The Naples Players’ (TNP) KidzAct youth theater program is partnering with local occupational therapist Mary Fellonz, owner of MF Therapy, and Dr. Colleen Cornwall, founder of Able Academy, to create a sensory friendly theater program for students with special needs.
“We believe that every member of our community deserves access to high-quality arts education and performance, and our new classes for children with developmental delays, including autism and sensory processing challenges, is just the beginning of our initiatives to continue to serve an even wider base of our community,” said Bryce Alexander, artistic director of TNP. “Combined with sensory friendly performances of ‘The Music Man’ and ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ in our new season, I am thrilled to see how excited our community is to provide high quality theater education and experience to these underserved members.”
TNP Education Director Craig Price has been tapped to lead the program, and his personal experience with disability has been a driving factor in creating a welcoming environment that celebrates all members of the community in the theater.
“I am excited to bring my experience reaching out to engage the most underserved children in our community,” Price said. “My own children fall into this underserved category, so this is a project I am passionate about.”
This summer, Acting for Autism Spectrum Disorder/Sensory Processing Disorder is open to all ages during TNP’s four summer sessions. Actors will learn teamwork, patience, sensory awareness, and communication through emotion-oriented, confidence-building theater games. Classes will take place in a noise- and light-sensitive theater with a quiet waiting area for parents and students. The camp is led by theater professionals who have 20 years of dedicated experience creating fun, welcoming, and safe classroom environments for all students. The class is tailored to the specific needs and interests of each student. Participants will receive personal attention and are encour-aged to demonstrate their ideas in their own unique way. Class culminates in a final show for family and friends which highlights the talents and skills of each student.