jlmason4

The posted a thing with Josh C about sign names for Romeo and Juliet, I participated and was curious to see what they picked as their sign names for their show.  Never saw a follow up video for that play.  Somewhat disappointed.  Thought it was cool to have him involved with their play and hope that they will involved more Deaf actors.  

Le Petit Chouette

Kate

My guest and I attended the "A Christmas Carol" show a few weeks earlier for one of their ASL interpreted shows. When we stopped by to pick up our tickets, the staff had the small whiteboard ready for us to communicate with her. We enjoyed the show and were pleased about how ACT offered two different accommodation options that we could select from or even use at the same time for this show. Thank you for continuing to be great about this! 

The only small issue we had was that even if we were seated in the ASL section, we couldn't see the interpreters very well since they weren't on a raised platform or taller chairs. But we did get to switch seats with some hearing individuals (who didn't need the ASL interpreters) so we could have a better view. Someone brought seat cushions for me but it was very thin, not extra thick and big like what The 5th Avenue offers for their shows. The ASL coach told us that ACT didn't want the interpreters on a platform or taller chairs because they thought the stage was too small for that.

I hope a better solution can be found for future shows since we've had similar problems with not being able to see the interpreters clearly at previous shows. We were lucky this time with finding hearing people who were happy to switch seats with us. I understand the limitations with the layout of the unique stage. However, maybe try vacating at least 2 or even 3 rows of chairs in front of the interpreters if they were to sit on taller chairs so the view isn't blocked for those who are seated in that section? That might help solve this problem for some people like me who have a harder time seeing the interpreters from certain seats.

Overall, please continue to do what you are doing (and more) since you've been great about your accommodations! :) 

Jules

Personally, I am a fan of ACT Theatre. They are the most deaf-friendly theatre I have ever come across! I love that every person at that theater makes a point to have eye-contact with me and quickly identify if I am deaf or not. And they have dry erase boards ready on the counter in case they or I need to write anything. And when I go to watch a show, they have iPads ready for me to use for captioning purposes. They call it the Figaro system. And I ADORE it!!!!!! 

I severely recommend them. 

Kate

We attended the Romeo & Juliet show with Deaf actors Howie Seago and Joshua Castille. I was enthralled with watching them act. They did a beautiful job and Joshua/Romeo made the young love feel incredibly real with Juliet--I had to remind myself that it was just a story! 

The person I spoke with on the phone prior to the show was SO nice and helpful--I didn't catch her name but she went out of her way to make sure my questions were answered. When we arrived at ACT, there was a staff who greeted us in basic ASL and I noticed there was a small whiteboard nearby in case further communication was needed. We got the iPads to be able to see Old Shakespeare English in addition to the ASL interpreters. My iPad wasn't connecting so the staff got me a replacement while I was seated. Having this iPad with CC as a second option helped because ASL and Old Shakespeare English are two very different languages. 

The show itself was beautiful. I absolutely loved how the director came up with the concept of using the fences to move & spin around the characters throughout the story. The experience left me feeling giddy that I was able to enjoy and witness two very well known Deaf actors in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. The only small issue that several people including I had were that our views of the ASL interpreters were partly or mostly blocked from other people's heads because the interpreters were sitting so closely to the front row and they weren't on some kind of platform. Joshua Castille and Howie Seago held an open discussion afterwards so many of us shared this with them. Hopefully after the first ASL interpreted show, this issue was taken care of. 

Overall, thank you for an amazing experience. Please consider offering shows like this one again in the future for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community to enjoy! 

Anonymous User

I came here for TRIBES which was ASL interpreted. I can't say enough about how well coordinated the Interpreted portion was. The show itself was amazing and Deaf actor Josh Castille blew us all away with his talent. It was also refreshing to have the option of captioning devices as well. The staff I encountered were mostly positive with one signing clerk at will call. I noticed some white boards set up at the front of the house to help with communication, but when I struggled to communicate with the Ushers, they weren't sure what to do with them. The ushers were a hit and miss. Some were patient and some were very overwhelmed with the large crowd of Deaf patrons. 

deafREVIEWer

ACT rocks! The front desk that gives out our will-call tickets seems to always have someone who knows a little bit of sign language. A little goes a long way! I've been to three plays at this location, and I am forever grateful to know that there is a theatre like this one who provides interpreters for plays! They even hosted Tribes that is a deaf-themed play but designed for hearing play goers as well as deaf. I could say more... hoorah for such a deaf-friendly theatre!

Kate

I recently attended one of the performances, Tribes, with a guest. When we checked in the front desk, we had a staff named Maggie who communicated with us in ASL. She was very friendly and polite. We used their iPads that had closed captions on them. Two or three staff came to assist some of us with the devices in the area we were seated in. It is similar to what some movie theaters provide (cup holders). However, there is a metal part that slides onto the armrest of your seat and there is a ball that the back of the iPad clicks onto the bendable stick. Some of us had mild problems with using the iPads, but I thought it went pretty well considering how it was a new additional to their theatre. At end of the performance, the iPads announced that all of their plays will provide closed captions, which is great since we don't have to wait for a specific performance and/or date/time that provides it or has ASL interpreters. Pretty neat! Thank you for making this possible and being an example for others to hopefully follow. 

Ms GMW

I am hearing impaired/hard of hearing. I lip read. I love theatre.
As my hearing deteriorates, attending the theatre can be somewhat frustrating for me.  I have been a subscriber at ACT, for many years. I am assisted by a Service Dog, and ACT has made it very easy for my SD to attend, by assigning me a seat with an empty space next to it, where my SD can settle during the performance. When my SD of many years died in 2012, ACT arranged for me and my new SD to attend a "Dress Rehearsal", to train him in "proper theatre manners", which was very helpful!
One of the ways in which I assist myself in watching a play, is to read the script ahead of time. When ACT presents New Plays (which happens about 3 to 4 times per season) to which the script is not commercially available, Acts makes an electronic copy available to me.
ACT also has "hearing devises" which are helpful, especially since the technical department keeps improving them (for instance: by shielding the system against  static or dealing with "dead spots" in the auditorium)
It appears that ACT and its staff care about hearing impaired patrons.

Belledgedesign

I love you, ACT Theatre for providing ASL interpreters through TADA (Theater, Allies, and Deaf Audiences) for fantastic shows over the years! I usually get tickets from my parents and I always change my tickets to the night of interpreted shows through relay calls- there's NEVER A PROBLEM. I had a best experience ACT for "FIRST DATE: A New Musical" with a group of deaf friends- with fantastic interpreters and best of all- it was the last day of the show and saw the whole marriage proposal between the writer and his fiancee! Again, I love you, ACT. P.S. How about Open Captioned shows? ;-)