Accessibility
Northlight’s mission is to remove as many barriers of entry as possible for members of our community to attend our shows. On this page you will find more information on our many accessibility services. Our hope is to continue to expand our current offerings and make Northlight a space where all community members in the North Shore and Chicago area are welcome.
For more information about our accessibility services, please contact access@northlight.org.
ACCESSIBLE SEATING
Northlight offers several accessible seating options. In the theatre, seats in Row G require no stairs and can be accessed via the main lobby elevator. Seats G101, G225, and G301 have swing-open armrests for seating access or seat transfer.
Our lobby, entryway, and theatre are fully wheelchair-accessible. Seats G209, G211, C307, and C309 are designated as wheelchair-accessible seating and can be removed by an usher upon request. To access the Row C seats, enter via the hall on the right of the theatre lobby. Each wheelchair-accessible space has a designated companion seat marked on the purchasing seat map. If you prefer to have the seats in these locations remain in place for accessibility, please contact our Patron Services team at boxoffice@northlight.org or 847.563.8400.
All accessible seats can be purchased online. If you have any questions regarding your accessibility preferences, please contact Patron Services.
ASSISTIVE LISTENING
For patrons who have some hearing loss, we offer a Radio Frequency (RF) Headset system. This two-part system features a radio belt pack and headset, and can be obtained from House Management (ID deposit required). In addition, our theater also features an induction loop for patrons using hearing aids or cochlear implants with a T-Coil.
AUDIO DESCRIPTION/TOUCH TOUR
Each production in our season will offer one performance that includes audio description.
At an audio-described performance, patrons who are blind or have low vision will receive a wireless device with headphones. A professional audio describer provides timed narration of the onstage visual elements including descriptions of the action, scenery, costumes, and lighting.
A touch tour will begin two hours before the audio-described performance. A touch tour is a pre-show experience in which patrons who are blind or have low vision are invited into the theater for sensory introductions to certain props, costumes, scenic elements, and actors.
Below is a list of our remaining audio-described performances for our 50th Anniversary season:
The Front Page – Saturday, October 3 @ 2:00pm
All the World – Saturday, December 5 @ 2:00pm
The American Five – Saturday, February 27 @ 2:00pm
Here There Are Blueberries – Saturday, May 1 @ 2:00pm
Pearl In the House – Saturday, July 3 @ 2:00pm
To take advantage of the Audio Description service, please contact Patron Services at boxoffice@northlight.org or call 847.563.8400, as tickets are limited to the equipment available.
(If no audio description tickets have been reserved 48 hours before the performance, the audio description service will be canceled for that performance.)
BRAILLE/LARGE PRINT PROGRAMS
In addition to our traditional printed programs, Northlight also offers braille programs and large print programs for patrons who are blind or have low vision. These printed programs are available at our audio-described performances but may be requested in advance for any other performance by emailing Education and Community Programs Manager Lee Peters at lpeters@northlight.org or calling Lee at 847.563.8331.
PHYSICAL SCRIPTS
A small number of physical copies of the script are available at the Box Office to be read before the show. These scripts are not for sale and may not be removed from the building. We offer this as an option for individuals in our community who might want to fully understand the content of our shows before attending. Please return the script to the box office after reading.
OPEN CAPTIONING
Each production in our season will offer one performance that includes open captions.
During open captioned performances, an electronic text display is positioned on each side of the stage, which shows what the actors are saying or singing and describes sound effects on stage for patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing. A captioner will scroll through the dialogue in sync with the actors’ spoken word.
Preferred seats for viewing open captions are marked on captioned performances’ purchasing seat maps with an [OC] graphic. Caption screens will be placed on either side of the stage; our suggested seating areas for viewing are Row G & H in the center 200 section.
Below is a schedule of all of our open-captioned performances:
The Front Page – Friday, October 2 @ 7:30pm
All the World – Friday, December 4 @ 7:30pm
The American Five – Friday, February 26 @ 7:30pm
Here There Are Blueberries – Friday, April 30 @ 7:30pm
Pearl In the House – Friday, July 2 @ 7:30pm
Caption Placement: Please refer to the seating diagram for the location of the captioning screens in relation to the seats and stage.
Tickets may be purchased by phone (847.673.6300) or online. If you have further questions about seating or caption visibility before making a purchase, call 847.563.8400 and let the Patron Services representative know that you plan to use the captions in order to obtain seats with the best visibility, or email questions to Patron Services Manager Brian Scully at bscully@northlight.org
RELAXED/SENSORY FRIENDLY
Select productions will offer a relaxed/sensory-friendly performance where the typical rules of the theatre for audience members are relaxed. Relaxed performances are designed to make everyone feel safe and welcome at our theater. While these performances include changes to better support individuals with autism and sensory sensitivities, everyone is welcome to attend a relaxed performance.
Adjustments of note:
- Lower sound level
- House lights will remain on at all times at a low level
- Designated quiet area for patrons who need to step away from the performance
- Patrons are free to walk around and talk during the performance
- Cell phone usage and light noisemaking are allowed
Below is a schedule of all of our relaxed/sensory-friendly performances:
All the World – Thursday, December 10 @ 7:30pm
The American Five – Saturday, March 6 @ 2:00pm
Pearl’s in the House – Wednesday, July 14 @ 7:30pm
SENSORY GUIDES
Sensory guides will be downloaded here as they are made available for the season.
This guide holds many different accessibility tools to make your experience at our show as comfortable as possible. Please be aware that not every element of this guide will be useful to each individual; therefore, please feel free to pick and choose which accessibility tools would be most beneficial to you. The guide includes a synopsis of the show, sensory warnings, and photos of what to expect when you arrive at the theater.
VISUAL GUIDE
This guide is a useful tool for anybody who is unfamiliar with our theater. It includes photos and instructions on what to expect when you arrive including where to park, how to pick up tickets, and what the inside of the theater looks like.
For more information or questions about Captioning, Audio Description, or Relaxed Performances, please contact access@northlight.org.