SAN ANTONIO – The Sunday matinee show of A Christmas Carol at the San Pedro Playhouse was a little different than other shows. Audio descriptions were provided to give people who are visually impaired a way to enjoy theatre.
“At times there, I was sitting in the audience, and people were laughing, and I was the only one that wasn’t laughing. And ‘I was like, I get it. Something physical happened on stage, and I missed it. And with audio descriptions, that fills it in,” said Jennifer Salinas.
Salinas has worked with the nonprofit Vibrant Works, an organization committed to helping the blind and visually impaired, to put audio descriptions in the San Pedro Playhouse.
“Every production is different, so we have to see how they’re going to do it in their timing and things like that so we can get in the description without covering the dialog or a lot of the music, or the sound effects,” said Kimberlyn Motford, the Audio Description Coordinator for Vibrant Works.
Here’s how it works: anyone can request a small earpiece and receiver to wear in one ear during the show. That way, people can still listen to what’s happening on stage while hearing stage directions, acts of physical comedy, or more.
“I’m just another member of the audience helping other people in the audience experience it in a really, really rich way,” Motford continued.
Vibrant Works is working to put audio descriptions into as many theaters as possible in San Antonio, including the Majestic Theater. You can find a schedule of its upcoming productions listed below.
Vibrant Works LAD 2024-2025 Season Schedule:
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Dec. 22, 2024, at 2 p.m. – A Christmas Carol – San Pedro Playhouse
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Jan. 12, 2025, at 1 p.m. – Hadestown – Majestic Theatre
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March 2, 2025, at 2 p.m. – Jersey Boys – San Pedro Playhouse
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March 30, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. – Romeo and Juliet – San Pedro Playhouse
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April 6, 2025, at 1 p.m. – Mamma Mia! – Majestic Theatre
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May 11, 2025, at 1 p.m. – The Wiz – Majestic Theatre
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June 1, 2025, at 2 p.m. – Anything Goes – San Pedro Playhouse
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Aug. 17, 2025, at 2 p.m. – Hairspray – San Pedro Playhouse