Visitor Info

Special Needs & Accessibility

Theatre Accessibility

Wheelchair and Accessible Seating

For patrons who use a wheelchair/scooter or have difficulty navigating stairs, we offer priority seating for all performances—both seated and general admission. Upon your arrival, please let the nearest usher know you would like to make use of this service and they will alert the House Manager. We also offer wheelchair/scooter locations in both the Paul Green and Kenan Theatres with an accompanying companion seat. Our representatives would be happy to assist you in finding a seat location that fits your needs.

Patrons who have difficulty navigating steps should reserve seats in Row A of the Paul Green Theatre. Please call our Box Office at 919.962.7529 if you would like to purchase these tickets over the phone or if none are available online.

Courtesy Wheelchair

PlayMakers has a wheelchair on site and available for patron use. Please call House Management to make a reservation (919.962.7529), or find a PlayMakers staff member when you arrive at the theatre.

Restrooms

Fully-Accessible restrooms are available on the ground floor for patrons of both theatres.

Electronic doors

Button-activated automatic doors are available at both main entrances of the Joan H. Gillings Center for Dramatic Art.

Accessible parking

The University office of Parking & Transportation has allocated a very few accessible parking spaces, located on Paul Green Theatre Drive next to the theatre, the surface lot behind the theatre, and in marked spots in the Cobb Parking Deck.

For more details and driving directions, please see our Directions & Parking page.

All-Access Performances

We believe the arts should be accessible for everyone. In partnership with ArtsAccess, PlayMakers offers many services for patrons who are blind, deaf or hearing impaired. We offer audio-description and open caption of our performances on nights we call All Access. We are also able to provide large-print playbills, and tactile tours of our sets with prior notice.

PlayMakers selects one Mainstage performance per production dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities have equal access to the arts. PlayMakers achieves this by employing: open captioning for patrons who are hard of hearing or deaf; assistive listening devices for patrons with partial hearing loss; audio description, large print playbills,* and a tactile tour* for patrons with impaired vision; and wheelchair access.
*With advance request

American sign language interpretation (ASL)

ASL sign language interpretation of our performances are offered on nights special nights during every production.

If you require sign language interpretation, please alert our Box Office in advance so that you can be given the best view of our interpreters. Contact our Box Office at 919.962.7529, Tuesday–Friday from Noon–5:00pm; and 90 minutes before each performance. Or email prcboxoffice@unc.edu.

Assistive listening devices (ALDs) & T-Coil Hearing Loop

Both of our theatres are equipped with a FM sound system that amplifies the sound from the stage. We offer Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs), a traditional headset, which is worn over the ears with hearing aids removed, as well as T-Coil Hearing Loops that are compatible with hearing aids. Headsets and loops are available to patrons on a first-come, first-served basis and can be obtained from our Coat Check, located to the left of the Box Office, or by asking any member of our staff.

 

Open Captioning Performances

Many people with hearing loss or who just want to make sure they don’t miss a word find Open Captioning helpful. Audiences on Broadway and at other performing arts organizations such as The Kennedy Center and Blumenthal Center in Charlotte have enjoyed the benefits of this service. We offer this service at no additional cost to you.

Open Captioning is like closed captioning on your TV – in the theatre. Open Captioning converts the spoken word into text, which is displayed on a caption unit that is viewed by the audience. As the captions roll (delivered live, from a laptop computer, by an experienced captioner), audience members can follow what is said, when it is said, and by whom. Sound effects and off-stage noices are also included. The caption unit is in position before the performance and removed immediately afterwards.

Partial support for this service is provided by the Theatre Development Fund.

For more information please read our Open Captioning FAQs