Accessibility
At The Rose, we believe everyone deserves a chance to experience the magic of the theater. Performances and classes are open to children and family members of all abilities. We are committed to removing obstacles and opening up new opportunities for people with disabilities. The Rose endeavors to offer its staff professional development opportunities and to offer career opportunities for people with disabilities.
About Inclusion and Accessibility at The Rose
The Rose Theater strives to increase programming for students and families with special needs. Such efforts include reworking lesson plans to include sensory and mobility modifications, providing theatrical experiences for students who are deaf and hard of hearing, and writing grants to expand accessibility.
A few of the accommodations available to individuals who need them are listed below. If you require additional assistance, please contact our box office, and we will do everything we can to accommodate your needs.
Mobility Disabilities
Wheelchair access to The Rose is available from all public entrances. The Rose offers wheelchair accessible seating on its main floor. Depending on the size of the wheelchair, up to 10 spaces are available per show. If you require special seating, please call The Rose to ensure availability. Courtesy wheelchairs are available for guests who need assistance.
Parking
Several parking spaces are available for patrons with disabilities directly outside The Rose Theater. Up to six spaces are available on Friday evenings. On Saturdays and Sundays, 10 spaces are available.
Restrooms
Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located in the lower lobby and on the mezzanine. Individual, single-user restrooms are available on the mezzanine. An elevator is available for those needing access to the lower lobby and mezzanine levels.
Sign Language Interpretation
Select performances are interpreted for audience members who are deaf or hard of hearing. These include:
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer — Saturday, December 16 at 2 p.m.
- Night at the Farm: A Bedtime Party — Saturday, January 27 at 2 p.m.
- Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds — Saturday, March 2 at 2 p.m.
- Red Riding Hood — Saturday, April 6 at 2 p.m.
- Charlotte’s Web — Saturday, April 27 at 2 p.m.
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory — Saturday, June 15 at 2 p.m.
To reserve seating for ASL interpretation shows, please call the box office at 402-345-4849.
Classes
The Rose offers several classes that are ASL interpreted for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Scholarships are available for students in need of financial assistance. For more information about these classes, please contact the Class Coordinator at classes@rosetheater.org.
Assistive Listening Devices
Assistive listening systems are available during main-stage shows for audience members who are deaf or hard of hearing. Please contact the box office for more information at 402-345-4849.
Audio Description Services
Audio description involves the accessibility of the visual images of theater for people who are blind, have low vision or who are otherwise visually impaired. It is a narration service (provided at no additional charge to the patron) that describes the action taking place on stage. Spoken commentary and narration guides the listener through the presentation with descriptions of scenes, settings, costumes, body language and more. The user hears the audio description via a small earpiece. Select performances feature audio description services. These include:
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer — Saturday, December 16 at 2 p.m.
- Night at the Farm: A Bedtime Party — Saturday, January 27 at 2 p.m.
- Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds — Saturday, March 2 at 2 p.m.
- Red Riding Hood — Saturday, April 6 at 2 p.m.
- Charlotte’s Web — Saturday, April 27 at 2 p.m.
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory — Saturday, June 15 at 2 p.m.
To request audio description services, please call 402-502-4637. Please make your request at least two weeks prior to the performance to guarantee availability. Requests made with less than two weeks before the show will be honored to the best of our availability.
Large Print and Braille Programs
During the 2020-21 season, all programs will be digital and may be accessed via The Rose website in a format that can be enlarged as needed. Physical large print and Braille programs are available with one week’s notice for guests with visual impairments. Please call 402-502-4637 at least one week prior to your visit so we can arrange for the printing of your program.
Sensory-Friendly Performances
Select performances are designated as sensory friendly. Accommodations will vary but may include:
- A private room for congregating before the show
- Special reserved seating
- A private post-show question and answer period
- A helpful social story to prepare your child for his or her experience at The Rose
- Reduced ticket prices (available by phone only)
This year’s sensory-friendly performances include:
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer — Saturday, December 16 at 2 p.m.
- Night at the Farm: A Bedtime Party — Saturday, February 3 at 2 p.m.
- Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds — Saturday, March 9 at 2 p.m.
- Red Riding Hood — Saturday, April 6 at 2 p.m.
- Charlotte’s Web — Saturday, May 4 at 2 p.m.
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory — Saturday, June 22 at 2 p.m.
To reserve tickets for autism-friendly performances, please call the box office at 402-345-4849.
Classes
The Rose offers year-round classes for students on the autism spectrum. Scholarships are available for students in need of financial assistance. For more information about these classes, click here or email the Class Coordinator at classes@rosetheater.org.
Equal Opportunity Employment
Interested in applying for jobs? We welcome applicants from people of all abilities. Click here to learn more about employment at The Rose.
The Rose Theater Inclusion Statement
The Omaha Theater Company housed in the Rose Theater is proud to cultivate an intentionally welcoming and inclusive space for peoples of all abilities, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, sexual orientations and gender identities. Our mission includes the distribution of need-based scholarships, the availability of all-gender restrooms, classroom introductions with personal gender pronouns and sensory-friendly performance modifications. Our staff is happy to meet your family’s and student’s physical, learning and social needs.