Social Story: Visiting Miller Auditorium

Miller Auditorium Social Story

I am going to Miller Auditorium. The building is located on Western Michigan University’s main campus in Kalamazoo. It is a very large brick building. There are other buildings near it.

Parking the car

If we drive in a car to Miller Auditorium, we can park in the parking structure next to it. Once we park, we may have to walk downstairs or go down an elevator to reach the main entrance of Miller Auditorium.

Arriving inside Miller Auditorium

There are two entrances into the building.

Main entrance


If I come in the main entrance at ground level, I will see the Orchestra lobby.

Bridge entrance from the parking structure


If I come in the bridge entrance at the Grand Tier level (2nd level), I will see a long hallway that leads to the Grand Tier lobby.

The Miller Auditorium Box Office and Will Call

If we do not have our tickets, we may need to get them at the ticket office. This is located in the Orchestra (main floor) lobby, in the middle. I will see glass windows with people who can help us get our tickets. I may need to wait in line until it is my turn.

Orchestra Lobby

I may find myself in the Orchestra (ground floor) lobby. I might see the ticket office. I could also see many posters for past and upcoming shows. It could be a busy and loud space. It is okay to cover my ears if I need to. I can also ask for a quieter space to wait in.

Grand Tier Lobby

I may find myself in the Grand Tier (2nd floor) lobby. I will see large windows that lead to a veranda and the Plaza fountain. There are chairs and benches here if I need to sit down. It may be busy and loud in this lobby. I can cover my ears if I need to. I can also ask for a quieter space to wait in.

Ushers

Usher are people who are there to help me. I can find an usher by looking for someone dressed in all black, or black and white clothes with a gold name tag on.

Concession stands

 

If I get hungry or thirsty I can go to get snacks or a drink from a concession stand. There are two located in the Orchestra lobby and two located in the Grand Tier lobby. I may have to be patient and wait in line for a concession stand.

 

When it is my turn, I can tell the cashier what concessions I would like to buy and they will get it for me. I will then pay for my items with cash, a card or my phone. Everything I buy from the concessions stand can go into the seating area with me.

Restrooms

Please ask a usher if you need assistance finding a restroom that fits your needs.

 

 

If I need to use the bathroom while at Miller Auditorium, I should tell the person I came with. I will then find the closest restroom to me that fits my needs.

I may need to ask an Usher for help. There will be men’s, women’s and unisex accessible bathrooms available to me. I may need to be patient and wait in line for the bathroom. It could be loud in the bathroom with running water and flushing toilets. I can use the bathroom whenever I need to while I am at Miller Auditorium.

Finding your seat

When it is time to find my seat before the show, I will hear chimes in the lobby. I can show my ticket to an usher and they will direct me to the correct door to go into. At the correct door, I will show my ticket to the usher there. They will make sure I am in the right place and let me into the seating area. There will be more ushers in the seating area to help me find my seat. My ticket will have letters and numbers on it that tell me where I will sit. This is my assigned seat. Everyone in the theater has assigned seats, so I will make sure to sit in the correct seat. Once I am in my seat, this is where I will sit for the entire show.

Seating area levels

Your seat could be on the Orchestra (1st), Grand Tier (2nd) or Balcony (3rd) level. You may need to go up or down a few steps to get the row my seat is in.

The Orchestra level has two center aisles. The other levels consist of a long row of seats, and you may need to pass by people who are already seated; we ask that you be respectful and excuse yourself as you pass.

Reaching your seating level

Stairs

There is only one elevator in Miller Auditorium. I can ask for help finding it from an usher if I need to. I can use the elevator to get to any floor of the building. There is a button outside the doors I can push to call the elevator to my floor. Inside, there are labeled buttons to get me to the floor I want to go to.

Elevator

There is only one elevator in Miller Auditorium. I can ask for help finding it from an usher if I need to. I can use the elevator to get to any floor of the building. There is a button outside the doors I can push to call the elevator to my floor. Inside, there are labeled buttons to get me to the floor I want to go to.

Your assigned seat

You will be sitting in your assigned seat, which may mean that you also sit next to someone you do not know. We ask that you keep your hands to yourself and your feet on the floor. Someone may need to get by you to get to their seat. You may need to stand up to let them through. If someone is blocking your view during the show or being so loud that you can’t hear, please ask an usher to assist you.

Seating Areas and Levels

My seat could be on the Orchestra (1st), Grand Tier (2nd) or Balcony (3rd) level. I may need to go up or down a few steps to get the row my seat is in.

The level I am seated on may have two center aisles or it may not. If I need to pass by people who are already seated, I will be respectful and say “Excuse me” as I pass them.

 

Sitting in my seat

If I came with someone, I may be sitting next to them. I may also be sitting next to strangers. It is important that I keep my hands to myself and my feet on the floor.

Someone may need to get by me to get to their seat. I may need to stand up to let them through.

If someone is blocking my view during the show or being so loud that I can’t hear, I should ask an usher to help me.

The performance

Start of the show

When it is time for the show to start there will be a safety announcement. After this announcement, the lights will dim and the theater will get darker.

I will hear music or talking and performers will appear on the stage. Some people may come late into the show. I can ignore them and pay attention to the show.

During the show, I will stay in my seat unless I have a problem. I can ask an usher for help if I do have a problem.

 

 

During the show

During the show there may be very quiet and very loud parts.

During and at the end of the show I may hear clapping and cheers. I can join in.

People may even stand up at the end of the show. I can clap, cheer and stand as well at the end of the show.

If the noise is too loud I can cover my ears or ask an usher for a quieter space.

 

Intermission

There may be a short break, called an intermission, during the show. I can go to the bathroom, get snacks from the concession stands or just walk around during this time. I can also stay in my seat if I want to.

I will know it is intermission because the lights will come on and the music or talking from the stage will stop.

The intermission will be 15-25 minutes long. I will know it is ending by the chimes playing in the lobby. I should head back to my seat when I hear these.

 

Need a break?

If I get overwhelmed during my time at Miller Auditorium, I can tell my companion that I need a break. I can ask an Usher to help me find a quiet space.

Once I am in the quiet space, I can take as long as I need to calm down. Once I am ready, I can return to my seat. I can ask an usher for help to find my seat if I need it.

End of the show

Once the show is over, the people on stage will take a bow and the audience will clap and cheer. The lights will get brighter and that is how I know the show is over.

Everyone will leave their seats and head back to the lobby or the nearest exit doors. It could get crowded and loud. I can cover my ears if I need to. I can also stay in my seat a couple of minutes to let more people leave before I try to leave.

I may need to use stairs or the elevator to get back to where I came in Miller Auditorium. I should stay with who I came with. I can ask an usher for help if I need to.

Leaving Miller Auditorium

When I leave Miller Auditorium, I should exit the same way I came in, as that is most likely the closest to where we parked. I will stay with my companion while leaving, for my safety. There may be a lot of people outside looking for their cars and driving, I will make sure to be careful and watch where I am going. I can ask Ushers for help if I need it.

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