Show of Hands

"My Valentine" in Sign Language featuring Natalie Portman and Johnny Depp

2012-04-14T13:22:00.002-04:00

When a friend sent me the link to this video, titled "Natalie Portman and Johnny Depp signing Paul McCartney Song", I thought at first, that there was a typo. Normally when I find videos like this, the person posting it usually mistypes "singing" as "signing" and thus dashing hopes of seeing some actually signing a song - especially big-name stars like these two.

Giving it the benefit of doubt, I opened the e-mail link to find the title did ring the truth - this time. Indeed, both Natalie Portman and Johnny Depp do sign - really sign - in a series of three beautiful videos released by Paul McCartney (of Beatles fame for those not in the know) titled "My Valentine".

The series of three music videos give three different performances - one by Natalie Portman alone, one by Johnny Depp himself, and one with both. Each of these three performances is compelling on its own.

It's exciting to see a music video done in sign language - and even more thrilling when it's done by well-known performers such as Portman and Depp.

And now, the videos themselves - enjoy!

Official video featuring both Johnny Depp and Natalie Portman:

Link: http://youtu.be/f4dzzv81X9w

Natalie Portman alone:

Link: http://youtu.be/FAApccf11hs

Johnny Depp alone:

Link: http://youtu.be/35I6Iue_XDE

For more information regarding these music videos, please visit Paul McCartney's website at http://www.paulmccartney.com/web/guest/news/-/blogs/paul-mccartney-directs-his-own-my-valentine-videos-featuring-natalie-portman-and-johnny-depp?_33_redirect=%2Fweb%2Fguest&

What are your thoughts on this?

BCEFA Now Captioning Videos!

2012-02-14T17:21:00.000-05:00

BCEFA, better known as Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS within the theatre community, has responded to a request via Twitter to caption their videos shared through YouTube. Check out their first captioned video here (http://youtu.be/ORfuVm8Revw)

"Broadway Backwards 7 Promo"

Be sure to leave them a message to thank them! (Either at Youtube or their Twitter account (@BCEFA).

If there is a certain Broadway show/channel or any theatre arts organization that has Youtube videos and should have them captioned, be sure to share with us so we can get them to join the list!

Superbowl Snub?

2012-02-12T18:40:00.001-05:00

This is a belated post - I recently started my internship at VSA Arts MN (yay!) and only got a chance to publish this posting. My apologies.

As we may have heard (through various sources - Facebook, Twitter, blogs and vlogs, etc) of the issue that occured during the recent Superbowl game between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. Namely during the preshow tradition of selecting a celebrity to sing the national anthem - as well as having someone sign it. This year was no exception. Kelly Clarkson did a great job singing the anthem (and she did not flub the words! Yay for her!) as well as "America the Beautiful". Our own Miss Deaf America - Rachel Mazique - was chosen to present a sign language rendition of the song.

Yet when NBC aired the presentation, there was no cutaway shots to Miss Mazique or any peeks of her beautiful signs. No opportunity for millions of viewrs to catch a glimpse into the world of the Deaf. No opportunity for the Deaf community to be proud of one of their own. No opportunity to present ASL on the 'big screen' for all to see.

Even Miss Mazique was not asked to stay for the game itself. (Meaning she did not see Madonna's AWESOME show during intermission - er - half time. (Pardon my ignorance of sports-related terminology- there is a reason I'm in the arts field!)

Why promote an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (through a joint collaboration between Pepsi and NAD) that doesn't even make it on national TV?

There is a petition going around demanding that NBC and the NFL issue an apology to Miss Mazique and the Deaf community for this potential 'snub'.

You can view (and /or sign) the petitions at http://www.change.org/petitions/nbc-nfl-commissioner-and-others-miss-deaf-america-left-out-from-tv-for-national-anthem-in-asl

and
http://signon.org/sign/nbc-grant-miss-deaf-america?source=s.em.mt&r_by=1173875

For more information, do check out Chicago's coverage at http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/02/07/supporters-no-one-saw-miss-deaf-america-at-super-bowl/

While I, myself, am not a sports fan, I do feel the need to support a fellow sister as Rachel (former Miss Deaf Illinois) and I (as former Miss Deaf Minnesota) competed together at NAD's 2010 Miss Deaf American program - and the fact that we both grew up ten minutes away from each other in the suburbs of Chicago : )

Another Broadway Musical Joins in Captioning Videos

2012-01-31T18:33:00.000-05:00

Good news!

Another Broadway musical has joined in captioning videos on their YouTube channel, following in the footsteps set by Rent and Disney on Broadway's Mary Poppins and The Lion King. So, which one is it?

Godspell.

That's right - Godspell, a modern-day retelling of the Gospel according to St. Matthew - has started captioning their videos taken from the new Broadway production and welcomes Deaf and Hard of Hearing fans to watch these videos!

