On the evening of the gala, there will be a 6:30pm cocktail reception followed by dinner at 7:30pm, and entertainment at 8:30pm. The entertainment program will include performances by Tony Award nominee and recording artist MELISSA ERRICO (recently starred in the hit revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Passion and will soon be seen in the upcoming Cinemax series, “The Knick,”), the singing string quartet WELL-STRUNG (EDMUND BAGNELL, CHRISTOPHER MARCHANT, DANIEL SHEVLIN and TREVOR WADLEIGH), and from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Ringmaster JOHNATHAN LEE IVERSON and the husband/wife handbalancing act, DUO FUSION. The host for the evening will be TOVAH FELDSHUH, who recently starred on Broadway as Berthe in Pippin and just completed a short run of her tour-de-force performance as Golda Meir in Golda’s Balcony at the Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Ms. Errico will be accompanied on piano by TEDD FIRTH. The program will be directed by DONNA DRAKE.
“When TDF originally launched its accessibility programs in 1979, it was created to help theatregoers with mobility issues gain easier access to the theatre,” said Victoria Bailey, TDF”s Executive Director. “It is heartening that 35 seasons later TAP provides a variety of services in NYC and around the country from open captioned performances, audio described performances and autism-friendly performances, to help make theatre accessible to all. We’re thrilled to honor the Felds because they share the belief that live performance should be available to everyone.”
The 2014 Gala will provide crucial funds for TAP. Proceeds from the gala will support the following programs and services: Access for Young Audiences (AYA), Autism Theatre Initiative (ATI), TAP Plus, Accessible Seating, Audio Description, Open Captioning, Sign Language Interpreting, and our National Theatre Accessibility Programs which consist of National Open Captioning Initiative and National Autism Advisory Partnerships.
NICOLE, ALANA AND JULIETTE FELD are Executive Vice Presidents and Producers of Feld Entertainment, Inc. which owns and produces Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Feld Motorsports, Disney On Ice, Disney Live! and Marvel Universe LIVE! — has a longstanding commitment to making live entertainment performances accessible to underserved individuals including children with disabilities. TDF is proud to be working with Feld Entertainment on the autism-friendly performance of Disney Junior Live on Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure, scheduled for April 19, 2014.
TDF ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAMS (TAP) is comprised of eight programs which make theatre going possible for young people and adults with physical disabilities, as well as individuals on the autism spectrum. It provides a full range of services, from autism-friendly performances of theatre productions; accessible seating for those with mobility
issues; and open captioned, sign language interpreted and audio described performances of Broadway and Off Broadway shows for theatregoers with hearing and vision loss. TAP also trains theatres here and abroad on how to set up open captioning programs and autism-friendly shows, and offers an educational enrichment program for students who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind or with low vision.
THEATRE DEVELOPMENT FUND is the only not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving the entire spectrum of the performing arts with programs that touch the lives of millions of New Yorkers and visitors each year. Created in 1968 by a dedicated group of theatre professionals, TDF has developed ground-breaking programs to encourage and support the production of new artistic works, ensure the availability of affordable tickets to millions of theatregoers each year, and to build audiences for the future. TDF’s diverse roster of programs includes the TKTS Discount Booths, TDF membership, TDF Accessibility Programs (TAP) for theatregoers with physical disabilities as well as individuals on the autism spectrum, audience development initiatives for underserved New York City audiences, and award-winning arts education programs. Since its founding, TDF has been responsible for over 86 million admissions to the performing arts. For more information about everything TDF does, please visit www.tdf.org.
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