ACCESS THEATRE
ACCESS THEATRE
1979-1996
Equal access may be an abstract goal to some, but for the players of Access Theatre it is a concrete reality marked by the blurring of distinctions between those who are disabled and those who are not. Access Theatre is a theatre of life, dignity and acceptance.
- Los Angeles Times
Access Theatre was the pioneer of accessible theatre and in its 18 years, garnered international attention and awards and toured extensively with primarily original productions. The company left a trail of accessibility behind us, often introducing services such as open captioning, audio description and sign language interpreting to theatres and audiences around the nation.
The Association of Theatre and Accessibility (ATA) was based with the company for years and Access Theatre was the standard bearer for equal access casting, tackling social issues, while celebrating the human spirit. Strong media attention and national awards helped propel Access to a level of great acclaim and respect. From Variety to The LA Times, The Boston Globe to NPR and The TODAY Show, a documentary film to performing at The Kennedy Center on an NBC TV Special, the artists of Access Theatre were trailblazers.
STORM READING, based on the writings of Neil Marcus, became Access Theatre’s signature work and toured for nearly six years in England, Canada and across the USA. Taped for television by Emmy Award winning Gary Smith, STORM READING continues to reach audiences internationally on DVD.
ACCESS THEATRE ARCHIVES
With the support of Peter Robertson and ACCESS Unlimited and the Access Theatre Endowment Fund at Santa Barbara Foundation, a comprehensive collection of the Company's 18 years of work has been digitally compiled and is available for all to access at: https://atarchives.wordpress.com. This is a rich collection of photos, videos, newsletters, original music, press stories from print and television, documentary films and the book "Storms and Illuminations: 18 Years of Access Theatre" can all be found here. The site is completed and accessible to the public.