Here's the first one captioned: Hunter Parrish ("Weeds", Spring Awakening) sings "Beautiful City" in the recording studio.

Link: http://youtu.be/EXezjFLTl-c
(Don't forget to toggle the 'CC' button on the bottom right).
Be sure to visit the video and leave them a message of thanks to show your appreciation - and come back later for more captioned videos!

In the Spotlight: Hennepin Theatre Trust

2012-01-04T17:42:00.002-05:00

With the upcoming touring production of Disney's The Lion King making a return to the city where it started all those years ago - and to the very same theatre even, I have decided to honor the theatre orgranization who also made it possible for me to see my first interpreted Broadway touring show.

Flashback to the year 2007. My family and I had just moved from Idaho to the Twin Cities area (that's Minneapolis-St.Paul for those not familiar with geography). It was a year of big changes for me - transferring to my third school, a new job for my father, the I-35 bridge collapse - and what spurred a renaissance of theatregoing for me. One of the reasons I agreed to move to the Twin Cities was the lure of sign language interpreted performances. I had grown up with limited access to the theatre (see earlier postings for additional information).

So I had no expectations whatsover when my family and I reserved tickets to see The Lion King at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis in November of 2007. From the moment the curtain opened to the standing ovation at the end, I was hooked. I couldn't have been more fortunate as the two sign language interpreters did a stellar job of translating the music and lyrics of the show. I loved how they translated "Hakuna Matata!" Loved the opening scene with "Circle of Life". Loved every moment of it.

I have not had an less-than-stellar experience with this particular theatre organization. The box office folks, the ushers, and the house manager have gone out of their way to make not only myself, but the Deaf community feel welcome. Even with the occasional odd request from a certain theatre afficionado, they still maintain the magic of live theatre.

What requests? Well, there was the time where I saw Rent four times in a single weekend - and they made it possible for me to acquire student rush tickets and still have optimal sightlines for lipreading on the non-interpreted days. Or when I needed to bring in a script and flashlight for The Phantom of the Opera the second time I saw it - days after I saw the interpreted performance. (Folks out there may remember the ill-fated performance of Aida at another venue where the script was nearly consficated in a misunderstanding between the Box Office folks and the ushers). Or the time I needed to exchange tickets for a performance of Mary Poppins to a later date so my mother could see it once she flew back home (not to mention that I had already seen it thrice thus far). Or when I needed a copy of the script (or two) so I could mentally prepare for the show - and to work with the interpreters as a coach. Or that they listened to the requests made by Deaf patrons to bring captioned performances to add to their repertoire.

I have had theatre highs and theatre lows, but no organization has had far more highs than low (I can only think of one - with the scheduling mishap of High School Musical where half of the Deaf patrons showed up at an earlier show to find no interpreter present - but that worked out in our favor with compenstation given. That pales to the number of highlights.) Not only that, they consistenly bring out top-ranking sign language interpreters who clearly know their craft. I've loved the shows I have seen at the Orpheum and the State theatres (yes, even Cats - while I hated the show as a whole, the performance was worth it just to see the interpreters - and the occasional flirting cat). The Lion King. My Fair Lady. Jersey Boys. High School Musical (what parts I understood without interpreters, that is). Wicked. Spring Awakening. Rent. The Phantom of the Opera. Cats. Grease. Mary Poppins. A Chorus Line. In the Heights. Billy Elliot.

Thank you.

In front of the Orpheum Theatre on Hennepin Ave.

For those in the area, please check out their website at www.hennepintheatretrust.org

New Blog to Visit

2012-01-01T17:45:00.000-05:00

Hello all, and a very happy new year to all!

I would like to start off the new year with a bang - and start another blog. The new blog will keep up with the Harry Potter 365 and one-quarter days challenge of writing about the beloved wizard for three hundred sixty-five and one-quarter consecutive days.

Now, why did I mention this on this particular blog? One, I am the author, and two, some of my postings will relate to the artistic world and/or the Deaf world including memories and cultural comparisons. Any posts I do relate to the artistic world or the Deaf world will be mentioned here - so fear not about missing revelant entries.

Please come and visit us at www.harrypotter365challenge.blogspot.com (Feel free to join in the challenge - or keep up via commenting).

New Schedules

2011-12-13T16:37:00.001-05:00

During the blog renovation, I moved the cluttered list of scheduled sign language interpreted and captioned performances to the tab bar on top to make it look more streamlined. In doing so, I updated the schedules with the venerable favorites but added several new schedule links, especially for our folks across the pond. I also removed some inactive listings and updated the links (as some organizations such as VSA Arts MN updated their websites as well).

