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Theatre Visitors' Guide

Theatre Visitors' Guide

July 19, 2024

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We're delighted that you are visiting the Theatre Auditorium and/or Maureen Forrester Recital Hall for an event! Please find information below that may be helpful to make the most of your visit.

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Accessibility Information

Entering the Maureen Forrester Recital Hall

Patron Experience & Recording Policy

Theatre Parking

 

Accessibility Information

Our theatre spaces include the accessibility features below to ensure a smooth experience for patrons with varying support needs.

All theatre staff at the Faculty of Music have received AODA Integrated Accessibility Training. We encourage you to reach out to us at concerts@wlu.ca or ask our Front of House staff at a show in order to to request an accommodation or with any questions you might have!

Accessible Parking

Lot 10 is the closest accessible permit parking to the Faculty of Music. There are 3 accessible parking spaces available there.

  • Before 10 p.m. on weekdays, please pay & display using the HonkMobile app. The lot number is 3510A (valid for all accessible parking at Laurier).
  • On weekends, parking in Lot 10 is free of charge.
  • All cars in this lot must display a valid MTO accessible permit.

In the event all spaces in Lot 10 are occupied, we recommend dropping off persons with mobility support needs at the entrance to the Faculty of Music and parking elsewhere on campus (see Theatre Parking below) before the driver rejoins their friend or family member at the main entrance.

Useful Links

Entering the Theatre

Entrances to both the Theatre Auditorium and Maureen Forrester Recital Hall are accessible.

The entrance to the Theatre Auditorium, as well as the back or "elevator" entrance to the Maureen Forrester Recital Hall, are located up a short ramp on the ground floor of the building. The front or "University Ave" entrance of the Maureen Forrester Recital Hall is located on the same level as the sidewalk on the ground floor.

Accessible Washrooms

Theatre Auditorium: One universal accessible washroom.

Maureen Forrester Recital Hall: Five universal accessible washrooms, including one with a changing station.

Advance Seating

We offer the opportunity to be seated before the house opens for anyone with mobility support needs. Please let us know ahead of time at concerts@wlu.ca if you would like to use this accommodation.

For shows with larger audiences, we recommend that you arrive 30-35min before the start of the show.

For shows with smaller audiences, you may not need this accommodation.

"Bariatric" Armless Chairs

Please contact us in advance at concerts@wlu.ca to reserve this type of chair.

Wheelchair and Walker Accessible Seating

Theatre Auditorium and The Mezz: You may contact us in advance at concerts@wlu.ca to reserve seating, or we will be able to accommodate you upon arrival.

Maureen Forrester Recital Hall: Please contact us in advance at concerts@wlu.ca to reserve wheelchair-accessible seating.

Listening Assist System

We have a William Sound listening assist system in the Theatre Auditorium and the Maureen Forrester Recital Hall. Please speak to Box Office or an Usher upon arrival if you would like to access this system. You may bring your own earphones or headphones, or use the pair of earphones provided.

Surtitles

For our opera shows, we project surtitles and/or translations above the stage.

Concert Programs

Faculty of Music concert programs are available digitally on an AODA-compliant webpage like the one you are currently reading. A one-page simplified paper concert program can be made available upon request - to request a paper program, contact us at concerts@wlu.ca at least 3 days in advance of the event.

For a print or digital program accommodation request for an event not run by the Faculty of Music, please send your request to concerts@wlu.ca at least one week in advance of the event.

Service Animals

Assistance Dogs or other service animals are welcome to accompany patrons to a performance. Please advise the Box Office at concerts@wlu.ca that your service animal will be in attendance. Patrons with service animals will be accommodated in specific areas of the house where an aisle or legroom allows space for the animal, that does not obstruct other patrons, and that consider building fire codes and evacuation procedures.

Our shows are, for the most part, music concerts and do not involve special effects. If you are attending a show that includes special effects, please contact concerts@wlu.ca if you have any concerns about a specific performance.

If a service animal is causing a disruption to other patrons, the owner and service animal may be asked to leave the performance.  Owners are responsible for picking up after their animals.

Support Persons

Support persons accompanying a ticket holder with a disability will be provided with a complimentary ticket. Please book this ticket through concerts@wlu.ca.

A support person is an individual hired or chosen by a person with a disability to provide services or assistance with communication, mobility, personal care, medical needs or access to goods or services.

Feedback and Questions

We welcome your feedback about how to make your concert experience at the WLU Faculty of Music more accessible and enjoyable.

To leave feedback, please reach out to Maria Kouznetsova, our Events, Concerts, and Performance Coordinator in one of the following ways:

  • Call at 548-889-3640
  • Email at concerts@wlu.ca
  • Speak to a Front of House Manager while on-site

Large Groups

Large groups, such as school groups, wishing to attend a concert at the Faculty of Music should get in touch with us at concerts@wlu.ca to make arrangements for bus drop-off, arrival timing, reserving your tickets, and more. It would be our pleasure to assist you!

Entering the Maureen Forrester Recital Hall

There are two entrances to the Maureen Forrester Recital Hall:

  • University Ave Entrance: turn down the sidewalk near the traffic light at University/Hazel and enter at the front entrance, at the doors under the sign "Savvas Chamberlain Music Building"
  • Underpass Entrance (a.k.a. "elevator" entrance): enter off Midcampus Drive, go up the stairs or ramp, and turn right to enter the double doors that are to the left of the elevator

For Faculty of Music events, the Eventbrite page will specify which entrance is being used. For all events, signs will be outside indicating which entrance to use.

Patron Experience & Recording Policy

We ask that all patrons attending events at our venues:

  • Take photos only during intermission and/or after the show
  • Refrain from recording audio or video during the show unless otherwise announced at the beginning of the show
  • Choose to wear unscented products rather than scented products such as perfumes or colognes

We appreciate your contribution towards making an enjoyable concert experience for all.

Theatre Parking

When visiting the Faculty of Music for a concert or event, the following parking is available:

  • White permit parking is free of charge after 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and during the day on weekends
  • Gold permit parking is free of charge after 10 p.m. on weekdays and during the day on weekends
  • At all other times, Pay & Display parking is available. The closest lot to the Faculty of Music is Lot 20. Please pay at the machine or use the HonkMobile app (lot 3501).

Useful Links

Further Information

For further parking information, please visit the Waterloo Campus Parking page or email parking@wlu.ca.

Faculty of Music Concerts & Events

Email - concerts@wlu.ca

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