Following the Visual Access Forum, I drafted this report to record and report on the event.
VISUAL ACCESS PROJECT
CITY THEATRE SITE REPORT
Spring 2005
INTRODUCTION
In December 2004, VSA Arts of Pennsylvania received a grant from the Verizon
Foundation for a statewide Visual Access Project. VSA selected four performing arts
venues across the state to participate in the project. The chosen sites each received
portable Audio Description equipment and funding to host Visual Access Forums within their communities.
Each recipient theatre was required to hold their Forum during the spring of 2005. The goal of the Forum was to introduce Audio Description to two major groups: the blind and low-vision community, and representatives from local cultural institutions.
Participating venues will ultimately serve as clearinghouses for Audio Description equipment and resources for their regions, thus the Forums served as previews of what can be done in performance venues all over the state.
City Theatre was chosen as the Western Pennsylvania regional site to take part in the project. The Forum was held on Sunday, March 6, 2005, and included a pre-show Sensory Seminar, an Audio Described performance of Fiction by Stephen Dietz, and concluded with a post-show reception and discussion.
PREPARATION
Contacting the Communities
Regional Cultural Leaders
Approximately one month before the Forum, City Theatre sent letters to Pittsburgh
cultural organizations, inviting them to attend the Forum and experience Audio Description
firsthand. The letters defined Audio Description, explained the larger project, and sought
to convince recipients of the importance of accessibility. A handful of City Theatre funders
also received the letter. A formal press release was included with the letter.
Those who did not respond to the letters received personal follow-up calls from Diane Nutting (Director of Education and Project Manager) and Katie Dahl (Education and Outreach Intern).
Reactions to the project were varied. The majority of cultural leaders were interested in the project, although scheduling prevented some organizations from attending the Forum. A small minority of organizations were uninterested, citing a lack of low-vision patrons at their performances.
Low-Vision Community
City Theatre already has a number of patrons with low-vision who attend productions on a regular basis.
Unfortunately, most of them were able to attend the Forum due to prior commitments. As a result,
City Theatre worked to expand its reach to the blind and low-vision community, and acquire potential
patrons for the Forum. Diane Nutting attended a meeting of the Golden Triangle Council of the Blind
and was also a guest on "Town Talk" with Radio Information Service. These efforts resulted in about
twenty low-vision patrons reserving tickets. Many of these patrons had never been to City Theatre before,
or had not attended for years.
Staff Training
City Theatre worked with VSA Arts to bring in two guest describers from View Via Headphones
(Altoona, PA) for the Forum. Nannette Anslinger and Ermyn King arrived on Friday, March 4th, and
led a training session for some of the City Theatre staff that afternoon. About twelve staff
members attended the training session. The artistic, customer service and production departments
were all represented.
Nannette and Ermyn began the training by outlining different kinds of vision loss, and provided each participant with two sets of goggles, simulating two different types of visual impairment. Wearing the goggles, staff members were made conscious of the challenges faced by patrons with low vision. Nannette and Ermyn then demonstrated the benefits of Audio Description by describing clips from the films Singin' in the Rain and Mr. Holland's Opus.
There was a short question and answer session after the demonstrations. The staff discussed some logistics--such as checking receivers in and out at performances and upkeep between performances. (Generally, some form of identification is held while patrons have receivers in their possession, to be returned at the end of the performance when the patron checks the equipment back in.) Sanitation was also discussed, and the staff was instructed that each earpiece should be cleaned with alcohol wipes after being returned.
Also discussed was the challenge of ticket prices. Since City Theatre has previously offered comp tickets to patrons with low-vision, there was/is a concern about how to transition to a paid ticket situation. The general consensus was that Audio Description adds value to the experience, so offering free tickets might no longer be appropriate. However, City Theatre does not want to alienate those patrons who truly might have discretionary income issues. There may be some way to offer free tickets to those who can't afford them, or those who have been coming to City Theatre consistently. A clear solution has not been reached, however City Theatre staff will continue to explore this issue with Audio Description professionals and members of the Pittsburgh blind and low-vision communities.
Equipment
City Theatre received an Audio Description transmitter, thirty Audio Description receivers
and a variety of earpieces. Before the event, Liz Atkinson (Sound Engineer) tested and set
each receiver to the proper frequency. The receivers are numbered temporarily; a more permanent
numbering system will be necessary prior to the start of next season.
Each receiver requires two AA batteries. Nanette and Ermyn suggested keeping a log of receiver use so that the same ones are not used over and over. Rotating use will extend the lives of batteries and the receivers themselves.
Ermyn and Nannette also suggested seating patrons who are using the equipment throughout the theatre. Their experience has been that large concentrations of receivers in one area tend to cause interference, which can disturb the performance.
Nanette and Ermyn discussed two possibilities for storing the equipment:
1) purchasing a storage case from the manufacturer
2) custom building foam inserts to fit inside a rolling suitcase
Pre-made cases tend to damage earpiece equipment, as the wires must be wound tightly to fit inside. Constructing a custom suitcase would allow ample space for proper storage, as well as being easily transportable. Although a permanent solution for storing City Theatre's equipment is not yet in place, Liz is partial to the suitcase, provided the foam inserts are built well.
