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Historical Information

On October 6th, 1998, Russel Henderson and Aaron McKiney approached Matthew Shepard at a gay bar and offered him a ride home. They then drove him to the outskirts of Laramie, Wyoming, beat him with a pistol, tied him to a fence with rope, and left him there to die. 18 hours later, a bicyclist spotted him and mistook him for a scarecrow at first. He only recognized that he was alive when he saw his hair. Matthew was covered in blood, except for his cheeks, which had been washed clean by his tears. 

 

He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he received treatment but ultimately passed away surrounded by his family on October 12th, 1998.

 

He was only 21 years old. 

 

Since then, his family, friends, and countless LGBTQIA+ organizations have looked to him as an example of how a young, promising life can be cut short by hatred and homophobia. His story has been adapted for movies, plays, poems, books. You are about to watch one of these adaptions, The Laramie Project, a play created and written by Moises Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theatre Project. Throughout it’s 23 year history, it has been used to educate schools and other communities about hate crimes, and the extent of it’s outreach has shown how theatre can not only entertain, but educate and motivate audiences to participate in the fight against oppression and bigotry.

 

For more information about Matthew’s story, visit https://www.matthewshepard.org/

 

For more information about the Tectonic Theatre Project, visit https://www.tectonictheaterproject.org/about-tectonic

 

#EraseHate 

 

Director's Note

As mentioned in the play, “Live and let live” — the Laramie motto, it appears easygoing. It  sounds like a form of respect toward others.  

Well-intentioned, yet… harmful.  

So harmful, in fact, that it led to Matthew Shepard’s death. As proven in recent years for any  marginalized group— welcoming discussion, conversation and learning about those groups  helps to cultivate our society and prevents harmful actions.  

Violence is bred from misunderstanding and a lack of conversation. This absence of  conversation is very much present in the Deaf community. It goes without saying that Deaf and hard of hearing people everywhere do not have sufficient access to important historical pieces of information such as the hate crime against Matthew Shepard, that occurred on October 6th, 1998 in Laramie, Wyoming, which led to his death on October 12th, 1998. While we have access to many English versions of historical information, they do not have the same effect as American Sign Language (ASL) does.  

I chose to create a Deaf version of “The Laramie Project” in the hopes to make a large impact on the Deaf community. By doing so, I made some unique choices such as changing the audio recordings to camera recordings since we are using visual modes of communication, making Laramie a chiefly Deaf & hard of hearing town, as well as, incorporating Deaf culture within our ASL translations. Because of this, we want to have the same effects on Deaf and hard of hearing audiences as The Laramie Project has had on hearing audiences in its 23 year history of productions all over the world. 

Thanks to the ambitious Dr. Brian Cheslik, Deaf Austin Theatre has helped me bring together a phenomenal cast from the Deaf & signing communities to help tell the story of The Laramie  Project in ASL. I want to give special thanks to Jo Ann Dean for all of her hard work and support for this show, as well Barbara Chubbs and all of our amazing sponsors: Matthew Shepard Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Greater Austin Foundation for the Deaf, dozanü innovations, Communication by Hand, BEA Investment Group, Ploeger ASL Interpreting, Hypernovas Productions, SIGNmation, Sorenson, Michael Epstein Designs, National Disability Theatre, Tectonic Theatre Project, 58 Creativity, Tate Tullier Photography, Bus Door Films and everyone who donated to all of our fundraising efforts. 

It is our hope that this production brings you a new experience and a new perspective that contributes to our overall landscape.  

Welcome to our take on The Laramie Project.  

                  ~ Jules Dameron

 

Artistic Director's Note

The Laramie Project has always been one of the most unforgettable plays for me. I performed in it years ago in Dublin, Ohio. It is very personal  for me because I was a senior in high school when Matthew Shepard was murdered in 1998. I remember coming home from school, turning on the TV and seeing the news, the vigils held all over the world. It terrified me and forced me back into the closet. 

 

As a high school theatre teacher, I knew that I wanted to teach this play to my students to help foster a more open-minded future. Not only because it exposes them to documentary theatre but also because it teaches them about one of the most historic hate crimes in our nation's history. Through reading the play and in class discussions, I saw my students becoming more open minded as they learned more about how people hate. As a culminating activity, we would watch the amazing HBO movie version. However, even after discussing the play for weeks, they would often become confused and not understand who everyone was and what the movie was stating. This is due to the fact that english captions are not 100% accessible since many Deaf people struggle with English, as their first language is ASL. 

 

It was always my dream to create an ASL production of The Laramie Project, and during the pandemic, I saw an opportunity. Many Deaf theatres, including DAT, were producing virtual productions. My original intent was to produce this play virtually, but then the pandemic ended and we returned to an adjusted normal. This led the way to my new goal of producing the play live in Austin and then filming it to include in a full curriculum resource that would be provided to teachers of the Deaf all over the nation free of charge. 

 

It is a struggle for Deaf ed teachers to find resources that truly represent our community. We need more resources that show the diversity of our community. It is especially important NOW for stories like this to be presented in a fully accessible way, during the current political climate.

 

On September 1, 2023, SB-12 went into effect here in Texas, which bans and LGBTQ related content from being presented to anyone under 18 years of age. The intent of this bill was to stop Drag Queens from participating in story hour. “Drag queens have no business reading to our children!” This horrid bill has basically caused DAT to cancel our school show of The Laramie Project for fear of getting fined $10,000 by the state of Texas. This entire production was inspired by the need for these stories to be made accessible to Deaf and hard of hearing children, and now we are being prevented from sharing it with them. To quote Father Roger Schmidt, “This angers me immensely”. 

 

Texas will not stop us. We will continue to produce stories of all kinds that represent the diversity within the Deaf community, and make many amazing pieces of theatre truly accessible to our community. Texas cannot stop us. They WILL NOT stop us. 

 

DAT will continue to soar!

 

Dr. Brian A. Cheslik

Artistic Director

 

Cast

Creative Team

Letter from Judy Shepard to Deaf Austin Theatre

(Letter dated: July 24, 2023)

To the cast and crew of Deaf Austin Theatre,

On behalf of myself, Dennis and the staff of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, I want to thank you for taking on the task of producing The Laramie Project. The play, which has been performed in both large and small theaters throughout the world, was named one of the most influential plays of the past quarter-century by the New York Times, was made into a feature film by HBO, and has been translated into over 30 languages. Today, you become an integral part of the story and Matt’s legacy to foster a more caring and just world.

The Laramie Project, with its powerful messages, unfortunately, continues to be relevant today, as hatred and division cloud our efforts towards equality. Yet, it is your courage to engage in what can be an emotional and sometimes controversial process, that helps sustain my optimism and ignite my eagerness to continue in this critical advocacy work.

Dennis and I believe The Laramie Project is an invaluable educational piece about how hate impacts society. Although detractors have referred to it as “that gay play,” it is not a play about being or encouraging a particular sexual orientation. Instead, it is a narrative about being targeted, hurt, assaulted, and murdered for being different or perceived as different. It tells the stories of real people who lived at the epicenter of one of the nation’s most heinous anti-gay hate crimes. Each individual company that produces this piece brings a fresh perspective to the issues and more voices to the effort to erase hate.

Once again, we thank you for your participation in a production that often raises so many emotional and personal feelings. We encourage you to use this opportunity to inspire conversation on how to create change and challenge your community to identify and address hate that lives within your schools, neighborhoods, and homes.

We applaud and appreciate your efforts.

 

Best Wishes,

Judy Shepard

Co-Founder and President

Matthew Shepard Foundation

Broadway SIGNs!

SIGNmation

VSYN+

Statement from Jo-Ann Dean, Producer (SIGNmation and Broadway SIGNs!)

