Deaf West Theatre

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Deaf West Theatre is a non-profit arts organization based in Los Angeles, California, US. [1] It is most well known for its Tony Award-nominated productions of Big River and Spring Awakening .

Contents

Deaf West Theatre is led by artistic director DJ Kurs. [2]

History

Established in 1991 by Founding Artistic Director, Ed Waterstreet, [3] Deaf West Theatre engages artists and audiences in unparalleled theater experiences inspired by Deaf culture and the expressive power of sign language. Committed to innovation, collaboration, and training, Deaf West Theatre is the artistic bridge between the deaf and hearing worlds. Deaf West productions are traditionally performed in American Sign Language with voice translation occurring at the same time so it is accessible to both deaf and hearing audiences. Deaf West has also held workshops for deaf youth who come from underprivileged communities and supported young deaf individuals who have a career in the arts. Since 2012, Deaf West has been led by Artistic Director DJ Kurs. [4] [5]

Deaf actors who have worked with Deaf West Theatre include Troy Kotsur, Phyllis Frelich, Daniel Durant, Marlee Matlin, and Alexandria Wailes. [5] [6] [7] [8]

Productions

Notable past productions include Our Town by Thornton Wilder in a co-production with Pasadena Playhouse; [9] Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo in a co-production with The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts; [10] Spring Awakening , which transferred from Inner-City Arts to The Wallis Annenberg and then to Broadway where it received three Tony Award nominations, including Best Revival; [11] American Buffalo, which was labeled a Los Angeles Times Critic's Choice; [12] Cyrano, a co-production with the Fountain Theatre which received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Production; [13] Big River which received two Tony Award nominations (including Best Revival), [14] Pippin , produced at the Mark Taper Forum in a co-production with Center Theatre Group; [15] Oliver! which received the Ovation Award for Best Musical, [16] and A Streetcar Named Desire which received the Ovation Award for Best Play. [17]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardProductionCategoryNomineeResult
2021 Ovation Awards The Solid Life
of Sugar Water
Best Production of a Play (Intimate Theatre)Nominated
Scenic Design (Intimate Theatre)Sean FanningNominated
2016 Tony Awards Spring Awakening Best Revival of a Musical Nominated
Best Direction of a Musical Michael Arden Nominated
Best Lighting Design of a Musical Ben StantonNominated
2015 Ovation Awards Best Production of a Musical (Intimate Theater)Won
Best Production of a Musical (Large Theater)Won
Acting Ensemble of a MusicalWon
Director of a MusicalMichael ArdenWon
ChoreographySpencer LiffWon
Lighting Design (Large Theater)Ben StantonWon
Lead Actor in a Musical Austin P. McKenzie Nominated
Lead Actress in a Musical Sandra Mae Frank Nominated
Featured Actor in a Musical Andy Mientus Nominated
Featured Actress in a Musical Krysta Rodriguez Nominated
Music DirectionJared SteinNominated
Lighting Design (Intimate Theater)Travis HagenbuchNominated
Scenic Design (Large Theater)Dane LaffreyNominated
Sound Design (Intimate Theater)Phillip AllenNominated
Video/Projection DesignLucy MackinnonNominated
2012LA Drama Critics Circle AwardsCyranoBest PlayWon
Best Actor Troy Kotsur Won
2010LA Weekly Theater Awards Children of a Lesser God Leading Female PerformanceShoshannah SternNominated
Best EnsembleNominated
2008BackStage West Garland AwardsSleeping Beauty WakesBest ProductionNominated
Choreography Jeff Calhoun Nominated
Sound DesignEric SnodgrassNominated
2007Ovation AwardsBest World Premiere MusicalWon
Best Musical DirectionBrendan MilburnWon
2006 Helen Hayes Awards Big River Outstanding Musical DirectionNick DeGregorioNominated
Outstanding DirectorJeff CalhounNominated
Outstanding Lead ActorChristopher B. CorriganNominated
Michael McElroyNominated
Bill O'BrienNominated
Outstanding Resident MusicalNominated
2005Ovation AwardsBest Production of a Musical (Intimate Theater)Won
Director of a MusicalJeff CalhounWon
ChoreographyJeff CalhounWon
Musical DirectionSteven LandauWon
Scenic Design (Intimate Theater)Ray KlausenWon
Lighting Design (Intimate Theater)Michael GilliamWon
Best Touring ProductionWon
Independent Reviewers
of New England
Special Citation for Landmark RevivalWon
Best Sound Design, Large CompanyPeter FitzgeraldWon
Best Set Design, Large CompanyRay KlausenNominated
Best Lighting Design, Large CompanyMichael GilliamNominated
Best Actor, Large CompanyDaniel JenkinsNominated
Michael McElroyNominated
Denver Post Ovation AwardsBest Touring ProductionWon
Best ActorTyrone GiordanoWon
Daniel JenkinsNominated
Best Supporting ActorDavid Aron DumaneWon
Kia GloverNominated
LA Drama Critics Circle AwardsBest ProductionWon
SFBA Theatre Critics CircleBest Musical (Touring)Nominated
2004Tony AwardsHonor for ExcellenceBroadway cast of Big RiverWon
Best Revival of a MusicalNominated
Best Featured Actor in a Musical Michael McElroyNominated
Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Revival of a Musical Nominated
Outstanding Actor in a Musical Michael McElroyNominated
Tyrone GiordanoNominated
Outstanding Director of a Musical Jeff CalhounNominated
Drama LeagueDistinguished Production of a RevivalNominated
2002Ovation AwardsBest ProductionWon
Best DirectorJeff CalhounWon
Best ChoreographerJeff CalhounWon
Best Musical DirectorSteven LandauWon
Best Set DesignRay KlausenWon
Best Lighting DesignMichael GilliamWon
Best Lead ActorBill O'BrienNominated
James BlackNominated
Best Featured Actor Troy Kotsur Nominated
Best Costume DesignDavid ZylaNominated
Best Sound DesignBill O'BrienNominated
Valley Theatre LeagueBest MusicalWon
Best DirectorJeff CalhounWon
Best ChoreographerJeff CalhounWon
Best Musical DirectorSteven LandauWon
Best ActorTyrone GiordanoWon
Best Supporting Actor Troy Kotsur Won
Best ActressMelissa van der SchyffWon
Best Supporting Actress Deanne Bray Won
True West Best Revival DramaNominated
Best Actor Troy Kotsur Nominated
Bill O'BrienNominated
2001LA Weekly Theatre Awards Big River Best Director of a MusicalJeff CalhounWon
Best MusicalNominated
Best Musical EnsembleNominated
LA Drama Critics Circle AwardsBest ProductionWon
Best DirectorJeff CalhounWon
Best Musical DirectorSteven LandauWon
Best Set DesignRay KlausenWon
Best ChoreographyJeff CalhounWon
Best AdaptationNominated
Backstage West Garland AwardsBest MusicalWon
Best Director of a MusicalJeff CalhounWon
Best Musical DirectionSteven LandauWon
Best ActorBill O'BrienWon
Tyrone GiordanoWon
Best Set DesignRay KlausenWon
Entertainment Today
Ticketholder Awards
Outstanding ProductionWon
Best New DiscoveryTyrone GiordanoWon
Best Supporting Actor Troy Kotsur Nominated
Lyle KanouseNominated
Best DirectorJeff CalhounNominated
Best Ensemble CastNominated
Robby AwardsBest DirectorJeff CalhounNominated
Best ActorTyrone GiordanoNominated
Best Set DesignRay KlausenNominated
Road to RevolutionBest DramaNominated
Best ActressPhyllis FrelichNominated
Deanne Bray Nominated
Best PlaywrightMark MedoffNominated
Best DirectorMark MedoffNominated
Best Lighting DesignSteven WallaceNominated
Valley Theatre LeagueBest ActressPhyllis FrelichWon
Best Stage ManagerMeredith GreenburgWon
2000Ovation Awards Oliver! Best MusicalWon
Best DirectorJeff CalhounWon
Best ChoreographerBrian-Paul MendozaWon
Best Adaptation/TranslationNominated
Best ActorGeorge McDanielNominated
Best Featured ActorHarris DoranNominated
Troy Kotsur Nominated
Best Featured ActressAntoinette AbbamonteNominated
Carol KlineNominated
Best Lighting DesignMichael GilliamNominated
A Streetcar
Named Desire
Best Director Deborah LaVine Nominated
Best ActressSuanne SpokeNominated
Best Set DesignRobert SteinbergNominated
Best Lighting DesignKen BoothNominated
Best Sound DesignBill O'BrienNominated
Best PlayWon
Best Adaptation/TranslationWon
LA Weekly Theatre AwardsBest ActressSuanne SpokeNominated
Best Set DesignRobert SteinbergNominated
Valley Theatre LeagueBest Revival DramaWon
Best Actor in a Drama Troy Kotsur Won
Best Actress in a DramaSuanne SpokeWon
Best Director Deborah LaVine Won
Best Set DesignRobert SteinbergWon
Oliver! Best MusicalWon
Best Director of a MusicalJeff CalhounWon

