VPA offering more ASL-interpreted performances

Local theatergoers have enjoyed high-level productions featuring homegrown talent at Valley Performing Arts for decades. But it is not always easy for the hearing-impaired to take in a show.

For years, limited financial resources meant the nonprofit VPA could only provide an American Sign Language interpreter at larger musical productions. That meant just one or two shows each year, out of the six typically done in a season, were fully accessible to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, said Jenna Worley, VPA’s executive director.

That changed in September, just in time for the start of the new VPA season. The nonprofit Mat-Su Health Foundation granted the theater company $7,400 to fund two interpreters for each of the six shows this season, including the upcoming “Puffs”, which opens Feb. 14 and runs Friday through Sunday through March 2.

“Providing the interpreted shows this season has been a wonderful experience,” Worley said. “Thanks to the generosity of the Mat-Su Health Foundation, this is the first time we’ve ever been able to do that.”

The Mat-Su Health Foundation has been investing in community health and wellness since 2007, when it became part owner of the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. In the last 17 years, the Health Foundation has channeled more than $138 million from its share of hospital profits back into the community through nonprofit organizations across the Valley.

The September grant was VPA’s second from the Health Foundation, which previously funded a renovation and upgrade of restroom facilities at VPA in 2018. Worley, who was a volunteer with the organization at the time, said she remembered the project and what it meant to the group.

“All these additions are beyond aesthetic and helped make our bathrooms fully functional and accessible for all our patrons,” she said.

Volunteers have always been essential to Valley Performing Arts. Since its inception in 1976, the organization has been driven by the vision and uncompensated dedication of actors, musicians, and behind-the-scenes personnel.

“Our goal as a nonprofit theater is to provide quality live performances that enhance the lives of our community, and we want as many members of our community to be included as possible.”

With four shows down in the current season, and two to go, Worley said the addition of the extra interpreted shows has helped achieve that goal. And it has not gone unnoticed.

“The feedback has been amazingly positive, not only from the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, but from other patrons as well,” she said. “We are so honored and grateful to be able to serve the community by providing these performances. And we are grateful to the Mat-Su Health Foundation for their continued support of VPA and our mission.”

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www.vpaalaska.org