Tonight a stellar Deaf and Hearing Cast take stage to present the first ever ASL production of The Laramie Project. I wish to thank the National Endowment for the Arts for making this production possible by seed funding in part along with Matching Funds provided by The Greater Austin Foundation for The Deaf. You set the wheels in motion. 

 

I am deeply honored to bring the creative vision of Dr. Brian Cheslik, Artistic Director of Deaf Austin Theatre’s The Laramie Project to fruition. He used this play as a moment work piece in teaching theatre to Deaf students as a vehicle to elicit dialogue, identity and acceptance, especially for LGBTQIA youth. As a former educator, theater heals and feeds the soul. Freedoms are under fire currently and access to art, news and media are vital. 

 

Thank you to Playwright Moises Kaufman and Tectonic Theater Project for your support of this project by your letters of endorsement.  We appreciate Barbara Pitt McAdams an original actor, writer and interviewer present in Laramie, Wyoming to speak at our Broadway SIGNs! PRIDE! Benefit fundraiser to connect Matthew Shepard’s LGBTQIA legacy to our present social climate. All built towards our opening night performance in bringing Matthew’s story to yet another community. 

 

I am very proud to have VSYN+ as our Champagne Toast Sponsor and Melissa Yingst present to share the access to a new streaming platform for Sign Language Entertainment led by Deaf Creatives. 

 

I am humbled to have met Sponsors now friends from The Pershing in Austin, welcoming Deaf Austin Theatre and The Laramie Project Cast, Crew and Audience to gather on Opening Night as a community. 

 

Special Thanks to The Matthew Shepard Foundation for your generous fiscal support to ensure the Deaf LGBTQIA community are visible and have access to resources. I personally thank Dennis and Judy Shepard for attending Deaf Austin Theatre’s production tonight. We are humbled. 

 

To our Angel in the Night Barbara Chubb, BEA Investment Group who donated in the wee hours and made our crowdfunding goal a reality. You were the voice in the night that read my words and solidified Deaf Austin Theatre’s mission. Go on. Thank you for sponsoring our beautiful Broadway SIGNs! NYC Benefit! Life changing to all present. We live-stream again on September 23rd on Stellar and proceeds benefit Deaf Austin Theater. Join us! 

Thank you to Deaf Austin Theatre’s Intern Katie Lloyd who has worked diligently to make tonight’s opening a success. Many thanks to Dr. Brian Cheslik for bringing SIGNmation and Broadway SIGNs! to The Laramie Project and now we set eyes towards mounting a production in NYC, a Broadway run to keep Matthew’s legacy alive as a way to erase hate. 

Joey Antonio, Joey Caverly, Brian Cheslik, and More Set for Deaf Austin Theatre's THE LARAMIE PROJECT

The first American Sign Language (ASL) and spoken English production of The Laramie Project with a Deaf and Hearing Cast opens at Deaf Austin Theatre on September 7th-16th. A livestream event via Stellar debuts on October 12th, 2023 to a global audience in honor of the 25th anniversary of Matthew Shepard's legacy. DAT's production will be the first professionally staged American Sign Language (ASL) production of The Laramie Project. 

The Laramie Project is a thought-provoking documentary play that explores the aftermath of the tragic 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a young gay college student in Laramie, Wyoming. The play delves into the impact of the incident on the local community and raises important questions about prejudice, hate crimes and tolerance. DAT aims to promote inclusivity, accessibility, and awareness of these same experiences faced by the Deaf and LGBTQIA communities. 

Director Jules Dameron, along with DAT's Artistic Director Dr. Brian Cheslik and DAT Production Manager Sandra Mae Frank, from Broadway's Spring Awakening Revival and NBC's New Amsterdam, helm this production and have brought together a powerhouse of Deaf actors and hearing ASL fluent actors. 

Cast features Joey Antonio (Dance Camp, ABC's Zoey's Extraordinary Play List), Joey Caverly* (Hulu's Only Murders in the Building, Olney Theatre Center's The Music Man), Brian Cheslik** (Co-Director DAT & ZACH Theatre's Cinderella, DAT & GFT's The Last Five Years & Next to Normal), Jules Dameron (see below), Taylor Flanagan (Ensemble/Gabrielle's voice in DAT & ZACH Theatre's Cinderella, Judith et al in Judith with Hyde Park Theatre), Leila Hanaumi (Assistant DASL/Ensemble in DAT & ZACH Theatre's Cinderella), Ashlea Hayes (ABC's Switched At Birth, NBC's Law and Order: SVU), Dickie Hearts* (Netflix's Tales of the City & Grace & Frankie, Public Theatre's Dark Disabled Stories); Amelia Hensley* (ABC's Station 19, Broadway's Deaf West Spring Awakening Revival); Justin Jackerson (Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet at Ophelia Jump Productions; The Perfect Match), Krissy Lemon (Gabrielle in DAT & ZACH Theatre's Cinderella, Cathy in DAT & GFT's The Last Five Years), Saul Lopez (ASL Jamie in DAT & GFT's The Last Five Years), Heba Toulan* (DAT & ZACH Theatre's Cinderella, SENSES, The Window Washer)

The creative team includes Director Jules Dameron (Director Møkkakaffe Norway TV series; Director of Crazy Town, Sesame Street ASL Series), Director of Artistic Sign Languag (DASL) Kailyn Aaron-Lozano (DASL DAT & ZACH Theatre's Cinderella, Deaf Broadway's Company at Lincoln Center, Hulu's Reverse Polarity); Stage Manager Miriam Rochford*; Assistant Stage Manager Kelsey Moringy;  Lighting Designer  Jacqueline Sindelar; Sound Designer Rodd Simonson; Costume & Set Designers Dr. Brian Cheslik** & Jules Dameron; Graphic Designer Michael Epstein.

* denotes members of Actors Equity Association (AEA)

**denotes members of Stage Directors & Choreographers Society (SDC)

The Laramie Project is funded in part by National Endowment for the Arts, Greater Austin Foundation for the Deaf, Matthew Shepard Foundation, BEA Investment Group, Ploeger ASL Interpreting, LLC;  Dozanu Innovation, National Disability Theatre, Communication By Hand, Sorenson, True+Way ASL, Hypernovas Productions and SIGNmation.

Tickets, starting at $25, can be purchased online: LIVE SHOW TICKETS

There will be a virtual live stream on Thursday, October 12th via Stellar. For tickets, STREAMING TICKETS.

Deaf Austin Theatre Raises Funds For Groundbreaking Production Of THE LARAMIE PROJECT In American Sign Language

Deaf Austin Theatre (DAT), a non-profit theatre company based in Austin, is excited to announce its latest venture, a groundbreaking production of "The Laramie Project" performed in American Sign Language (ASL), spoken English and supertitles this September. 

Deaf Austin Theatre has successfully raised an impressive $52,000 thus far and has secured financial grants and sponsorship from esteemed organizations with funding in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, The Matthew Shepard Foundation, BEA Investment Group and Greater Austin Foundation for the Deaf, along with endorsement by Playwright Moises Kaufman & The Tectonic Theatre Project. Jo-Ann Dean, SIGNmation is also a Producer on our production. 

"The Laramie Project" is a thought-provoking documentary play that explores the aftermath of the tragic 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man, in Laramie, Wyoming. The play delves into the impact of the incident on the local community and raises important questions about prejudice, hate crimes, and tolerance. By producing this play in American Sign Language (ASL), DAT aims to promote inclusivity, accessibility, and awareness of the experiences faced by the Deaf and LGBTQIA communities.

In an unprecedented collaboration, DAT has joined forces with Hypernovas Productions, a Los Angeles-based LGBTQIA Deaf owned production company. Together, they are committed to making history by presenting the first-ever professional production of "The Laramie Project" in ASL. "The Laramie Project'' has put together an amazing cast of Deaf and hearing ASL fluent actors, who will bring their exceptional performances to the forefront of this powerful production. The cast will be announced later this summer. Guiding the cast and crew is the esteemed director, Jules Dameron, the co-founder of Hypernovas Productions, renowned for his dedication to promoting inclusivity and celebrating the Deaf and LGBTQIA community in the arts.

