Written by Ammauri Peters & James Caverly

with help from members of Deaf Theatre of Ohio (João Ciuba Dos Santos, Kurt Cullison, Carol Robinson, Pamela Beish, Lauren Lemley, Mark Myers, Farah Kish-Leland)

Production Trailers

Production Dates: Oct. 18 & 19 (7:30pm), Oct. 20 (3:00pm) Oct. 25 & 26 (7:30pm), Oct. 27 (3:00pm) 2019

JAMES CAVERLY Kent State University Trumbull Guest Artist

Credentials

Director The McWilliamses (National Theatre of the Deaf), Every Brilliant Thing (New York Deaf Theatre), Romeo and Juliet (Community College of Baltimore County in Catonsville), Tribes (assistant; Kitchen Theatre Company), Doctor Faustus (Gallaudet University),  Cloud 9 (assistant; Gallaudet University).

Actor Broadway: Children of a Lesser God (U/S Orin). Regional Theatre: Tribes (Kitchen Theatre Company, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Studio Theatre, Speakeasy Stage Company), Company member of Dog & Pony DC (Beertown, Squares), Company member of The National Theatre of the Deaf (Journey of Identity, A Child’s Christmas in Wales, W-5: Stories Behind). Film/Television Acting: Chicago Med (NBC; Wolf Films), Red Line (Paludnevicius Visuals). His short play, Civil Engagement has premiered at Deaf Spotlight in Seattle. He was a nominee for the Helen Hayes Award (D.C.) and Elliot Norton Award (Boston). B.A in Theatre Arts from Gallaudet University. Director’s Notes When a topic comes up around Deaf education, it’s no secret that there is a division of opinions. There are various ways of education for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing students–no one system is flawless and the degree of hearing loss and speaking ability vary from child to child. The animosity of opinions can be traced far back as 1880, where our play’s story is set. On one side, we have Alexander Graham Bell, widely known as the inventor of the telephone, who is a campaigner of the oral method, an approach where Deaf children are taught how to speak and/or lip-read. On the other, we have Edward Miner Gallaudet, a teacher of the Deaf and is an advocate of teaching sign language, “the natural language of the Deaf”. Their methods are still being used today and the bad blood between them still remains. The one factor that ensures a Deaf child’s growth is the strength of the community’s support. Regardless of education, if the child has a language and a foothold in the foundation of their community, they can prosper. Community, to me, is the strongest component because of what I’ve experienced during my time at the Trumbull campus of KSU. This play has been devised by members of the Deaf community and performed by Deaf and hearing members of the community with support from the KSU community. The backbone of this play has been formed by this unique family–without them, this play wouldn’t stand on its own two feet. If you’re not a member of the Deaf community, it’s understandably difficult to relate to the experiences of Deaf education which is why the writers have drawn inspirations from Beauty and The Beast. The theme of seeing one’s “inner beauty” is parallel to what our play’s main characters, Bella and Dennis, are examining as the story unfolds. Using the themes of “Deaf education”,  “community”, and “Beauty and The Beast” I present to you a play of discovering what it truly means to be a Deaf person. —James Caverly

Mr. Caverly would like to thank his friends and family for all the drama in his life.

Our First Residential Guest Artist

It has taken over three years to bring this project into production, and a lot of hard work was done by inexperienced writers and actors. Bringing James “Joey” Caverly to our off-off-off-off-off-off-off-off-[okay, you get the idea]-Broadway community theatre production has meant bringing a unique opportunity for members of both local professional, educational, and community theatre to experience true Deaf theatre: a play written by Deaf people in the traditions of Deaf drama and poetics, featuring Deaf members of the community, and directed by a Deaf theatre professional. Mr. Caverly put his full commitment, his passion, and his extraordinary talents into this production right from the start. You should know that most of the actors (Deaf and hearing) have had very little (if any) stage experience, and while several have been involved in ASL/English productions before (at this very theatre, actually), this particular production is the most original, the most authentic to Deaf theatre ever done here. I am very grateful to Willy Conley for recommending Joey Caverly to serve as our first Guest Artist here at Kent State University Trumbull, and I am extremely honored to have had the opportunity to work with such a creative and energetic theatre professional. Thank you, Joey! —Carol L. Robinson, Ph.D. (Kent State University Trumbull)

Cast of Characters

Dennis…………………………………………………………Shane Glaeser Bella………………………………………………………….Ammauri Peters Gastron…………………………………………………..Judas Glassmeyer Alexander Graham Bell……………………………………Robert Ellway Edward Minor Gallaudet……………………………………Kurt Cullison Witch……………………………………………………….Courtney Baumer See No Evil………………………………………João Ciuba Dos Santos Hear No Evil…………………………………………………..Ariel Simones Speak No Evil……………………………………………….Jeremy Strong Mime Parent……………………………………………….Becky Robinson Mime Parent……………………………………………………Nicholas Lilly Mime Parent……………………………………………Judas Glassmeyer Mime Parent…………………………………………………….Delaney Fox Judge…………………………………………………………..Samantha Cox Teacher #1…………………………………………………Becky Robinson Teacher #2……………………………………………………..Nicholas Lilly Teacher #3…………………………………………………..Samantha Cox Dennis’ Mother……………………………………………Becky Robinson Trinity’s Parent………………………………………………..Nicholas Lilly Bella’s Students Logan…………………………………………………………..Jeremy Strong Mae………………………………………………………………Ariel Simones John………………………………………………..João Ciuba Dos Santos Dennis’ Students Trinity……………………………………………………………..Kisha Leland Tom………………………………………………………………..Kurt Cullison Amelia…………………………………………………………….Delaney Fox General Ensemble (Congress, ASL Ghosts, Voiceover Ghosts, etc.)

Samantha Cox Kurt Cullison João Ciuba Dos Santos Delaney Fox Robert Ellway

Judas Glassmeyer Kisha Leland Nicholas Lilly Becky Robinson Ariel Simones Jeremy Strong

 

Acknowledgements

The Cast, Crew, and Staff Kent Trumbull Theatre would like to extend thanks to the following organizations and individuals for their help and support throughout the production process. Organizations: Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, Youngstown Playhouse, Coling Dragon Chinese Kung Fu Studio, Youngstown Hearing and Speech/Easter Seals, Hounding Productions, Kent State University College of Education, Health, and Human Services—School of Health Services, and Kent State University Trumbull Diversity in Action Council Individuals: Lydia Brown-Payton, Barb and Scott Ancell, Beverly and Larry Warfel, Interim Dean Daniel Palmer, Interium Assistant Dean Josna Neuman, Elaine Petrosky, Dawn Cook, Ken McElravy, Dave Smith, Bill Burgess, Brenda Augusta, Teddy Humberger, Robin Kuzenko, Donna Rood, Sean Melnik, Chris Popadak, Bob Rhine, Gary Bateman, Frank Lindsay, Benjamin Darby, the Switchboard Staff, the Maintenance Staff, the Security Staff, Larry Shlachter, Benjamin Tipton, Richard Costes, Dr. Peter Byrne, Dr. Laurie Hines, Dr. Nathan Ritchey, Dr. Alfreda Brown, Dr. Lance Grahn, Dr. Scott Randby