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Sensory Friendly

Pre-Visit Guide

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Introduction:

We want to make your theater experience as enjoyable and memorable

as possible. This guide has been created so that families attending the

sensory friendly production of Walking the Tightrope can familiarize

themselves with the show and its characters as well as the technical

elements of the production.

We also have a pre-visit guide for Samueli Theater available at

www.scfta.org/sensoryfriendly.

The performance is 60 minutes long. There is no intermission but you can

leave at any time and come back in.

Some light will remain on in the theater throughout the show so that you

can move around, exit and enter as needed.

We hope you have a great time at the performance!

About the Show:

Walking the Tightrope is a sweet and funny story of a grandfather named

Stan, who, while trying to tell his five year-old granddaughter Esme that

Grandma is gone, goes about building a beautiful new relationship with

her. With the help of a silent clown, they discover the true meaning of

family. This production uses video, sound and original music to transport

audiences from Grandad’s quaint 1959 English seaside cottage to the

beach to the spectacular circus big top.

Age and Subject Matter:

Walking the Tightrope is recommended for patrons with a developmental

age of 7 and up and thoughtfully addresses the topic of the death of a

grandparent.

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Meet the Cast/Characters:

There are three actors and a musician in this show.

The first actor is Micaela Martinez. Here is what she looks like:

Micaela Martinez plays the character of Esme. Here is what Micaela

dressed as Esme looks like:

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The second actor is Shelly Kurtz. Here is what he looks like:

Shelly Kurtz plays the character of Grandad Stan. Here is what Shelly

dressed as Grandad Stan looks like:

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The third actor is Tony Duran. Here is what he looks like:

Tony Duran plays the character of the clown. Here is what Tony dressed

as the clown looks like:

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There is also a musician who plays the piano during the show named

Michael Redfield. Here is what the musician looks like:

Moments from the show:

Here is a picture of Esme and Stan walking on the pier by the beach:

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Here is a picture of Esme and Stan making dessert:

Here is a picture of Esme and Stan dancing:

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Set, Lighting and Sound:

Here is a picture of what the set looks like:

On the left, there is a table with three chairs. This is the kitchen.

Sometimes the actors will sit or stand on the chairs. Here is a picture of

all of the characters in the kitchen:

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In the middle, there is a platform with a bench. The platform area is used

as many different settings throughout the play including Esme’s bedroom,

the train station and the circus. Here is a picture of all of the characters

on the platform:

On the right is the garden with a tree stump, fence and swing. Here is a

picture of Esme on the swing in the garden:

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Lighting

The lights will change throughout the play so that you know the characters

are in a new location or it is a different time of day.

There are a few times in the show when the lights will get very dim or go

out on stage (the seating area will be lit at all times):

At the beginning of the show after the clown sets his suitcase down

and sits on the bench (approximately two minutes into the show)

Near the end of the show when they see the tightrope walker at the

circus

At the very end of the show, the lights will go out on stage briefly so

that you know the show is over. When the lights come up again, the

actors will bow and then leave the stage.

Sound

This show contains recorded sounds and live music.

Sometimes the actors will pantomime (act out with their bodies) some of

the action in the play, including cooking and opening and closing doors.

The sound will help you to know what they are doing.

You will hear many sounds that may repeat throughout the play including:

Piano music (played live)

Train sounds – You will hear this when Esme arrives and leaves

Birds – You will hear this when they are outside

The ocean/waves – You will hear this when they are at the beach

Wind and rain – You will hear this when they are outside

Church bells– You will hear this when they wake up in the morning

Dishes clanging – You will hear this when they are cooking

Clock ticking – You will hear this when they are at the cottage

Crickets/Insects – You will hear this when it is night time

Arcade games – You will hear this when they go to the arcade

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Video

There are screens at the back of the stage where you will see video

throughout the play to show different settings such as the beach, the pier,

the train station, a window, the arcade and the circus. Here is a picture of

what the video will look like on the screens:

Announcements

There will be a brief announcement just before the show begins.

If you have any questions about our sensory friendly performance of

Walking the Tightrope, reach out to us at access@scfta.org