The Laramie Project opens September 7th at Ground Floor Theatre in East Austin, and runs through September 16th. DAT and Hypernovass will be hosting a virtual streaming event on October 12th, 2023, via Stellar, thus ensuring a global audience can experience this extraordinary theatrical event in honor of the 25th anniversary of Matthew Shepard's death. Tickets for both events are already on sale and can be found at DAT's website (www.deafaustintheatre.org).

During Pride Month, DAT seeks to amplify the visual exposure of this project. While DAT has made significant progress towards its goal, with $52,000 raised and esteemed financial sponsorships, the company is seeking further support to reach its ambitious target of $70,000. These funds will contribute to paying the actors, crew, transportation, lodging, and other essential production expenses. Every contribution will make a meaningful impact on the success and accessibility of this groundbreaking production and timely retelling. 

Deaf Austin Theatre and Hypernovas Productions invite individuals, organizations, and the community at large to join them in supporting this pioneering theatrical endeavor during Pride month. Donations of any amount are welcomed and will contribute to shaping a more inclusive and accessible future for theatre.

To donate or learn more about Deaf Austin Theatre's production of "The Laramie Project," please visit www.deafaustintheatre.org and https://donorbox.org/the-laramie-project-2#info or contact Dr. Brian Andrew Cheslik, Artistic Director at artisticdirector@deafaustintheatre.org.

Deaf Austin Theatre (DAT) is a non-profit theatre company based in Austin, dedicated to producing and promoting accessible theatrical experiences for the deaf community and beyond. DAT aims to create a platform that highlights deaf culture, fosters artistic expression, and promotes inclusivity in the arts.

Review: BROADWAY SIGNS! PRIDE at The Triad A Special Night

Something truly special happened at The Triad on August 3rd when Broadway SIGNs! PRIDE played a one-night only gala concert in American Sign Language as a benefit to fund Deaf Austin Theatre’s (DAT) fall production of The Laramie Project, the groundbreaking piece of theater created in the wake of the murder of Matthew Shepard.  The evening, co-hosted by Broadway and television star Sandra Mae Frank and Joey Antonio of the smash-hit TV show Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, featured a cast of actors from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community performing a variety of musical numbers and poems from Leslea Newman’s October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard.  The exact details of the evening - cast, songs, and poems performed - will all be provided later in this article so that this writer can speak on the nature of this show and the ongoing importance of Deaf cabaret.

Since accepting this position with Broadway World, I have attended a handful of cabaret shows performed in American Sign Language (ASL) - the first of which was a solo show by actor Joshua Castille (review HERE), the second being a group show by Russell Harvard (review HERE), and this very program, overflowing with talent and heart.  Fellow Broadway World Cabaret writer Bobby Patrick attended a Broadway SIGNs! Halloween show at 54 Below (review HERE).  It has been the mission of this cabaret journalism team to seek out cabaret shows in ASL because it is an artform, a storytelling style, that is not only wildly artistic and vastly entertaining, it is extremely important - and the PRIDE show on Thursday night was one shining example after another of why this form of storytelling is valuable (to say nothing of the fundraising element of this particular show, which we will get to later).  All three of the evenings of ASL cabaret that I have witnessed have been different in their style.   Joshua Castille performed sign language to recorded tracks from cast recordings, soundtracks, and pop albums, Russell Harvard performed his ASL storytelling to both recorded tracks and live singers that would appear on the stage with him.  At the PRIDE Show, the actors were given an opportunity to show that there are no limitations to the manners in which Deaf and Hard of Hearing actors can tell their stories, something at which Deaf Austin Theatre is working dilligently, in an effort to break new ground in Deaf theater.  Some of the musical performances were enacted to recordings (as with Erin Rosenfeld, working with the cast recording of “Ring Of Keys” from Fun Home ) or with recording and video (like when Joey Antonio performed “This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman), while others were presented with a hearing actor performing the song, live, from the piano (Josh Canfield was on voice and Joey Caverly on ASL for “Corner Of The Sky”) and, finally, there was Sandra Mae Frank performing from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella with only the piano, herself, and the words to the song projected onto a screen.  There is a world of options available to actors performing in ASL and audiences, hearing and not, all of whom should be seeking out Deaf cabaret because, in the opinion of this cabaret frequenter, Deaf cabaret is awesome.  And even with these four different manners of performance, the PRIDE show was all the more intricate and interesting, thanks to the addition of the poetry aspect of the program, with actors on stage performing in ASL and actors offstage reciting the poetry into a microphone.  Producer Jo-Ann Dean offered that, "Leslea Newman did come to our rehearsal and had the opportunity to address our cast performing the six poems.  Non-exclusive Rights were obtained from Publisher in order to stage and livestream her poetic works. I hope to bring our actors performing these poems to The Matthew Shepard Foundation Gala in October to underscore the inclusion, and access to resources are needed for the Deaf community through captioning and ASL Interpretation."   Whether creating small venue performance art or narrative theater pieces, the collaborative efforts employed by Broadway SIGNs and Deaf Austin Theatre shone as highly successful during the presentation. Cabaret is about a lot of things, a lot of styles, a lot of art, and combining the musical performances with the poetic ones broadened the artistic and emotional landscape of the evening - particularly due to the subject matter that informed the entire evening: Matthew Shepard.

It’s been twenty-five years since Matthew Shepard was crucified on a fence in Wyoming but to many it may as well have been yesterday.  The memory of that horrible time is indelibly emblazoned in the minds and in the hearts of those (like this writer) who watched the story unfold in real-time.  The Laramie Project is more than just a work of art, it is a lesson in history and in life, and every time the play is produced and performed it serves as an act of activism.  Deaf Austin Theatre’s upcoming production will be historic in that it is the first time the work is being presented in ASL, and the production will not only be livestreamed, it will be filmed.  The organization is working to distribute a curriculum and video to Deaf schools in the US to erase hate, establish civil rights, and support LGBTQIA+ Deaf & Hearing students.   The Matthew Shepard Foundation has donated to the production and Dennis and Judy Shepard will attend the opening night of the play, which runs September 7th through 16th, with a goal to transfer to Broadway with Deaf and Hearing cast performing in ASL, in order to provide accessibility for all audiences.  For the PRIDE cabaret, there was much discussion of the play, with Barbara Pitt McAdams of the Tectonic Theater Project speaking about her experience as one of the Laramie Project interviewers, and of the production, with Deaf Austin Theatre LARAMIE director Jules Dameron describing the artistic process that went into designing a poster for the production that was informed by the fact that the play is being performed by Deaf and Hard of Hearing actors.  With the spirit of Matthew Shepard in the air, the PRIDE cabaret featured wonderful actors from both the Deaf and Queer communities, sharing their personal thoughts and feelings on everything from Laramie to the creation of theater to the task that Deaf Austin Theater Artistic Director Dr. Brian Cheslik has set himself and his company in the quest to keep the evolution of Deaf theater moving at a strong and steady pace.  From start to finish, the PRIDE cabaret was rich with artistry, emotional storytelling, community and humanity, and although the greater purpose of the evening was fundraising for the event, were there no fundraising efforts in play, the production and performances would still have made Broadway SIGNs! PRIDE a fine night of cabaret storytelling, the kind that make the cabaret and concert community a vital part of New York City nightlife.  The production savored strongly of the need for more Deaf cabaret and the benefits to be gained by every person scrolling the cabaret club calendars who looks at an event page and chooses a show by Broadway SIGNs! or any other actor or organization performing a club act in ASL.

Visit the Deaf Austin Theatre’s website HERE and donate to The Laramie Project HERE.

