Outline
These performances were canceled.
©Josh Renaud
America’s renowned Deaf West Theatre makes its long awaited return to Japan!
The Los Angeles-based Deaf West Theatre (DWT) returns to Japan for the first time in 16 years to present an American Sign Language (ASL) performance of Jean Cocteau’s Orphée in SePT’s Theatre Tram. DWT was founded in 1991 to enrich the cultural lives of the over 1.2 million deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who live in the Los Angeles area. This theatre company’s innovative productions combine spoken dialogue and stunning signing that verges on dance, resulting in a truly original performance style.
DWT’s 2003 Broadway revival of Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was lauded as a “magical production” for its seamless fusion of signing and spoken dialogue, and it toured Japan the following year. Both Big River and DWT’s 2015 revival of the rock musical Spring Awakening gained attention worldwide when they received Tony Award nominations for Best Revival of a Musical.
This year DWT works with director Deena Selenow to stage a new production of Orphée by Jean Cocteau. Selenow is known for her dedication to diversity and inclusion, and in October 2015 American Theatre Magazine named her a “Person to Watch.”
Don’t miss this new work by one of today’s most promising American directors and American’s preeminent ASL theatre company!
*This production is presented as part of the True Colors Festival
*Performed in ASL with English and Japanese subtitles.
Cast & Creative
Written by Jean Cocteau
Directed by Deena Selenow
Scenic design by James Maloof
Performed by Deaf West Theatre
Schedule
