www.broadwayworld.com: In partnership with NYC-based nonprofit Hands On, Little Shop of Horrors will present American Sign Language (ASL) interpreted performances on Thursday, January 19th at 7pm and Saturday, January 21st at 2pm at The Westside Theatre (407 W 43rd St). Interpreters for both performances will be Craig Fogel, Saadia Khan, and Carllee James under the guidance of Interpreter Director Anne Tomasetti.
5 comments:
I appreciate when theatres offer ASL versions of especially big name shows such as Little Shop of Horrors. Often you can see ASL shows in more regional or community theatres that specilaize in producing shows in ASL or in being disability friendly but the West Side Theatre seems like a very large off broadway establishment. I don’t hear about ASL shows or other accommodating modes of storytelling being offered very often on Broadway which I think is unfortunate. Obviously I’m not expert in how Broadway shows work in relation to accessibility options, but I imagine there would be more if money wasn’t such a large issue. I imagine it’s expensive to bring in and train a new cast on something such as ASL for a minority audience of viewers. In a perfect world it wouldn’t matter because “theatre should be for everyone,” and it should but it isn’t always produced to be so.
I personally think that all shows should have ASL-Interpreted Performances. Theatre is for everyone, not just the hearing. I also do think that ASL interpreters can be quite amazing performers in their own right. There have been many occasions where I have found my eyes wandering to interpreters that are part of the storytelling experience. I also think that there is something to say about how theatre has repeatedly failed to appreciate pushing the boundaries of art. I look back disabled actors not being treated with the same respect as able-bodied actors. Overall, I am happy that Little Shop of Horrors is doing this since it is the least they can do. I remember when I saw Next to Normal at the Kennedy Center I was amazed by the interpreters and their ability to embody the electrifying score. They truly were incredibly entertaining. I also am a big believer that you can enjoy art in many ways and that there is not only one way to enjoy said art.
I find it surprising that ASL -interpreted performances are just now becoming a more prevalent thing in the theatrical industry. It is so important to make theater inclusive in this aspect because everyone deserves to witness and be able to immerse themselves in the world of theater. This article helped me discover the "Hands On" company and the impact they are making in Broadway productions and non-Broadway productions. The fact that they are also a non-profit goes to show how deeply they care about giving individuals who need ASL -interpreted performances and how much they wish for this to become the norm in theatrical productions. Also having to provide ASL for an entire production is a very tedious and difficult job. Having to translate at the pace of the actors, accommodating for all the things that can possibly go wrong within the production, and learning the entire script and pauses included within it. All are very complicated task that these interpreters must prepare for it. So it is great to see that people are undergoing these circumstances as to create more inclusiveness within the theatrical world.
Everytime there is an article including American Sign Language, I immediately want to read it. Ever since I had the opportunity to see Children of a Lesser God at Studio 54 in NYC, I have really enjoyed seeing how theatre has been making a commitment to making performances more accessible. It is becoming more common for productions like Little Shop of Horrors to include performances with ASL or for people with sensory sensitivities. Despite reading many articles about ASL onstage, this is the first time I have heard of the company Hands On. It is promising to know they now do 20 to 30 productions annually up from an original five productions. I am disappointed that more productions have not sought out their services. While I understand that every theatre or production can not afford to install the technology to make every performance accessible, at the very least I believe that every production should have at least two performances that are accessible for people who are hearing impaired.
I believe every show, big or small, should have ASL interpreted performances. It is so incredibly important to put accessibility at the forefront. For those who are hard of hearing, having an interpreter can help immerse them in the world of storytelling. Even as someone who does not depend on an interpreter, I still really enjoy watching them work. On many occasions, interpreters also embody a character in a new and exciting way, and it can be so amazing to watch them. I also love how they are able to interpret the moment with the actors, becoming a part of the story in a way and taking the audience on a journey. I’d love to see Little Shop (I was planning on going when I was in NYC last summer, but it was sadly sold out,) and knowing that they now include accessible performances is even more of a reason to love the show.
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