Visit the SIGNmation/BroadwaySIGNs! website HERE and The Triad website HERE.

Personnel for Broadway SIGNs! PRIDE:

CoHost: Sandra Mae Frank

CoHost: Joey Antonio

Performers:

Joey Caverly (AKA James Caverly)

Jules Dameron

Heba Toulan

Dickie Hearts

Kailyn Aaron-Lozano

Brian Cheslik

Andrew Morrill

Special Guest: Erin Rosenfeld 

Vocalist: Josh Canfield 

Vocalist & Reader: Christian Brailsford 

Music Director & Pianist:  Kevin Winebold

Producer: Jo-Ann Dean, SIGNmation & Broadway SIGNs!

Performances/appearances:

In My Own Little Corner (Cinderella) Sandra Mae Frank. Piano: Kevin Winebold 

Key Note: Barbara Pitt McAdams: Tectonic Theater Project The Laramie Project Writer/Actor, Stage & HBO Film.

Corner of the Sky (Pippin) Joey Caverly & Vocalist Josh Canfield. 

This is Me (The Greatest Showman) Joey Antonio. Vocalists: Josh Canfield & Christian Brailsford. Pianist Kevin Winebold & Track. 

I Am What I Am (La Cage aux Folles) Brian Andrew Cheslik. Vocals Josh Canfield and Piano Kevin Winebold. 

Without You (RENT) Sandra Mae Frank & Joey Antonio. Cast Recording Track. 

Raise You Up (Kinky Boots) Joey Antonio & Cast. Vocalists Josh Canfield & Christian Brailsford. Piano Kevin Winebold. 

Speaker: Jules Dameron: Director. The Laramie Project, Deaf Austin Theatre. 

Speaker: Dr. Brian Cheslik,  Artistic Director Deaf Austin Theatre 

Poetry performers and the poems performed:

October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard

Select poetry excerpts of Poet Leslea Newman’s Stonewall Honor Book performed in American Sign Language (ASL) and read by Voice Actor Christian Brailsford.

The Doe - Kailyn Aaron-Lozano

The Fence (Before) - Heba Toulan

The Fence (That Night) - Dickie Hearts

The Fence (One Week Later) - Andrew Morrill

Then & Now - Jules Dameron

The Fence (After) - Full Cast

ASL Interpreter: Jay Damas 

ASL Interpreter: Zak Taylor

ASL Interpreter: Alberto Medero

Production Assistant: Katie Lloyd 

Stage Manager: Miriam Rochford

Sponsor: BEA Investment Group, Barbara Chubb, Owner

Sponsor: SIGNmation, Jo-Ann Dean, Ownet

Sponsor: The Sign Language Center 

Photos by Stephen Mosher

 

 

Livestream Will Benefit Deaf Austin Theater's ASL Production of THE LARAMIE PROJECT

Join BROADWAY SIGNs! PRIDE! A Benefit for Deaf Austin Theater’s First Ever ASL Production of the Laramie Project, live from The Triad Theater.

Join Broadway’s Sandra Mae Frank (Deaf West Spring Awakening  Revival, NBC’s New Amsterdam and Co-Host Joey Antonio (Dance Camp, Zoe’s Extraordinary Playlist) celebrate PRIDE with a stellar cabaret of American Sign Language (ASL) Poetry & Broadway Hits from Rent, La Cage Aux Folles and more performed by Deaf Artists!  All ticket proceeds benefit Deaf Austin Theatre’s (DAT) fall production of The Laramie Project, written by Moises Kaufman and Tectonic Theater Project.

The one-night only livestream benefit debuts Saturday, September 23rd 8 pm EST.

Featuring members from Deaf Austin Theatre’s The Laramie Project Joey Caverly (Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building), Dickie Hearts (Public’s Dark Disabled Stories), Heba Toulan (DAT & ZACH Theatre’s Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella), Kailyn Aaron-Lozano (DAT & ZACH Theater’s Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella), Jules Dameron (Director, The Laramie Project). Special Guest performances from Broadway’s Grey House Erin Rosenfeld and Andrew Morrill (The Music Man). CoHosts Sandra Mae Frank, Joey Antonio and DAT’s Artistic Director and Actor Brian Cheslik along with 2023 Helen Hayes Award Winner for Best Actor in a Musical Joey Caverly (The Music Man) share their favorite Broadway revue of songs! 

Special Guest Barbara Pitt McAdams Tectonic Theater Writer, an original cast member  of The Laramie Project along with DAT’s Artistic Director Dr. Brian Cheslik and Director Jules Dameron kick off cultural pride and honor the life and legacy of Matthew Shepard. GLAAD interviewed Cheslik and Director Dameron who highlight the historic the First Ever ASL Production of The Laramie Project by Deaf Austin Theatre through a Deaf lens in the article to bring awareness to the Deaf LGBTQIA community.https://glaad.org/first-ever-asl-production-of-laramie-project-by-deaf-austin-theatre/

The Broadway SIGNs! PRIDE! Cast perform excerpts from the critically acclaimed Stonewall Honor Book October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard written by Leslea Newman, in American Sign Language (ASL). Featuring Christian Brailsford (Pretty Woman) reading the prose in Spoken English with a live musical underscore by Kevin Winebold.  Offering a powerful visual prelude to Deaf Austin Theatre’s ASL production of The Laramie Project which runs September 6-17th at Ground Floor Theater in Austin, TX.

All Performances are in American Sign Language & Spoken English plus Captions. Music Director & Pianist Kevin Winebold, Disney Theatrical Group. Stage Manager Miriam Rochford. Production Assistant Katie Lloyd. ASL Interpretation by Zak Taylor, Alberto Medero, and J. Damas. Produced by Jo-Ann Dean, SIGNmation. Broadway SIGNs! PRIDE! Sponsor Barbara Chubb, Owner/BEA Investment Group.

The Laramie Project is a thought-provoking documentary play that explores the aftermath of the tragic 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a young gay college student in Laramie, Wyoming. The play delves into the impact of the incident on the local community and raises important questions about prejudice, hate crimes and tolerance. DAT aims to promote inclusivity, accessibility, and awareness of these same experiences faced by the Deaf and LGBTQIA communities. The Poetry selections from October Mourning performed by the cast connect us to Matthew Shepard’s final hours with The Doe, The Fence, and Then & Now. The writer Leslea Newman was the keynote speaker for the Laramie Student Body Gay Awareness week, it was the last outing Matthew Shepard attended the night he was abducted. Her work bears witness to the aftermath and testament to The Laramie Project. 

Photos: First Look at Sandra Mae Frank & More in ASL & Spoken English Production of CINDERELLA

ZACH Theatre & Deaf Austin Theatre are presenting a production of Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella, playing in The Topfer at ZACH, through March 5, 2023.

Get a first look at photos below!

Starring Sandra Mae Frank under the direction of Michael Baron and Dr. Brian Cheslik, the Tony®-nominated musical fairytale Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella will come to life. This fresh new musical and family favorite will be performed in both American Sign Language (ASL) and spoken English with supertitles artistically incorporated into the scenic design in addition to a fully inclusive experience from the time patrons arrive at the theatre.

The cast of deaf and hearing actors includes SANDRA MAE FRANK as Ella; TREY HARRINGTON as Topher; MEREDITH MCCALL as Madam; KENNY WILLIAMS as Sebastian; MERVIN PRIMEAUX-O'BRYANT as Marie/Fairy Godmother, KRISSY LEMON as Gabrielle; SARA BURKE as Charlotte; GREGOR LOPES as Jean-Michel; CHRISTOPHER TESTER as Lord Pinkleton; HEBA TOULAN as Ensemble; EMILY CATALFAMO as Ensemble/Ella Swing; LEE WALTER as Ensemble/Singing Voice for Marie, MARIEL ARDILA as Ensemble/Singing Voice for Ella; TAYLOR FLANAGAN as Ensemble/Singing Voice for Gabrielle; and JORDAN BARRON as Ensemble/Singing Voice for Jean-Michel.

