FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media contact: Julia Guzman / 941-351-9010 Ext 4800 / julia_guzman@asolo.org   ASOLO REP & THEATRE DEVELOPMENT FUND (TDF) OFFER MORE ACCESSIBILITY TO LOCAL MEMBERS OF THE LARGEST HANDICAP GROUP IN THE NATION Sarasota, Florida (January 15, 2008) – Theatre Development Fund, a New York City based not-for-profit performing arts service agency has renewed their support of Asolo Repertory Theatre’s open captioned services for 2008. Open Captioning is designed to provide increased accessibility to hearing impaired audience members making it possible for them to enjoy a total theatre experience. In Sarasota and Manatee Counties it is estimated that there are more than 100,000 persons with hearing loss, making them members of the largest handicapped group in the nation.              Frank Stocco, past president of the Hearing Loss Association of Sarasota, and his wife are both hearing impaired and avid theatre goers. According to Stocco they used to miss a lot and had to guess at what was happening. “If the play was a comedy, we sat silently while most of the audience members laughed. In short, we missed having a "normal" enjoyable theatrical experience! That all changed when open captioned performances came to Sarasota a few years back. We now attend live theatre performances whenever they are offered! We notice that many audience members who may think that they have normal hearing are also reading the captions. They either don't know that they have hearing loss or they deny it.”  Stocco says national statistics indicate approximately 16 percent of the population has some degree of hearing loss. By age 75 that number jumps to more than 30 percent. Locally it is estimated that there are more than 100,000 persons with hearing loss. Open captioning is a text display located on the right side of the stage.  Scrolling the words in synchronization with the performance, it assists people with varying degrees of hearing loss, as well as hearing audience members who might not catch every word during a performance. Stocco added, “Some of the members of our organization who once were regular Asolo Rep subscribers had given up attending because they missed so much of the dialogue. Open captioning is the only way that allows many of us to once again enjoy attending the theatre.” Asolo Rep’s next open captioned performance is for The Play’s the Thing on Sunday, January 20 at 2:00 p.m. in Asolo Rep’s Mertz Theatre. At the same time, an Audio Described performance of Asolo Rep’s The Blonde, the Brunette, and the Vengeful Redhead at the Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater will be provided for visually impaired audience members, making this somewhat of an “accessibility heyday” for Asolo Rep patrons. The term open captioning (OC) is derived from its television analogue, closed captioning (CC), and means “open” and available to everyone:  people who are hard of hearing and deaf, sign language users who may prefer a literal translation of the text, those not self-identified with a hearing loss, and individuals who simply might have missed a punch line, lyrics or sound effects. Open captioning in theatre is inclusive, undiscriminating, passive assistance widely acknowledged as a benefit to all audiences.  The service is especially welcome to people with hearing loss, an invisible difference affecting an estimated 28 million people, making it the largest disability group in the U.S.  Of this population, over 98% do not use sign language and are unable to benefit from interpreted performances.  Since first introducing the service to Broadway in 1997, Theatre Development Fund has sponsored open captioned performances for over 200 Broadway, Off Broadway and regional theatre productions. Asolo Rep has consistently provided a more accessible environment for its audiences, making it a theatre for all theatregoers. In addition to wheelchair seating and hearing impaired services, Asolo Rep offers audio described performances and no-cost companion tickets for the visually impaired. Groups of 10 or more save up to 20% off the regular ticket price.  For group sales information call 941-351-8000, or toll-free at 800-361-8388 or purchase online at www.asolo.org. When purchasing tickets to an open captioned performance, patrons should request to be seated in the open caption accessible section of the orchestra level. For audio described performances, please call ahead to reserve an audio description headset.    ###   Asolo Repertory Theatre is funded in part by the Division of Cultural Affairs, Florida Department of State, the Florida Arts Council, the City and County of Sarasota and the Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax through the Board of County Commissioners, the Tourist Development Council and the Sarasota County Arts Council. Funding is also received through efforts of support groups including the Asolo Angel Association, the Asolo Theatre Guild, the Directors Emeritus and the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations.