Center for the Performing Arts champions sensory inclusion with ‘Ada Twist’

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — More than 1,500 school children, teachers and caregivers recently attended a performance of TheaterWorksUSA’s “Ada Twist, Scientist & Friends,” presented by the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State at Eisenhower Auditorium in October. What made this particular field trip a landmark event was a simple accommodation: It was a sensory-friendly version of the popular STEAM-focused program.

The initiative was sparked by a teacher’s email to the Penn State Arts Ticket Center, which highlighted the need for more inclusive experiences.

“As a parent of a child who needs more, as well as a teacher of many different kinds of kids, it is just so very appreciated,” Rachel Shukan wrote in her email. Her message underscored a powerful sentiment: “So many kids will have exposure to something new and wonderful!”

Meeting a growing need

Shukan, a kindergarten teacher at Radio Park Elementary School in State College, led a push for several of the school’s Autistic Support Programs. She said that before she moved to State College, she worked in New York with a company called Autism Friendly Spaces, an organization that made theater performances more accessible to those with sensory sensitivities, “something that is luckily much more available now,” she said.

In response to the request for accommodations for students with disabilities, the Center for the Performing Arts and the touring company collaborated to present a version of the show tailored for sensory-sensitive patrons.

The center allowed for various modifications, including lower sound levels, dimmed house lights and no strobes. Ushers left the side lobby doors open for patrons who needed space to move about. In addition, a message was share before the event that patrons may leave their seat if needed during the event.

For Diana Nolten, mother of 16-year-old Ashley, the experience was a new and worthwhile one for her daughter. Her daughter attended “Ada Twist” with the life-skills classroom from Bald Eagle Area School District.

“These kinds of opportunities are far and few between for a child like Ashley,” Nolten said. “She … can be very distracting to others; therefore, we typically don’t take her out much. She loves music and sound and theatrics, this was such a treat for her. It allows her to have social engagement that she would otherwise miss. For me, I am so grateful that Ash had a chance to see ‘Ada Twist’ and be a part of a community event.”

A certified inclusive venue

The success of the event was built on a foundation of existing accessibility. Eisenhower Auditorium is a KultureCity-certified sensory-inclusive venue, which ensures that team members working there are trained to recognize and assist those with sensory challenges.

The venue also offers resources for patrons with invisible disabilities, such as autism, stroke or PTSD, including:

• A pre-visit social story, a visual narrative to help prepare visitors for their experience.
• A designated quiet space on the lounge level, where patrons can take a break from overstimulation.
• KultureCity Sensory Bags — equipped with noise-cancelling headphones, calming tools and verbal cue cards — available for borrowing.

This commitment to inclusion ensures that all members of the community can enjoy live performances and educational opportunities that some might take for granted. Events such as “Ada Twist” provided an opportunity for young people in our community to conjure a positive experience when thinking about the theater.

“These kids are unique and the opportunity to be on campus and go to Eisenhower Auditorium was something they will not forget,” Nolten said.

“Overall, the children loved the show and were especially excited to hear the song about the kids going on a field trip — ‘That’s just like us!’" Shukan said.

And what did the students have to say? Shukan said her students had plenty of post-performance feedback:

• “I like the teacher [when she was] terrified, cause how did she do that?!” (when the teacher in the play fainted).
• “I liked when they builded the bridge, because it looked so cool. I builded something like that before with sticks.”
• “I liked the music, because all the characters from our books were singing and it wasn’t too loud!”
• “It (the theater) was bigger than I thought.”
• “I want to go again!”