Overture Hosts First-Ever Tactile Tour
Designed for guests with blindness or low vision, our Audio-Described program is offered for every Broadway run. This February, for the first time ever, during the run of Jesus Christ Superstar at Overture Center, we also offered a “tactile tour” in addition to the Audio-Described shows.
In a tactile tour, audience members receiving description are invited to come onto the stage prior to the performance to participate in a guided tour, which includes feeling costumes, handling props, moving about the stage, touching components of the set and listening to actors talk more about their characters while using their character voices. It is an important part of many Described performances and happens quite frequently before performances of large-scale musicals and plays in the United Kingdom.
Until recently, touring companies understandably declined our request for tactile tours citing concerns over COVID-19. Ever persistent though, our director of guest services, Tom Klubertanz, connected with a tour willing to host a tactile experience for our guests before the show. A group of a dozen guests met prior to the February 23 show and were invited into Overture Hall Main Lobbywhere they met with members of the Jesus Christ Superstar tour. Guests were able to visit with artists and touch sets, costume pieces and props from the show in the hopes of a more inclusive experience.
One guest shared their experiences with both the tactile tour and Audio-Description, “Heather did an awesome job describing the show. The tactile tour prior to the performance was awesome! I hope to attend more of them.”
UPDATE: Overture hosted its second tactile tour with Disney’s The Lion King on Wednesday, May 17.
Access at Overture aligns with Overture Center’s commitment to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. It continues to be at the forefront of current and future planning, and is an extension of our ongoing Centering Disability work. To continue the work of making Overture Center accessible, we are contracting with KultureCity to become certified as “Sensory Inclusive.” As our journey unfolds, we will update our community.