How can you make your venue or space hearing friendly?

First, learn to Like the Mic. Use the microphone every time. Yes, you.

Next, here’s a guide to help you ensure your venue or space is ADA-compliant and hearing-accessible.

And if you’re planning a meeting, this article can help you make sure that people with hearing loss are included.

In addition to using an assistitve listening system, we encourage you to consider CART (captions provided in realtime) to provide a visual display of spoken words and audio. Here’s our CART guide.

Looking for a hearing-accessible theatre or live venue space across the U.S.? Check out this list of looped live venues from Get in the Hearing Loop advocate Jerry Bergman updated in July 2020.

Hearing-Accessible Events, Washington State

Coronavirus update note: Most venues are closed due to intermittent pandemic restrictions. It has been suggested to delay or decline a ticket refund in order to support local arts and other vendors during difficult times. We encourage you to visit the websites of your favorite venues and arts organizations, watch captioned entertainment, and support them however you can.

Federal Way Performing Arts & Events Center

The new FWPAEC is looped. Watch a video about the loop (with an interview from our founder, Cheri Perazzoli), and check here and FWPAEC’s website regularly for looped events in rock, pop, ballet, modern dance, comedy, and more. fwpaec to delete

Seattle Children’s Theatre

Both Seattle Children’s Theatre venues are loo ped.

A Contemporary Theatre (ACT)

Seattle’s ACT uses the Figaro MobiTxt in-seat captioning system. Fifty tablets are available for check-out from any staff member; if you reserve them in advance at service@actttheatre.org, they’ll be set up and ready to go at your seat when you arrive. You can use the MobiTxts from any seat on Tuesday and Friday night mainstage shows, plus Thursday and Saturday matinee shows. Make sure the performance will be captioned when you buy your tickets.

Look for performances listed as “captioned” on the ACT website. Watch the instructional video with Josh Castille for more info.

Seattle Opera, McCaw Hall

All opera performances in Marion Oliver McCaw Hall in Seattle are captioned, and an infrared assistive listening sytstem is available.

ALDs are available just inside the ticket control area at the north end of the building near coat check.

Pacific Northwest Ballet, McCaw Hall

Pacific Northwest Ballet has an infrared assistive listening system and sometimes offers captions in Nesholm Family Lecture Hall, McCaw Hall, Seattle.

ALDs are available just inside the ticket control area at the north end of the building near coat check.

Taproot Theatre

The Taproot Theatre‘s Jewell Mainstage is looped.

Note: when you buy your tickets at Taproot, check this Taproot Seating Chart for Best Loop Performance to make sure you are seated in an area optimum for hearing clearly through the loop.

February 28, 2020 update: The loop is working once again. Please let us and Taproot staff know you appreciate their hard work in making sure everyone may hear.

Bellevue Youth Theatre

Bellevue Youth Theatre (BYT) now has a hearing loop.

Visit BYT for show details and ticket information. Performances generally happen in the spring of each year; tickets are $10-15.

Stroum Jewish Community Center

This Mercer Island center has a unique loop in its retractable seats designed and installed by Spencer Norby. Stroum’s programs range from comedy and theater to movies and lectures. Everyone is welcome.

Stroum Jewish Community Center
3801 East Mercer Way
Mercer Island WA 98040
206-232-7115

Seattle Repertory Theatre

The Rep is now looped in both the Bagley Wright and Leo K Theatres. Check out their preview for the 2019-2020 season, which includes The Great Moment, True West, The Children, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Lydia and the Troll.

The Rep also has open-captioned shows on the first Thursday evening of regularly scheduled shows in both the Bagley Wright and Leo K. Theatres. Check their website for final dates.

Everett Performing Arts Center/Village Theatre

The Everett PAC is now looped! The loop should work in all performances.

Village Theatre at Everett

For more information
2710 Wetmore Avenue
Everett, WA 98201
Box Office: (425) 257-8600

Village Theatre, Issaquah

The Francis J. Gaudette Theatre has a hearing loop, and all Village Theatre Issaquah and Everett performances will be looped.

Village Theatre has announced its 2018-2019 season, which includes Million Dollar Quartet, I Do! I Do!, and The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes.

Mount Vernon 6

Lincoln Theatre, Mount Vernon

The Lincoln Theatre installed its hearing loops in 2019. The Lincoln hosts movies, live theatre, concerts, and community and fundraising events.

Whidbey Playhouse

The Whidbey Playhouse in Oak Harbor is looped.

Anacortes Community Theatre

Anacortes Community Theatre is looped.

Call the box office for tickets (360-293-6829), stop by the theatre, or buy online.

Anacortes Community Theatre
918 M Avenue
Anacortes, Washington

Town Hall Seattle

Town Hall Seattle’s three permanent loop installs are complete!

This hearing accessibility is a fantastic gift to Seattle. A treasure trove of music, literary, civic, and entertainment events await everyone, regardless of their ability to hear. Many shows are just $5.

