November’s Accessible and Inclusive Performances in the Bay Area
Check out ASL, captioned, haptic tours, and audio described performances in the Bay Area in November.
The Bay Area’s arts scene is expanding its commitment to accessibility. For organizations across the city, making the performing arts accessible goes beyond simply meeting requirements; it’s about making sure everyone has the chance to enjoy and engage in each performance.
If you’re looking for shows that offer a more inclusive experience—whether that’s in theatre, dance, or musicals—there are some great performances coming up.
The Matchbox Magic Flute
- Closed Captioned: All matinee performances through November 24
- Audio Described: November 30 at 2 p.m.
Theatrical powerhouse Mary Zimmerman (Metamorphoses, The Arabian Nights, The White Snake) triumphantly returns to Berkeley Rep with a mesmerizing English language adaptation of Mozart’s iconic Magic Flute, using only 10 singers and five musicians.
Berkeley Repertory Theatre
berkeleyrep.org
Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
- Closed Captioned: All matinee performances through December 12
Step into the vibrant world of Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, a beloved Harlem hotspot where West African immigrant braiders work their magic on the locals’ locks. Amidst the lively buzz of a scorching summer, love ignites, dreams soar, and secrets unravel.
Berkeley Repertory Theatre
berkeleyrep.org
Kimberly Akimbo
- ASL Interpreted: November 30 at 1 p.m.
Kimberly is about to turn 16 and recently moved with her family to a new town in suburban New Jersey. In this “howlingly funny heartbreaker of a show” (The New Yorker), Kim is forced to navigate family dysfunction, a rare genetic condition, her first crush … and possible felony charges.
BroadwaySF
broadwaysf.com
Clue
- ASL Interpreted: November 2 at 2 p.m.
- Audio Described: November 3 at 1 p.m.
- Open Captioned: November 3 at 6:30 p.m.
Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget! Clue is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist.
Broadway San Jose
broadwaysanjose.com
Come From Away
- Closed Captioned: November 22 at 7:30 p.m.
- ASL Interpreted: November 23 at 2 p.m.
- Audio Described: November 24 at 1 p.m.
- Open Captioned: November 24 at 6:30 p.m.
This New York Times Critics’ Pick takes you into the heart of the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships.
Broadway San Jose
broadwaysanjose.com
Step Afrika!
- Audio Described: November 3 at 3 p.m.
- Pre-show Haptic Tour: November 3 at 3 p.m.
Washington DC’s celebrated step dance company celebrates its 30th anniversary with a powerful production that tells the story of the Great Migration through Black dance forms, bold visual art, and vivid theatricality. The Migration is based on Jacob Lawrence’s famous series of paintings from the early 1940s that explored the Black American migration experience.
Cal Performances
calperformances.org
Fiddler on the Roof
- Pre-show Haptic Tour: November 16
- Audio Described: November 16 at 2 p.m.
- ASL Interpreted: November 17 at 2 p.m.
In the little village of Anatevka, Fiddler on the Roof introduces us to Tevye, a poor milkman, and his five daughters. With the help of a colorful and tight-knit Jewish community, Tevye tries to protect his daughters and instill them with traditional values.
Palo Alto Players
paplayers.org
Tristan and Isolde
- English Supertitles: November 1 at 6 p.m.; November 5 at 6 p.m.
Isolde has been captured by Tristan, who is delivering her as a trophy to his uncle, King Marke. She seeks death for them both, but when her maid swaps out the intended poison with a love potion, so begins an epic romance.
San Francisco Opera
sfopera.com
Carmen
- English Supertitles: All performances, November 13 – December 1
As free as a rebellious bird, it is hard to escape the magnetic allure of Carmen. Entranced by her passionate seguidilla, the soldier Don José descends into a dangerous spiral of desire.
San Francisco Opera
sfopera.com
King James
- Audio Described: November 2 at 8 p.m.; November 3 at 2 p.m.
In Rajiv Joseph’s brilliant and slam-dunk new comedy, superfans Matt and Shawn forge a friendship through a shared love of their hometown Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
theatreworks.org
