Families affected by autism enjoyed puppets, magic at “Lions and Tigers and Birds” celebration

Zoe and Michael share the stage — and red noses — with puppeteer and magician Geoff Navias at a performance for the Margaret Wiliiams Center.

Michael, a 9-year-old boy from Camillus, smiled as he described being on stage with a magician: “It was really, really cool.”

The magician was part of the Nov. 3 “Lions & Tigers & Birds, Oh My!” celebration for the Margaret L. Williams Developmental Evaluation Center and the Kohl’s Autism & Related Disorders Program.

“I was holding one orange ball. He was holding one red ball. Then, I opened my hand and I was holding the orange AND  red balls,” Michael explained. “I am still wondering how that guy did the trick. Maybe he has a teleporting device.”

Mythical bird-puppets entertained the crowd.

Michael was one of close to 100 children and adults who packed into a Syracuse church to watch magicians and jugglers cavort with giant puppets from Open Hand Theater. There were ostrich-like birds and penguins dancing on stage, elephants waddling in the aisles…even a tiger who yanked the pants off a lion tamer, exposing bright pink boxer shorts and delighting the crowd.

During a brief intermission, Carey, a KidSpeak puppet with Asperger syndrome, accepted a giant check from employees of Kohl’s department stores, saying, “Seven was my favorite number. Now $247,299 is my favorite number!”

After the stage performance, snacks were served, and puppets mingled with guests. Sally, a KidSpeak puppet with autism, found a friend in Alexandria, 8, of Chittenango. Alexandria, who has Rett syndrome, laughed and smiled throughout the afternoon performance.

The celebration was in honor of the 30^thanniversary of the Margaret Williams  Center and the seventh anniversary of support from Kohl’s Cares. The center, which  sees children with complex developmental disabilities, is a joint program of the Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, Kohl’s Cares and the New York State Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).

Alexandria, 8, of Chittenango laughs with Sally, a puppet with autism. In the back is puppeteer Terry Kiritsis, who is a special educator at the Margaret Williams Center.