BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED NIGHT AT THE OPERA

In collaboration with the Moran Eye Center and the Utah Council for the Blind, Utah Opera hosted 81 attendees during its 27th annual Blind & Visually Impaired Night at the Opera for the May 1, 2024 dress rehearsal of Thaïs.

In a pre-performance presentation, Opera Education Manager Kevin Nakatani and Artistic Director Christopher McBeth introduced the story, characters, and themes of the opera and provided descriptions of scenic elements. Fabric swatches of costume fabric were passed around, providing a tactile element to the experience.

During the performance, many audience members used provided assisted listening devices broadcasting a live audio description of the events happening on stage. Patrons also had access to braille copies of the libretto and synopsis.

In partnership with Guide Dogs for the Blind, 11 puppies attended the dress rehearsal with their handlers to practice attending a social event as part of their training.