Cheri at Town Hall

The Driftwood Players (Edmonds)

The Driftwood Players installed a loop in December 2017.

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Open-Captioned Theatre Performances

5th Avenue Theatre

Open-captioned performance show times vary. Double-check your tickets.

For their 2019-2020 season, the 5th Avenue will combine ASL and open-caption shows. A block of seats will be reserved (roughly the first 10 rows on the left side at Orchestra level) so that people who need the accommodations can see them. Here are the announced ASL/OC shows.

To buy an accessible subscription or individual tickets, you can use this form.

Sennheiser Listening System headsets are available. Headsets are complimentary, but subject to availability. You may reserve a headset when you purchase your tickets. To reserve your headset, visit the Box Office, call 206-625-1900 or 888-5TH-4TIX (voice), or e-mail ticketing@5thavenue.org.

The Hearing Loss Association of America–Washington (HLA-WA) has season tickets to open-captioned performances at the 5th Avenue. Download a request form and send it to loopseattle@gmail.com. Visit The 5th Avenue Theatre for more information.

The Paramount Theatre

Most open-captioned performances are Sundays at 6:30 pm. Check your tickets.

Accessible seats can be purchased in person, by phone, or online at The Paramount Theatre’s accessible ticket page. Sennheiser infrared listening devices are available free, first come, first served. Visit The Friends of The Paramount booth, just inside the main lobby.

Visit Seattle Theatre Group for more information. The Hearing Loss Association of America–Washington (HLA-WA) has season tickets to open-captioned performances at the Paramount. Download a request form and send it to loopseattle@gmail.com.

Edmonds Center for the Arts

The Edmonds Center for the Arts sometimes offers CART performances and uses an IR assistive listening system. Reserve an iPad to view captions. Check out an IR headset at the Box Office.

Open-captioned movies

Ark Lodge Cinemas, Seattle

Ark Lodge Cinemas offers open-captioned movies, for select films, on Tuesdays, generally the first Tuesday following a Friday opening. Check the theatre for movies and times. Ark Lodge also tells us they have USL closed-caption devices available for all titles that support it, and then if CC is not available, it’s noted as soon as they’re aware. They offer the CC devices as display style (mounted on seats) or the glasses style (projects captions on the lens).

Ark Lodge Cinemas
4816 Rainier Avenue South
Seattle , WA 98118
(206) 721-3156

Anacortes Cinemas

Anacortes Cinemas offers open-captioned movies on Wednesday *and by request*. Call ahead. Check with the theatre for movies and times.

Anacortes Cinemas
415 O Avenue
Anacortes, WA 98221
(360) 293-7000

Burlington Cinema — AMC Lowes

Captiview provides caption monitoring at your seat. Call ahead to verify which movies are available. Ask at the desk for a Captiview monitor

Burlington Cinema
200 Cascade Mall Dr
Burlington, WA 98233
(360) 707-2727

The Edmonds Theater

The Edmonds Theater shows open-captioned movies every Sunday–the first show, or generally the 3:30 show. Check the theater for times and confirmation.

The Edmonds Theater
415 Main Street
Edmonds, WA
(425) 672-9366

The Grand, Tacoma

The Grand offers subtitled movies, when available, on Wednesdays. Check with the theatre for movies and times.

The Grand Cinema Tacoma
606 S. Fawcett
Tacoma, WA 98402
253-593-4474

Seattle Center Movies at the Mural

Enjoy captioned outdoor movies at the Seattle Center Mural Amphitheater in summer 2017.

Oregon Shakespeare Festival

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival offers open-captioned performances via a tablet device at patrons’ seats, plus an FM assistive listening system. Please call the Box Office at 800-219-8161 or 541-482-4331, OTRS 711, or email to boxoffice@osfashland.org.

Visit Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s website to purchase tickets and for further information.

Bellevue Arts Museum

The first Friday of each month, the Bellevue Arts Museum has free entry to its exhibits, along with a hearing accessible First Friday Talk in the looped auditorium.

Other BAM events are looped as well, so check their calendar regularly.

Meaningful Movies in Kirkland

Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church in Kirkland features a Meaningful Movie night every third Friday of the month at 7:00 PM. Screenings are looped, free, and open to the public.

For more information, visit Northlake UU Church’s website.

Civic Meetings

Seattle

Seattle City Council chambers are looped. And the Bertha Knight Landes Room just received its loop in September 2017.

Check the City Hall website for information on city council and committee briefings and meetings. Do attend and make your voice heard, and be sure to thank them for their leadership.

Bellevue

The City of Bellevue’s City Council Chambers and Council Conference Board Room (1E-113) are looped. Check Bellevue’s webpage for information on council briefings and meetings. Read the City of Bellevue’s April 2016 memorandum announcing and detailing the new communication access.