July 22, 2026 – October 28, 2026
The American Shakespeare Center offers ASL-interpreted performances on select dates at the Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton, Virginia.
At the Blackfriars Playhouse, the lights stay on. Actors and audiences share the same room, the same light, and the same live moment. ASL interpretation helps more patrons experience the language, movement, humor, music, and connection of live theatre at ASC.
These performances are designed for patrons who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, or who would otherwise benefit from American Sign Language interpretation. A select number of ASL-accessible seats are reserved to provide a clear view of the interpreters throughout the performance.
2026 ASL-Interpreted Performance Schedule
- As You Like It – Wednesday, July 22, 2026: Evening Performance
- The Tempest (Student Matinee) – Wednesday, October 28, 2026 Morning Performance
- For Student Matinee Tickets, please reach out to GroupSales@americanshakesparecenter.com
- The Tempest – Wednesday, October 28, 2026: Evening Performance
- A Christmas Carol – Wednesday, December 9, 2026: Evening Performance
- A Christmas Carol (Student Matinee) – Thursday, December 10, 2026 Morning Performance
- For Student Matinee Tickets, please reach out to GroupSales@americanshakesparecenter.com
Choosing ASL-Accessible Seats
To get the best view of the interpreters, select 
Orange seats when booking online. These seats are held to ensure that patrons needing ASL interpretation have a clear view throughout the performance.
When selecting these seats, you may see this message:
“You have selected a seat intended for patrons who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or would otherwise benefit from American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation. Please confirm by clicking ‘OK’ that you or a member of your party require this service.”
Need help choosing seats? Contact the Box Office.
Need help? We’re available for any questions at tickets@americanshakespearecenter.com or by phone at 1.877.682.4236.
Blackfriars Playhouse Box Office Hours Beginning 2/16/26
- Wednesday – Friday 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Sunday 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
At the American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse, ASL interpreted performances feature trained interpreters positioned near the stage so Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing patrons can experience the story, language, characters, and rhythm of the production in real time.
(Joe Mucciolo as Peter, Geoffrey Warren Barnes Benvolio, and Nick Ericksen as Romeo in ASC’s Romeo & Juliet 2025 with ASL interpretation by Dr. Lindsey Snyder & Emily Haynes McGee. Video by Madison Patterson.)
In ASC’s Romeo & Juliet, 2025 production, you can see where the ASL interpreters stand in relation to the actors, the stage, and the audience. The Blackfriars Playhouse is an intimate theatre, and our shared-light staging keeps performers, interpreters, and patrons visible in the same room, helping audiences follow both the spoken performance and the interpreted language with clear sightlines.
For ASL interpreted performances, reserved seating is available with the best view of the interpreters. To reserve ASL seating or ask questions about accessibility at ASC, use the ticket links on this ASL Interpreted Events Page or contact the Box Office at tickets@americanshakespearecenter.com or by phone at 1.877.682.4236
Dr. Lindsey Snyder, PhD, CI, MFA, is a nationally recognized interpreter, scholar, and theatre artist whose work explores the relationship between Shakespeare, American Sign Language, gesture, and performance.
(Benjamin Reed & Anthony David Lewis in ASC’s As You Like It with ASL-interpretation by Dr. Lindsey Snyder and Emily Haynes McGee, 2018. Photo by Tommy Thompson)
Dr. Snyder is RID certified and specializes in performing arts interpreting, with a focus on classical theatre. Her past work includes interpreting for Ford’s Theatre, Round House Theatre, Imagination Stage, The Kennedy Center, VSA Arts, the American Shakespeare Center, the Shakespeare Association of America, American University, and the University of Maryland.
Her relationship with ASC stretches back years, including interpreted performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, and A Christmas Carol, as well as work exploring Shakespeare, ASL, and the Deaf community.
Dr. Snyder also serves as the lead instructor for American Shakespeare Center’s Classical Theatre ASL Interpreter Intensive, a three-day professional development program for interpreters interested in building skills in classical theatre, Shakespeare, and performance-based ASL interpretation.