Chicago Children's Theatre Receives NEA Grant For New Red Kite Production

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Rocco Landesman recently announced that the agency will award 863 grants to organizations and individual writers across the country.

Chicago Children’s Theatre is one of the grantees and will receive $10,000 to fund the development and workshop in 2012 of Red Kite by the Sea, an all-new live theater production for children on the autism spectrum. This is the first national grant to support Chicago Children’s Theatre’s Red Kite Project. Funding is earmarked to develop and workshop in 2012 an all-new, multi-sensory, interactive live theater experience themed to a fun day at the beach, finely tuned to cater to the unique needs and interests of children with autism.

In Red Kite by the Sea, four girls with very different personalities all vacation on the same beach together. Each becomes fascinated with a particular sensory experience, such as feeling ocean waves lapping at their feet, or listening to the sounds of the sea in a seashell. Through the magic of live theater, these multi-sensory moments provide children on the autism spectrum a safe and stimulating opportunity to experience the fascinating ecosystem of a beach, no matter how they want to participate. In fact, unlike most traditional live theater performances, at Red Kite productions children are gently encouraged to participate in the show and interact with the artists. The actors are specially trained to be responsive to each child’s individual needs as they guide him or her through the world of Red Kite.

“Much like our previous Red Kite productions, and unlike most traditional theater, Red Kite by the Sea will downplay the use of spoken language and emphasize a series of sensory experiences rather than the progression of a plot,” explained Jacqueline Russell, Chicago Children’s Theatre Artistic Director and originator of the Red Kite Project. “Also, by limiting the audience size of each production to just ten individuals, we can ensure Red Kite by the Sea is offered in an environment that feels safe and comfortable for children affected by ASD.”

For 13 years, Russell worked as an artist in residence at Agassiz Elementary School teaching drama to two autism-specific classrooms through CAPE (Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education). Russell’s commitment to serving children with special needs led her to participate in a special hands-on workshop with London’s Oily Cart company in the summer of 2006. Through continuing dialogue with this unique organization – which exclusively focuses on serving children with complex disabilities – Chicago Children’s Theatre developed the framework for Red Kite Project, which couples the work of both companies.

Russell’s original Red Kite production, presented in collaboration with Oily Cart in 2007-08, was Red Kite/Blue Moon. That production was followed in 2010-11 by Red Kite Round-Up, an all-new show conceived and directed by Russell which boasted an interactive camping theme, and was presented at the Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park, followed by extended runs in Evanston and Winnetka.

“There are really not words to describe our experience at Red Kite! I was brought to tears watching my son experience camping, singing, make believe and humor in a way he would find magical,” commented Andrea K., a parent of a child who previously attended Red Kite Round Up. “Usually, the world is too loud, too bright and just plain hard to maneuver. So, to have this experience where I could just sit back and watch him smile, participate and enjoy drama and pretend play was magical.”

Meanwhile, Russell’s work has been duplicated around the city of Chicago, at summer camps in Washington state, and has recently begun to cross borders and into classrooms and theaters in Canada where she recently served as a Cultural Envoy for the U.S. State Department. In addition to Red Kite performances, Chicago Children’s Theatre’s Red Kite Project also includes Camp Red Kite, an annual summer arts camp tailored specifically to the unique interests and needs of children on the autism spectrum.

For more information about the Red Kite Project, contact redkite@chicagochildrenstheatre.org, call 773.227.0180 x15, or visit www.theredkiteproject.org.

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