Theatre Development Fund's (TDF) Theatre Access Project (TAP) has announced its 21st season of American Sign Language interpreted performances (Fosse) and its 4th season of open captioned performances (Fosse, The Phantom of the Opera).

The TAP program makes Broadway and Off-Broadway shows accessible to those who are deaf and hard of hearing.

TDF reports that the first-ever open captioned performances of the Tony Award winning production of The Phantom of the Opera take place Sept. 18 and 20 at 8 PM. The open captioned performances of the Tony nominated Fosse take place Sept. 26 at 8 PM.

The first American Sign Language interpreted performance of Fosse takes place on Sept. 28 at 8 PM.

TDF says that "TAP was established in 1979 to provide access to the performing arts for people with physical disabilities." The program also serves theatregoers who are partially sighted or blind; people who for medical reasons cannot climb stairs; and people who require aisle seating or use wheelchairs. Through TAP, tdf offers discount orchestra tickets that are chosen with the customer's specific seating needs in mind. This past year, TAP distributed nearly 17,000 tickets--sold at a discount to theatregoers with disabilities.