National Theatre of the Deaf
This article contains wording that promotes the subject in a subjective manner without imparting real information. (April 2023) |
Chair | Tyrone Giordano[1] | |
Website | ntd |
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The National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD) is a
Prior to the National Theatre of the Deaf, there were no theatre college-level programs created to support deaf aspiring actors. Furthermore, there were three major deaf theatre groups, these being "The New York Association of the Deaf," "The New York Theatre Guild of the Deaf" and "The Metropolitan Theatre guild of the Deaf."
The first official performance of the NTD was a production of The Man With His Heart in the Highlands at
Founding
The vision for the National Theatre of the Deaf was brought into the world by Edna S. Levine, a psychologist, and Anne Bancroft, an actress playing a deaf role (see below). They were able to combine their passion for theatre and desire to promote deaf art into being the spark plugs for NTD.
In 1946, Robert Panara, a graduate of Gallaudet University and newly hired teacher at the New York School for the Deaf, produced a play with Bernard Bragg, a 17-year-old student in Panara's English class.[5] Later in the 1940s, when Bragg was a student at Gallaudet, Panara left New York School for the Deaf to teach at Gallaudet. While both at Gallaudet, Panara and Bragg conceived of the idea of a theater for the Deaf.[6]
In 1963, Dr. Edna Levine, a professor of
Levine and Bragg worked with
Mission and location
The founders' mission was to feature sign language in the theater for both deaf and hearing audiences. The founders believed that audience members need to "hear every word and see every word" in all NTD productions.[10] To fulfill this mission, productions included both Deaf and hearing actors. The language used by the Deaf performers included sign language, mime, and gesture, and the hearing actors provided spoken language. Bragg had studied under the French mime Marcel Marceau, and his acting style influenced the early NTD productions.[11][12][13]
Originally, the NTD was located on the campus of the
Furthermore, the NTD focuses on fighting perceptions of those who are Deaf. The NTD fights to be a catalyst for social change. Its mission is to tell authentic stories while furthering the representation and roles of Deaf actors and performers. There is a celebration of all cultures and groups. NTD had a mission to help underserved populations, wanting to assist people by engaging, educating, and entertaining their audience.
As stated in NTD's "National Theatre of the Deaf Public Testimony before Appropriations Committee" written by Betty Beekman the Executive Director in March of 2015, the missions statement of NTD is "to present theatrical work of the highest quality, performing in the unique style we created through blending American Sign Language and spoken word.
In support of this mission, NTD:
- entertains, educates, and enlightens the general public, building bridges, opening their eyes and ears to Deaf culture;
- seeks, trains, and employs deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing artists;
- offers its work to culturally diverse and inclusive audiences through performances, workshops, training, and community outreach activities which facilitate involvement with our methods of work.
Actors, instructors, and curriculum
The founding company included:
- Violet Armstrong
- Bernard Bragg
- Charles Corey
- Gilbert Eastman
- Lou Fant
- Ed Fearon
- Joyce Flynn Lasko
- Phyllis Frelich
- Dorothy Miles
- Mary Beth Miller
- Audree Norton
- Howard Palmer
- Will Rhys
- June Russi
- Tim Scanlon
- Morton Steinberg
- Andrew Vasnick
- Joe Velez
- Ralph White[8]: 125–129
Early instructors in the school included:
- Bernard Bragg
- Eric Malzkuhn
- Bob Panara
- Sahome Tachibana
- Gina Blau
- William Rhys
- George C. White III[8]
The school's curriculum included:
- Acting
- Mime
- Bodily movement
- Stagecraft
- Lighting
- Costuming
- History of theater
- Creative dance
- Japanese dance
- Hindu movement
- Tumbling
- Fencing[8]
Notable actors
Phyllis Frelich received the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play in 1980 for Children of a Lesser God, produced by the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.
Linda Bove appeared regularly on the television series Sesame Street.
Most recently, NTD alumni Troy Kotsur, who had performed with NTD from the years of 1991 to 1993, in both the shows Ophelia and Treasure Island, received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in the film Coda. In fact, in his acceptance speech, he thanked " "all of the Deaf theaters that have given me the opportunity to grow as an actor."
Other actors who have worked with NTD include
Productions, touring, and reception
Rehearsals and performances occupied most of each day for both company actors and students. The company toured by bus domestically and internationally. They received only
The company performed plays written by hearing and Deaf playwrights.
The NTD has been discussed in newspapers such as
Furthermore, NTD has recently appeared on both Disney Plus, Sesame Street, and The White House.
