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FORT LAUDERDALE – There will be some additional theatrical magic at select performances of the entire Broadway Across America-Ft. Lauderdale Broadway series at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts this season. In audio-described performances, low-vision and blind patrons will hear the Phantom of the Opera’s stealthy escape through the mist-shrouded tunnels beneath the Paris Opera House while deaf and hearing impaired theater lovers can enjoy his romantic ballads through sign language and open-captioning technology.
“Through the dedication of our staff and the commitment of our partners, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts is proud to take a leadership role in providing increased access to live performance for persons with disabilities,” says Broward Center President and CEO Kelley Shanley. “We consider it a core value. Our ushers receive training to answer any questions that they may have about assisting guests with disabilities and learn about the full range of accessibility programs that we make available. “
With support from Lighthouse of Broward, the Broward Center was the first theater in Florida to offer audio description enabling audience members wearing assistive listening devices to hear narration of the visual elements of a production including lights, costumes, actions and scenery.
Individuals who enjoy captioned television, videos and movies can now enjoy open captioning as an option for theater to help catch quick punch lines, fast-patter lyrics and hushed dialogue. Open captioning features a text display located to the side of the stage which scrolls dialogue and lyrics synchronized with the performance. Open captioning is offered in partnership with Broadway Across America-Ft. Lauderdale. Captions are provided by c2 (Caption Coalition) Inc., a not-for-profit provider of professional live performance captioning.
Select performances also feature an interpreter using American Sign Language to describe the vocal line of the production including dialogue, song lyrics and sound effects.
In association with Lighthouse of Broward, the Broward Center offers this season a complete introduction to the arts with a technical touch tour for blind and low vision students at Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. Participants have the opportunity to touch and feel various props and take part in a pre-curtain talk with production members.
In addition to meeting the standard safety regulations for patrons with disabilities, the Broward Center also provides additional measures for persons with vision and hearing loss and persons who use wheelchairs. Theaters, restrooms and all public areas are accessible by wheelchair.
In a 2008 event presented in partnership with VSA arts of Florida and the State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, the Broward Center hosted the Kennedy Center Leadership Exchange in Arts and Conference which welcomed nearly 250 attendees from 30 states and four countries to review the scope of accessibility services and programming across the country. In addition, Broward Center Director of House Services Garry Novick has been recognized with national and state awards for his role as a dedicated advocate for access initiatives.
Tickets are available through the Broward Center’s box office at (954) 462-0222 or TTY: (954) 468-3283. Patrons should specify accessibility needs or seating for open captioning and audio description when ordering. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located in the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District at 201 SW Fifth Avenue in Fort Lauderdale.
Chima Steakhouse, Mangos Restaurant & Lounge, Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa, Mercedes-Benz of Fort Lauderdale, Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler (RRA), Sun-Sentinel and Comcast are proud sponsors of the Broward Center. All dates, programs and artists are subject to change.
Presentations at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts are sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Support is also contributed by the Broward Performing Arts Foundation, Inc. The Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment Consortium is a cultural partnership between the Performing Arts Center Authority, Museum of Art | Fort Lauderdale, Florida Grand Opera, Concert Association of Florida, Inc., Fort Lauderdale Historical Society and the Historic Stranahan House Museum. It is supported by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention Visitors Bureau.