References

  1. "Deaf West Theatre". Deaf West Theatre. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
  2. "Deaf West artistic director David Kurs: Why deaf actors should be cast to play deaf characters". Los Angeles Times. 13 July 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-07-13.
  3. BWW News Desk. "Deaf West Theatre to Honor Retired Founding Artistic Director Ed Waterstreet, 2/9". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
  4. "About". Deaf West Theatre. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  5. 1 2 Gelt, Jessica (26 August 2022). "How L.A.'s Deaf West is becoming the American theater company of the moment". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  6. Lefkowitz, David; Manus, Willard (30 January 1998). "Phyllis Frelich Tracks Brilliant Traces at Deaf West, Feb. 1". Playbill . Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  7. Lundstrom, Jim (19 August 2021). "Daniel Durant hopes Duluth enjoys CODA". Duluth Reader.
  8. Gioia, Michael; Viagas, Robert (21 July 2015). ""Children of a Lesser God" Oscar Winner Marlee Matlin Will Make Broadway Debut in Spring Awakening". Playbill . Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  9. "Deaf West's Our Town to Open New Season at Pasadena Playhouse". Playbill. 1 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-06-01.
  10. "The Wallis and Deaf West Theatre present EDWARD ALBEE'S AT HOME AT THE ZOO". The Wallis Annenberg. Archived from the original on 2016-07-13.
  11. "The Tony Award Nominations". www.tonyawards.com. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
  12. "Deaf West's AMERICAN BUFFALO To Play Columbus this Fall". Broadway World. Archived from the original on 2020-07-17.
  13. "New Deaf West and Fountain Theatre Coproduction of CYRANO Is Skillful and Impressive". LAist. 4 May 2020. Archived from the original on 2015-04-14.
  14. "Deaf West's Big River Shines on Broadway as Roundabout Revival Opens". Playbill. 24 July 2003. Archived from the original on 2016-04-29.
  15. "Deaf West presents 'Pippin'". Variety. 23 Jan 2009. Archived from the original on 2020-07-17.
  16. "OLIVER! Deaf West Theatre's First-Ever Musical". Playbill. 12 May 2000. Archived from the original on 2020-07-17.
  17. "Stella, Blanche and ASL". Los Angeles Times. 2 April 2000. Archived from the original on 2020-07-17.