SAN ANTONIO — An experience for everyone. This weekend 'The Wizard of Oz' will take stage at the San Pedro Playhouse, and one show on Sunday there's something happening in the audience most wouldn't know. It benefits those who are blind or have low vision.
Laura Wright is in the play as the Wizard of Oz and Professor Marvel.
"This is a universal story and sharing it with as many people is what we are here as artists to do," she said. "The stories need to be told and experienced."
Kimberlyn Montford is with Vibrant Works, which used to be called San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind and Vision Impaired. Her focus is audio description during theatre. She said someone who is blind or has low vision can go to certain movie theatres and ask for audio description.
"While you watch the film, you would have someone describing what is on the screen that you can't see very well," she said. "With live theatre you can't do that. Because timing, is different and every night is different. So, you need somebody on the spot who can provide prepared audio description."
On Sunday's show of 'The Wizard Of Oz', Montford will have her notes and headset and will give the audio description in real time. The people who need it, will have a receiver and wear a headset to hear her talk.
"Theatre is so vibrant and fun," she said. "And there's all these little things that people see and they laugh at. And if you don't catch that you are like what is going on, what did I miss, what did I miss, what did I miss."
It is not an easy task. She prepares for the show, and also doesn't talk during dialogue or the music. Montford describes colors, or moments sometimes not scripted.
"For example, if someone were to tell me you are looking really good today," Montford said. "That's what people need. How, would they know that. They just heard silence. They didn't see the facial expression. So, that is kind of the stuff that I do."
She said it is all about giving everyone a full rich experience. Montford said she would like to see live audio description at theatres all over town. She said this is still fairly new for San Antonio, but very popular in other cities like Austin and New York.