Milan 1880

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Milan 1880 - Center for the Arts, Theatre Stage Mag

The Department of Performing Arts and Humanities of the School of Arts and Communication at CCBC in collaboration with the A. Eugene and Bernice Hoeper Interpreting Program presents *Milan 1880* By James Caverly Directed Michelle A. Banks
CCBC Catonsville, Center for the Arts, Theatre

Production Team

Stage Manager Bethany Slater	Set & Lighting Designer Technical Director G. Maurice (Moe) Conn	Costume Designer Jess Rassp
Sound Designer MaeAnn Ross	Projection Designer Jason Randolph	Director of Asrtistic Sign Language JAC Cook
Interpreter Coordinator Su Kyong Isakson		Voice/Accent Coach Fight Choreographer Jen Rabbitt Ring

The videotaping or making of electronic or other audio and/or visual recordings of this production and distributing recordings or streams in any medium, including the internet, is strictly prohibited, a violation of the author(s)’s rights and actionable under United States copyright law. CONTENT WARNING: This play contains depictions of ableism, audism, religious discrimination, and mild violence.

Director's Note

Milan 1880, a pivotal event in Deaf history, is more than just a play - it reflects our history, our resilience, and the ongoing fight for Deaf educational rights. In 1880, five courageous Americans traveled to Milan, Italy, to advocate for sign language as the most effective way to teach deaf students. Despite their efforts, the Milan Conference resulted in a global ban on sign language in classrooms, favoring oralism—a decision that deeply impacted generations of Deaf people.

Today, American Sign Language (ASL) stands strong as one of the most recognized languages in the world. However, the tension between oralism and sign language persists in Deaf education. It's crucial that we involve Deaf children in the conversation about what's 'best' for them, rather than deciding for them.

I am deeply honored to direct this important piece that reflects our shared history and the impact it continues to have around the world. I'm grateful to James Caverly for writing this play as a call to remember, reflect, and act. Deaf education remains as critical now as it was in the 1880s. Milan 1880 marked a turning point in Deaf education—its significance and impact must not be forgotten.

Furthermore, let us honor our forebears by continuing their legacy—those who fought for our right to learn, grow, and thrive through sign language.

