TDF Champions

Since 2011, TDF's Autism Friendly Performances program has presented Broadway musicals and plays in a friendly, supportive environment for children and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. During the shutdown, we've continued serving the families in our Autism Friendly Performances community by presenting free and accessible events online. Our programming kicked off in June 2020 with a talkback featuring two stars from the Tony Award-winning play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

In October 2020, TDF presented The Magic of Kevin Spencer, a series of 30-minute performances and workshops featuring eye-popping illusions and the chance to learn tricks. More than 450 individuals attended these events via Zoom. 

In December 2020, TDF presented Santa and Little B: Zoom for the Holidays, which was created specifically for TDF's Autism Friendly Performances community. In this interactive musical, Little B reaches out to Santa to find out how the pandemic will impact the holidays. During the performance, audience members were able to speak with Santa and participate in a captioned sing-along. Click here to listen to TDF's Director of Accessibility Programs, Lisa Carling, and autism specialist Becca Yuré chat with Seth Rudetsky about the show.

More than 135 families attended the performance. Here are just a few of the lovely compliments TDF received:

"My daughter was smiling from ear to ear throughout the performance! We did not require the ASL services, but we were impressed that there was an interpreter available."

"It was a wonderful way to share a theatre experience with my grandchildren, who live in Buffalo, while I live in Brooklyn. We Zoomed afterward and discussed the show. They thoroughly enjoyed it as did their parents."

A year into the shutdown, our Accessibility Programs staff continues to innovate. 

Updates from TDF for our Champions. Thank you for playing a pivotal role in our mission to make art accessible to all.