Gallaudet University Theatre

Can you take a guess as to just how many people involved with Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma’s production of CINDERELLA have connections and roots?

Let’s start with the article’s author, co-director Brian Cheslik (‘13) of Deaf Austin Theatre, who has written an important and necessary article linked to CINDERELLA as the latest precedent-setting model for what it means to stage a successfully co-equal Deaf and hearing production, and this article should serve as a helpful reference for producing directors in the mainstream industry who may be contemplating a similar endeavor. Check it out!

[If you’re in OKC or thereabouts, CINDERELLA runs through August 4 (this Sunday).]

Equal Accessibility for Deaf and Hearing Audiences? It’s Possible! How a new staging of ‘Cinderella’ is bringing Deaf/hearing theatre out of the ‘shadows.’

We are truly excited to announce our 2024-25 season, which features new works in development by Aimee Chou (IG: ), New York Deaf Theatre (IG: ), and a return to our origins at Chapel Hall. Mark your calendars, and see you when you get here!

.campuslife .gally

Very good advice.

PAID OPPORTUNITY FOR MALES AND FEMALES WHO IDENTIFY AS DEAF ⁠
ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT⁠
⁠
Flash Before the Bang’s Additional DEAF Roles open casting call is LIVE. ⁠
NOW CASTING:⁠
MALES AND FEMALES 50s-80s.⁠ WHO ARE DEAF AND COMMUNICATES IN ASL⁠
To Play JAKE’s Family (SUPPORTING ROLES)⁠
-MRS. WARNER (50s)⁠
-MR. WARNER (50s)⁠
-GRANDMA BEATRICE (70s-80s)⁠
⁠
⁠And

YOUNG JAKE
9-12-year-old. He is very athletic and able to portray a range of emotions non-verbally. 4-5 Scenes (NON SPEAKING ROLE)⁠
⁠
The form for talent to submit to is linked here and can also be found in bio.⁠
Submission form: ⁠
https://bit.ly/FBTBAddRolesAIR
⁠
Please email [email protected] to submit or with any questions. Every tape will be watched, every email will be answered, and everyone who is a fit is encouraged to submit. Please spread the word however you can.⁠
⁠

Congratulations to theatre alum Anjel Piñero (‘22), who will be performing “America the Beautiful” at this year’s Super Bowl, as well as to Daniel and Shaheem! 🏈

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD), LOVE SIGN (Love Sign by Rosebyander), and the NFL proudly announce that Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 11, 2024 will feature Deaf performers Daniel N. Durant, Anjel Piñero, and Shaheem Sanchez during pregame festivities. Actor Daniel Durant, who starred in the Academy Award-winning movie “CODA,” will perform the National Anthem in ASL; actress and model Anjel Piñero will sign “America the Beautiful;” and Shaheem Sanchez, actor, dancer, and choreographer, will sign “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Sanchez will also perform the ASL Halftime Show. The ASL pre-game performances and the ASL Halftime show will be produced in partnership with Alexis Kashar of LOVE SIGN and Howard Rosenblum of the NAD. Information on where to best watch these sign language performances will be shared when it becomes available.

Daniel Durant is best known for his starring role as Leo Rossi in CODA, a film that garnered three Oscars (2022), including Best Picture. Daniel received numerous accolades for his work in the movie, including: a Screen Actor’s Guild Award for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture; a Sundance Award for Best Ensemble, a HCA Spotlight Award; and the AFI Award for Best Ensemble. Daniel most recently appeared in Season 31 of Dancing with the Stars and the 2023 Dancing with the Stars Tour. Daniel is also well known for his role as “Moritz” in the Broadway theatrical production of Spring Awakening, and for this performance, won the Theatre World Award for Outstanding 2016 Broadway Debut Performance. Over the years, Daniel has acted in several theater productions. In addition, Daniel has appeared in several television series, including the series “You,” “Chicago Med,” “Florida Man,” and a recurring role on “Switched at Birth.” [photo credit: Apple]

