Source: The Wall Street Journal
In a historic moment for the performing arts, Deaf West Theatre staged a production of “Spring Awakening” performed by both deaf and hearing actors and made it available to deaf-blind audiences–the first of any Broadway show to be interpreted this way, reports the Wall Street Journal.
With advice from the nonprofit Hands On, which “facilitates cultural access for the deaf community in New York,” the company hired interpreters skilled in signal-touch communication to communicate the complex choreography and emotional story that characterize Spring Awakening. These interpreters use the back and palm to convey different aspects of the entire theater experience.
According to the Helen Keller National Center, there are only about 3,000 trained touch-signal providers in the United States.
Read full story: The Wall Street Journal