Something interesting that I saw at Next To Normal last night

[winston89]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 11:57am

I went to see Next To Normal last night and was sitting third row center. During the performance I saw something that was interesting and something that I was glad that was being done. There were three people interpreting the show in sign language for a group of people who were deaf/hard of hearing.

During the bows the cast was nice enough to acknowledge them. Now, I had been semi aware of this happening but in all my years of going to the theatre, I had never seen it myself.

I just wanted to mention this to say that I think that it is great that there are people out there who do that which they can to make theatre accessible to everyone.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 12:00pm

I wish they could make a way of doing that same thing for people who can't see.

[morosco]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 12:04pm

Yankeefan are you familiar with audio description?

Audio description is a verbal commentary sent to wireless headsts that tells visually impaired theatre-goers what is happening on the stage during the parts of the performance where there is no dialogue (i.e. during fight scenes). The description does not interfere with the performance but fills in the gaps, describing facial expressions, costume, scenery and action sequences so that anyone with a sight problem can follow the plot fully and independently.

[WestVillage]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 12:10pm

"During the bows the cast was nice enough to acknowledge them. Now, I had been semi aware of this happening but in all my years of going to the theatre, I had never seen it myself."

I have seen several sign-interpreted performances, and the signers are always acknowledged and given a bow, as they should be. At these performances, they are just as much a part of the show as the rest of the cast.

[Anakela]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 12:11pm

TDF has a story up on their website, from someone who attended an audio description performance of Wicked a couple of months ago, if you want to read more about it.
"Wicked" Good Time. An Accessible Performance With Audio Description.

[jpbran]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 12:37pm

Have always thought that was a great service offered at many shows, but not having seen it in person, have also wondered how it's handled to not distract the rest of the audience.

[mikem]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 12:48pm

Where do the signers stand? Are they actually on stage? And does it seem like the relevant audience members are all sitting near each other?

[Eris0303]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 12:48pm

I wonder how much of a hassle it would be to offer the audio description in other languages. I remember an college professor once telling us about a a trip abroad where he saw a show that did that. It would save people having to translate the show and interfere with the enjoyment of other people.

[Mark_E]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 12:49pm

I saw Oliver in the West End when a signer was interpreting the show. She was standing on far stage left. You noticed her moving alot at first but soon just got used to it. I glimpsed over at her and her expressions really matched how the characters were speaking. Very interesting to see.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 1:01pm

I wonder how much of a hassle it would be to offer the audio description in other languages.

They do that at some shows. I know Wicked, Rent, and Phantom are some of them (well, when Rent was on Broadway).

I am stage managing a show right now and there is one night where we will have sign language interpretation. They will stand on stage left and the audience members there to see the signers will sit house right.

[winston89]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 1:59pm

It looked to me that at least a vast majority of the house right section of seats were filled with people who were deaf. They were signing to one another prior to the show and during intermission etc.

During the show the people who were interpreting where in the front row which only had three seats. The three of them sat there and got up as need be to sign. They were not on the stage itself, but they were standing directly in front of it.

Someone that I was sitting next to was a little annoyed by this wonderful service being offered to say the least. He made a comment to the person he was with about how they should do it better to not distract the entire audience with this. As if he felt like it was a group punishment. Furthermore, when it came time for everyone to leave. I knew that I couldn't kindly ask someone to get out of my way like I normally would due to the fact that they couldn't hear me. So, I waited.

[toddlisatyriem]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 2:02pm

Here in Kansas City, we have Starlight Theater. They have signers onstage right for all performances. The signers stand in a Juilette type window up high on stage right. It's pretty cool to watch especially when the performances on stage are not up to par.

[matineeidol2013]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 5:06pm

this topic just so happens to be discussed in Kyle Dean Maseys new video blog for the week on Broadway.com

http://www.broadway.com/shows/next-to-normal/buzz/normal-life-video-blog-kyle-dean-massey-5-sunday-night-starbucks-run/

[littlebutterfly10]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 5:49pm

I saw a performance of the Spring Awakening tour that was ASL-interpreted. It was fascinating and beautiful to watch.

Also, this past Saturday matinee at Next to Normal was close-captioned. There was a small digital sign on the corner of stage left that scrolled the text for dialogue and songs.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 5:55pm

Where do the signers stand? Are they actually on stage? And does it seem like the relevant audience members are all sitting near each other?

If there's a pit, they're usually on stools in the pit. If not, there's usually a section in the orchestra area where you can request in advance to sit where you can see the signers.

http://www.stagehandsbayarea.com/

Updated On: 2/2/10 at 05:55 PM

[specialk2]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 6:14pm

I can't remember what performance I saw that had sign language interpreters (possibly RENT in Philadelphia) but, whichever it was, the interpreters were situated basically at the corners of the stage. And while I thought that was a great idea, I was sitting to the left in the orchestra so the interpreter on stage right was basically right in front of me. While she didn't obstruct my view, I have to admit, she was very distracting, and had I not seen the show before, I would have had a hard time concentrating on what was going on.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 6:16pm

I was at a performance of Ragtime when they did it too.

[singtopher]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 7:07pm

I was lucky enough a few years back to be involved with the children's theatre at the Arvada Center in the northwest Denver suburbs. Rather than do sign interpretation, they have shadow interpretation where a group of signers is actually on stage next to the actors doing their blocking along with them in suggestive costumes. It's much easier for kids (and adults) to focus on the play rather than go back and forth.

Here is a great video about the program.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRoExHASbYY

ETA: OOPS! Forgot the link.

Updated On: 2/2/10 at 07:07 PM

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 7:11pm

The performance of Blithe Spirit I attended was open-captioned. It was quite entertaining to hear and see how Ms. Lansbury's line readings diverged from the text being projected.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 2/2/10 at 7:17pm

The ASL performance that Kyle Dean mentions in his video occurred on Monday night, not Sunday night. Broadway.com has the date wrong on their page. There was no signing Sunday evening. The Saturday matinee, however, was open-captioned.