Sense Theatre Archives

SENSE Theatre students act in the play Circus del Sé.

SENSE Theatre study finds play participation increases social skills in autistic youth

Jul. 13, 2023—Together with the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center and ACM Lifting Lives, SENSE Theatre recently presented a two-night performance of the play Circus del Sé, written by Blythe Corbett, PhD, James G. Blakemore Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

SENSE Theatre to offer two free performances

Jun. 9, 2022—SENSE Theatre®, a summer camp for youth with autism spectrum disorders led by Blythe Corbett, PhD, and supported by the Academy of Country Music Lifting Lives® will present two live, free performances of an original play with music. Both performances of “The Year of the Ladybug” will take place in the Wyatt Center Rotunda on the Vanderbilt campus at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 17, and Saturday, June 18

ACM gift aims to improve lives of children with autism spectrum disorder

Aug. 13, 2020—ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy of Country Music, has made a generous gift to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for programs and research demonstrating the healing power of music to improve the lives of children with autism spectrum disorder.

Improving social competence in adults with autism is the goal of an upcoming study using the SENSE Theatre program. (photo taken before social distancing.)

Study seeks to improve social competence in adults with autism

Apr. 22, 2020—Researchers from VUMC are investigating whether participation in a specially designed theatre program can improve social competence in adults with autism.

SENSE Theatre presents ‘HATS’ March 9-10

Feb. 16, 2018—SENSE Theatre and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center will present the play "HATS" at 7 p.m. March 9 and 10 at the Troutt/Black Box Theatre Complex on Compton Avenue, near Belmont Boulevard. SENSE Theatre includes youth with autism spectrum disorder and trained peer actors from the University School of Nashville.

Vanderbilt leads study investigating impact of theatre on youth with autism

Jan. 15, 2018— Autism researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and two other universities have received a $2.99 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to conduct a four-year multisite project investigating the impact of theatre and peer mediation on the social competence of youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The multisite intervention project...

SENSE Theatre Camp presents ‘The Year of the Ladybug’ June 17-18

Jun. 14, 2016—"The Year of the Ladybug" is the capstone performance of the SENSE Theatre Summer Camp for youths with autism spectrum disorders and peer actors. The performances are free.

Theatre program benefits children with autism: study

Sep. 30, 2015—Children with autism who participated in a 10-week, 40-hour, theatre-based program showed significant differences in social ability compared to a group of children with autism who did not participate, according to a Vanderbilt study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Theatre offers promise for youth with autism

Oct. 24, 2013—A novel autism intervention program using theatre to teach reciprocal communication skills is improving social deficits in adolescents with the disorder that now affects an estimated one in 88 children, Vanderbilt University researchers report in the journal Autism Research.

Theatre offers promise for youth with autism, Vanderbilt study finds

Oct. 22, 2013—A novel autism intervention program using theatre to teach reciprocal communication skills is improving social deficits in adolescents with the disorder that now affects an estimated one in 88 children, Vanderbilt University researchers released today in the journal Autism Research.

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center hosts autism study tour for French disability professionals

Oct. 17, 2012—The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center hosted nine social workers with the CREAHI Campagna-Ardenne, a regional center in France that provides services for children and adults with developmental disabilities. The visitors heard nine presentations, many by faculty and staff from the Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders, on topics including assessment and diagnosis, family training and...