I now have comprehensive and semi-comprehensive listings for the following cities:
US: New York/tristate area, North Carolina, Chicago, Minneapolis-St. Paul, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Detroit, Seattle, Portland and Washington, D.C. (I removed Philadelphia as Creative Arts' website was no longer functional).

UK: London, Edinburgh (added Edinburgh through a lucky Google search)

Australia and New Zealand are the newest additions to the list.

c2 (USA) and Stagetext (UK) are both captioning / subtitling organizations that also provide listings for other cities not mentioned on the list, so be sure to check them out as well!

But the list is far from complete. While many theaters and arts organizations do provide a list of accessible shows, they are usually venue by venue, necessitating the patron to check them all to see what was available. Comprehensive listings like HandsOn and VSA Arts MN help make the search quicker by having them in one area rather than spread over twenty websites. Until then, we will continue to keep our eyes open for hidden listings out there.

If don't see a particular city's listing, please do give us a shout-out and we will add it to the listings for other patrons to peruse!

In the Spotlight: International Center on Deafness and the Arts

2011-12-06T15:05:00.002-05:00

Here's the first entry in the new series of postings In the Spotlight where an organization or event will be reflected upon. First up is Centerlight Theatre, a project under the International Center on Deafness and the Arts banner. The organization based in the northwest suburb of Chicago in Northbrook, Illinois is where I got my start in the theatre arts - and as I mentioned in an earlier posting, the Academy-Award winning actress (and former Dancing with the Stars contender) Marlee Matlin did as well. There must be something in the water in Chicagoland to produce such a rich crop of Deaf artists!

The organization consists of several programs including the renowed Centerlight Theatre where shows are put on simultaneously in sign and voice (namely musicals); Story-N-Sign, Traveling Hands Troupe, Icodance, International Creative Arts Camp and the traveling Museum on Deafness. For more information regarding a particular program, please visit the website at www.icodaarts.org .

The following video showcases the programs and success of the organization:

Watch on YouTube

To see what Marlee Matlin has to share about her experiences at ICODA as a youth, please watch the following video:

Watch on YouTube

My start with this amazing organization came at age six when my grandmother mentioned it to my mother. We trooped out to see a production of Bye Bye Birdie put on by the teenagers and adults. I still remember sitting on the floor (adults sat in chairs but us kids sat up front on the floor for the best view) and gawking up at the actors who I couldn't believe were Deaf and Hard of Hearing. There was a misconception amongst deaf youngsters back then that when they turned 18 and 'grew up' they would become hearing - or die. This debunked the 'myth' since the original belief formed when we really didn't have much exposure to Deaf adults - and successful ones at that. So seeing Deaf teenagers and adults put on a show - let alone a musical - was mind-boggling. I wanted to be part of it.

(Flashback: as I saw the latest ASL Films production of Versa Effect, I recongized the principal as the actor who played Mr. McAfee all those years back in Bye Bye Birdie! Dug out my box of old Playbills and programmes to make sure : )

Enter Youth Fine Arts Day where I participated in a full day of arts and crafts amongst other Deaf and Hard of Hearing youngsters. What I remember most vividly about this day was the talent showcase where I performed "Do-Re-Mi" from the musical The Sound of Music. Here is a picture of me signing 'name' as in "Mi (me), a name I call myself":

(Please disregard the horrible "stylish" fashion that was all the rage in the mid-1990s. A time capsule portrait, indeed.)

Soon after, the center put on a production of Alice in Wonderland and I auditioned for the show. I knew I didn't want to be Alice (after all, she was blonde... and a bit lost. : ) The character of the Caterpillar seemed a better match - I was quite the bookworm back then and the prospect of reading onstage while in character was appealing. I got the character I wanted - but imagine my disappointment when the stage prop serving as the 'book' wouldn't open! There went my chance of secret-reading on stage while ignoring Alice's pleas for help navigating Wonderland. Here's a picture of myself with some of my fellow castmates:

(An appropriate caption for my facial expression would be: "Dude, what's up with the book that wouldn't open? What's the point of having a book that nobody could read?")

My mother made my lovely costume and I still have the leftover scraps of the fabric used to tuck away in my memory box. I wonder if the original costume is still in the costume archives at ICODA? Perhaps I should ask...

What has ICODA done for myself? I stand by what I mentioned in this article, Champion for Deaf Children: "Alumni include Kaitlyn Mielke, 25, who credits her stage experience for transforming her from 'a shy child who simply nodded yes or no to everything, to a full-emerged drama queen.'

'I became more confident in myself, in school, in life, at work - everywhere,' says Mielke, a student at the University of Minnesota and Miss Deaf Minnesota."

In short, ICODA and the folks involved helped pave a path in many disciplines, not only the theatre and the arts, but in self esteem, in confidence, communication as well. Echoing Marlee Matlin's words, "if it weren't for ICODA, I wouldn't be where I am today."

