Information for Patrons and Visitors who are Deaf or Have Hearing Loss and attending Free Shakespeare in the Park
The Public Theater is committed to providing accessible programs and services for all patrons with disabilities.
Assistive Listening Devices
Assistive listening devices (ALDs) amplify and clarify sound by cutting down or eliminating ambient noise. FM radio assistive listening systems are installed at the Delacorte Theater and headsets may be used at any seat. Headsets with induction neckloops are available for patrons who use hearing aids and cochlear implants with a "T" switch. Ask your audiologist whether your hearing aid or cochlear implant has a "T" switch (telecoil) and how to use it with an assistive listening headset.
Headsets are distributed 30 minutes prior to performances free-of-charge and on a first-come, first-served basis at the Box Office of the Delacorte Theater for Free Shakespeare in the Park. Some form of identification must be left with the Box Office to borrow an Assisted Listening Device during a performance.
Sign Language Interpretation
Sign language interpretation is scheduled for select Free Shakespeare in the Park events throughout the summer. Tickets for events that will be offered with American Sign Language Interpretation may be obtained by making a donation to The Public Theater by calling us at 212.967.7555, visting our box office or online. Becuase this service is available to a limited number of seat locations at the Delacorte patrons who require this service should alert the staff of their need for access upon arrival at their chosen distribution point. For more information regarding distribution in Central Park click here. For more information regarding our Downtown Lottery click here. For more information regarding our Borough Distributions click here. For information regarding our Digital Lottery sponsered by Today Tix click here. Tickets in the sign-interpretated section of the Delacorte Theater may also be obtained by contacting Hands On, our ASL partner, by visiting their website Handson.org.
The Public Theater also offers sign language interpretation upon request. Requests for sign language interpreters, cued speech transliterators, or oral interpreters for non-designated events must be received at least two weeks prior to the event by the Director of Audience Services at 212.967.7555 or accessibility@publictheater.org. These requests are subject to the availability of an interpreter and are provided at the discretion of the management.
Captioning
Open-captioning is scheduled for select Free Shakespeare in the Park events throughout the year. During these events, an experienced captioner scrolls up to three lines of text onto a four-foot-long LED sign in sync with the performance downtown at The Public. At the Delacorte for Free Shakespeare in the Park two six-foot-long television screens scoll up to two lines of text in sync with the performance. Tickets for events that will be offered with Open Captioning may be obtained by making a donation to The Public Theater by calling us at 212.967.7555, visting our box office or online. Tickets for events that will be offered with open captions may be obtained by making a donation to The Public Theater by calling us at 212.967.7555, visting our box office or online. For more information regarding distribution in Central Park click here. For more information regarding our Downtown Lottery click here. For more information regarding our Borough Distributions click here. For information regarding our Digital Lottery sponsered by Today Tix click here. Finally, tickets may also be obtained by visiting our audio descriptions partner website TDF.org.
The Public Theater also offers captioning upon request. Requests to caption non-designated events must be received at least two weeks prior to the event by the Director of Audience Services at 212.967.7555 or accessibility@publictheater.org. These requests are subject to the availability of a captioner and are provided at the discretion of the management.
Click Here for a calendar of upcoming accessible performances at the Delacorte as well specifics about our venue and our partners.