Download My Trip to See a Play at the Noorda Theatre

My Trip to See
Nice and Slow
at Utah Valley University
Construction Edition Social Story
Soon I am going to see a play called Nice and Slow in the ExBox Theatre at Utah Valley University.
Utah Valley University has started construction on a big, brand new building. When that building is
complete in a few years, I can watch more plays!
Until then, though, there is going to be construction, and lots of construction equipment.
After we park the car in parking lot M21, we will walk down stairs and through a tunnel. The tunnel
goes under the street, so I don’t have to worry about crossing the street in front of cars.
The tunnel is very safe.
Other people might be in walking in the tunnel. They might be going to the play, too, or are
students at Utah Valley University.
On the other side of the tunnel there is a pretend airplane!
Right after the airplane, I will come to a fork in the sidewalk. I will turn left.
I will follow the sidewalk that looks like this, and I will turn right by the tree.
I will follow this sidewalk to the set of four doors.
I will look for green signs with arrows that direct me to where I will pick up my tickets.
I will follow this hallway to pick up my tickets from the ticket window.
There might be a line at the ticket window. If there is a line, I will wait my turn.
This is the ticket window where I will pick up my ticket for the play. I can talk to the ticket agent
through the window.
The ticket agent will hand me my ticket through the window.
If I need to go to the bathroom, I will let my mom or dad know and they can take me.
There will be signs to direct us to the bathroom.
The boy’s bathroom is located by the ticket office.
The sound of the flushing toilet may be loud, but it will be over quickly.
The girl’s bathroom is down the hall from the ExBox Theatre.
The sound of the flushing toilet may be loud, but it will be over quickly.
When it is time to go into the theatre, there may be a line at the door. If there is a line, I will wait in
line until it is my turn to go into the ExBox theatre.
There will be an usher at the door. I can say hello to the usher, or I can say thank you,
or I can say nothing at all.
I will hand the usher my ticket. The usher will rip my ticket. I get to keep the bigger part.
The usher will give me a program. It is mine to keep and I can take it home.
When I walk into the ExBox theatre, there will be two people in blue “morph” suits who might wave
to me or give a high five. I can wave back, give a high five, or do nothing at all.
They are part of the play, and are Sam’s imaginary friends.
There is nothing to be afraid of because they are just people in the suits! This is what the actors
look like under their blue masks.
This is what the stage, also called a “set”, looks like for Nice and Slow.
My family and I can choose where to sit.
There may be people I don’t know who are sitting near my family. That’s okay! They are here to
see the play too!
After I have sat down with my family, people might need to walk in front of me to get to their seats.
I might need to stand up or move my legs to let them get by.
When the show is about to start, a person will come onstage and make an announcement.
When the play starts, the lights might change and grow a little darker. I will still be able to see,
though!
During the play, the actors are telling a story. They wear costumes to help tell the story.
In Nice and Slow, some of the actors play animals who talk!
The actors will talk, yell, or act out different scenes on the stage. They are playing pretend, and will
show different emotions, such as love, friendship, sadness or fear.
If it is too loud, I can cover my ears. Or I can bring noise cancelling headphones, just in case.
If it is too bright, I can cover my eyes.
If I get nervous, I can hold my mom or dad’s hand. Or I can give them a hug.
When the show is over, the actors will come onstage and bow. If I want to, I can clap my hands to
tell them, “Good job!”
After the play is over and the actors have taken their bows, everyone will leave the theatre. I will
wait my turn.
In the hallway, I might see the actors from the play in their costumes. I can say hello to them, or
wait in line to ask a question. I can wave to them. I can walk right by them and say nothing at all!
I like coming to see plays at Utah Valley University! I hope I can come back soon.
Special thanks to the Melisa Nellesen Center for Autism