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In an effort to make our shows accessible to as wide an audience as possible, we have limited the number of tickets a patron may reserve for any one production.
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The Public Theater strives to make its performances and facilities accessible to all of our patrons and visitors. With our venues closed and performances and live events cancelled through August 31 of this year we are working to ensure our digital content is as accessible as possible. For additional information or if you have questions, need assistance, or an accommodation not mentioned below, please contact us at 212.967.7555 (voice) or accessibility@publictheater.org.
Alternate Formats
Large Print Playbills are available at all Public and Delacorte Theater season performances one week after a production has officially opened. Braille Playbills are available at all Public and Delacorte Theater season performances one week after a production has officially opened. Both large print and Braille may be obtained from the house manager or ticket taker upon entering the theater of the performance you are attending. Audio Playbills, 508 and WCAG AA compliant PDFs, designed to be used with a screen reader will be available under the Production Details on each production's page one week after the production has officially opened.
Other Public Theater print materials will be made available in alternate formats upon request with at least three weeks' notice. To request a document in an alternate format, please contact Audience Services by email at accessibility@publictheater.org.
Audio Description
Audio description is scheduled for select Public Theater and Free Shakespeare in the Park performances throughout the year. Using a single ear piece connected to an FM headset, patrons who are blind or have low vision can listen to trained audio describers give live, verbal descriptions of actions, costumes, scenery, and other visual elements of a performance. Audio describers start pre-show notes approximately 15 minutes before the performance begins. Tickets for events that will be offered with audio descriptions may be purchased by calling us at 212.967.7555, visiting our box office or on-line. Tickets may also be purchased by visiting our audio descriptions partner website TDF.org.
Patrons who wish to listen to the description must pick up a headset. Headsets are distributed free-of-charge on a first-come, first-served basis at the entrance to the theater by speaking to a House Manager, Ticket Taker or Usher before a scheduled audio described event.
The Public Theater also offers audio description upon request. Requests to audio describe non-designated events must be received at least two weeks prior to the event by the Director of Audience Services at 212.967.7555 or accessibility@publictheater.org These requests are subject to the availability of a describer and are provided at the discretion of the management.
Upcoming Audio Described Performances
Subject to availability.
Currently there are no performances scheduled.
Audio Described Digital Content
Coming Soon!
Assistive Listening Devices
Assistive listening devices (ALDs) amplify and clarify sound by cutting down or eliminating ambient noise. FM radio assistive listening systems are installed in all of our theaters and headsets may be used at any seat. Headsets with induction neck-loops are available for patrons who use hearing aids and cochlear implants with a "T" switch. Ask your audiologist whether your hearing aid or cochlear implant has a "T" switch (telecoil) and how to use it with an assistive listening headset.
Headsets are distributed 30 minutes prior to performances free-of-charge and on a first-come, first-served basis at the entrance to every venue at The Public by speaking to the House Manager, Ticket Taker or a member of the Host Staff at Joe's Pub. Patrons may acquire a headset at the Box Office of the Delacorte Theater for Free Shakespeare in the Park.
American Sign Language Interpretation
Sign language interpretation is scheduled for select events throughout our Astor Place and Free Shakespeare in the Park seasons. Tickets in the sign-interpreted section can be purchased on-line, by calling Audience Services at 212.967.755 or by email accessibility@publictheater.org.
The Public Theater offers sign language interpretation upon request. Requests for sign language interpreters, cued speech transliterators, or oral interpreters for non-designated events must be received at least two weeks prior to the event by the Director of Audience Services at 212.967.7555 or accessibility@publictheater.org. These requests are subject to the availability of an interpreter and are provided at the discretion of the management.
Upcoming American Sign Language Interpretted Performances
Subject to availability.
Currently no performances scheduled.
American Sign Language Interpretted Digital Content
YouTube American Sign Language Playlist
More Coming Soon
Open Captioning
Open-captioning is scheduled for select Public Theater events throughout the year. During these events, an experienced captioner scrolls up to three lines of text onto a four-foot-long LED sign in sync with the performance downtown at The Public. Tickets in our open captioned sections may be purchased on our website by selecting a seat that has been designated as Open Caption accessible, by visiting our box office or by contacting our captioning partner TDF.org.
The Public Theater also offers captioning upon request. Requests to caption non-designated events must be received at least two weeks prior to the event by the Director of Audience Services at 212.967.7555 or accessibility@publictheater.org. These requests are subject to the availability of a captioner and are provided at the discretion of the management.
Upcoming Open Captioned Performances
Subject to availability.
