Note: This article was originally published Jan. 14.
Sharri Lungarini loved seeing the latest “Star Wars” movie at Entertainment Cinemas in Seymour.
But even better was the note she found hanging in the theater’s bathroom.
No, it wasn’t wacky graffiti or a random phone number.
It was a flier for “Sensory Friendly Flix,” a new monthly program at the multiplex within Tri-Town Plaza at 814 Derby Ave.
“Lights up, volume down … hearts open,” the flier reads, before giving the following description:
“A great program for families affected by autism or other disabilities. See a movie on the big screen with HIGHER houselights and NO loud noises for those with sensitivities.”
The flier made Lungarini’s heart jump because her 7‑year-old son, Wyatt, has fragile X syndrome and autism.
Sometimes seeing a loud movie in darkness can be a challenge for Wyatt. The loud noises can be overwhelming. He’ll get vocal if he’s excited during a good movie. And he might want to get out of his seat to check out his surroundings.
That can cause issues in traditional movie theaters, where patrons have the expectation of focused silence without distraction.
But the sensory screenings are designed to let Wyatt be Wyatt. For Lungarini, it’s about acceptance.
“They’re able to be themselves. They can walk around. If a child is having a hard time, they can leave and then come back again,” she said.
The AMC movie theater chain offers the sensory-friendly screenings in Connecticut — but the closest theaters are in Danbury and Plainville.
“If you drive an hour to see a movie, then sit through a two-hour movie, four hours is a long time for a kid,” said Lungarini, who lives in Ansonia.
Here’s an Indiana news station’s report on a sensory-friendly movie experience in South Bend:
You don’t have to be a parent of a child with special needs to attend the screenings.
The monthly movies are also a good option for parents of youngsters who aren’t quite ready for the traditional 90-minute movie experience.
Or perhaps you have a 5‑year-old who can stay in his or her seat during a movie — but a younger sibling who wants to wander a bit. Bring ‘em.
Entertainment Cinemas in Seymour started the program in December, with two screenings.
As of Jan. 14, two more screenings were scheduled:
Jan. 23: “The Nut Job 2”
Feb. 13: “Kung Fu Panda 3”
The movies start at 11:30 a.m. Doors open at 11 a.m. Prices are the same as regular admission.
For the sensory-friendly screenings to continue, or for the program to expand, people need to show up.
Lungarini has not attended a screening yet in Seymour, but she’s been doing her part to let parents of kids with special needs know about the new option. That included sending the Valley Indy the info.
Deborah Belisle is the vice president of operations for Your Neighborhood Theatre, the Massachusetts company that manages the Seymour movie theater and about a dozen others.
She said the company rolled out a similar service in Bangor, Maine.
The Seymour screenings in December were not packed, but the theater was too busy with record-breaking screenings of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” to hype the new service.
The plan is to do more marketing for the sensory-friendly screenings going forward.
“We’re hoping that it builds up. It, of course, depends on what films are available, but we’d like to see the program build and it is wonderful that one of your readers reached out,” Belisle said.
Click here to visit the Seymour movie theater’s Facebook page.
Questions? Call the theater at 203 – 734-2000.
Click here to learn more about fragile X syndrome.
Click here for North Star, a Valley-based community resource for families of children with special needs.
If you’re a parent of a child with special needs looking for support and information from other parents, Lungarini recommended the following Facebook groups:
PATH (Parents of Children with Special Needs Support Group)