Usher Training
City Theatre's corps of weekend ushers arrived early the day of the Forum (Sunday, March 6th)
for a brief training session. Diane explained the project and planned events of the day, as well
as appropriate methods of assistance for audience members with low vision. Ushers were reminded
not to take offense if a patron with low vision turned down an offer of assistance. Ushers were
also instructed to offer an arm when guiding patrons with low vision, never grabbing or leading too forcefully.
THE FORUM
On the day of the forum, approximately fifteen patrons with low-vision attended, (many with sighted companions,)
as well as representatives from the Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre,
Unseam'd Shakespeare, the Point Park Playhouse, the FISA Foundation, the Verizon Foundation, the Carnegie Library for
the Blind and Physically Handicapped, and VSA Arts of Pennsylvania.
Patron Services Table
A Patron Services Table was set up in the foyer of the mainstage space prior to the day's events. Audio Description
equipment was available for anyone who wished to try it, as well as programs in Braille and Large Print. Most Forum
participants checked out equipment before the Seminar for use during the performance, but the table was manned up until
the start of the performance and again during intermission, allowing everyone entering the theatre the opportunity to
be aware of the project and experience Audio Description.
Twenty-seven receivers were checked out for the performance. ID cards were collected as collateral from those patrons who did check out equipment, and returned following the performance and return of the equipment.
Despite having two people stationed at the patron services table, checking the equipment in and out proved to be very hectic. The receivers were still being stored in their original boxes, which were difficult to open and distribute quickly. Also, because of the nature of the event, every person entering the theatre prior to the Sensory Seminar checked out equipment. In all likelihood, future Audio Described performances will not see nearly as many patrons with low vision arriving in such a short time span, which will alleviate many of the challenges encountered.
Sensory Seminar
Following a brief description of the Visual Access Project and a short synopsis of the play, Forum participants
took part in a touch-tour of the stage. Patrons with low vision were encouraged to walk on the set of Fiction to
establish a tactile map of the layout and handle specific props. In doing so, patrons with low vision were able to
experience the environment of the play, using the senses they had to experience what other audience members were able to see.
The Seminar concluded with the performers coming onstage for voice recognition-introducing themselves and speaking a few lines of dialogue in the voice of their character.
Audio Described Performance
Nanette Anslinger described the first act of Fiction, and Ermyn King described the second act. There was slight
intermittent interference during the performance, but there were no major problems with any of the equipment.
Because the play itself was somewhat text heavy (as compared to a more physical movement based production), description focused largely on the mood and environment suggested by production elements with occasional descriptions of the actors movements and actions when necessary to the plot.
Informing City Theatre Patrons
Signs were placed in the lobby and inserts were included in playbills to make sighted patrons aware of the events of
the day. These signs and inserts explained Audio Description and City Theatre's involvement with the Visual Access Project.
At intermission, one couple (not part of the Forum) did ask to be relocated. They had been seated in the back of the house near the describers, and had been distracted by a slight sound bleed from the describers. They did, however, fully support the addition of this new technology at City Theatre.
Talk-back
Following the performance, Forum participants were encouraged to stay for a reception and talk-back
regarding the Audio Description. Diane Nutting led the discussion while Robin Allen (Administrative Intern)
served as scribe. A transcript of the talkback is included in this report.
In general, members of the low-vision community were very pleased to see steps taken toward providing fair and equitable access to live theatre. There were minor complaints about the description at this particular performance, but everyone recognized that Audio Description is an art, and each individual describer narrates differently. In general, the feedback regarding the project was overwhelmingly positive.
There was some discussion regarding whether or not lighting and color description was necessary. Some patrons felt that since they have no association with color, that information was irrelevant. Others, however, had strong associations with color. One patron pointed out that color helps sighted audience members establish the feeling of a scene, thus omitting color description would be leaving out essential information that sighted audience members would be receiving.
When asked about whether they were likely to attend future performances most patrons said yes. However, finding time and the state of accessible public transportation were cited as possible hindrances.
There was not a clear preference as to which days of the week would be best, although there was some discussion of offering multiple described performances of each production. This may allow more patrons with low vision to attend, but would cost the theatre more in describer fees. City Theatre plans to work with members of the blind and low-vision community to decide the best scheduling for next season.
THE NEXT STEPS
Now that members of the Pittsburgh cultural community have had the opportunity to see how
Audio Description works, City Theatre hopes to partner with other local institutions so that they
can provide this service to their patrons.
In the summer of 2005, City Theatre will host a training session for Audio Describers in Pittsburgh. The goal will be to create a qualified corps of Describers in the region. These people would be available to Describe in venues throughout the region starting next season.
Beginning in the fall of 2005, City Theatre will serve as a clearinghouse for Audio Description equipment and resources. Preliminary research has begun (and is included in this report) regarding pay scales and appropriate compensation for Audio Description.
City Theatre also hopes to coordinate with VSA Arts of Pennsylvania as well as other venues across the state to develop a master calendar of Audio Described events throughout Pennsylvania.
This report was written by Katie Dahl - Education and Outreach Intern for City Theatre.
