In October 2005, the Centenary Stage Company (CSC) , a professional, Equity theatre in residence on the campus of Centenary College in Hackettstown, NJ, inaugurated its second wave of ACCESS services for patrons with disabilities by offering CSC’s first Open-Captioned performances of the plays in the season. Open Captioned / Audio Described Performance
Normally available the third Sunday of each Professional Equity Play in the series
See Accessibility.

Often referred to as OC, Open Captioning derives from the text-based access to broadcast programs, “closed captioning,” , offered on may television programs, and which requires special equipment for viewing. By contrast, Open Captioning provides the same service, while requiring no special equipment, and is “Open to all” participants.

In 1996 open captioning was first introduced inside a theatre at the Paper Mill Playhouse production of Gigi. This came at the request of Arlene Romoff, advocate for the Hard of Hearing, and author of "Hear Again - Back to Life with a Cochlear Implant. " The service was first provided by a company called C2, co-founded by Donald DePew and David Chu. Open captioning in theatre has gained world-wide attention and support for its universal appeal, ease of integration and program enhancement. It has introduced a wave of new audiences and, especially, offered opportunities to those who can finally return to the theatre. The Open Captioned performances at CSC will be also provided by C2.

With a mission of improving access to the arts for all patrons, Centenary Stage Company also offers Audio Described performances of each production for patrons with visual disabilities and Listening Assistance devices for patrons with hearing disabilities. The Audio Described performances will be offered on the same dates at the OC performances in the 2005-06 season.

Tartuffe will run at CSC from Oct 7 – 23rd, and Sight Unseen will run at the Centenary Stage Company from Nov 4 -20.

Individual Ticket and Season Subscription Purchases can be made through our Secure Online Ordering System or by calling the Centenary Stage Company Box office at 908-979-0900 x3. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 2 – 5 PM and 2 hours prior to each performance. A special discount for patrons with disabilities is available.

Interested parties should contact the CSC ADA coordinator, Catherine Rust at 908-979-0900 x5 for information.