SENSE Theatre - in collaboration with Magic Circle in Roseville, California - are now off to see the Wizard in their new musical production of Wizard of Oz. SENSE Theatre is a unique theatrical intervention research program designed to improve the social and emotional functioning of children with autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders.Watching the parents and kids and supporters last year at DMTC, it was easy to see that SENSE Theatre was filling an important, unmet need. Autistic children have many challenges in learning and socialization, which theaters alone seem to provide the children the means to tackle. Theaters provide a scripted environment where the messy chaos of the real world is muted, and where social interactions become predictable. It was easy to see why autistic children bloom there - they get social practice.
As Dorothy might say, there's no place like SENSE Theatre to provide a home to children with autism spectrum disorders. However, this is no ordinary trip down the yellow brick road -- this truly is a magical experience for children with autism. SENSE Theatre has partnered with Magic Circle Theatre, to put 15 children with autism spectrum disorders on the stage with 30 youth actors from the Master Class production, who serve as peer models and fellow cast members.
Founder, Blythe Corbett, Ph.D. exclaims, "We are grateful for the support of Magic Circle who is providing the stage, production costs and hospitality to bring the mission of SENSE Theatre center stage, which we hope to be the first of many collaborative productions." In her "day job," Corbett is an associate professor at the University of California, Davis M.I.N.D. (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Institute. Along with the SENSE lab, her team aims to show how art and science can merge to create an ideal environment to learn how to communicate, socialize and express themselves.
There was only one real problem I saw in SENSE's approach, encapsulated in the story above, and quoted again (emphasis added):
As Dorothy might say, there's no place like SENSE Theatre to provide a home to children with autism spectrum disorders.No place like SENSE, indeed! Right now, SENSE Theatre is the only major theatrical initiative for autistic kids in the local area that I'm aware of. A monopoly. And like monopolies in any other field, it is subject to vices; vices which competition can help erode.
There need to be other outlets, perhaps many other outlets, for theater for autistic children: the demand is there for more. There is no particular need to couple theater with research: it's the theater itself that provides the benefits, not the research. Parents are sometimes close to desperation in finding programs that work for their children. Given a little leadership, they will move heaven-and-earth to overcome obstacles in setting up new programs - new programs that work!
Every major community musical theater in Sacramento should consider independent autistic theater outreach programs. Allowing SENSE to dominate this bailiwick is something of a disservice to local autistic children.