[Perform-Talk] Making sure this got to the list.FW: Needing assistance from blind theater performers

Mon Aug 27 16:25:26 UTC 2018

Hi Judy! I've done some community theatre and am totally blind.

So there are really two questions here:
1) How do you develop alternative techniques to do theatre? And
2) How do you get reluctant people to let you give it a shot?

As for 1), your friend already has some advantages that I didn't. For
instance, she knows, from being sighted, a full range of gestures and facial
expressions she can use to portray a character.

She can also often use sound cues to know where she is onstage and which way
to go. This aspect has often been difficult for me--I don't have the world's
greatest sense of direction, and often you don't have that much time to
practice on the actual set. I've been in Gilbert and Sullivan productions in
which we didn't have the set put up until Monday, and opening night was
Friday. I was in the chorus both times, and so was able to go on and off
with other people. I've been told that my voice was strong enough for a
stronger role. But I really don't know how I would have learned the set in
such a short time. 

I've wanted for a long time to discuss with other blind people what could be
done, relatively inconspicuously, to make the stage environment safer. Yes,
I do fear falling off the stage. This isn't an issue if you're using a cane,
or if you're moving on or off with others, but it could be an issue if
you're walking by yourself without a cane. When I have done this, I didn't
need to move all the way to the front of the stage, so the issue never came
up.

As for question 2), that can be really intractable. Has she auditioned for
these people, or just accepted their word that they wouldn't cast her? I've
gotten parts by showing up for auditions that weren't well-attended.
Sometimes you can find out stuff like that by becoming involved in other
aspects of the theatre and going to board meetings.

I don't know whether there are improvisation classes where your friend
lives, but if there are it would be worth her time to sign up. There cast
members are supposed to tune into each other, and if one of the participants
is blind, they can work with that--at least that has been my experience.

I don't know why others haven't responded to you, but my guess is that no
one has figured out the magic secret to making people want to work with you
when they don't. I hope others will comment.

Masha 

-----Original Message-----
From: Perform-talk [mailto:perform-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Judy Jones via Perform-talk
Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2018 6:32 PM
To: 'Performing Arts Division list' <perform-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Judy Jones <sonshines59 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Perform-Talk] Making sure this got to the list.FW: Needing
assistance from blind theater performers

Thank you, Amy.  Will keep a watch on the list in hopes to get a response.

Judy

-----Original Message-----
From: Perform-talk [mailto:perform-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Amy
Sabo via Perform-talk
Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2018 2:13 PM
To: Performing Arts Division list
Cc: Amy Sabo
Subject: Re: [Perform-Talk] Making sure this got to the list.FW: Needing
assistance from blind theater performers

yes, judy this did go through the list.. I hope that your friend knows that
you are there for her and, also is this list too! I hope that someone here
on this list can assist her on these ideas in acting. I too have never done
any acting myself at all either. thanks again and, I will talk to you soon!

hugs,
amy

On 8/24/18, Judy Jones via Perform-talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hello, Everyone,
>
>
>
> I sent this e-mail right after signing up for the list, but not sure 
> if it god on, so am re-sending.
>
>
>
> Thanks.
>
>
>
> Judy
>
>
>
> From: Judy Jones [mailto:sonshines59 at gmail.com]
> Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2018 5:41 PM
> To: perform-talk at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Needing assistance from blind theater performers
>
>
>
> Hello,
>
>
>
> My name is Judy Jones, and I have become acquainted with a lady who 
> lives in our area and has been quite involved in the local community's 
> theater group.
> However, since she has become blind, they are not willing to accept her.
> They basically told her that now she has lost her vision, there is no
place
> for her.
>
>
>
> When she told me this, I told her about the NFB's performing arts
division.
>
>
>
> One thing she mentioned in conversation is that, in order to get
off-stage,
> she could hold onto someone's shoulder as a guide.
>
>
>
> I quickly told her, that all she would have to do instead is to learn 
> the stage area so she could move independently.  She agreed.  But it 
> was definitely new food for thought for her to realize she didn't have 
> to take the community group's word and accept defeat, when she would 
> really still like to be involved.  It simply hadn't dawned on her she 
> could challenge their misconception.
>
>
>
> The only anything near any acting I did was in a high school play, 
> where I played a lead character, but that was years ago, and I'm 
> certainly no professional by any stretch of the imagination.
>
>
>
> I am requesting e-mail from anyone involved in the theater and acting, 
> as
I
> would like to help hook her up for some mentoring from you guys.
>
>
>
> Please write me off-list, and we'll take it from there.
>
> My e-mail is
>
> Sonshines59 at gmail.com
>
>
>
> Thanks loads for your help in helping this lady to realize her dream 
> of continued acting.
>
>
>
> Judy
>
>
>
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