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<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""><b><br><br>
DISNEY’S THE LION KING AND NEWSIES<br>
TO OFFER NEW ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES ON BROADWAY<br>
</b><br><br>
<br>
I-Caption and D-Scriptive Devices Come to Minskoff and Nederlander
Theatres<br>
New York, NY (December 4, 2012) – Supported by funds from the City of New
York Theater Subdistrict Council, LDC and the City of New York, Disney’s
hit musicals The Lion King and Newsies have joined The Broadway
Accessibility/Audience Expansion Initiative, which creates collaboration
between producers and accessibility specialists at all stages of
production. The Initiative is a partnership between Inclusion in the
Arts, a New Yorkbased not-for-profit, and G-PASS, a service company
utilizing technology from Sound Associates Inc., in collaboration with
Disney Theatrical Productions. This historic Initiative provides
theatre-goers with disabilities a theatre experience as complete and
captivating as that enjoyed by non-disabled audience members. The
services are: I-Caption for deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons and
D-Scriptive for blind and low-vision patrons.<br><br>
<br>
I-Caption, a revolutionary text-based system by Sound Associates Inc.,
provides the entire script of the show – including character names – as
it unfolds in performance, via a hand-held polarized video screen.
D-Scriptive provides an extremely thorough audio description of a show on
a hand-held unit for blind and low-vision patrons. Both services are
integrated into the show’s light and electrical cueing system so that the
commentary keeps pace with the action onstage. These services are
provided for every performance, and evolved from the Infrared Listening
System, for which Sound Associates Inc. won a Tony® Award in
1979.<br><br>
<br>
With the addition of The Lion King and Newsies, Inclusion in the Arts and
G-PASS expand access to Broadway audiences of all ages in unprecedented
ways. The Initiative is particularly proud to showcase Broadway as a
welcoming entertainment option for all family members at every
show.<br><br>
<br>
“Here at Disney Theatrical Productions we are in the business of
exceeding our guests’ expectations,” said Dana Amendola, VP, Operations,
Disney Theatrical Productions. “This wonderful Initiative will help
ensure our commitment by offering our deaf, blind and hard-of-hearing
patrons an even greater opportunity to experience the magic of
Broadway.”<br><br>
<br>
“With revolutionary new technology, we are able to introduce special
accessibility services to every single performance, thus enabling
children in body and at heart to enjoy these productions,” states Anne
Tramon, VP of Sound Associates Inc., the company that created the
technology. “As a result of this Initiative, we are able to expand these
services to more productions until they are, one day, standard.”<br><br>
<br>
“There is perhaps no stronger shared entertainment experience than seeing
live theatre together,” said Sharon Jensen, Inclusion in the Arts,
Executive Director. “Thanks to the Initiative, now grandparents, parents
and children with disabilities can all enjoy live theatre on par with the
ways non-disabled audience members do. I-Caption and D-Scriptive give
theatregoers of all ages – including those with disabilities – a unique
opportunity to create lasting family memories. Disney Theatrical
Productions consistently makes Broadway one of New York City’s foremost
destinations. They have extended their support by offering extraordinary
accessibility for audiences at The Lion King and Newsies. In the finest
of Disney traditions, cherished memories are now available to
all.”<br><br>
<br>
About Inclusion in the Arts<br>
Inclusion in the Arts advocates for full inclusion of artists of color
and performers with disabilities at all levels of production in theatre,
film and television. Our principal aim is to achieve full inclusion in
American arts and entertainment so that our stages and screens truly
reflect the society in which we live; where each artist is considered on
his/her merits as an individual; where the stories being told are drawn
from authentic and diverse experiences; and where our individual humanity
can be celebrated. In 2011 Inclusion in the Arts received the Tony® Honor
for Excellence in the Theatre.<br><br>
<br>
For those of you who are reading this.<br><br>
I am planning on a group trip to see the Lion King, it would also be a
fundraiser event for the Greater Long Island Chapter of the National
Federation of the Blind, no date has been set as of yet, but all
interested people, please contact me.<br><br>
<br><br>
<br>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=4>Cheryl Echevarria, 2nd Vice
President<br>
NFB Greater Long Island Chapter <br>
631-236-5138<br><br>
Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY State<br>
</font><br>
<font size=4>Leading the Way in Independent Travel!<br><br>
SNG Certified - Accessible Travel Advocate!<br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=4><br>
Cheryl Echevarria, Owner<br>
<a href="http://www.echevarriatravel.com/" eudora="autourl">
http://www.echevarriatravel.com</a><br>
631-456-5394<br>
reservations@echevarriatravel.com<br>
<a href="http://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com/" eudora="autourl">
http://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com</a><br><br>
2012 Norwegian Cruise Line University Advisory Board Member.<br><br>
</font><font color="#2A2A2A">Echevarria Travel and proud member of the
National Federation of the Blind will be holding a year round fundraiser
for the
<a href="http://www.nfbny.org/" eudora="autourl">http://www.NFBNY.org</a>
after Hurricane Sandy and other resources. Any vacation package booked
between November 6 2012-November 6, 2013 and vacation must be traveled no
later than 12/30/2014 a percentage of my earnings will go to the
affiliate. Also is you book a Sandals for couples or Beaches for
families and friends resorts vacation, $100.00 per booking will go to the
affiliate as well. You do not need to be a member of the NFB.org,
just book through us.<br>
</font><font size=4 color="#2A2A2A"><br>
Thank you.</font></blockquote></body>
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