Sensory Friendly Performance of "My Father's Dragon" at the Count Basie Theater 

The Count Basie Theater and POAC are offering free tickets to these sensory friendly performances for POAC families. If you would like for your child with autism to experience the theater, this is your opportunity. With guidance from POAC Autism Services and several area performing arts organizations already presenting programs for children on the spectrum, the Basie will transform itself into a safe, judgement-free and sensory-friendly environment for these performances. Patrons and their children will be permitted to bring in favorite snacks, iPads and other objects of affinity, while house lights will remain bright enough for children to know where they are, and sudden or shrill sounds will be eliminated from the performance. A quiet room with “fidgets” and coloring pages / crayons will also be available to families.

Basie event staffers have also received training and guidance from POAC to ensure its sensory-friendly programs are just that: friendly.

You may order up to 6 tickets  and they will be mailed to you. Please be sure that you are able to attend on Thursday, May 3rd at 4:00pm in Red Bank before you order. Just click on the registration link below. 

About the Show:

In collaboration with author Ruth Stiles Gannett and in celebration of the books’ 70th Anniversary, Enchantment Theatre Company brings the three tales of My Father’s Dragon to life on stage.

When nine-year old Elmer Elevator hears about a baby dragon who is held captive by the ferocious animals of Wild Island, he sets off on an adventure to rescue the dragon and return him home. With the help of his friend the Alley Cat, Elmer packs everything he thinks he’ll need – including chewing gum, two-dozen lollipops, seven hair ribbons and a box of rubber bands! With pluck and ingenuity Elmer makes his way to the Island, outwits the wild animals and saves Boris, the dragon. But can they find their way back home? As they travel over the ocean they get lost in a storm and discover a magical island of escaped canaries. The resourceful Elmer helps the canaries overcome their “curiosity disease” and uncover a stash of hidden riches. With bags of gold and the canaries’ blessings, the dauntless duo at last returns home.

With talking animals, a daring rescue, a flying dragon, buried treasure and lots of humor throughout, this fabulous adventure is brought to the stage in Enchantment Theatre’s distinctive style. Using puppets, masks, inventive scenic effects and original music, Enchantment Theatre Company is delighted to bring you the story of a compassionate and courageous young boy and his unlikely friendship with a splendid yellow and blue-striped dragon.Click here for a preview.