Anjel Piñero is an actor and model who placed in the top 23 of the 2023 Miss New York USA pageant and is competing in the 2024 Miss New York USA pageant. Anjel has performed in many roles on television, video, promotions, and stage. She has appeared in Law and Order SVU, as well as in ASL promotions of Nickelodeon’s Spongebob Squarepants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Kenan and Kel. Anjel has been featured in ads for Android, Mercari, and Apple. Anjel’s theatrical performances include productions of: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest at Gallaudet University; Into the Wood Little Red at Lincoln Center New York City; Here, All Dwell Free Handless Maiden at New York University; and The Music Man at Olney Theatre Center. Anjel was the Valedictorian of the 2018 graduating class of the New York School for the Deaf – Fanwood. [photo credit: Miss New York USA Team]

Shaheem Sanchez is an actor, performer, dancer and dance choreographer who is well known for his online presence which both entertains and teaches ASL to thousands of followers. Shaheem’s dance career has earned admiration from many professionals and followers. Shaheem’s professional journey has included collaborations with music artists such as Ciara, Usher, and Snoop Dogg. He has also worked alongside esteemed actors like Academy Award-winner Troy Kotsur. In 2019, Shaheem made his feature film debut in the feature film “Sound of Metal.” Shaheem has been involved in various promotions for Apple Music and Apple TV+. During the 2023 season, the NFL produced the “Drip by NFL” campaign, launching a national commercial starring Shaheem. As the founder of Feel the Music, Shaheem pledges to bridge the gap between the deaf and hearing communities. He currently resides in Los Angeles. [photo credit: Julien Billy]

GRAPHIC DESC: [Purple gradient background. Text: Deaf Performers at Super Bowl LVIII. L-R: Daniel Durant, Anjel Piñero, and Shaheem Sanchez. Logo of Super Bowl LVIII.]

🚨🚨🚨!!!

Visionaries of the Creative Arts (VOCA) CASTING SUBMISSIONS for A NOT SO QUIET NOCTURNE by Jaye Austin Williams

Director: Alexandria Wailes
Dates of rehearsals: March 4-April 11, 2024.
Venue: Lang Theater - ATLAS Performing Arts Center
Opening: April 12, 2024
Closing: April 21, 2024
Contract: Non-Union/Union
Pay: $750-$1,500 (one-time payment)

Self-tape submissions due by Friday, December 22, 2023.

Submissions via https://forms.gle/ncL89fcayVAUgiiL8

Submit your resume and headshot. In your video slate, say/sign your name, location, height, and the role(s) you are auditioning for. To audition, please click on a link below for a role/side you are auditioning for.

Roles and Sides:
https://bit.ly/Bobby-Mack-1
https://bit.ly/Charlyn-Deaf
https://bit.ly/Counselor-Interpreter
https://bit.ly/Danny-1
https://bit.ly/Doctor-ANSQN
https://bit.ly/DrAvery-ANSQN
https://bit.ly/Lelia-1
https://bit.ly/Shalil-1
https://bit.ly/Terrell-1
https://bit.ly/Trey
https://bit.ly/YoungCharlyn-1

Callbacks may be scheduled via Zoom on Friday, January 5th, 2024, between 5P-8P or Saturday, January 6th, 2024, between 10A-1P. We will notify you via email if you receive a callback.

Synopsis: The play is about Charlyn, a Black Deaf woman living with AIDS, who faces challenges in her life, losing Danny, her drug-addicted husband, to AIDS and raising her nephew while her brother remains in prison.

Role/Character Breakdown:

Charlyn - African-American Deaf woman, late twenties. Must be fluent in ASL.

Charlyn’s Spoken Voice/Nurse/Clerk/Bobby Mack’s Mother’s Voice – hearing African-American woman, late twenties.

