Hearing Loss

TDF strives to eliminate barriers to attendance for all audiences. For theatregoers who are hard of hearing or d/Deaf, TDF Accessibility Programs provide open captioning and/or American Sign Language (ASL) at select Broadway and Off-Broadway performances.

Who’s Eligible?

There is no annual fee, but you must provide proof of eligibility in order to take advantage of our hearing loss program. Anyone who may benefit from open captioning or sign language interpreting services as the result of a documented physical limitation is eligible to apply for TDF Accessibility Membership.

Services available to TDF Accessibility Members with hearing loss

Open Captioning at Select Performances

For patrons with slight to profound hearing loss, TDF provides open caption (OC) services at select performances. During open captioned performances, an electronic text display is positioned to the side of the stage, which shows what the actors are saying or singing and describes sound effects on stage. Patrons are placed in select seats near the open caption board to ensure they can see both the stage and the captions during the performance. Please note, you must be a TDF Accessibility Programs Member to purchase tickets.

Sign Language Interpreting at Select Performances

For theatregoers who are d/Deaf and use American Sign Language as their primary means of communication, we provide a team of experienced theatre interpreters who stand to the side of the stage and translate what the actors are saying or singing into American Sign Language (ASL). Once you are a TDF Accessibility Programs Member, you will be notified of when performances take place.

All tickets are available for pickup at the box office within an hour of the performance.

Learn more about what goes into planning an ASL interpreted performance:

Additional Services for the members with hearing loss

TDF Accessibility Program for Students

We reach out to school groups of theatregoers who are d/Deaf or have hearing loss, providing in-class workshops and welcoming them at simultaneously interpreted and open-captioned performances of Broadway shows.