accessible arts

Accessible arts were introduced to me in Broadway Sacramento’s Education & Community Engagement department. Some of my many responsibilities included promoting, planning/coordinating, and executing the Accessible Arts programs. The programs included Audio Described, Open Captioned, and American Sign Language performances. These performances opened my eyes to new audiences who desired and enjoyed attending a theatre performance. Many of them previously were theatre artists themselves and had a deep appreciation for the craft.  Without these accessible performances, attending live theatre would have been almost impossible.

 

The Audio Description performances were paired with a Pre-Show Tactile Experience. Before the performance, the Pre-Show Tactile Experience allows the patrons to interact hands-on with costumes and props. During the show, an Audio Description performance provides a live, concise, and objective description of the action of key visual elements on the stage. This specific program tugged at my costume designer heart. Selfishly, I got to have hands-on experience with Broadway costumes. However, on a larger scope, it combined my multitude of interests: connecting with others, assisting those in need, and of course, costumes. During these events, stories of patrons’ past lives being costumers and their time in the theater were bestowed upon me. In return, I was honored to connect with these patrons, as I described the fabric, silhouette, and patterns of a variety of garments.  Each week I got to know each patron personally and connect with an art form we both admired.