet, Aladdin, Cats, the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes®, Come From Away, Elf: The Musical, Hadestown, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, How to Dance in Ohio, JOB, Kinky Boots, Mary Poppins, Matilda The Musical, MJ The Musical, My Fair Lady, New York City Ballet’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, Our Town, SIX, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, The King and I, The Phantom of the Opera, and Wicked.
Reflecting on audience reactions over the 13 seasons Meagher shared, “We have 13 seasons worth of stories and responses from theatre goers and from house staff and cast members. Caregivers who feel supported and relaxed and know that finding a bathroom, or exiting and reentering a show, or bringing in comfort foods won’t be an issue, and in fact, there will be a team of enthusiastic volunteers to help navigate any issues that come up. We’ve had families that have grown up with our AFP program and attend shows every year, feeling that they are part of a community that includes them. We’ve had kids dance in the aisles in pure, unfettered joy as they take in a show, and cast members who fist bump them during curtain call. We regularly have cast members tell us how thrilling it is to have the AFP audience in the house, to be able to see them experience the show is a whole new sensation. But more than anything, we hear from families that they can experience live theatre with the whole family and not be worried about being asked to leave or follow rules that don’t work for them.”
Considering the positive outcomes of AFP, Meagher remarked, “Participating in art, seeing a show, has proven benefits to your mental, physical, and emotional health. Attending live theatre increases feelings of community and decreases feelings of isolation, loneliness, and anxiety. This is even more important in communities that are vulnerable. Making sure that all folx have access to theatre and that we work to remove their barriers is at the core of our AFP performances, but also at the core of all the work we do. A community that can thrive culturally and be allowed access to art, at all levels and backgrounds, is essential to a healthy and engaged society. Theatre going is a practice, a birthright, a way to care for ourselves and each other.”
I took my adult daughter with me to the performance, “Hamilton” is one of her favorite musicals and she knows the songs by heart and was singing along with the cast and audience. Everyone in the theater was smiling. One moment I will not forget is at the curtain call, a little boy who had been dancing by his seat throughout the performance received a delightful fist-bump from one of the actors on stage and he looked thrilled!
The 14th season of the Autism Friendly Performances will begin with Maybe Happy Ending on Sunday, August 17 at 1pm at the Belasco Theatre. The rest of the season will include thus far The Lion King on Sunday, September 28, 2025 at 1 p.m. at the Minskoff Theatre, the “Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes®” on Sunday, November 9, 2025 at 10 a.m. at Radio City Music Hall, and “MJ The Musical” on Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 1 p.m. at the Neil Simon Theatre.
Families can become part of the Autism Friendly Performances show offerings by signing up at: www.tdf.org.