ASL/Open Caption Performances

I've seen a Broadway show like this before, I just can't remember which one, I believe it was a roundabout one though. It was a play though not a musical but I have no clue if there would be any differences. There was a man and a woman standing in front of the stage on the left side if you were looking at it. They would rotate every half hour or so with another man and woman to take a break.

I also hadn't known about it when I had gotten tickets, I wouldn't willingly buy tickets for it again cause I'd rather other people attend who need it but I honestly didn't find it distracting or anything of that nature. Since they weren't on the stage I actually forgot they were there after a few minutes.

Updated On: 5/5/17 at 11:51 PM

I'm a lyricist myself and accustomed to seeing my work interpreted in ASL. Most of my stuff is done by gay choruses and the like, so there's no "illusion of realism" to destroy, but how many musicals are "realistic" anyway?

Personally, I think signing is beautiful and I love seeing work done that way, my own or that of others. For that reason, perhaps, i've never thought to ask how many customers are drawn by that feature.

But assuming it's just a few, and the purpose is only to aid them so that for two hours they can enjoy a piece with everyone else: wouldn't that be reason enough?

As to the original OP's question - no, it is not distracting. Please don't use the term "hearing impaired." Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing is preferred by the community.

I've seen a few ASL performances on tours that come through Philly and they keep them off to the side of the stage and it is done in a way that it isn't distracting. The most distracting experience I had was when I saw Wicked in Syracuse and I was seated a few rows away from them and it was very distracting plus the women doing it didn't seem like they were that into what they were doing.

Also, it depends on the show how much they sign - during The Sound of Music in Philly, the ASL interpreters didn't really do too much signing but during a show like Book of Mormon they did. I will say you haven't lived until you've seen Hasa Diga Eebowaii or "f*ck frog" being done in ASL.

Updated On: 5/6/17 at 02:42 AM

"Also as Rob said above me the ladies in Syracuse looked like they had no interest in being there. I'd look over at times and neither were signing. They were just standing there."

If neither were signing, then that means there was nothing to interpret. Unless you are Deaf and know ASL, you have no right to say that "they had no interest in being there." These are professional interpreters, they know what they're doing. They're not there for your entertainment.

I find it annoying that entitled hearing people who get to see whichever show they want, whenever they want, are complaining about being distracted by something that makes theater more accessible.

"Oh there was plenty to interpret as it was during a song and during some speaking scenes."

That's simply not for you to say. If you don't know the language, how could you know what they were saying? It's also possible that this was a practice session for them and signing everything wasn't a requirement.

HenryTDobson said: ""I always have to wonder how many people are actually partaking of this service. They have to be A. deaf, B. seated on the left side of the theater, and C. somehow able to watch the interpreters and what's going on onstage simultaneously, which seems impossible to me. But what do I know?"

You obviously know little. The Deaf population encompasses a huge community that have the right to enjoy theater just like everyone else. Actually, even if it were only one member of the Deaf community, he or she still have the right to theater. It doesn't matter the size, theater should be accessible to everyone.

And yes, they will buy seats in a section close to the interpreter. They're not stupid. Impossible to you it may be, but easy for most. Please don't spread your ignorance to others about certain groups of people.



Where did I say they didn't have the right to it? Jesus Christ. And stupidity has nothing to do with it. If they're going for the first time, they may not know or check beforehand (but I like how you said "They're not stupid," like the deaf are the one segment of the population that's immune from stupidity). And how is "impossible to me" a judgment or an expression of ignorance? I mean, I came right out and admitted my inexperience. Get off your damn horse.

Updated On: 5/6/17 at 11:08 AM

mailhandler777 said: "HenryTDobson said: "That's simply not for you to say. If you don't know the language, how could you know what they were saying? It's also possible that this was a practice session for them and signing everything wasn't a requirement."



I know the show well and have been to a lot of ASL performances before so I know where they should be signing. If it was practice then those poor deaf people that paid a lot of money to be there at that show got ripped off.

"

Again, you don't know the language so you can't say if they're being ripped off. You literally don't know what they're signing so how could you know if they're right or wrong. Your opinion is fruitless.

HenryTDobson said: ""Where did I say they didn't have the right to it? Jesus Christ. And stupidity has nothing to do with it. If they're going for the first time, they may not know or check beforehand (but I like how you said "They're not stupid," like the deaf are the one segment of the population that's immune from stupidity). And how is "impossible to me" a judgment or an expression of ignorance? I mean, I came right out and admitted my inexperience. Get off your damn horse."

Your statement of "how many people are partaking in this service" implies that because there may not be enough people using the interpretation, there's no need for it. This is making this show unaccessible to Deaf people and stripping away their right to see it.

I just found it strange that they do it for every performance. That's not a judgment, I'm just surprised they'd pay for interpreters even when they're not needed. Although, according to the web site, they only have them for select performances, so either they changed their policy, or I've somehow only been going to ASL-interpreted performances for the past several years. Relax, no one's trying to strip anyone's rights away.

Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing people LIVE with their Deafness. They know that if they're going to an interpreted show, they must inform the box office so they can be placed near the interpreters or closed captions, wherever that may be. Of course there are Deaf people who are stupid. They're probably less ignorant than you, though.

You make a good point, although I don't see why my innocuous musings deserve such vitriol. I'm just saying, maybe they don't even know there are ASL interpreters. It's not exactly a common practice in theater. It's not ignorance to assume that the occasional deaf audience member will pick the wrong seats. Or maybe not. Maybe that never happens. Nobody knows the answer to this, so you're as ignorant as I am in that regard. Why does it matter? Seriously, get off your horse. There's no battle here, and you certainly don't need to be such an ass about it.

Updated On: 5/6/17 at 12:14 PM

"I just found it strange that they do it for every performance."

Point of Clarification: there isn't a single road house in the US that has ASL or open caption for every performance. More specifically, the Pantages has ASL and open captioning for every production, but not every performance. It typically only occurs once or twice during a run of a show.

Updated On: 5/6/17 at 12:30 PM

hork said: "Are you saying deaf people never go to a musical unless there are interpreters? That seems unlikely, given how many deaf people there are, how few ASL-interpreted shows there are, and how easily musicals can be enjoyed by the deaf even without interpreters. But whatever, it's silly to argue about this.

"

I'm sure they do. My point was, however, that Deaf people know their options. If they want the show to be ASL-interpreted, they know how to find when it will be and which seats to sit in. They are accustomed to making sure these accommodations are in place.

I've attended and performed during many ASL-interpreted shows. It's usually an incredible performance and the interpreters very much get into it. It's not just word-for-word translation; the interpreters have to convey tone and intention, and ASL has different syntax than English. Much of the time when you see them just standing there or watching the stage, there's either stage business or they have to figure out how best to translate what is being said or sung. With all the made-up non-English words and double meanings in Wicked, for example, how best to sign that? It's very interesting to see different people's interpretations. No two interpreters sign a show the same way.

Anyway, I think it is an invaluable service to a very underserved community. As an audience member, I've enjoyed watching the interpreters as much as what is onstage. As a performer whose show is being interpreted, it means so much to have what you are doing being conveyed to even just one audience member who wouldn't typically be there.