This enchanting Tony®-nominated musical fairytale will put a spell on audiences of all ages. In partnership with Deaf Austin Theatre and performed simultaneously in English and American Sign Language, Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella showcases some of your favorite tunes including "In My Own Little Corner," "Impossible," and "Ten Minutes Ago," in this funny, modern adaptation from the delightful Broadway revival. Add a dash of romance, a splash of stage magic-and POOF!-you're guaranteed to have a ball!

 

Photos & Video: Go Inside Rehearsals for ASL & Spoken English CINDERELLA at ZACH

ZACH Theatre in partnership with Deaf Austin Theatre will present Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella playing January 25 - March 5 at The Topfer at ZACH with a cast and crew of deaf and hearing actors. The production is Co-Directed by Producing Artistic Director of the Lyric Theatre Michael Baron and DAT Artistic Director, Dr. Brian Cheslik.

Get a first look at photos and video inside rehearsal below!

This fresh new musical and family favorite will be performed in both American Sign Language (ASL) and spoken English with supertitle artistically incorporated into the scenic design and fully inclusive experience from the time patrons arrive at the theatre. Broadway veteran Sandra Mae Frank (Deaf West's Spring Awakening) will play the title role of Ella. Sandra recently was Co-Director (with Michael Baron) of the critically acclaimed production of The Music Man at Olney Theatre in Maryland and can currently be seen as Dr. Elizabeth Wilder on "New Amsterdam" on NBC.

The cast of deaf and hearing actors will also include Trey Harrington as Topher; MEREDITH MCCALL as Madam; Kenny Williams as Sebastian; MERVIN PRIMEAUX-O'BRYANT as Marie/Fairy Godmother, KRISSY LEMON as Gabrielle; SARA BURKE as Charlotte; GREGOR LOPES as Jean-Michel; Christopher Tester as Lord Pinkleton; HEBA TOULAN as Ensemble; EMILY CATALFAMO as Ensemble/Ella Swing; Lee Walter as Ensemble/Singing Voice for Marie, MARIEL ARDILA as Ensemble/Singing Voice for Ella; Taylor Flanagan as Ensemble/Singing Voice for Gabrielle; and JORDAN BARRON as Ensemble/Singing Voice for Jean-Michel.

Tickets are available online at zachtheatre.org, by phone at 512-476-0541 Tuesday through Friday, 12-5 p.m.

Sandra Mae Frank to Star in ASL & Spoken English CINDERELLA

ZACH Theatre in partnership with Deaf Austin Theatre has announced the cast of Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella playing January 25 - March 5 at The Topfer at ZACH with a cast and crew of deaf and hearing actors. Co-Directed by Producing Artistic Director of the Lyric Theatre Michael Baron and DAT Artistic Director, Dr. Brian Cheslik, The Tony®-nominated musical fairytale Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella will come to life in The Topfer to start the New Year for 2023.

This fresh new musical and family favorite will be performed in both American Sign Language (ASL) and spoken English with supertitle artistically incorporated into the scenic design and fully inclusive experience from the time patrons arrive at the theatre. Broadway veteran Sandra Mae Frank (Deaf West's Spring Awakening) will play the title role of Ella. Sandra recently was Co-Director (with Michael Baron) of the critically acclaimed production of The Music Man at Olney Theatre in Maryland and can currently be seen as Dr. Elizabeth Wilder on "New Amsterdam" on NBC.

"Since beginning pre-production work, I immediately found that we share theatrical mindset. It's been an amazing collaborative and directing partnership that I hope leads to future endeavors between Deaf Austin Theatre and ZACH as well as Deaf Austin Theatre and Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, which is where Michael is based as artistic director," expressed director Dr. Brian Cheslik. "This production is so important because it provides a space for deaf performers who have long been ignored in this industry. It will help people to realize that yes, deaf people can enjoy music and perform in musicals too. We can do anything hearing people can do...even here! We just do it a different way."

"Collaborating with both deaf and hearing artists on musicals has been a rewarding and constantly creative process. Sandra Mae Frank and I recently co-directed a deaf/hearing production of The Music Man in Washington, DC.," said director Michael Baron. The process of working on that show was revolutionary in that for the first time the deaf perspective was of equal or of greater importance to the interpretation of the material. Many of the deaf artists who worked on The Music Man are a part of this company of Cinderella - including my co-director, Sandra Mae Frank. She is returning to the stage in the lead role of Cinderella. Creating this production will be challenging, joyous, heartfelt, and full of discoveries - but one, I promise, you love and remember for years to come."

The cast of deaf and hearing actors will also include Trey Harrington as Topher; MEREDITH MCCALL as Madam; Kenny Williams as Sebastian; MERVIN PRIMEAUX-O'BRYANT as Marie/Fairy Godmother, KRISSY LEMON as Gabrielle; SARA BURKE as Charlotte; GREGOR LOPES as Jean-Michel; Christopher Tester as Lord Pinkleton; HEBA TOULAN as Ensemble; EMILY CATALFAMO as Ensemble/Ella Swing; Lee Walter as Ensemble/Singing Voice for Marie, MARIEL ARDILA as Ensemble/Singing Voice for Ella; Taylor Flanagan as Ensemble/Singing Voice for Gabrielle; and JORDAN BARRON as Ensemble/Singing Voice for Jean-Michel.

Directed by Michael Baron and DR. BRIAN CHESLIK. Additional production team includes ALLEN ROBERTSON as musical director, CASSIE ABATE as choreographer, MERVIN PRIMEAUX-O'BRYANT as assistant choreographer; STEPHANIE BUSING as scenic, properties and projections designer, Chris Evans as assistant projections designer, JEFFREY MEEK as costume designer, SERRET JENSEN as hair and makeup designer, ANNIE WIEGARD as lighting designer, FABIAN GARCIA as assistant lighting designer, ANNA ALEX as sound designer, SHANNON RICHEY as stage manager, KAILYN AARON-LOZANO as Lead Director of ASL, and LAILA HANAUMI as Director of ASL.

On why bringing Cinderella to the stage was important, ZACH Producing Artistic Director Dave Steakley said, "With over 50,000 deaf and hard of hearing residents in Austin, I want to make sure ZACH is serving the members of our community, especially the students at Texas School for the Deaf. It occurred to me that Rodgers + Hammerstein's newer Broadway adaptation of Cinderella would be a good story because this version puts her in the driver's seat of her life's journey. Likewise, I want us to produce a work that puts our deaf director, choreographer, actors and production team in control. It has been a very exciting process so far, and I know the result will be a highly original interpretation of this classic tale that is joyous and moving in its inclusivity."

Steakley continued, "Brian Cheslik is the leading deaf director in our state and he knows ZACH well as he has signed many of our performances over the years. It made sense to pair him with Michael Baron, who is at the forefront of productions which collaborate between ASL and English, having helmed several productions across the country as the hearing director. The creativity is sparking between these two great artists."

Special Events in celebration of Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella:

• Pride Night on Thursday, January 26, 2023

Performance Details:

Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella

When: January 25-March 5, 2023
Where: The Topfer at ZACH | 202 South Lamar | Austin, TX | 78704
Tickets: Start at $25 available at ZACH's box office - 512-476-0541 x1, zachtheatre.org

Summary: zachtheatre.org/cinderella

This enchanting Tony®-nominated musical fairytale will put a spell on audiences of all ages. In partnership with Deaf Austin Theatre and performed simultaneously in English and American Sign Language, Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella showcases some of your favorite tunes including "In My Own Little Corner," "Impossible," and "Ten Minutes Ago," in this funny, modern adaptation from the delightful Broadway revival. Add a dash of romance, a splash of stage magic-and POOF!-you're guaranteed to have a ball!

Age recommendation: Six and up

Run time: Approximately two hours with a 20-minute intermission.

TICKETING AND MEMBERSHIPS:

Tickets are available online at zachtheatre.org, by phone at 512-476-0541 Tuesday through Friday, 12-5 p.m. Free, short term and convenient parking available at the front entrance. ZACH Theatre is wheelchair accessible. Student Rush Tickets are $17 one hour before show time (with valid ID). A limited amount of Pay-What-You-Will tickets are available the day of for Mainstage preview performances November 16-20 only. Groups of 8 or more may request reservations by calling 512-476-0594 x245 or by emailing groupsales@zachtheatre.org.

ZACH XP memberships are $39 per month and give access to all 2022-23 season Mainstage and Family series shows. ZACH XP Members get early-access to reserve seats. Visit zachtheatre.org/zachxp to learn more.

CAST

Sandra Mae Frank - Ella

Trey Harrington - Topher

Meredith McCall - Madame

Kenny Williams - Sebastian

Mervin Primeaux-O'Bryant - Marie/Fairy Godmother

Krissy Lemon - Gabrielle

Sara Burke - Charlotte

Gregor Lopes - John-Michel

Christopher Tester - Lord Pinkleton

Heba Toulan - Ensemble

Emily Catalfamo - Ensemble/Ella Swing

Lee Walter - Ensemble/Singing Voice for Marie

Mariel Ardila - Ensemble/Singing Voice for Ella

Taylor Flanagan - Ensemble/Singing Voice for Gabrielle

Jordan Barron - Ensemble/Singing Voice for Jean-Michel

PRODUCTION TEAM

Michael Baron - Co-Director

Dr. Brian Cheslik - Co-Director

Allen Robertson - Musical Director

Cassie Abate - Choreographer

Mervin Primeaux-O'Bryant - Assistant Choreographer

Stephanie Busing - Scenic, Properties & Projections Designer

Chris Evans - Projections Assistant

Jeffrey Meek - Costume Designer

Serret Jensen - Hair and Makeup Designer

Annie Weigand - Lighting Designer

Fabian Garcia - Assistant Lighting Designer

Anna Alex - Sound Designer

Shannon Richey - Stage Manager

Danielle Grisko - Assistant Stage Manager

Casey Boriskie - Assistant Stage Manager

Kailyn Aaron-Lozano - Lead Director of ASL

Laila Hanaumi - Director of ASL

Shannon Ploeger - ASL Interpreter Coordinator

COVID PROTOCOLS AND HEALTH AND SAFETY:

About ZACH Theatre

A non-profit organization, ZACH creates intimate theatre experiences that ignite the imagination, inspire the spirit, and engage the community. As Austin's leading professional producing theatre, ZACH employs more than 300 actors, musicians, and designers annually to create its own diverse array of nationally recognized plays and musicals under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Dave Steakley and Managing Director Jamie Herlich Mclalwain. Each year, ZACH serves nearly 140,000 Central Texans - 57,000 of which are children and youth who participate in our education and outreach programs, as well as inspiring camps and classes. Founded in 1932, ZACH is the longest continuously running theatre company in the state of Texas, and one of the ten oldest in the country. Visit https://www.zachtheatre.org for more information.

 

Deaf Austin Theatre's THE LAST FIVE YEARS to Open This Weekend

Deaf Austin Theatre's The Last Five Years is set to open at Ground Floor Theatre this weekend!

An emotionally powerful and intimate musical about two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in and out of love over the course of five years, the show's unconventional structure consists of Cathy, the woman, telling her story backwards while Jamie, the man, tells his story chronologically; the two characters only meet once, at their wedding in the middle of the show.

The cast features:

Cathy (ASL) Krissy Lemon

Cathy (Eng) Carolyn O'Brien

Jamie (ASL) Saúl López

Jamie (Eng) John Christopher

Directed by Dr. Brian A. Cheslik & Lisa Scheps
Musical Direction: Dr. Ellie Jarret Shattles
Choreographed by Mervin Primeaux O'Bryant
ASL Consultant: Sandra Mae Frank

Performance Details:

December 2nd - 18th
Showtime: 8pm CT (Sundays at 5pm CT)
Show will be live streamed on December 8th and 10th

Location:
Ground Floor Theatre
979 Springdale Rd, Ste 122
Austin, TX 78702

American Sign Language & English LAST FIVE YEARS to be Presented by Ground Floor Theatre and Deaf Austin Theatre

Ground Floor Theatre will collaborate with Deaf Austin Theatre for The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown and directed by GFT Co-Artistic Director Lisa Scheps and DAT Artistic Director Dr. Brian Cheslik running December 2-18, 2022 at Ground Floor Theatre. Tickets on sale now at groundfloortheatre.org/five.

"Deaf Austin Theatre is excited to be partnering with Ground Floor Theatre on The Last Five Years," said Dr. Brian Cheslik, Artistic Director, Deaf Austin Theatre. "Organizations that serve the underrepresented communities, such as GFT, have worked to provide a place to be 'heard.' We look forward to bringing another amazing production to the Austin community through American Sign Language.

Drama Desk award-winner The Last Five Years is Jason Robert Brown's intimate window into a couple's doomed marriage. Since it's Off-Broadway premiere in 2002, Brown's funny, poignant, and devastatingly honest two-character production has enraptured audiences around the world with its spellbinding and emotional score and libretto. This collaboration will be presented in both English and American Sign Language.

With direction by Lisa Scheps and Dr. Brian Cheslik, the production team includes music director Dr. Ellie Jarrett Shattles, choreography by Mervin P. O'Bryant, scenic design by Gary Thornsberry, lighting design by Amber Whatley, costume design by Desireé Humphries, graphic design by Erica Moreno along with Demetri Bellini as technical director, Sandra Mae Frank as ASL Master/DASL, and Kelsey Moringy as stage manager.

"I am so excited to bring this piece to GFT and doubly excited to be co-directing with Brian. Our concept for this show is going to leave folks talking for a long time...I can't wait to see it on its feet," said Ground Floor Theatre Co-Artistic Director, Lisa Scheps.

Casting will be announced at a later date.

The Last Five Years | December 2 - 18, 2022

by Jason Robert Brown | Directed by Lisa Scheps and Dr. Brian Cheslik

Music Direction by Dr. Ellie Jarrett Shattles | Choreography by Mervin P. O'Bryant | Scenic Design by Gary Thornsberry | Costume Design by Desireé Humphries | Lighting Design by Amber Whatley | ASL Master/DASL Sandra Mae Frank

groundfloortheatre.org/five

An emotionally powerful and intimate musical about two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in and out of love over the course of five years, the show's unconventional structure consists of Cathy, the woman, telling her story backwards while Jamie, the man, tells his story chronologically; the two characters only meet once, at their wedding in the middle of the show.

Performances are December 2-18, 2022 at Ground Floor Theatre, 979 Springdale Road, Suite 122, Austin, TX at the corner of Springdale and Airport. Performances are Thursday through Saturday nights at 8:00PM and Sundays at 5:00PM. The "First Friday" performance on December 2 includes a reception. One Wednesday industry performance on December 14 at 8:00PM. Ground Floor Theatre believes in "theatre for everyone" regardless of ability to pay, so tickets are always Pay What You Can. Suggested ticket prices are $30 for general admission and $50 for VIP. VIP seating includes a reserved seat, a glass of bubbly and the assurance of helping GFT keep the Pay What You Can policy. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at groundfloortheatre.org/five.

SEASON PASSES: Season passes are available for the 2023 season. Season passes are a way for patrons to support GFT's Pay What You Can policy by paying a bit more for tickets. Passes can be used in any way you like - from all tickets for one show or spread them around for the season. Season passes for the 2023 Season (four shows), to be announced shortly, are now available at $200 per pass. For more information or to purchase a season pass please visit groundfloortheatre.org/seasonpass.

2022 Season Shows: https://www.groundfloortheatre.org/2022season

About Ground Floor Theatre:

Ground Floor Theatre produces works focusing on historically underrepresented communities. It serves as an incubator to foster and grow new and groundbreaking works that shine a light on groups that are often overlooked. It is also a home for the Austin theatre community to come together and learn from one another in order to help Austin continue to excel as a leader in The National Theatre community. For more information visit www.groundfloortheatre.org.

About Deaf Austin Theatre:

Deaf Austin Theatre is a non-profit organization, whose purpose is to enrich, inspire, educate, create and entertain the Austin community by producing live theatre experiences in American Sign Language (ASL), theatre workshops and acting camps. For more information visit www.deafaustintheatre.org.

Deaf Austin Theater Presents Four-Part MURDER MYSTERY

Deaf Austin Theatre presents a 4-part series of a Murder Mystery, written and directed by TK Sylvester.

The show runs October 17-November 7.

Actors participate remotely via Zoom; DAT adds voice-overs so hearing listeners can follow as well.

Episodes are released every Saturday 6 PM CST on the theatre's Youtube Channel: Deaf Austin Theatre.

Subscribe to the Deaf Austin Theatre YouTube channel HERE.

Previously released episodes:

Episode 1: A Rendez-Vous of Old Friends

Episode 2: Games and Thunder

Deaf Austin Theatre (DAT) is a non-profit organization, whose purpose is to enrich, inspire, educate, create and entertain the Austin community by producing live theatre experiences in American Sign Language.

Ground Floor Theatre Announces Cast For NEXT TO NORMAL

Ground Floor Theatre (GFT) and Deaf Austin Theatre (DAT) announce casting for the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, Next to Normal running December 5-21, 2019 at the Ground Floor Theatre, 979 Springdale Rd. Directed by Lisa Scheps and Brian Cheslik, this collaboration with GFT and DAT will feature a cast of both hearing and deaf actors, and the show will be presented synchronously in spoken English and American Sign Language (ASL).

In keeping with GFT's mission of producing groundbreaking works by and for underrepresented communities, Ground Floor Theatre teamed up with Deaf Austin Theatre for this production of Tom Kitt & Brian Yorkey's Pulitzer prize winning Next to Normal to be fully deaf inclusive. Each character will be played by 2 cast members - one deaf, one hearing. In addition to being inclusive, this production will add the beauty of American Sign Language to every performance enhancing the message of the show which deals with mental health, addiction, and suburban family dynamics.

Directors Lisa Scheps and Brian Cheslik discuss bringing these two theatre companies together for this co-production. Scheps exclaims, "I am excited to be co-directing this challenging piece with Deaf Austin Theatre's Brian Cheslik. Adding ASL and deaf characters to Next to Normal makes this compelling play more dynamic and relevant.... I can't wait!" Cheslik expands his excitement, "Next to Normal is going to be like nothing else that Austin has seen before. This collaboration between Deaf Austin Theatre and Ground Floor Theatre will be sure to open doors to more collaboration between hearing and Deaf actors all across the South. It is a dream show for me, and I am so thrilled to be working alongside Lisa Scheps to bring this dream to reality."

Next to Normal explores how one suburban household copes with crisis and mental illness. Dad's an architect; Mom rushes to pack lunches and pour cereal; their daughter and son are bright, wise-cracking teens, appearing to be a typical American family. And yet their lives are anything but normal because the mother has been battling bipolar disorder for 16 years. Next to Normal takes audiences into the minds and hearts of each character, presenting their family's story with love, sympathy and heart.

The production has a cast of 11 that blends hearing and deaf performers. The cast includes JoAnn Benfield (Dr. Madden/ASL), Sandra Mae Frank (Natalie/ASL), Kirk Kelso (Dr. Madden/English), Jim Lindsay (Dan/English), Kerry McGinnis (Diana/ASL), Daniel Ponce (Henry/English), Megg Rose (Diana/ASL), Tyrique Sylvester (Henry/ASL), Maryanna Tollemache (Natalie/ASL), Seth Washington (Dan/ASL), and Riley Wesson (Gabe/English/ASL).

Directed by Lisa Scheps and by Brian Cheslik. The production team includes musical direction by Adam Roberts and Dr. Ellie Jarret Shattles; choreography by Kelsey Oliver, costume and prop design by Patti Neff-Tiven, scenic design by Zac Crofford; lighting design by Amber Whatley; sound design by Jeff Miller; ASL coordination by Sharon Ploeger; production stage manager Kelsey Moringy; and Danielle Grisko as stage manager.

Performances run December 5-21, 2019 at Ground Floor Theatre, 979 Springdale Road, Austin, TX at the corner of Springdale and Airport. Performances are Thursday through Saturday nights at 8:00PM and Sundays at 5:00PM. The "First Friday" performance on December 6 includes a reception. Ground Floor Theatre believes in "theatre for everyone" regardless of ability to pay, so tickets are always "Pay What You Can". Tickets can be purchased at groundfloortheatre.org

This project is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department and Texas Commission on the Arts.

Ground Floor Theatre (GFT) concentrates on works by and for underrepresented communities. It serves as an incubator to foster and grow new and groundbreaking works that shine a light on groups that are often overlooked. It is also a home for the Austin theatre community to come together and learn from one another in order to help Austin continue to excel as a leader in The National Theatre community. For more information visit www.groundfloortheatre.org.

Deaf Austin Theatre (DAT) is a non-profit organization, whose purpose is to enrich, inspire, educate, create and entertain the Austin community by producing live theatre experiences in American Sign Language (ASL), theatre workshops and acting camps. For more information visit www.deafaustintheatre.org.

Review: BROADWAY SIGNS! PRIDE at The Triad A Special Night

Something truly special happened at The Triad on August 3rd when Broadway SIGNs! PRIDE played a one-night only gala concert in American Sign Language as a benefit to fund Deaf Austin Theatre’s (DAT) fall production of The Laramie Project, the groundbreaking piece of theater created in the wake of the murder of Matthew Shepard.  The evening, co-hosted by Broadway and television star Sandra Mae Frank and Joey Antonio of the smash-hit TV show Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, featured a cast of actors from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community performing a variety of musical numbers and poems from Leslea Newman’s October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard.  The exact details of the evening - cast, songs, and poems performed - will all be provided later in this article so that this writer can speak on the nature of this show and the ongoing importance of Deaf cabaret.