Lelia - Charlyn’s mother, hearing African-American, early-to-mid forties and knows ASL

Shalil (Charlyn’s nephew) - hearing African-American, age 16 and knows ASL

Terrell (Charlyn’s brother) – hearing African-American, early to mid-thirties and knows ASL

Danny (Charlyn’s husband) – hearing African-American, early to mid-thirties and knows ASL

Doctor – hearing White, man, 30s

Dr. Avery – hearing white woman, mid-to late forties

Bobby-Mack – hearing African-American, late teens, street-wise, tough, subdued, carries a boom box
everywhere he goes.

Trey – hearing/ African-American late teens, friend of Bobby-

Mack and Shalil

Counselor – hearing African-American woman, mid-to-late thirties

Young Charlyn, age 10 - African-American Deaf girl, should favor the actress portraying Charlyn. Must be fluent in ASL

Two Sign Language interpreters/voice actors - African American interpreters who are fluent ASL users.

We strongly encourage actors who are fluent in ASL to audition.

For questions, please email: [email protected]

Young Charlyn.pdf

We're excited to share the latest photos of our last dress rehearsal for TRASH by the maestro , which should give you a sense of this production's vibe, and we are truly proud to have brought this fearless new play-in-development to campus. TRASH is written by alums and .morrill, directed by the unstoppable , with performances tonight, tomorrow night, and a matinee/evening doubleheader on Saturday! Tickets can be got at: https://gallaudet.ticketleap.com .kel .campuslife

Tonight was the first of five performances of TRASH by and .morrill, directed by , followed by an impromptu audience talkback with the playwrights and director, facilitated by faculty member ! 5 - 1 = 4 more shows, so grab your tickets at https://gallaudet.ticketleap.com!

Snapshots from today’s TRASH tech. This production promises to be one of the more intrepid and unique experiences at yet: performances are coming up fast (December 6-9), so grab your tickets at https://gallaudet.ticketleap.com! .morrill .kel .campuslife

Happy Monday! You thought we were done after FLOWER SHOP? Far from it! We are truly excited to share that we have our second Fall 2023 production on tap: come check out the darkly funny TRASH by alums and .morrill, directed by , running black-box style on the Elstad Auditorium stage December 6-9. Performances are Wednesday December 6, 8 pm; Thursday December 7, 8 pm; Friday, December 8, 8 pm; Saturday December 9, 2 pm & 8 pm. Tickets will go on sale via our usual Ticketleap link as soon as possible, so please be on the lookout! .campuslife .gally [Graphic design by ]

✨Opening Night was a success! Check out these photos from our post show talkback. We got a rare opportunity to interact with these six amazing playwrights who came from all over the country to see our renditions of their plays.

THREE SHOWS remain. Have you gotten your tickets? Links in bio!

ID: 4 group photos, first with the full cast, crew, faculty, staff, and playwrights. Second with the playwrights sharing their experiences. Third is a black and white photo from behind Professor MoMo Holt as she talks to the audience. Fourth is another group photo of the playwrights only.

The early batch of photos by for the first of our two Fall 2023 productions, FLOWER SHOP, an anthology of 6 new short plays by 6 Deaf playwrights! 3 more performances remain: today at 2 pm and 7 pm, and tomorrow at 2 pm! Tickets: https://gallaudet.ticketleap.com

The photos taken on November 2, 2023, the Opening Night of the theatrical production. I took a photo of Monique Holt from behind as she addressed the audience on the opening night of the production on November 2, 2023.

Have you gotten your ticket yet?! 🎟️🎫Tomorrow is our Preview performance of FLOWER SHOP. 🥀🌷🪻💐 Previews are always a good test performance and we would love to have an audience! Will we see you tomorrow?! Hope so!🤞🏽Thursday is our ✨OPENING✨show! There will be a very special talkback afterwards with our six amazing playwrights and our student artists! GU students can reserve tickets and others can purchase through TicketLeap or cash at the door. All links in bio. You don’t wanna miss this one! 🎭

ID: first photo is a grid layout of each show with its title and playwright name similar to the previous post. Second photo has all show info with QR codes, similar to previous post.

