Going to the Aronoff Center to see

The Wizard of Oz

Simple Social Narrative

This work is supported by a generous grant from Macy’s.

I will go with my group to the Aronoff Center Theater.

The doors to the lobby will open at 5:30 PM.

When I enter, I will go through security.

I will walk through the metal detector and let the security

officers look through my bag.

The security check is to make sure that everyone is safe.

Ticket checkers will be at the bottom of the staircase

scanning tickets. I can show my ticket so it can be

scanned.

I can say “hi” or “good evening.”

There might be a lot of people coming to see The Wizard

of Oz, so it is important for me to stay close to my group

so that I stay safe.

It is also important for me to stay calm and wait my turn if

there is a line for something that I want to do or see.

I can bring some things from home in a bag to do while I

wait. For this special performance, I am allowed to bring

snacks and drinks from home to eat in the lobby or the

theater.

If I think it might be too loud in the lobby, I can cover my

ears or bring headphones to wear.

If I forgot to bring headphones or fidgets, I can ask if there

is a sensory kit to borrow while I am at the theater.

There are restrooms located on both sides of the lobby.

The restrooms are automatic flush and have paper towels

that I can use to dry my hands.

If there are a lot of people who need to use the restroom, I

might need to wait in line. I will try to be patient and wait

my turn to use the restroom.

The doors to the theater will open at 6 PM. When it is time

to go into the theater, we can show our tickets to the

usher. The usher will show us how to get to our seats.

I can help look for the row letter and the seat number.

It is important to sit in my seat during the ballet so that the people sitting behind me can see the stage.

I can use some of the things I brought from home (or items in the sensory kit if I borrowed one) to pass the time while I wait for the ballet to begin.

At 6:30 PM, when it is time for the ballet to start, there will be a short announcement and the lights will get a little bit darker but won’t turn off. The lights will stay at half brightness during the show.

The show I am going to see is a ballet called The Wizard of OZ.

Ballet dancers and the music will tell the story of The Wizard of Oz.

The Wizard of Oz is the story of a girl named Dorothy and her dog Toto who are whisked away by a tornado from their farm in Kansas to the magical Land of Oz. In their quest to return home, as they follow the Yellow Brick Road to reach the Wizard, they meet a Scarecrow who needs a brain, a Tin Man who wants a heart, and a Lion who seeks courage. They ask the Wizard to help them each find what they are seeking, but he says they must bring him the broom of the Wicked Witch of the West to earn his help. In the end, they realize that they themselves have the power to find what they seek.

I will get to watch the dancers on stage and listen to music.

If it is too loud, I can cover my ears or wear headphones.

If it is scary, I can close my eyes or ask my adult for help.

If I need a break while the dancers are dancing, I can tell my adult, and we can walk out of the theater.

Since this is a special performance, it is okay to get up and take a break during the show.

If I take a break, I can walk around in the lobby or go to one of the special quiet areas. I can also visit the restroom.

I can come back to watch the rest of the show when I am ready.

ACT 1 → Intermission → ACT 2

(1 hour) (20 minutes) (35 minutes)

The ballet will have two acts with a 20 minute break, called

intermission, in between the acts.

At the end of Act One, the curtain will close and the

audience will clap their hands. I can clap my hands to

show the dancers and musicians that they did a good job

and that I liked the first half of the show.

The lights will get brighter for the intermission. During

intermission, I can stand up, go to the restroom, get a

snack, or take a break. I can also choose to stay in my

seat.

When it is time for the show to start again the lights will go

to half brightness.

At the end of Act Two, the curtain will close and the

audience will clap for the dancers. I can clap my hands to

show the dancers that they did a good job. When the

clapping slows down, the dancers will take a final bow

together. The curtain will close and the lights will come

back on in the theater. This will mean that the show is

over.

When it is time to leave, I will look around my seat and

make sure that I pick up all my things before I leave.

I will walk out of the theater with my group. I will try to be

patient while I wait my turn to walk up the aisle and into

the lobby.

I will walk with my group through the lobby and out the

doors.

If I enjoyed The Wizard of Oz, maybe I can some back

another time to see another ballet.