Michelle A. Banks
Director

Cast

Stella Marie Antonio

MC/James Denison/Claude Forestier

Chris Corrigan

Edward Miner Gallaudet

Shanna Sorrells

Thomas Gallaudet

Rebecca Blumenfeld

Dr. Isaac Peet/Deaf Student 3

Daniel Short

Rev. Dr. Charles Stoddard

Alessandro Rossal

Abbe Giulio Tarra/Augusto Zucchi

Elliott Chenoweth

Marius Magnat/Richard Elliott

Aaron Duenas

Arthur Kinsey/Mr. J. Hugentobler/Frere Hubert

Rebekah Mitchell

Pasquale Fornari/Brother of St. Gabriel/Interpreter

Myles Rigsby

Padre Marchio/Rev. Thomas Arnold/Brother of St. Gabriel

Vanessa Williams

Mdme. Frida Houdin/Susanna Hull/Brother of St. Gabriel

Krystal Knoll

Herr Dr. Treibel/Brother of St. Gabriel/Interpreter/Deaf Student 1

Heather Beck

Mrs. B. St. John Ackers/Brother of St. Gabriel/Interpreter

Creative Team

James Caverly

Playwright

Michelle A. Banks

Director

G. Maurice (Moe) Conn

Scenic & Lighting Designer/Technical Director

Jess Rassp

Costume Designer

Jason Randolph

Projection Designer

JAC Cook

Director of Artistic Sign Language

Su Kyong Isakson

Interpreter Coordinator

Bethany Slater

Stage Manager

Sam Koch

Assistant Stage Manager

Aaron Partin

Light Board Operator

MaeAnn Ross

Sound Designer

Zahria Wise

Sound Operator

Damon Krometis

Projection Operator/Production Coordinator/English Text Coach

Jen Rabbitt Ring

Voice/Accent Coach/Fight Choreographer

Students of Stagecraft THTR 131

Set Construction

Amanda Sergent, Jacinda Pintuck, Jory Williams

Stage Crew

Alex Bosworth, Samuel Koch, Aaron Partin, Jacinda Pintuck

Scene Shop Assistants

Alex Bosworth, Blade Diallo, Shira Warburg

Costume Crew

Maddie Baynard, Ash Stevenson, Brittany Runk, Sarah Joyce

Costume Shop Assistants

Shealyn Jae

Production Photographer

Interpreter Team

Mandy Welly
MJ Jones
Amy McDonald
Leslie Nevon Holden
Avril Brandon
Jessie Lewis
Iris Saunders
Audrey Averill

CCBC Interpreter Prep Interns
Sophia Satre
Wendy Balko

Meet the Company

Stella Marie Antonio

MC/James Denison/Claude Forestier

Stella (she/her) was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. She moved to America at the age of 20. She received a BA in Theater Education from Gallaudet University, Washington DC. She worked as a stage actress and an ensemble of Outreach Education Program with Cleveland Signstage Theatre for 6 years. She gave birth to a wonderful son Clayton who is a CODA. He now studies at Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. She played several roles In Children of a Lesser God, Glass Menagerie, Christmas in Wales, The Miracle Worker, and more. She also was a theater teacher for K- Middle School at Maryland School for the Deaf 2000 to 2015. She has taught improvisation acting 3 summer camps with Visionary of Creative Arts, DC. She recently performed in the “ISM” in 2022 and 2023. She wrote her story based on her childhood and performed a one woman show called “In the Eyes of a Deaf Child” at the Kennedy Center in May 2023. She recently taught storytelling and acting at Imagination Stage in Winter 2024 She now works as a Teacher assistant at Maryland School for the Deaf.

Chris Corrigan

Edward Miner Gallaudet

Chris (he/him) is a native of Frederick, Maryland, known for his captivating work in ASL poetry, storytelling, and performances. His artistic contributions include notable productions such as Deaf West’s Big River, ASL FILMS’ Black Sand, DawnSignPress Inc.’s The Boy Who Cried Wolf, Rustic Lantern Films’ Lake Windfall, and Independence Day celebrations at The White House with Presidents Bush and President Obama. Recently, he gained recognition for his role as Thaddeus in Deaf Missions’ JESUS film. For Chris, ASL is as essential as pollen is to flowers and oxygen to the air; without it, a thriving life cannot exist.

Shanna Sorrells

Thomas Gallaudet

Shanna (she/they) is excited to be acting at CCBC, and looks forward to future collaborations. Acting credits include: City of Fairfax Theatre: Clybourne Park; Gallaudet University Theatre: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; Deaf West Theatre: Flowers For Algernon. DASL credits include: Hippodrome Theatre: ’Twas the Night Before presented by Cirque du Soleil; Signature Theatre: A Chorus Line. Shanna has also just finished co-directing Imagination Stage’s Pegasus ensemble. She is the Senior Manager of Access & Inclusion and a teaching artist at Imagination Stage. Education: University of Northern Colorado; MA in Theatre Education. Upcoming: DASL for Chicago at Hippodrome.

Rebecca Blumenfeld

Dr. Isaac Peet/Deaf Student 3

Rebecca (she/her) is currently a Deaf student in the Deaf Interpreter Training Program here at CCBC. She has a BS in Biology from Gallaudet University in 2014, an AAS in Medical Technology from AACC, and a Certificate in Histology Technology in 2015. This is her very first play, and she is very excited to be acting in Milan 1880.

Daniel Short

Rev. Dr. Charles Stoddard

Daniel (he/him) returns to theatre after 24 years away, with previous experience being in a 2001 production of See How They Run at National Technical Institute of Technology. Currently, a father to two wonderful boys and two rambunctious cats, and a supportive wife. Daniel is grateful for the opportunity to tell a story about Deaf History.

