Going to the Show – A Guide to Preparing New Audiences for a Live Theater Experience

2013 NACo Achievement Award Winner

Miami-Dade County, Fla., FL

About the Program

Category: Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation (Best in Category)

Year: 2013

Before the Show, Let's Get Ready to Go!A multi-media, illustrated, family-friendly preparatory guide to new arts experiences The Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs created "Going to the Show," a free online resource, printed guide and classroom poster, to help prepare new audiences for a live theater, dance or musical experience. The guide uses Universal Design principals and teaches children with and without disabilities, including children with Sensory Processing Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), what to expect when "Going to the Show." Parents, guardians, teachers and other caregivers are able to familiarize their children with the sequence of events of going to a live performance by reading the guide together in preparation for a visit to the theater. This lends some predictability to this new encounter, which, in turn, decreases the child’s apprehension about this novel situation, and contributes to a happier, more satisfying cultural entertainment experience for everyone.

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