According to Gallaudet University, Washington D.C. is home to over 20,000 Deaf and hard-of-hearing residents. In an effort to dismantle systemic barriers to the performing arts for Deaf community members, we want to collaborate with Hands In Motion, a local agency that pairs organizations with ASL interpreters, to provide professional ASL interpretation for our Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons.

Beginning with our fall 2023 production of The Figs by local DC playwright, Doug Robinson, we would like to provide ASL interpretation for two matinee shows during every production's run. In addition to our fall production, we will also produce Amélie the musical in the winter 2024 followed by Is God Is by Aleshea Harris in spring 2024.

We will advertise these nights through contacts at Gallaudet University as well as through the #SigningEcosystem, a DC collective of Deaf-owned businesses.

Project Goals
As a result of these efforts to become more inclusive to the tens of thousands of
Deaf community members residing in DC, we hope to accomplish two measurable goals:

Increase the number of Deaf patrons we serve from zero to two hundred; and

Build a reputation in the District as a Deaf-friendly theatre as measured by inclusion in city guidebooks for the Deaf.

Providing ASL interpretation is one way that Constellation Theatre can make our Deaf and hard-of-hearing community members not only feel welcome, but feel celebrated. We would love to have you be a part of this initiative and to list our ASL productions as sponsored by The Awesome Foundation.