Shining a spotlight on Broward’s inclusive entertainment
Published: September 28, 2019
By: Joanna Kentolall
The arts and entertainment season will soon be in full swing. Children of all ages are excited to see what’s coming to the stage and screen to delight the senses. But what if your little one’s senses are limited or can be affected by loud noises and bright lights?
Engaging with the arts can be difficult for children and adults with mental or physical challenges. But local organizations are working to help change that by making entertainment more inclusive.
South Florida venues are expanding access to provide people with and without disabilities the same opportunity to attend, participate in and appreciate the arts. For example, assistive-listening devices are available to amplify sound and audio description provides an explanation of the action. Open captioning displays dialogue on a screen and individuals on the autism spectrum can enjoy sensory-friendly options at select live performances, movie screenings and museum exhibits.
A group helping to facilitate these types of programs locally is The Florida Access Coalition for the Arts, which brings regional players together to help promote and provide equal access for all.
“No one should feel singled out because of a disability,” said board member Lew Balaban. “It’s important to get the word out that these types of performances exist and are out there for everyone.”
Here are examples of what’s available:
THEATER: At Fort Lauderdale’s Broward Center for the Performing Arts, sensory-friendly performances are a relatively new addition, expanding on accommodations like listening devices, audio description, open captioning, and sign interpretation. The performances feature a more comfortable atmosphere by bringing the lights up and allowing the audience to walk around as needed. There is also a quiet room and trained staff on hand to assist.
MUSEUMS: Young At Art Museum partners with Broward Center for the sensory performances. In addition, visitors to the Davie museum are welcomed to a Sensory Sunday every second Sunday of the month, along with classes and workshops designed for adults and students of all abilities. Another resource is a map of quiet areas and times that are calmer to visit.
DANCE: Miami City Ballet provides Touch Tours for those with visual impairments. Before select shows, patrons can explore elaborate costumes, props and sets by physically feeling items. During the actual performance, a live narration provides context and allows visitors additional input for a richer experience.
OPERA: The Florida Grand Opera coordinates with the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., to obtain braille and large-print copies of the libretto (translation of the opera), which are made available to audience members during performances. FGO says it is the only opera company in the country that provides this service. For open captioning, performances are translated on a digital screen because each opera is sung in its original language.
CINEMA: Sensory-friendly films are shown with the lights turned up and the volume turned down. These are available at the Museum of Discovery and Science/AutoNation IMAX Theater in Fort Lauderdale, as well as select AMC and Regal theatres. Audiences who might not feel comfortable in a traditional movie setting are invited to these specially tailored showings.
OUTDOOR ART: A multi-sensory mural specifically designed for the visually impaired is located outside of the Lighthouse for the Blind in Fort Lauderdale. Brought to life by Cadence Landscape Architecture, it features textured shapes that can be felt and an aromatic diffuser for scent, and it also incorporates sound. Visually impaired individuals helped to create the mural last year.
Lighthouse for the Blind President and CEO Ellyn Drotzer is proud that the artwork remains as a reminder that everyone can succeed in the arts. Another example of that type of success happened on a national stage earlier this year when, for the first time, a wheelchair-user won a Tony Award. Ali Stroker won Best Featured Actress for her role in the musical revival Oklahoma! The win was an inspiration to many who might think theater is out of their reach. But Drotzer says the arts can inspire anyone to take center stage.
“We are constantly finding ways to expose the population to different opportunities,” she says. “That can be in the arts as well. The arts can be a passion and also a profession. Nothing is off limits.”
Upcoming Inclusive Events
Please visit each venue’s website for a complete schedule of events and performances. Details are subject to change, so please contact the venue before going.
Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Audio Description
Les Misérables, Oct. 19, 2pm
Welcome to Margaritaville, Nov. 30, 2pm
Open Captioning
Shrek, Nov. 13, 2pm
A Christmas Story, Dec. 22, 2pm
Sign-Interpreted
Les Misérables, Oct. 18, 8pm
Welcome to Margaritaville, Nov. 29, 8pm
Sensory Friendly
Junie B. Jones, the Musical, Oct. 6, 11am
DreamWorks Shrek, the Musical, Nov. 2, 2pm
Mannheim Steamroller Live Video Stream, Nov. 11, 8pm
Florida Grand Opera
Open captioning with language translations, and braille and large-print versions of the libretto available at all performances.
Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Dec. 5, 7:30pm; and Audio Description, Dec. 7, 7:30pm
Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Jan. 30, 2020, 7:30pm; and Audio Description, Feb. 1, 2020, 7:30pm
Miami City Ballet
http://www.miamicityballet.org
Touch Tour and Audio Description
Don Quixote, April 26, 2020, 12:30pm and 2pm
Museum of Discovery and Science/AutoNation IMAX Theater
Sensory-friendly films: third Saturday of the month, 10am
AMC Theatres
Sensory-friendly films: second and fourth Saturday (family-friendly) and Tuesday evenings (mature audiences) of every month. Locations include AMC Aventura 24, AMC Sunrise 8 and AMC Sunset Place 24 in South Miami.
Regal Cinemas
Sensory-friendly films: beginning at 10:30am, second and fourth Saturday of the month. Locations include Regal Westfork, Pembroke Pines.
Young At Art
http://www.youngatartmuseum.org
The museum opens an hour early at 10am for Sensory Sundays every second Sunday of the month.
