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| Born to Hand Jive |
| Written by Kira Matica | |
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An American Sign Language Production of Grease  There is an unsung story behind this year’s high school musical at Texas School For the Deaf (TSD) that almost overpowers the re-creation of Olivia Newton John and John Travolta’s sizzling high school love story, Grease. The April 3 and 4 shows ($5-$8) on the TSD campus hail a bevy of firsts. This is the first musical of the four joint theater productions between DeafACT, inc. and Texas School for the Deaf. Though a noted actor, it is the first play that the Director Russell Harvard has ever directed, and it is the first high school play Co-director Don Miller has ever worked on. As with every high school musical worth its salt, this one comes equipped with a backstage tale of complications, frustrations and, ultimately, the sweet release of an uninhibited success.
The origins of this story start with the founding of the organization that enabled it. There wouldn’t be any deaf theater in Austin without DeafACT, which stands for Deaf Austin Children’s Theatre. DeafACT was formed in 2005 by six individuals who perceived a need for a theatrical outlet in the deaf community. Franky Ramont, producer and board member, teaches American Sign Language at the University of Texas and has been with DeafACT since its inception. She recalls that the motivation for the organization went beyond allowing the deaf community performance access, to desiring “an avenue for connecting people who can hear and don’t know sign to the cultural deaf community.” Co-producer Annie Marks can testify to the interest and confusion that signing theater generates within the hearing/non-signing community. “My hearing friends or people who don’t know a lot about the deaf community ask how deaf people have a musical. It’s really nice to be a part of breaking that stereotype and educating about deaf performers.”  Skye Alanis (Danny) & Kalie Kubes (Sandy) Directing, though challenging, has itself been the most rewarding aspect of a production process that has presented some unique obstacles. The 15 actors include freshmen, sophomores, and juniors in high school as well as a few TSD alumni. With that age span comes a wide range of experience and commitment levels. Some actors are “really motivated and high energy and get really into their characters through rehearsal,” says Miller. Coordinating the various technical aspects of the show has been a bit more tedious. In addition to coaching their performers on stage, Harvard and Miller have spent a lot of time filming segments of the script. These scenes will be projected on a slide at various points in the play. Some tweaking in the volume department has also been required in order to allow cast members with more hearing to pick up their cues. Finally, if the movement of 15 bodies isn’t difficult enough to synchronize on stage, why not add in six interpreters for the speaking portions of the show?  Photo: Annie Marks, DeafACT If the poise and charm of several of the actors, particularly the two leads Kalie Kubes (Sandy) and Skye Alanis (Danny), is any indication, then realizing that goal should be attainable. The two have a natural chemistry on stage that makes it easy to be swept up by Grease’s classic portrait of first love. Once the lights go down, most of the audience will probably forget about the long preparation that went into the show. But that’s how it should be, because the cast and crew supporting this effort will be sharing with them the same basic enjoyment of watching characters so overcome by emotion that they just have to sing and dance about it. The DeafACT production of Grease is this Friday and Saturday, April 3 & 4, at 7pm in the R.L. Davis Auditorium at Texas School for the Deaf, 1102 S Congress. Tickets are $5 for students and $8 for adults. Cast and Crew: Kalie Kubes, 17 - Sandy Skye Alanis, 21 - Danny Kirsten Coahran, 17 - Rizzo Juan Muñoz, 18 - Kenickie Claira Oberrender 16 - Frenchy Valeria Fuentes, 15 - Marty Brennan Ruffin, 16 - Cruz Lane, 19 - Frankie Avalon and Doody Morgan Campbell , 17 - member of the Pink Ladies Todd Wakefield, 30 - Roger Laura Garza , 17 - Cha-Cha Jose Manrique, 16 - Eugene Darby Layton, 14 - Patty Emmanuel Treviño, 18 - Sonny Crew: Merrick Lovell, Brittnee Farek, Rhiannon Farek, Amanda Weiser Stage manager and costume designer: Kristin Granitz Stage manager: Wendy Green Technician: Matt Marks |