Currently no performances scheduled.
Open Captioned Digital Content
All Public Theater videos on YouTube include Closed Captioning
The Public on Theater YouTube
All Joe's Pub videos on YouTube include Auto Captioning with Closed Captioning coming soon
Joe's Pub on YouTube
The Public Theater is proud to offer Closed Captioning for performances at The Delacorte Theater through the GalaPro mobile application (app) available for download on your smart device or by borrowing a device from the box office. GalaPro is a first-of-its-kind mobile application that enables attendees to understand the stories unfolding on stage. GalaPro requires a one-time installation of the app. It is easily accessible and can be downloaded for free from the App/Google Play store. Using their multilingual system/ GalaPro provides users with the program of the performance as well as its show schedule. All services are provided in real time as the show is running on stage. Their unique technology is designed specifically to adhere to and respect the theater going experience of all. Airplane mode is always on so there will be no phone calls or messages, and a black screen with red or gray lettering is designed so that only the individual looking at their own personal device can see the screen. This feature prevents other audience members from being disturbed or distracted. If you need any assistance with the app or have any questions or concerns, please speak to a member of The Public Theater staff for assistance. Special support for GalaPro was provided by the Zegar Family Foundation, NYC Media & Entertainment, TDF, and the National Alliance for Musical Theatre.
1. Download the mobile app from either Google Play (Android) or AppStore (iPhone).
2. Create an account
3. Prepare your phone for the show.
All entrances to the building, theaters, and restaurants are accessible. Acessible paths for our venue seating areas vary per space, and may require assistance from the staff. Please visit our Venue Accessibility page for additional details on each space.
If you have any questions or concerns about accessibility during your visit, please feel free to speak to a member of our staff upon arrival or email us in advance at accessibility@publictheater.org. Elevators operate between the basement and the third floor of the building. The Newman has a separate elevator used to access wheelchair accessible seating.
All venues have wheelchair- and scooter-accessible locations where patrons can remain in their wheelchairs or transfer to theater seats. Patrons who cannot or do not wish to transfer from their wheelchairs to a theater seat should request wheelchair-accessible locations when ordering tickets. Wheelchair accessible seating may be purchased by phone, in person, and online. For personal assistance selecting accessible seats or for more information about accessibility for a person with a disability, please call us at 212.967.7555 or email us at accessibility@publictheater.org.
All public restrooms are wheelchair accessible. Companion care restrooms are available by speaking to a member of our staff for assistance.
Hands On is a non-profit arts service organization whose mission is to provide access to New York’s vibrant arts and cultural mainstream for the Deaf and hard of hearing communities. Hands On has coordinated interpreted performances at the Delacorte Theatre since 1984 making possible access for thousands of Deaf and hard of hearing audiences to one of New York’s most iconic and exciting summer events.
TAP is an accessibility department within TDF, a not-for-profit service organization for the performing arts. Since 1979, TAP has sought to make theatre accessible, enjoyable and affordable to people with disabilities. The TAP audience is comprised of individuals of all ages who are hard of hearing, deaf, partially sighted, blind and on the autism spectrum, as well as people, who for medical reasons, cannot climb stairs, require aisle seating or use wheelchairs. TAP services include open captioned, sign language interpreted, audio described and autism-friendly performances.
YAI, yai.org, and its network of affiliate agencies offer children ans adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities a comprehensive range of services. YAI is committed to seeing beyond disability, providing opportunities for people to live, love work and learn in their communities.
Founded in 1957 as the Young Adult Institue, YAI remains the at the forefront of an extraordinary movement aimed at empowering people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. YAI has assumed responsibility for those originally served by the HAI organization and assisting those with disabilities in acquiring ADA Accessible tickets for Free Shakespeare in the Park.
If you are interested in reserving a ticket for yourself and one guest please contact: by email: ufenninger@hainyc.org by phone: 347.701.3114
We are proud to introduce to you a company with a number of incredible instructors teaching American Sign Language. Our goal is to provide YOU the student, an enriching experience learning the beauty of ASL and Deaf culture; we welcome all levels from beginners to advanced students. We also offer one on one tutoring sessions, on site classes for corporations, and variety of workshops.
Sign Language Center was established to bridge the communication gap between the hearing and the Deaf communities. We do this by creating a comfortable and interactive environment. All of our instructors are "Native" Deaf individuals coming from a variety of cultural backgrounds. Our instructors strive to teach our students to have a better understanding about ASL and Deaf culture in a non-competitive, conversational setting. We hope you will join us in for a fun-filled learning experience!
