“Connecting with Deaf Audiences” is Essential’s initiative to reach out to deaf community members and share with them the same great theatre opportunities we’ve been sharing with the hearing members of our community for the past 25 years. This initiative consists of three main elements:
- One performance of each of the three plays that make up our festival will have sign language interpreters provided by StageHands, the premiere sign language interpreting organization for theatre in Atlanta.
- Following each signed performance will be a Meet the Playwright talkback which will also have an interpreter, allowing deaf audience members to not only enjoy the performance but also engage with other audience members and the artists involved in the production.
- A focus group will be created, consisting of deaf participants in each of the festival’s signed shows and talkbacks. Findings from this focus group will be used to ensure that as we move forward, we develop programming and opportunities that are relevant, accessible and engaging to everyone. In addition to using the research generated by this focus group to improve the accessibility and inclusiveness of our own programming, we hope to share this information with others in the Atlanta theatre community so that the benefits of our research are as widespread as possible.
Initially motivated by our commitment to providing accessible programming, “Connecting with Deaf Audiences” seeks to go beyond accessibility for our deaf patrons and create programming that is inclusive and engaging.
To find out more about this summer’s festival, visit www.essentialtheatre.com or find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NewPlays or Twitter @ATL_Essential.
To join the CDA focus group or if you’re interested in sponsoring future programming of this nature, contact [email protected]
Thank You
Donor Benefits
- Our power2give donors will be thanked publicly in our newsletter, social media and website as well as in signage displayed in the lobby for every performance during the festival.
- Each donor will receive an ASL interpreted thank-you video from founding artistic director Peter Hardy at the time of their donation and a thank you video from the entire company once the project is fully funded.
- Donors will receive updates on the results of our project this summer, including attendance information relating to the signed performances, a summary of our focus group findings and information about how our programming will develop to reflect these findings in the 2014 festival and beyond.
“Connecting with Deaf Audiences” is Essential’s initiative to reach out to deaf community members and share with them the same great theatre opportunities we’ve been sharing with the hearing members of our community for the past 25 years. This initiative consists of three main elements:
- One performance of each of the three plays that make up our festival will have sign language interpreters provided by StageHands, the premiere sign language interpreting organization for theatre in Atlanta.
- Following each signed performance will be a Meet the Playwright talkback which will also have an interpreter, allowing deaf audience members to not only enjoy the performance but also engage with other audience members and the artists involved in the production.
- A focus group will be created, consisting of deaf participants in each of the festival’s signed shows and talkbacks. Findings from this focus group will be used to ensure that as we move forward, we develop programming and opportunities that are relevant, accessible and engaging to everyone. In addition to using the research generated by this focus group to improve the accessibility and inclusiveness of our own programming, we hope to share this information with others in the Atlanta theatre community so that the benefits of our research are as widespread as possible.
Initially motivated by our commitment to providing accessible programming, “Connecting with Deaf Audiences” seeks to go beyond accessibility for our deaf patrons and create programming that is inclusive and engaging.
To find out more about this summer’s festival, visit www.essentialtheatre.com or find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NewPlays or Twitter @ATL_Essential.
To join the CDA focus group or if you’re interested in sponsoring future programming of this nature, contact [email protected]
Thank you!
Donor Benefits
- Our power2give donors will be thanked publicly in our newsletter, social media and website as well as in signage displayed in the lobby for every performance during the festival.
- Each donor will receive an ASL interpreted thank-you video from founding artistic director Peter Hardy at the time of their donation and a thank you video from the entire company once the project is fully funded.
- Donors will receive updates on the results of our project this summer, including attendance information relating to the signed performances, a summary of our focus group findings and information about how our programming will develop to reflect these findings in the 2014 festival and beyond.
