Deaf Arts
By Elen Mc Laughlin

Deaf Arts

The term “deaf arts” would seem to be an oxymoron to many people who are unaware of the rich tradition of arts, writing and performing that is found across the spectrum of deaf culture. Making the arts accessible to the deaf, as well as showcasing the talents of deaf individuals, are the primary goals of those involved in deaf arts.

There are many theatre companies and groups that are made up almost entirely of deaf and hearing-impaired individuals. The Deaf Access Theatre of the Bethesda Academy of Performing Arts, located in Bethesda, MD, is composed of both deaf and hearing student actors whose professional productions are staged at the Academy’s Imagination Stage during the professional theater season. American Sign Language, or ASL, is used in combination with spoken language, music and movement, to create a unique arts experience, both in children’s theatre and regular theatre productions.

Cleveland SIGNSTAGE Theatre also enhances deaf arts by integrating both spoken language and American Sign Language into its productions, and by blending deaf and hearing performers from a wide variety of backgrounds into a powerful arts ensemble.

DEAFYWOOD Production Company is a group of Hollywood-based deaf actors and dancers who promote awareness of deaf culture and deaf arts through performances of stories, deaf culture humor and the satire of current social issues that blend American Sign Language and spoken language.

The National Theatre of the Deaf, based in Connecticut, is the premier

theatre showcasing deaf performers and deaf arts. The Theatre continues to promote deaf arts by maintaining a professional training school that will continue to ensure that deaf arts will be a vital aspect of the arts world for decades to come.
Dance is also a vital part of deaf arts. Gallaudet University, the only liberal arts college in the world for deaf and hearing-impaired students, sponsors the Gallaudet Dance Company, whose fifteen deaf performers make a significant contribution to deaf arts.

Deaf arts are also enhanced by performing groups such as SIGNSHINE. Founded in 1995, this sign language performing ensemble is made up of deaf and hearing-impaired students from the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and features sign language-based arts performances that further its goal of broadening understanding of deaf arts and deaf culture.

Arts also include music, and deaf arts features musical groups such as Sign Station. Based in Levittown, PA, this choir performs in sign language for both deaf and hearing audiences. They are aided by the Sign Music Foundation, which is based in Fort Worth, TX, and whose goal is to promote awareness of and training opportunities for the art of signed music.

When deaf actress Marlee Matlin accepted the Oscar for her lead role in the movie “Children of a Lesser God” in 1987, she stated that theatre and arts were good therapy for deaf children and adults. The organizations described above are working to promote and continue deaf arts, and there are many more of them in existence and yet to come.

Ellen Mc Laughlin is a prolific writer and has been active in the field of hearing loss, tinnitus deaf arts for a number of years.