2017-18 FIRST STAGE SERIES SHOWS
Presented on The Rose’s Hitchcock Stage
In addition to its mainstage offerings, The Rose will also present two shows on its Hitchcock Stage as a part of its newly renamed FIRST STAGE series. These shows are intended specifically for very young audiences and audiences with special needs.
Tickets for the FIRST STAGE shows are $12, and Rose members receive a discount of $2 off tickets.
Recognizing that theater has benefits for children of all ages, The Rose’s FIRST STAGE series gives young theatergoers and audiences with special needs an opportunity to experience the theater arts. FIRST STAGE productions are recommended for preschoolers, children with sensory needs, children on the autism spectrum or other special needs, or others who desire a gentler theater experience.
FIRST STAGE productions are presented on The Rose’s Hitchcock Stage, a smaller, black-box style performance space located on the theater’s fourth floor. This theater space allows for unique seating arrangements, often with flexible seating options that change with each show, such as beanbags, floor cushions or benches arranged in the round. This allows for more one-on-one interaction with the actors; young audience members are often invited into the performance space or asked to hold props to help tell the story.
FIRST STAGE productions also encourage audience members to move along with the performers and respond vocally to what is happening on stage. Periods of darkness and loud sounds are kept to a minimum — and often not used at all — to accommodate audience members with sensory needs.
“We make this an inviting and engaging experience that will inspire early learners to want to see even more of what theater has to offer. FIRST STAGE is more than just a child’s first time in the theater; it helps them take their first steps into a lifelong appreciation of the arts,” says Rose Artistic Director Matthew Gutschick.
FIRST STAGE shows included in the 2017-18 season are: