SIGNS OF SUCCESS 3 YEARS AFTER 'BIG RIVER' CARRIED DEAF WEST TO PROMINENCE, THE NOHO THEATER CONTINUES TO MAKE A SPLASH.Byline: Evan Henerson Theater Writer The marquee still advertises a full slate Any political party or faction that seeks to form a majority in a parliament or on a board of directors or other responsible body typically must run a full slate if only to demonstrate that they have the capacity to attract the talent to fill every position with some person, even if that of productions, and the administrative offices adjacent to the theater at 5112 Lankershim Blvd. are still bustling. When he's not out of town doing outreach for his company's production of ``Big River,'' Deaf West Theatre Founded in 1991, Deaf West Theatre Company has become a cultural institution serving as a model for deaf theatre worldwide. It is noted for being the first professional resident Sign Language Theatre in the western half of the United States. artistic director Ed Waterstreet Ed Waterstreet is the founder and artistic director of Deaf West Theatre. He is married to Linda Bove, better known as "Linda the Librarian" from Sesame Street. can still be found in his office fronting Lankershim. Deaf West, the Tony Award-honored, NoHo-based company is still technically a theatrical jewel of the Valley even if the company's production output over the past three years has been minimal. The next two Deaf West shows to get L.A.-area productions will take place at the Ahmanson Theatre The Ahmanson Theatre is one of the four main venues that comprise the Los Angeles Music Center. Through the generosity of philanthropist Robert H. Ahmanson, construction began on March 9, 1962. downtown and, in the fall, at the Pasadena Playhouse The Pasadena Playhouse is a historic theatre located in Pasadena, California. History The Playhouse's history began in 1917 when actor/director Gilmor Brown began producing a season of plays at an old burlesque house, which he renamed the Savoy. . Discussions for future Deaf West productions are being conducted with theater administrators in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of and London. These days, the company with the stated mission to enhance the theatrical experience of both deaf and hearing audiences may be on the verge On the Verge (or The Geography of Yearning) is a play written by Eric Overmyer. It makes extensive use of esoteric language and pop culture references from the late nineteenth century to 1955. of outgrowing its 99-seat theater roots. A hit production will do that. And ``Big River,'' which premiered on that small Lankershim stage three years ago, is indeed a hit. The Huck huck n. Huckaback. Noun 1. huck - toweling consisting of coarse absorbent cotton or linen fabric huckaback toweling, towelling - any of various fabrics (linen or cotton) used to make towels Finn musical, which blends deaf and hearing actors and singers, subsequently transferred to the Mark Taper Forum The Mark Taper Forum is a small thrust stage with 745 seats at the Los Angeles Music Center built by Welton Beckett and Associates. It has presented innovative plays since 1967. The world premiere of Angels In America was produced here. and, ultimately, to the Roundabout Theatre in New York. A touring company has traveled the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and played in Japan. The production currently running plays two weeks at the Ahmanson beginning tonight, and a second leg of the tour will kick off in Arizona before concluding in June. A separate, sit-down company will take up residence at Ford's Theatre
Ford's Theatre at 511 10th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. is an active theatre in Washington DC, United States, used for various performances. in Washington, D.C. Theater administrators are talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to the Roundabout and to British mega- producer Cameron Mackintosh Sir Cameron Mackintosh (born 17 October, 1946) is a successful British theatrical producer. Born in Enfield, London to a Scottish father and a Maltese mother, Mackintosh was raised in his mother's Roman Catholic faith and educated at Prior Park College in Bath. about remounting Deaf West's production of ``Oliver!'' - the company's first sign-language musical. A new musical version of ``Cyrano de Bergerac'' is also in the early discussion phase. In the proposed scenario, which would likely be set in New Orleans New Orleans (ôr`lēənz –lənz, ôrlēnz`), city (2006 pop. 187,525), coextensive with Orleans parish, SE La., between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, 107 mi (172 km) by water from the river mouth; founded , the title character would be deaf. Deaf West productions on the NoHo stage, however, have been scarce since the rise of ``Big River.'' Company Rep has leased the Deaf West stage, and the next Deaf West production - a new play, Stephen Sachs' ``Open Window'' - will be staged at and co-produced by the Pasadena Playhouse. But while Waterstreet and managing director Bill O'Brien
``We knew that 'Big River' was going to affect our normal schedule of activities here,'' says O'Brien, who also interprets for Waterstreet during an interview at the Deaf West offices. ``But when you really look at it, there are two things that made it clear to us that that was the path to go. We create employment opportunities for these deaf actors and that's one of the main goals we set up for any of our projects. These actors are working for a year and making top union money on the road.'' Given the size of the houses booking ``Big River'' on the road, O'Brien says the company is reaching more audiences nationwide than they could do in 10 years worth of production on Lankershim. ``When you look at what we're accomplishing on the road compared to what we're doing here, you can't really measure the two with the same ruler,'' he says. Adds Waterstreet: ``We do hear from the deaf community that there's a dearth of productions here. They say, 'When are you coming back? We want to continue the stuff we've been doing, and we miss those productions. It's great ``Big River'' is having that great success, but what about us and what about our community?' We'd love to go back to doing two or three small productions a year here, getting back to the sand box that we started in. ``We certainly didn't expect 'Big River' to take on the kind of life it has, but it's certainly been nice. I can't complain.'' Indeed, there seems to be little to complain about. The company's profile has increased significantly, to the point where partnerships with other theaters feel less risky. ``Grants and donations increase because of the bigger exposure,'' says O'Brien. ``This gives us a little bit of a cushion. Plus I think it changes the way we can now enter into a discussion. Where we used to need to bribe people into even considering it, now we feel we might be a viable production, which we need help to enhance for real specific practical reasons. We might not have to walk into a meeting thinking we have to bring 10 bags of gold to start talking.'' A musical that depends heavily on word of mouth for its audience, ``Big River'' isn't easily described. The sign-language musical, directed by Jeff Calhoun, has hearing actors playing characters and supplying speaking and singing voices for other characters. The actor playing Huck Finn (original cast member Tyrone Giordano) is deaf, and his role is voiced and sung by the production's narrator NARRATOR. A pleader who draws narrs serviens narrator, a sergeant at law. Fleta, 1. 2, c. 37. Obsolete. (Daniel Jenkins). It's a far cry from having two American Sign Language American Sign Language n. The primary sign language used by deaf and hearing-impaired people in the United States and Canada. American Sign Language (ASL), n. interpreters standing off to the side signing words and lyrics during specially designated performances. But even with consistent critical accolades and a special Tony award for the production, the format is something of a programming risk for organizations not familiar with this new style of performance. Waterstreet has traveled to many of the tour stops to do ``how we did it'' presentations in the interests of enticing audiences. ``It's been a new experience for the deaf,'' says Waterstreet. ``Conceptually and as an art form, having all that come together and having music be a part of it was something new for them. I see sharing with hearing people, and I think that's a big thing, too.'' Once Waterstreet and ``Big River'' have passed through a city, the artistic director routinely gets letters and inquiries from artists and administrators asking not only how one goes about building a sign-language musical, but also how one builds a deaf theater company. Waterstreet was particularly taken with the partnership in Houston, and the number of talented actors who turned out for the D.C. company's auditions impressed him as well. ``I definitely see a motivation,'' Waterstreet says. ``I think it will take a year or so to see what kind of impact 'Big River' has had, but I do expect something to happen.'' Evan Henerson, (818) 713-3651 evan.henerson(at)dailynews.com BIG RIVER Where: Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. When: 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday; through Jan. 23. Tickets: $30 to $85. Call (213) 628-2772. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Ed Waterstreet, left, Deaf West artistic director, on ``Big River,'' with managing director Bill O'Brien Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer |
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