Inclusive Arts is excited to partner with A.C.T. again to offer audience members a new level of sensory support for their production of The Wizard of Oz. On June 18th, at the matinee performance, we are thrilled to introduce Inclusive Arts’s innovative Sensory Cue Lights. These lights, positioned on either side of the stage in the orchestra section, use subtle visual cues to provide real-time alerts that prepare audience members for potential sensory triggers, including sudden loud sounds, bright or flashing lights, stage effects that produce a smell, or moments of violence. The Sensory Cue Lights were designed with inclusion in mind, to allow individuals with sensory sensitivities, anxiety, or a preference for predictability to fully enjoy the magic of theater while feeling safe and comfortable. 

Please note: The performance and technical elements of The Wizard of Oz will not be altered in any way. 

At this and at all performances, we also have sensory supports available at Coat Check on the lower level, including a variety of fidget toys, sunglasses, earplugs, noise-reducing headphones, and a limited number of weighted blankets. 

Questions? Contact tickets@act-sf.org.

As the culmination to the 2022/2023 residency in partnership with American Conservatory Theater and AccessSFUSD: The Arc, we celebrated the premiere of The Mirror Decides, a powerful short film devised by the AccessSFUSD students under the direction of Lauren Kivowitz.

We also premiered the very silly and fun short film 235 Nightmare Street, which was the culminating project from the first year of our residency with A.C.T. at Mission High School in San Francisco, devised by Lauren’s drama class.

Film direction and cinematography for both projects by Brennan Pickman-Thoon.

We are so excited to be working with A.C.T. to develop their first sensory-friendly production! Sensory-friendly performances, also called relaxed performances, are designed to create an experience in the theater for neurodiverse audiences or anyone who has sensory sensitivities that might impact their ability to feel comfortable in a typical theater-going experience. At a sensory-friendly performance, A.C.T. invites audience members to feel free to come to the show and be themselves! Expectations about audience etiquette are relaxed at this performance; talking or vocalizing during the performance is accepted and there will be designated movement spaces in the theater should audience members want to stand or move around during the performance. Click here to learn more about what will make this performance unique, and to get tickets to the show! Also, check out what the press is saying about this event: Click here to read an article featured in the San Francisco Chronicle, here to read one from The San Francisco Standard, and click here to watch an interview with Inclusive Arts founder Lauren Kivowitz on ABC News.

As the culmination to the 2021/2022 residency in partnership with American Conservatory Theater and AccessSFUSD: The Arc, we celebrated the premiere of Access Heroes Assemble, a short film devised by the AccessSFUSD students under the direction of Lauren Kivowitz, with film direction and cinematography by Brennan Pickman-Thoon.

Lauren presented a virtual session at this year’s Arts Education Partnership Annual Convening. The session, entitled ‘Autism & Drama: Lessons from Integrated Residencies Celebrating Neurodiversity,’ discusses her work with StageWrite’s ADAPTS (Autism & Drama with Artists, Parents, Teachers & Students) program. You can view the session here. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

Read the interview here to learn about Inclusive Arts’ pedagogy and the Shakespeare’s Heartbeat program we facilitate for middle schoolers on the autism spectrum.

Lauren Kivowitz, founder of Inclusive Arts, was honored to be the first recipient of the Artcare arts learning achievement award! Lauren was recognized for the residency she teaches in a partnership with A.C.T. and AccessSFUSD: The Arc. This residency program, in which Lauren leads weekly theatre classes for young adults and adults with disabilities, culminates in a public performance each spring. For more information about the ArtCare award, click here.