THE ELEPHANT AND THE WHALE Adapted Into First Autism-Friendly Live Theatre Performance, 4/10-5/26

Tickets are selling at a rapid pace for the 33 school matinees and 36 public performances scheduled for Chicago Children's Theatre's upcoming world premiere co-production with Redmoon, The Elephant and The Whale, April 10-May 26, 2013 at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago.

However, one show has been taken off public sale entirely. Instead, the 11 am performance on Saturday, May 4th of The Elephant and The Whale will be Chicago's first "Autism-Friendly" live theater performance, reserved exclusively for families with children on the autism spectrum.

"We are excited to build on our six years of experience with The Red Kite Project, our ongoing series of carefully crafted theatrical experiences and summer theater camps for children with autism, and take our barrier-free live theater model to our first mainstage production with The Elephant and The Whale," said Jacqueline Russell, Artistic Director, Chicago Children's Theatre. "Perhaps most important to families with children on the autism spectrum, this one performance of The Elephant and The Whale will be 'judgment-free.' Nobody will need worry if a child gets loud or active, because the entire 235-seat theater is reserved exclusively for families with kids with autism."

Parents can register for tickets via a special webpage, Chicagochildrenstheatre.org/autismperformance. Select the AUTISM discount from the drop down menu for discounted tickets: $31 for adults; $21 for children 16 and under.

Before attending the performance, parents will receive a "Social Story" - a brief preview of the play that also walks children through the experience of attending live theater to help minimize pre-show anxiety.
Upon arrival, all audience members will be greeted by specially trained, caring Chicago Children's

Theatre staff and artists whose mission will be to make each child feel comfortable, safe and welcome. The production's highly visual nature will surely delight the audience, although the performance will be modulated down a bit in terms of sound and light, and a quiet room will be nearby just in case.

Families can also call Chicago Children's Theatre at (872) 222-9555 with questions about the May 4^thAutism-Friendly performance of The Elephant and The Whale.

With this first-ever Autism-Friendly performance, Chicago Children's Theatre is introducing to Chicago a trend toward barrier-free theater for families with children on the autism spectrum recently introduced on Broadway by Theater Development Fund with The Lion King and Mary Poppins.

The Elephant and The Whale is an all-new family fable featuring sea voyages, wild mechanical objects, circus songs, panoramic paintings, exquisite shadow puppets and an innovative sound design. A spectacle in miniature, The Elephant and The Whale is an epic tale that invites audiences of all ages to discover the majesty of the largest animals on our planet, and a story of friendship conquering all obstacles. The year is 1919, and it's the end of an era for a beloved circus elephant named Ella. When a nefarious new owner takes over the homegrown Hoogebeck Family show, Ella the star elephant discovers an unexpected new animal in the circus: a landlocked and homesick baby whale. What happens next is a unique story of friendship and adventure spanning species, rivers, railroads and nautical miles.

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