It's almost here! The first production of our 4-show season this year! 🌸🌺🌼FLOWER SHOP starts performances next week! Have you gotten your tickets? Six short plays by six Deaf Playwrights that all take place in or near a flower shop! Six different stories, all poignant and heart-touching. Wednesday, November 1st to Sunday, November 5th. Primarily student-driven: directors, actors, stage managers, projection designers, and costume designers!

Free for Gallaudet students! Use this reservation form link - https://shorturl.at/elF67 - for your ticket. For others: $10 online ticket purchases, or $15 at the box office, CASH only at the door. https://gallaudet.ticketleap.com/ For questions, contact us through TicketLeap or [email protected].

ID: At left, dark green background. Six images of different flowers in a 2x3 grid. Text: Flower Shop: Six Short Plays. November 1-5, 2023. Elstad Auditorium. Toxic Flower by W***y Conley. Camellia for Camilla by Heba Toulan. Flower Dance by Howie Seago. Fifty Flowers by Cherry Pie Latorre. Beautiful Boy by Rob Roth. Plant A Kiss by Liam Coleman. At right, black background with GU TaD logo at top and QR code at the bottom. Text: Elstad Auditorium. 800 Florida Ave NE. Washington, DC 20002. Wednesday November 1 7PM. Thursday November 2 7PM. Friday November 3 7PM. Saturday November 4 2PM. Saturday November 4 7PM. Sunday November 5, 2PM.

Auditions for TRASH has been extended through this Friday! All are encouraged to apply! We are opening up the roles to more folks. Check out the updated character descriptions! BIPOC folks encouraged to audition as well! Further details in older posts. Email [email protected]. Remember, open to DC, MD, and VA community members as well as Gallaudet students, faculty, and staff!

ID: same white background with navy blue text and details. Red EXTENDED superimposed on first image. Second image has E-mail ASAP and casting must be done by the weekend! Role descriptions are similar but gender has been removed, and speaking instead of hearing.

Submit your audition videos today! Be sure to email [email protected]. Open to DC, Maryland, and Virginia community members, as well as Gallaudet students, faculty, and staff! We are looking for actors in addition to production support. Check out our previous post for all the deets!

ID: White background with navy blue text: “Auditions for our second fall production: Trash. Performances December 6-10. By James Caverly (‘11) and Andrew Morrill (‘16). Directed by Jules Dameron (‘03).” A large red REMINDER is superimposed on the entire image.

Audition info here for TRASH, written by and .morrill and directed by !

This is open to DMV community members and GU students, faculty, and staff. All must be comfortable with ASL. GU students can receive course credit. Great voluntary experience for others! This is a remarkable, rare opportunity to work with professional Deaf theatre artists. Rehearsals are a mix of virtual and in-person between October 27 and December 5. Most in-person rehearsals are in November, evenings. Fully in-person November 27th and on. Performances December 6 through 10.

Slide and look➡️ at all images for all role details. Email [email protected] with the role you want to play. Do it ASAP! Submission deadline is THIS SUNDAY 12p EST! You know you want to audition! DO IT.

We are also looking for a stage manager, assistants, board operators, and so forth. 🗑🚮 .gally .campuslife

Image Descriptions: All photos are white with navy blue images and text. The GU Theatre and Dance logo is upper left. All text is in alt descriptions.

’s THE LARAMIE PROJECT is a testament to the passion and perseverance of Gallaudet Theatre and Dance (TaD) Program alumni. Most of the Deaf theatre artists seen here studied theatre and dance at under our program. Others studied in different areas and still fell into theatre. Here TaD Professor Annie Wiegand smiles with 12 amazing alumni who are currently hard at work sharing this important and necessary story of what happened in Laramie, Wyoming in 1998 with the world for the first time in American Sign Language. Visual storytelling is so important in the Deaf community through theatre, as it is proven here. Keep up the good work! 🙌🏻