Letter

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!! The show was GREAT - the captioning was super - and I loved every word! My husband commented that it was even better than he expected, which is quite something coming from jaded New Yorkers (now New Jerseyites.) It's not just about being able to see a show, it's also the whole process of "going to a show" - mingling with other theater-goers, getting to see that wonderful theater, going out to dinner afterwards, walking around with a Playbill tucked under my arm. It's hard to describe what that all means to me, without knowing what it feels like NOT to have been able to do that for so long. And Lew will probably tell you that as we were talking during the intermission, a young man came over, thanked Lew for the captioning, and said it was the first show his wife had ever enjoyed. They were sitting two rows in front of us. Just looking at them, you would never have guessed that there was any problem - but that's the nature of hearing loss - invisible and more prevalent than you'd ever think, in all ages. So MANY MANY THANKS for all your efforts in getting captioned performances - and understanding how important captioning is to people with hearing loss like me. Best regards, Arlene Arlene RomoffTrustee, Hearing Loss Association of New JerseyAuthor, "HEAR AGAIN - Back to Life with a Cochlear Implant"

From The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts Kravis Center Offers New Service For People With Hearing Loss When Eliza Doolittle broke into song during Broadway Across America's presentation of 'My Fair Lady' at the Kravis Center last month, the moment was also a breakthrough for many people in the audience with hearing loss. The Kravis Center is pleased to announce a new service called Live Performance Captioning (or open captioning) that will allow deaf or hard of hearing audience members to more fully enjoy Broadway performances at our venue. Open captioning is a text display located on either side of the stage that scrolls the words in synchronization with the performance. Generated by a computer operator to keep pace with the performance. lyrics, dialogue and even parenthetical descriptions of imponant sound effects are displayed in easy-to-read amber letters two inches high.

The Kravis Center joins a growing list of theatres around the country that arc using this technology to better serve guests with hearing disabilities. "I've seen people with cochlear implants and deaf people who have cried because they were finally able to see and enjoy a Broadway show." - Lew Balaban, Open Caption Operator - With support from Theatre DevelopmentFund. best known for their TKTS booths, c2 (caption coalition)

will provide the service at all Saturday matinee performances of Broadway Across America presentations this season, with the exception of Cirque Dreams. Open captioning will also be provided during the Kravis Center presentation of Rent on

Saturday, April 12 at 2 pm. Lew Balaban has been providing this service for 10 years in venues around the country and. he said, in some cases the reaction to open captioning is as dramatic as the action onstage. "I've seen people with cochlear implants and deaf people who have cried because they were finally able to see and enjoy a Broadwayshow," Balaban said.

"They are buying season tickets now" But the system benefits more than just people with hearing loss, he added. The electronic captions can also aid hearing patrons, who may have missed a joke, a line, or a lyric. When purchasing tickets to open captioned performances, people who are hard of hearing or deaf should request seats that will 6rovide optimal viewing of the LED displays. Specially reserved seats for people with hearing loss will be issued on a firstcome, first-served basis. The open captioning will be offered by the Kravis Center as a service in addition to infrared audio aides that are available during all performances in Alexander Dreyfoos, Jr. Concen Hall and the Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Playhouse. Receivers and earphones are available free of charge and may be picked up one hour before cunain time at the Guest Services Station located on the east side of the lobby.

Letter

Dear Lew: Todays captioned performance of 12 Angry Men at The Broward Center for Performing Arts was amazing. The show was great and the actors were wonderful. However, I was stunned. by the captioning. Because I had a favorable seat and there was no background music, I was able to hear a lot more of the dialog than I usually do. In spite of that advantage, I still had to rely heavily on the captioning. The words came fast and furious from the stage and the captioning was right on cue - perfect timing. My ears heard some words and my eyes heard the rest. Every word appeared on screen exactly as it was pronounced by the actor. I drove all the way home with a smile on my face. I am still smiling. The actors take a bow after the final act. They are applauded for their performance. I think the captioner should be recognized for his performance. Take a bow Lew. I am applauding you. Thank you once again for permitting me to enjoy live theater. With love, Charlotte N. Roth