TAP Program Offers Seminar for Interpreters, June 6-11

By: May. 31, 2005
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Interpreting for the Theatre, a one week institute for theatre sign interpreters from across the U.S., will be presented by the Theatre Development Fund's Theatre Access Project (TAP) and the Julliard School from June 6th through June 11th.  Participants in the program will then make their Broadway sign language interpreting debuts at the June 11th matinee performance of La Cage aux Folles.

The annual program, which began in 1998, offers proficient theatre interpreters from across the country the opportunity to explore advanced techniques for signing plays and musicals. Classes will be taught by New York's top theatre interpreters, with involvement from members of the Deaf community throughout the week. Areas of study will include: "Theatre Interpreting Techniques," taught by Alan Champion and Candace Broecker-Penn (who between them have interpreted over 125 Broadway plays and musicals); "Translation," taught by Stephanie Feyne and Lynnette Taylor; "Body Work" by Alexander Technique expert Lauren Schiff; and "Contribution of Deaf Professionals," which will draw upon Deaf professionals in the tri-State area who have contributed to the field of sign language interpretation for the theatre.

The twenty students participating in this year's institute, many of whom interpret for Broadway road shows and regional theatre companies, were accepted into the "Interpreting For The Theatre" program through a videotaped audition.  Participants, who hail from 11 different states,  will study La Cage aux Folles.  The week culminates in a final class project that gives each participant the opportunity to interpret segments of the show to a closed audience of Deaf evaluators who provide individual critiques in translation and performance.  Then, several participants will be chosen chosen to assist their instructors with the sign language interpreted performance of La Cage aux Folles at the Marriott Marquis Theatre.

The Theatre Development Fund's Theatre Access Project (TAP) was established in 1979 to provide access to the performing arts for people with physical disabilities.  Currently, TAP sign interprets approximately 12 Broadway and Off Broadway shows and open captions over 25 shows each season. In addition to sign language interpreted and open-captioned performances for people who are hard of hearing and deaf, TAP serves theatregoers who are partially sighted or blind; people who for medical reasons cannot climb stairs; and people who require aisle seating or use wheelchairs. Through TAP, TDF offers discount orchestra tickets that are chosen with the customer's specific seating needs in mind. TAP presented the first sign interpreted performance of a Broadway show with The Elephant Man in 1980, and again made Broadway history in 1997 with the first open captioned performance of a Broadway show, Barrymore.

Interpreting for the Theatre is partially sponsored by SAP, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New York State Council on the Arts.

For more information, visit www.tdf.org/TAP/

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