Theater woes- Questionnaire!

deafygravity

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I wasn't sure where to put this, so Moderators, feel free to move this. I'm working on writing a book about my musical theater background (both postive and negative) and I was wondering about the rest of you guys. Some questions I had in mind - feel free to answer them if they apply to you. I would prefer to focus on the musical theater aspect but other kinds of theaters are welcome.

1.) How often do you go to see a theatrical production? Broadway or B'way tours across America?

2.) Are they interpreted in your city? Are those interpreters "qualified" (meaning they KNOW the difference between academic and performance signing)?

3.) For those times where no interpreters were provided, did you ever ask for a copy of the script? Were you given one or denied one? (For a B'way tour of AIDA, I was denied a 'terp and through a 3-day fight, finally got my hands on a script).

4.) Have you ever been kicked out of a show or asked to leave? (I've had that happen to me where the usher would tell the 'terp to stop and make us leave cuz the signing was too "distracting". Other times they wud kick me out for having a too bright light on my flashlight where I use to read scripts when i can't get a terp. Or they see me signing to my seatmate and think I'm causing trouble.

5.) My goal is to establish a theater terp agency where we specialize in training terps to terp musicals properly and to get more terps in B'way touring shows and local productions. I feel that we are deprived of opportunities to see "Wicked" or "Sweeney Todd" or "RENT" when we are limited in the days we can go, or if an terp is provided at all. If one is structured, what would you like in a theater terp? (what qualities are you looking for?)

6.) For musicals, do you prefer one terp at a time or two terping simultaneously? ASL or English or somewhere in between? Mouthing? Given generic boy/girl name signs or be a bit creative (such as the W-D/OZ for Wizard of Oz)?

7. Do you have any objections to using a CDI (Certified Deaf Interpreter) for terping musicals? (Given they know the show well and the lyrics). Would you encourage more CDI's to attempt the field of musical theatre interpreting? Or Solo performance of famous B'way songs?

8. What was the worst theater experience you have had? The Best?

9. What shows have you seen with terps? Without? Scripts?

10. Bonus - Do you have any favorite musicals? Why?

Thank you for taking the time to fill out the questionaire - feel free to add any information you might think I would find intriguiting. (I'm Deaf and love musical theater and I look forward to hearing your replies.)

Katie
 
No one? This is saddening.. as I'm doing my college paper on this and thought I'd get some hits here. Apparently not.
 
I wasn't sure where to put this, so Moderators, feel free to move this. I'm working on writing a book about my musical theater background (both postive and negative) and I was wondering about the rest of you guys. Some questions I had in mind - feel free to answer them if they apply to you. I would prefer to focus on the musical theater aspect but other kinds of theaters are welcome.

1.) How often do you go to see a theatrical production? Broadway or B'way tours across America? about every other month if possible

2.) Are they interpreted in your city? Are those interpreters "qualified" (meaning they KNOW the difference between academic and performance signing)? Yes

3.) For those times where no interpreters were provided, did you ever ask for a copy of the script? Were you given one or denied one? (For a B'way tour of AIDA, I was denied a 'terp and through a 3-day fight, finally got my hands on a script). Always provided an interpreter for me...

4.) Have you ever been kicked out of a show or asked to leave? (I've had that happen to me where the usher would tell the 'terp to stop and make us leave cuz the signing was too "distracting". Other times they wud kick me out for having a too bright light on my flashlight where I use to read scripts when i can't get a terp. Or they see me signing to my seatmate and think I'm causing trouble. NO...and I've been with some deafies who would sign while the show is on...that is RUDE and inconsiderate...and embarrassing. Like hearing people they should refrain from talking/signing until break time.

5.) My goal is to establish a theater terp agency where we specialize in training terps to terp musicals properly and to get more terps in B'way touring shows and local productions. I feel that we are deprived of opportunities to see "Wicked" or "Sweeney Todd" or "RENT" when we are limited in the days we can go, or if an terp is provided at all. If one is structured, what would you like in a theater terp? (what qualities are you looking for?) a creative way for the terp to blend in with show or the terp come on a hand held device.. because I don't like them standing at the side while the show is going on...can't see both at same time and it looks awful, frankly.../B]
6.) For musicals, do you prefer one terp at a time or two terping simultaneously? ASL or English or somewhere in between? Mouthing? Given generic boy/girl name signs or be a bit creative (such as the W-D/OZ for Wizard of Oz)? sign names are fine as long as terp remembers to sign the name fully before assigning the name sign; personally I perfer ASL - if dual singing is occuring - than dual terps...

7. Do you have any objections to using a CDI (Certified Deaf Interpreter) for terping musicals? (Given they know the show well and the lyrics). Would you encourage more CDI's to attempt the field of musical theatre interpreting? Or Solo performance of famous B'way songs? Nope (I used to LOVE doing it myself as a CDI). Fun!
8. What was the worst theater experience you have had? The Best? I love going to theater...the worst experience was a group in the audience that was being very disrespectful (catcalling, etc.)...the best ? dunno...

9. What shows have you seen with terps? Almost all Without? the ones with acrobats that have almost no dialogue Scripts? none - frankly we have to be make sure the scripts are not taken home, etc. because they have some serious copyright issues with scripts...

10. Bonus - Do you have any favorite musicals? Why? nope

Thank you for taking the time to fill out the questionaire - feel free to add any information you might think I would find intriguiting. (I'm Deaf and love musical theater and I look forward to hearing your replies.)

Katie



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