ASL Interpreted Performances
UPCOMING ASL Interpreted Performances - Please Call for Accessible Seating
Million Dollar Quartet Christmas: Thursday, December 18, 7:00pm
Disney's Finding Nemo TYA: Thursday, December 11, 10:00am & Saturday, December 20, 10:00am
Little Shop of Horrors: Thursday, March 12, 7:00pm
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory TYA: Saturday, March 14, 10:00am
Heartbreak Hotel: Thursday, May 28, 7:00pm
A Little Night Music: Thursday, August 6, 7:00pm
A Year with Frog and Toad TYA: Saturday, August 8, 10:00am
Come From Away: Thursday, October 15, 7:00pm
Disney's Frozen The Broadway Musical: Thursday, December 17, 7:00pm
The SpongeBob Musical TYA: Saturday, December 19, 10:00am
Listening devices - Auracast™ & Hearing Loop
Hearing loss is a major public health issue, the third most common physical condition after arthritis and heart disease. The Marriott Theatre, on the forefront of providing the most enjoyable experience possible for all of its patrons, is one of the country’s first live performance venues to offer the new Auracast system for anyone who wishes to hear at their best when attending a show. The existing hearing loop is also available for those who wish to use it.
Even people who hear fine at home may have difficulty understanding voices in larger spaces due to reverberation – a slight echo which enhances the sound of live music but can be challenging for understanding the spoken word. Don’t let that impede your enjoyment of the show. Take advantage of these two assistive listening systems available at every performance.
Auracast is a new version of Bluetooth that an unlimited number of people can tune into at the same time, with superior audio quality direct from the sound system. It provides an improved listening experience for everyone, whether they wear hearing aids or not, including for example those without hearing loss who wish to enjoy the show free of distractions. Unlike the hearing loop, Auracast also works in the lobby. If you have to step out of the theatre, you can still listen. Simply use your device’s Auracast tuner to select the channel “MTLAuracast”.
Several newer hearing aids are capable of receiving Auracast, and all the major brands plan to offer it. In addition, there are a number of Auracast capable consumer earbuds on the market. This makes it convenient for anyone to take advantage of the assistive listening system without having to ask, using their own devices.
What is a Hearing Loop?
A hearing loop is a copper wire that is placed around the periphery of a room, which is powered by a loop driver generating a magnetic field. A telecoil, a common option on most hearing aids, serves as a wireless antenna to link the listener directly into the facility's sound system. It transmits audio from the sound system directly to hearing aids equipped with a telecoil (or T-coil), a type of antenna built inside many models.
If your hearing aids have a telecoil, learn from your audiologist how to switch it on and do so in the theatre.
For those patrons who have hearing loss but do not wear hearing aids with telecoils, complimentary generic (not tuned to the individual hearing loss) loop headsets are available.
Why a Hearing Loop?
Figuratively, hearing loops "loop people in," serving to provide all with FULL ACCESS. Thus the actors’ dialogue as well as the songs will be heard right in the patrons’ ears. Background noise, reverberation (echoing of sound), and distance issues constitute challenges for those with hearing loss and the hearing loop effectively resolves such problems.
Organizations comprised of people with hearing loss as well as Doctors of Audiology who treat hearing loss endorse the installation of hearing loops in large venues to provide enhanced audibility for those with reduced hearing. More than 2000 hearing loop installations have occurred nationwide. Airports, tour buses, sports arenas, even a Whole Foods check-out line, have loop technology.
Marriott Theatre is proud to be the first professional Theatre in all of Chicago Metro area to install this groundbreaking system.
Common condition
Hearing loss is at epidemic levels and is the third most common condition in those over 65 (preceded only by arthritis and hypertension). Local audiologist, Linda S. Remensnyder, Au.D., Doctor of Audiology and President of Hearing Associates, P.C., has facilitated the installation of hearing loops in multiple places of worship and at senior citizen gathering rooms such as Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Senior Center to enhance the listening experience of her patients.
More information
For more information about all aspects of hearing loss, please go to the website of the Hearing Loss Association of America, www.hearingloss.org.
For more information on Auracast, hearing loops, and compatible hearing aids, consult your audiologist. Those interested in purchasing Auracast capable earbuds can search online and look for the Auracast logo above.
The Auracast transmitter was provided by Thunder Hearing & Sound of Elgin, IL and installed in-house. Todd Billin and Hearing Loop Systems of Grand Rapids, MI provided the installation of the Loop system.