Alessandro Rossal

Abbe Giulio Tarra/Augusto Zucchi

Alessandro (he/him) attended drama school in Guatemala before moving to the USA. He has appeared in around 15 plays in Spanish and attended classes in New York at Teatro Thalia. Then he helped establish the first Spanish speaking theatre company in Sarasota, FL, where he acted in, directed, and produced several plays. He is currently a Theatre major at CCBC Essex, and this is his second play in English, after being in CCBC’s production of Anon(ymous).

Elliott Chenoweth

Marius Magnat/Richard Elliott

Elliott (he/they) is a second-year biology major at CCBC Catonsville. Last semester they played Nasreen and Belen in CCBC’s production of Anon(ymous). Previously, they appeared in Peter Pan Jr. at Catonsville Middle School and Puffs at Catonsville High School. Outside of theatre, they can be found supervising the campus cafe.

Aaron Duenas

Arthur Kinsey/Mr. J. Hugentobler/Frere Hubert

Aaron (he/him) returns to the stage at CCBC Catonsville to perform in Milan 1880. Aaron is a graduate of CCBC with an Associates of Fine Arts in Theatre. He appeared in the CCBC Fall Fest, the Annual Gala at Martin’s West, The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time as the lead, Christopher Boone.

Rebekah Mitchell

Pasquale Fornari/Brother of St. Gabriel/Interpreter

Rebekah (she/her) started at CCBC in 2022 as an ASL + Deaf Culture major. She graduated with her A.A. in the winter and is now finishing her first semester in the Interpreter Prep program. While this is her debut at CCBC, she has performed on many stages with Crashbox Theatre Troupe and To the Pointe Dance Studio. Rebekah looks forward to a continued future involvement with the Deaf theatre community.

Myles Rigsby

Padre Marchio/Rev. Thomas Arnold/Brother of St. Gabriel

Myles (he/him) returns to CCBC Catonsville. Previously, he acted in The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong. He also acted in 11 Variations of Friar John’s Failure in high school. After completing college, he plans to work his way into the voice acting industry.

Vanessa Williams

Mdme. Frida Houdin/Susanna Hull/Brother of St. Gabriel

Vanessa (she/her) is a sophomore at CCBC. This is her second production here after playing Ritu and Serza in Anon(ymous). She is a Performing Arts major studying vocal music. She has been in many productions before including Little Red Riding Hood, The Lion King, The Nutcracker, Bugsy Malone, Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. She sang in the children’s choir through middle school and toured with the Singing Sensations. She plans to transfer to Howard University.

Krystal Knoll

Herr Dr. Treibel/Brother of St. Gabriel/Interpreter/Deaf Student 1

Krystal (she/they) returns to CCBC Catonsville after in appearing in the last blended Deaf/hearing production, Goya: en la quinta del sordo (in the house of the Deaf man). An alumnus of CCBC, Krystal graduated from the Interpreting program in 2022. While she acted in several CCBC productions, she is more typically found offstage interpreting plays at CCBC Catonsville and Essex.

Heather Beck

Mrs. B. St. John Ackers/Brother of St. Gabriel/Interpreter

Heather (she/her) is ecstatic to be performing here once again after a 27 year hiatus. She began her theater career on this very stage as Val in A Chorus Line and then Chrissy in Hair. More recent musical theater roles include: “A Music Man”, “Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat” (Olney Theatre Center), “Mamma Mia”, “Sound of Music”, “CATS”, “Spamalot”, “Kinky Boots” (Toby’s Dinner Theater). Recently, she worked on a production of Sesame Street with her son, Mathis Beck Kettering, which received an Emmy for best direction. After graduating from CCBC’s Interpreter program, she worked as an Educational Interpreter and is currently working for the public school system. Many thanks to her family for their support, the cast and crew for making this production a reality and James Caverly for bringing this important piece of history to the stage.