Since accepting this position with Broadway World, I have attended a handful of cabaret shows performed in American Sign Language (ASL) - the first of which was a solo show by actor Joshua Castille (review HERE), the second being a group show by Russell Harvard (review HERE), and this very program, overflowing with talent and heart.  Fellow Broadway World Cabaret writer Bobby Patrick attended a Broadway SIGNs! Halloween show at 54 Below (review HERE).  It has been the mission of this cabaret journalism team to seek out cabaret shows in ASL because it is an artform, a storytelling style, that is not only wildly artistic and vastly entertaining, it is extremely important - and the PRIDE show on Thursday night was one shining example after another of why this form of storytelling is valuable (to say nothing of the fundraising element of this particular show, which we will get to later).  All three of the evenings of ASL cabaret that I have witnessed have been different in their style.   Joshua Castille performed sign language to recorded tracks from cast recordings, soundtracks, and pop albums, Russell Harvard performed his ASL storytelling to both recorded tracks and live singers that would appear on the stage with him.  At the PRIDE Show, the actors were given an opportunity to show that there are no limitations to the manners in which Deaf and Hard of Hearing actors can tell their stories, something at which Deaf Austin Theatre is working dilligently, in an effort to break new ground in Deaf theater.  Some of the musical performances were enacted to recordings (as with Erin Rosenfeld, working with the cast recording of “Ring Of Keys” from Fun Home ) or with recording and video (like when Joey Antonio performed “This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman), while others were presented with a hearing actor performing the song, live, from the piano (Josh Canfield was on voice and Joey Caverly on ASL for “Corner Of The Sky”) and, finally, there was Sandra Mae Frank performing from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella with only the piano, herself, and the words to the song projected onto a screen.  There is a world of options available to actors performing in ASL and audiences, hearing and not, all of whom should be seeking out Deaf cabaret because, in the opinion of this cabaret frequenter, Deaf cabaret is awesome.  And even with these four different manners of performance, the PRIDE show was all the more intricate and interesting, thanks to the addition of the poetry aspect of the program, with actors on stage performing in ASL and actors offstage reciting the poetry into a microphone.  Producer Jo-Ann Dean offered that, "Leslea Newman did come to our rehearsal and had the opportunity to address our cast performing the six poems.  Non-exclusive Rights were obtained from Publisher in order to stage and livestream her poetic works. I hope to bring our actors performing these poems to The Matthew Shepard Foundation Gala in October to underscore the inclusion, and access to resources are needed for the Deaf community through captioning and ASL Interpretation."   Whether creating small venue performance art or narrative theater pieces, the collaborative efforts employed by Broadway SIGNs and Deaf Austin Theatre shone as highly successful during the presentation. Cabaret is about a lot of things, a lot of styles, a lot of art, and combining the musical performances with the poetic ones broadened the artistic and emotional landscape of the evening - particularly due to the subject matter that informed the entire evening: Matthew Shepard.

It’s been twenty-five years since Matthew Shepard was crucified on a fence in Wyoming but to many it may as well have been yesterday.  The memory of that horrible time is indelibly emblazoned in the minds and in the hearts of those (like this writer) who watched the story unfold in real-time.  The Laramie Project is more than just a work of art, it is a lesson in history and in life, and every time the play is produced and performed it serves as an act of activism.  Deaf Austin Theatre’s upcoming production will be historic in that it is the first time the work is being presented in ASL, and the production will not only be livestreamed, it will be filmed.  The organization is working to distribute a curriculum and video to Deaf schools in the US to erase hate, establish civil rights, and support LGBTQIA+ Deaf & Hearing students.   The Matthew Shepard Foundation has donated to the production and Dennis and Judy Shepard will attend the opening night of the play, which runs September 7th through 16th, with a goal to transfer to Broadway with Deaf and Hearing cast performing in ASL, in order to provide accessibility for all audiences.  For the PRIDE cabaret, there was much discussion of the play, with Barbara Pitt McAdams of the Tectonic Theater Project speaking about her experience as one of the Laramie Project interviewers, and of the production, with Deaf Austin Theatre LARAMIE director Jules Dameron describing the artistic process that went into designing a poster for the production that was informed by the fact that the play is being performed by Deaf and Hard of Hearing actors.  With the spirit of Matthew Shepard in the air, the PRIDE cabaret featured wonderful actors from both the Deaf and Queer communities, sharing their personal thoughts and feelings on everything from Laramie to the creation of theater to the task that Deaf Austin Theater Artistic Director Dr. Brian Cheslik has set himself and his company in the quest to keep the evolution of Deaf theater moving at a strong and steady pace.  From start to finish, the PRIDE cabaret was rich with artistry, emotional storytelling, community and humanity, and although the greater purpose of the evening was fundraising for the event, were there no fundraising efforts in play, the production and performances would still have made Broadway SIGNs! PRIDE a fine night of cabaret storytelling, the kind that make the cabaret and concert community a vital part of New York City nightlife.  The production savored strongly of the need for more Deaf cabaret and the benefits to be gained by every person scrolling the cabaret club calendars who looks at an event page and chooses a show by Broadway SIGNs! or any other actor or organization performing a club act in ASL.

Visit the Deaf Austin Theatre’s website HERE and donate to The Laramie Project HERE.

Visit the SIGNmation/BroadwaySIGNs! website HERE and The Triad website HERE.

Personnel for Broadway SIGNs! PRIDE:

CoHost: Sandra Mae Frank

CoHost: Joey Antonio

Performers:

Joey Caverly (AKA James Caverly)

Jules Dameron

Heba Toulan

Dickie Hearts

Kailyn Aaron-Lozano

Brian Cheslik

Andrew Morrill

Special Guest: Erin Rosenfeld 

Vocalist: Josh Canfield 

Vocalist & Reader: Christian Brailsford 

Music Director & Pianist:  Kevin Winebold

Producer: Jo-Ann Dean, SIGNmation & Broadway SIGNs!

Performances/appearances:

In My Own Little Corner (Cinderella) Sandra Mae Frank. Piano: Kevin Winebold 

Key Note: Barbara Pitt McAdams: Tectonic Theater Project The Laramie Project Writer/Actor, Stage & HBO Film.

Corner of the Sky (Pippin) Joey Caverly & Vocalist Josh Canfield. 

This is Me (The Greatest Showman) Joey Antonio. Vocalists: Josh Canfield & Christian Brailsford. Pianist Kevin Winebold & Track. 

I Am What I Am (La Cage aux Folles) Brian Andrew Cheslik. Vocals Josh Canfield and Piano Kevin Winebold. 

Without You (RENT) Sandra Mae Frank & Joey Antonio. Cast Recording Track. 

Raise You Up (Kinky Boots) Joey Antonio & Cast. Vocalists Josh Canfield & Christian Brailsford. Piano Kevin Winebold. 

Speaker: Jules Dameron: Director. The Laramie Project, Deaf Austin Theatre. 

Speaker: Dr. Brian Cheslik,  Artistic Director Deaf Austin Theatre 

Poetry performers and the poems performed:

October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard

Select poetry excerpts of Poet Leslea Newman’s Stonewall Honor Book performed in American Sign Language (ASL) and read by Voice Actor Christian Brailsford.

The Doe - Kailyn Aaron-Lozano

The Fence (Before) - Heba Toulan

The Fence (That Night) - Dickie Hearts

The Fence (One Week Later) - Andrew Morrill

Then & Now - Jules Dameron

The Fence (After) - Full Cast

ASL Interpreter: Jay Damas 

ASL Interpreter: Zak Taylor

ASL Interpreter: Alberto Medero

Production Assistant: Katie Lloyd 

Stage Manager: Miriam Rochford

Sponsor: BEA Investment Group, Barbara Chubb, Owner

Sponsor: SIGNmation, Jo-Ann Dean, Ownet

Sponsor: The Sign Language Center 

Photos by Stephen Mosher

 

 

Special Thanks to...

 

 

In Addition to...

Ploeger ASL Interpreting, LLC

58 Creativity

Bus Door Films

Broadway SIGNs!

State Outreach Center

Dozanu Innovation

National Disability Theatre

Communication By Hand

Sorenson

True+Way ASL

Michael Epstein Designs

Art Spark Texas

Hypernovas Productions

The Kennedy Center

Tectonic Theatre Project

Texas School for the Deaf Performing Arts Program

Steve Barbin

Ames Biskupiak

Lisa Scheps

ZACH Theatre

Ground Floor Theatre

Sandra Mae Frank

Krissy Lemon

Donors

National Endowment for the Arts Greater Austin Foundation for the Deaf Matthew Shepard Foundation BEA Investment Group Ploeger ASL Interpreting, LLC 58 Creativity Bus Door Films SIGNmation Broadway SIGNs! State Outreach Center

Dozanu Innovation National Disability Theatre Communication By Hand Sorenson True+Way ASL Michael Epstein Designs Art Spark Texas Hypernovas Productions The Kennedy Center Tectonic Theatre Project

Sponsors