Three years ago, Flint Community Players began offering sensory-friendly performances as a way to offer theatre to more audiences. Now, as one of the only theatre organizations in Michigan offering those types of performances, they’ve become an important part of each of their productions.
Sensory-friendly theatre performances are relaxed, inclusive experiences designed for people with diverse sensory needs, neurodivergence, disabilities, or anyone who prefers a less intense environment. They feature adjustments like dimmed but not dark house lighting, lower sound levels, freedom to move around, and access to tools like fidgets, creating a judgment-free space where a wide range of audiences can comfortably enjoy live theater.
At Flint Community Players, the idea came from a board member who had heard about similar performances in larger organizations and wondered if the concept could be modeled in a community theatre setting. They found a director willing to explore the idea, and then didn’t have to look far for a partner to help facilitate the performances.
Megan Wood, whose husband Zachery Wood is the production manager at Flint Community Players, has long volunteered with the theatre and been a patron. She also teaches elementary special education and has endorsements for teaching students with autism spectrum disorder and cognitive impairments.
“It started as a board member’s idea, she found a director who was on board, and we put a team together so that we could make it happen and practice and prepare the cast and crew,” Wood said. “It’s just grown and we’ve continued making it better and more accessible to as many people as we can.”
Lori Thompson, who is directing FCP’s next production, Peter and the Starcatcher, is working with Flint Community Players for the second time, but she’s a veteran of the local theatre scene. She’s taught theatre for more than 30 years, and is a strong proponent of the work FCP does to make shows accessible.
“As a Flint resident, Flint Community Players has been part of my area for a very long time,” she said. “I know many individuals that have come in and out of the program and it’s been a great asset to all starting actors, seasoned veteran actors, and everything in between. What I love about community theatres is being able to use it as that vehicle for change and people discovering who they are and what we’re about. It also provides that opportunity for people to know what they have to offer as a performer, perhaps something that they didn’t even know themselves that they had.”
Thompson and Wood noted that preparing the cast and crew for a sensory-friendly show involves learning and preparation throughout the rehearsal process. Early on, the cast is introduced to the concept, including who the sensory-friendly performances are for and why they matter, with guidance from Wood. Because the play is already highly imaginative, it naturally encourages actors to think flexibly and adapt.
“Nothing about a story changes in the (sensory-friendly performances),” Wood said. “We just make it so that more people are able to enjoy it with their needs accommodated. We lower the capacity for the shows, but we’ve hit capacity for several of the productions. One of my favorite pieces of feedback was from someone who didn’t know they were coming to a sensory-friendly production. They kind of found out as they came in, they thought they were just seeing a Saturday matinee. And then they walked away saying, ‘I didn’t know that’s exactly the kind of performance I needed.’”
Thompson emphasized that awareness is built in with the performers from the start. Actors know at auditions that adjustments might be needed during the sensory-friendly performance, so they know there could be potential changes during blocking and rehearsals. Wood helps the team practice handling potential audience differences so performers feel confident and prepared. Overall, the experience not only supports accessibility but also strengthens the actors’ adaptability and performance skills.
“I think Flint Community Players is leaps and bounds ahead of the game in this type of theatre,” Thompson said.
The play itself is fun and crowd-pleasing. Peter and the Starcatcher is the prequel to Peter Pan, based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. It chronicles the origin story of Peter Pan, starting his life as an unnamed orphan who is sent into a whirlwind of adventure when he meets the mysterious and headstrong Molly, an apprentice star catcher on an important mission. The play is full of adventure, duty, love, and the bounds of friendship and shows the unique origins of beloved characters from Peter Pan.
Performances are at the Flint Community Players Theatre (2462 S. Ballenger Highway) at 7:30 p.m. on April 24 and 25 and May 1 and 2 and 2:30 p.m. on April 25, 26, and May 3. The sensory friendly performance is at 2:30 p.m. on April 25. The May 2 performance is a themed ‘Pirate Night’ where patrons are encouraged to dress in pirate gear for a chance to win prizes. Tickets are available online.
“We meet the orphan boy that becomes Peter, we know Molly and we learn Molly will in the future become Wendy’s grandmother, we meet Black Stache and we see in the storytelling how he loses his hand, which then makes him Captain Hook,” Thompson said. “So it’s everything about their origins. The through line and the theme of the production is home, and finding where home is and where you belong in it.”
Cast members are: August Jones, Brandon Jones, Michaela Floyd, Claire Milton, Michael Creasy, Lauren Kondrat, Lxs Signer, Adison Lee, Tony Rising, Ryan Wier, Benjamin Sampson, Alex Rossiter, Isabella Butzine, Cassandra Justice, and Nova Roberts.
“We have an excellent cast, some that are very seasoned in theatre performance, some that are maybe one or two shows into doing something like this to some that never have,” Thompson said. “That’s the beauty of doing community theatre, having a varied group of people coming from all different directions. Some of those individuals are University of Michigan-Flint theatre students, so they’re studying to make this part of a career. So that’s what’s nice is to be able to give them an opportunity with this production, which is very much a less is more type of show where some of the props, some of the set pieces become several things. It’s forcing you to use imagination, forcing creativity, and thinking on your feet, which is really great to be able to see actors taking that on.”
The production, and the efforts to reach all audiences, is another example of how Flint Community Players continues to bring high-quality, accessible theatre to area audiences while also showcasing diverse, thought-provoking, and entertaining stories.
“One of the things I love about theatre and FCP specifically is that it’s a place for everyone, no matter your interests,” Wood said. “There is a spot for you here. We’ve been working to make this a safe and accommodating space for everybody, and I just really appreciate that in a world that is sometimes not as kind.”
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