Year(s) | Show Title |
---|---|
1967–1968 | The Man With His Heart in the Highlands |
1967–1968 | The Tale of Kasane |
1967–1968 | Tyger! Tyger! And other Burnings |
1967–1968 | Gianni Schicchi |
1967–1968 | On the Harmfulness of Tobacco |
1968–1969 | The Critic |
1968–1969 | Camera 3 (LTD) |
1968–1969 | The Love of Don Perlimoplin and Belissa in the Garden |
1968–1969 | Blueprints |
1969–1970 | Under Milkwood |
1969–1970 | Sganagelle |
1970–1971 | Woyzeck |
1970–1971 | Journeys |
1971–1972 | My Third Eye |
1972–1973 | Gilgamesh |
1973–1974 | Optimism (or) The Misadventures of Candide |
1973–1974 | A Child's Christmas in Wales |
1974–1975 | The Dybbuk |
1974–1975 | Priscilla, Princess of Power |
1975–1976 | Parade |
1976–1977 | Four Saints in Three Acts |
1976–1977 | On the Harmfulness of Tobacco |
1977–1978 | The Three Musketeers |
1977–1978 | Sir Gawain and the Green Knight |
1977–1978 | Who Knows One |
1978–1979 | Volpone |
1978–1979 | Quite Early One Morning |
1979–1980 | Our Town |
1979–1980 | Four Thurber Tales (LTD) |
1979–1980 | The Wooden Boy |
1980–1981 | The Iliad: Play by Play |
1980–1981 | Silken Tent |
1981–1982 | The Ghost of Chastity Past |
1981–1982 | Gilgamesh |
1981–1982 | Issa's Treasure |
1981–1982 | The Road to Cordoba |
1982–1983 | Parzival, from the Horse's Mouth |
1982–1983 | Big Blue Marble (LTD) |
1983–1984 | The Hero with a Thousand Faces |
1984–1985 | All the Way Home |
1984–1985 | A Christmas Carol |
1984–1985 | A Child's Christmas in Wales |
1985–1986 | In a Grove |
1985–1986 | Race a Comet, Catch a Tale (LTD) |
1985–1986 | Farewell, My Lovely! |
1986–1987 | The Heart is a Lonely Hunter |
1986–1987 | The Gift of the Magi |
1987–1988 | The Dybbuk |
1987–1988 | A Child's Christmas in Wales |
1987–1988 | The Light Princess |
1988–1989 | King of Hearts |
1989–1990 | The Odyssey |
1990–1991 | One More Spring |
1990–1991 | Collaborates with Pilobolus |
1991–1992 | Treasure Island |
1992–1993 | Ophelia |
1992–1993 | Sports (LTD) |
1993–1994 | Under Milkwood |
1993–1994 | The Wonderful "O" (LTD) |
1994–1996 | Italian Straw Hat |
1996–1997 | Curiouser & Curioser |
1997–1998 | Peer Gynt |
1997–1998 | World of Whys (LTD) |
2020–2021 | Deafenstein |
References
- ^ "Board". The National Theatre Of The Deaf. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
- ^ "National Theatre of the Deaf - HISTORY". NTD. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
- ^ "ABOUT the Little Theatre of the Deaf". NTD. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
- ^ a b c "National Theatre of the Deaf American Theatre Company". Britannica. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
- ISBN 9780396066125.
- ^ Powers, Helen (1972). Signs of Silence: Bernard Bragg and the National Theatre of the Deaf. New York: Dodd, Mead. p. 72.
- ^ Powers, Helen (1972). Signs of Silence: Bernard Bragg and the National Theatre of the Deaf. New York: Dodd, Mead. p. 119.
- ^ ISBN 9781563682223.
- ^ "About Us". National Theatre of the Deaf. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
- ^ "National Theatre of the Deaf MISSION". NTD. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
- ^ Powers, Helen (1972). Signs of Silence: Bernard Bragg and the National Theatre of the Deaf. New York: Dodd, Mead. p. 115.
- ^ "Act One: It All Began on Metropolitan Street". BernardBragg.com. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
- ^ "Honored With NTD Award". BernardBragg.com. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
- ^ Smith, Helen C. "National theater troupe breathes life into words," The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, January 29, 1988.
- ^ "Papers of Jane Norman, 1964-1980". Gallaudet University Archives. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
- ISBN 9780930323462.
Bibliography
- Cosh, Jackie. "Model lessons in a theatre for the deaf." The Times Educational Supplement Scotland 2274 (2012): 20.
- Hays, David. "The National Theatre of the Deaf." Deaf, The National Theatre of the. New York: The National Theatre of the Deaf (1969)
- Powers, Helen. "The National Theatre of the Deaf." (2021)
- Wells, Cortney. "A Decade of Deaf Theatre: An analysis of theatre within the Deaf Community, the expansion of its acceptance, and the influence it has today." (2016).