Friday, July 22, 2016
Accessibility in Theatre: Live Streaming
OnStage: Recently the off-Broadway play “Daddy Long Legs” live streamed a production. Playbill, via Facebook, streamed the song “Never Can Say Goodbye” from the musical “Disaster”. “She Loves Me” was streamed from Studio 54 in its entirety making history as the first Broadway show to be live streamed thanks to broadwayhd.com. The phenomenon “Hamilton” was recently filmed also, although there is no word on when or where this footage will be used. As it was stated in the pre-show introduction of “She Loves Me” Broadway is live every time eight times a week, and this trend could lead to something incredible. Theatres could use live streaming to increase accessibility, not only for those who cannot afford to travel to New York City, but for those who need assistance once they arrive in the building.
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Live streaming theatrical productions is the way of the future. There are so many obstacles that stop theater lovers from getting to New York, and live streaming is the perfect solution. For people with disabilities, live streaming will help make Broadway more accessible. Many Broadway theaters are old and were not built with wheelchairs in mind. Many have adapted their spaces with ramps and elevators, but many have not. For people with hearing impairments, live streaming with subtitles is easier than going through the process of finding out if an ASL interpreter is available. For blind people or people with very poor eyesight, live streaming could be a way to experience theater in a much more comprehensive way than a cast recording ever could. In general, anything the theater community does to make theater more accessible excites me, because I think that anyone who wants to experience theater should be able to do that.
I'm very conflicted on this idea of live streaming. It's makes a great point in that it makes is much more accessible for everyone. Especially if they make it worldwide or state to state. It will be much easier for people to drive a couple blocks to watch a Broadway show. On the other hand, I don't think this should become a mainstream thing, because I also feel that people should drive the extra miles to see the show in person. There is a big difference between seeing the show on a screen than actual being part of the audience. I saw Phantom of the Opera a couple years ago on a livestream and although it was good. I didn't feel as engaged in the show as I normally am. I think that livestreaming is a great idea, but shouldn't be the new way of watching a Broadway show.
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