Services offered to the visually impaired

New Stage Theatre now offers a special service to enhance the theater experience for the visually impaired.

For the second season, visually impaired patrons can reserve an Audio Descriptive Device to use during the play. A volunteer attends the play’s rehearsals, and during the performance, sits in the lighting booth and provides a description of the onstage action that feeds into an audience member’s earpiece through the device.With 10 Audio Descriptive Devices, the theater can accommodate up to 10 patrons requesting the service at one performance.

The audio description service is offered on the second Friday night and second Sunday matinee of the shows’ runs.The program has five volunteers now and could use more. For training, call Virginia McGrane at (601) 829-2919 or (601) 953-9428. On a different frequency, the devices can be used to enhance the audio for the hearing impaired.

That service, which doesn’t require a live volunteer, is available for any performance.Call the theater’s box office, (601) 948-3531, to reserve a device; they are available on a first come-first served basis.New Stage’s 41st season opener is the musical comedy revue, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. It runs Tuesday through Sept. 24.