Access for Everyone at Manatee Performing Arts Center

By Lisa Codianne Fowler | May 2022

Young children, high school students, parents, seniors, and thespians who may be physically challenged find education, gain experience, and build confidence at the Manatee Performing Arts Center (MPAC). The team at the Center strives to make its performances and facilities accessible to everyone. Accessibility is a priority, whether you are a student, actor, designer, technician, volunteer, or member of the audience

Understanding access

At the helm of MPAC, CEO Janene M. Amick aims to ensure every member of our community feels like their space at MPAC is a space for them. “Even for our volunteers who might not see as well as they want to and still want to help us with data entry or selling tickets, we made sure that everybody has extra-large monitors, even though it may sound like a simple thing,” she explains.

Dan Yonko, Director of Communications is working on a pervasive campaign to help people understand the significance of access. He emphasizes, “One of the things that I was so impressed about when I came on board is the organization’s commitment to making our programs and facilities accessible to anyone regardless of their ability level. For example, our theatre is one of the very few in the entire state that has handicap accessible catwalks.” 

Other facilities at MPAC not available at all theatres, include the following:\

• Several types of state-of-the-art assisted listening devices
• Booster seats as requested
• Braille and large-print programs for most productions
• Curbside drop-off under the port-cochere 
• Elevator to access the ballroom, skybox, and administrative offices
• Adult and child-size noise reduction ear protection
• Wheelchair accessible restrooms on both floors
• Wheelchairs, scooters, and bariatric chairs supporting up to 800 pounds
• Wheelchair-designed timed entrance doors
• Service animals on a leash or in a harness are permitted

Yonko and Amick mention that shows such as The Titanic–The Musical exemplify the exciting opportunities for people of all ages and levels of ability. For instance, Amick explains that a member of the cast has vision challenges, “yet is fully participating as a feature character in the show, not an extra.” The Titanic is also an example of cast and production members coming up through the ranks through their education at MPAC and gaining the self-assurance to participate in community theatre.

The award-winning show opened on MPAC on April 28^th and is running through May 15^th. With music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and a book by Peter Stone, the pair have collectively won an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, an Olivier Award and three Tony awards. The original Broadway production of Titanic–The Musical won five Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book.

All together now

MPAC offers a series of programs for people of all ages from 7 to 99. Youth Education consists of training in singing, dancing, acting and technical design for ages 7-17. The programs include learning how to audition, rehearsals, and a minimum of two full-staged performances. 

There are summer programs where students participate for two weeks, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. According to Amick, the kids work together as a team to start putting the show together beginning on the first day.

Yonko’s 11-year-old daughter started studying at MPAC when she was nine. She participates in the Saturday programing, took advantage of being on stage in the summer program last year, and is looking forward to the programming this year as well.  

“I’m proud of her in so many ways,” he says, “but she’s really blossomed being on stage and I think there’s a lot of carry over to how well she conducts herself in school, and her socialization skills. She was very painfully shy. Theater has given her immense confidence and belief in herself.” For his older daughter, performing is outside of her comfort zone, but she “is very interested in the technical side of creating costumes, so the entire family can participate.”

For seniors, there is a theatre troupe that meets every Wednesday at 11 a.m. “Here, truly, are ambassadors learning the art of improv so that they don’t get caught up with worrying about the stress of memorizing lines.” Amick says. “So, learning the art of improv, we can put them in any situation, and they can entertain a crowd.” 

Upcoming campus open house

One of the best ways to appreciate the magic that happens here is to attend the upcoming campus open house where you can take a guided tour of the entire building, including behind the scenes. Held this year during the second week of June from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. you can learn how to get involved from volunteering in the costume shop, becoming a carpenter or a painter working on set, or work in the Communications Department, helping to boost social media. 

Amick explains one of the many benefits of attending the open house, “It gives young people who are looking for opportunities to maybe stretch themselves into a new field. They might want to be behind stage or be behind the desk learning the business side of the operation.”

The vision

Amick highlights her plans for their immediate future. “I look forward to doing two or three outdoor events in the parking lot across the street where people can come and either see live entertainment or see a film. We’ll do at least three unique events where we can gather the community together, supporting the arts. This will give them an opportunity just to come in, enjoy a cup of coffee and a cookie, and learn where they may come to see great entertainment from musical theaters to dramas to tribute concerts, local dance recitals, and annual reviews. Outreach for us is reaching out into the community to bring people in.”

Yonko participated in a job fair through Southeast High School, with more in store now that COVID-19 has diminished. “We are all about partnerships and being active participants in the community,” he says. The job fairs demonstrate to students that there are opportunities for them to join MPAC as volunteers or participate on mainstage. 

Amick adds, “We’re super excited that we are really focused on getting back up and running to full capacity. And that means not just the shows, but also our programming and providing opportunities for people not only to come in, but for us to go out into the community and do things right.” 

A long-lived history

Since its meager beginnings in 1947, the Center has expanded exponentially from a fledging troupe periodically performing at modest venues to a year-round professionally staffed corporation of seven full-time employees, three part-time, and more than 70 contracted directors, musicians, and designers. Now housed in an award-winning state of the art facility, it offers a full season of productions, events, concerts, comedy and more. 

To learn more about the opportunities, performances, and events at MPAC, visit manateeperformingartscenter.com.