If you're in the area, be sure to stop by and catch a performance of Into the Woods, playing Dec. 2nd-18th at the beloved Black Box Theatre at the center! To the actors and crew involved - break a finger : )

Alan Champion Memorial Fund

2011-12-04T18:47:00.001-05:00

In an earlier posting, I wrote about giving back to the community. There are many organizations and events that one could donate/contribute to (whether it is by monetary means, or volunteering oneself, the choices are endless). The Alan Champion Memorial Fund for Interpreted Theatre presented by the HandsOn organization based in New York City may be one for readers to consider.

For those who may recall my earlier posting on the late Alan Champion (alter ego: Mr. Broadway Interpreter), the fund continues in his name to encourage more sign language interpreted events.

"At his request and in his honor we have established the Alan Champion Memorial Fund, where your support will go to help us continue the sign interpreted theater he so dearly loved. We hope that Alan’s legacy will be that interpreted theater continues to thrive and flourish for the benefit of the Deaf community." (HandsOn)

As a longtime patron of the arts, I decided to donate to this organization this holiday season. I try to pick different arts organization every year to donate to. This year's contribution was made in memory of my late grandmother who also had a passion for the theatre and shared my love of musical theatre. She was the one that told my mother about the arts program at the Center on Deafness (now the International Center on Deafness and the Arts) and spurred my theatre days as a spectator and as an artist. Fond memories of signing "Do-Re-Mi" from The Sound of Music during its Youth Fine Arts Day as well as performing onstage as the lovable Caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland come to mind.

(Fun Fact: the Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin also got her start at the same organization performing as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.)

If my contribution enables that a child or adult has the opportunity to experience something I love and hold dear - the magic of live theatre - then it is defintely more than its worth.

Please consider making a contribution to an arts organization, either locally or nationally or even internationally to promote access to the arts for all. If you have made a donation, please share the name of the organization/event in the comments section to inspire others to follow suit!

*Photo Credit: BroadwayWorld

Giving Thanks

2011-11-18T15:12:00.001-05:00

The holiday season is upon us. Gifts - parties - cards - checking our lists twice to make sure we've gotten everything done in time for Santa to do his yearly rounds.

It is also the time of the year where many people give to charities and funds. In consideration of the American holiday of Thanksgiving coming up soon, I would like to share a moment to list the the things I"m grateful for:

- Sign Language Interpreted performances, no matter how few there are out there. The fact alone that they continue to exist and bring joys to hundreds of Deaf theatre patrons brings happy memories of seeing my first interpreted Broadway (touring) musical at Disney's The Lion King.

- Captioned film showings * as well as captioned live performances *. We've come a long way from captioned television to the continuing campaign to caption the Internet.

- Organizations and agencies that promote access to the arts for persons with disabilities including the Deaf; from Theatre Development Fund in New York to VSA Arts and its chapter affliates and everything in between as well as our sister organizations over the pond.

- Scripts (when I can get my hands on them) and CD insert booklets with song lyrics. They have proven invaluable from time to time in terms of preparation.

In short, I would like to thank all the sign language interpreters, captioners, professionals, advocates, allies and audiences everywhere - you know who you are. Keep up the hard work!

To honor those who have shown their passion for the arts to ensure access for everyone by going above and beyond, I plan to give back to the arts community to keep the circle moving. (cue "Circle of Life" from the musical The Lion King here). I ask you to do the same - whether to a local theatre organization, or a 'Send a Child to the Theater' program, or any arts access organization - be sure to keep the circle moving.

Thank you.

*For our non-American readers, please consult the Schedules tab to find your captioned showings

Broadway Actress' Official YouTube Channel Now Captioned

2011-11-16T13:51:00.001-05:00

The power of the fandom out there is certainly influencing the number of captioned videos posted on YouTube. Reports of captioned video shorts from musicals (particularly a bootleg cut of Wicked) are floating out there. The YouTube channel for Rent is still faithfully churning out captioned videos as usual. Not only that, the YouTube channels of Broadway actors are now joining the bandwagon.

Idina Menzel, a Tony-award-winning actress known for Rent and Wicked and currently starring as Shelby Corcoran on FOX's hit show, Glee has an official YouTube channel. A request from a fan spurred a move to caption the videos on her channel. Most (if not all) of the video announcements and shout-outs are now captioned for her fans (and theatre lovers in general). Check it out here! It also has been added to the list under the Media tab above.

For those in the Toronto, Canada area, she will be performing Nov. 17 and 18. There's a video shout-out on her channel - so be sure to check it out. (Captioned, of course!)

Be sure to visit her channel and leave a note of thanks to show your appreciation for captioning the videos.

Let's see who the next performer to caption their channel will be!

Any Dream Will Do

2011-11-15T17:56:00.001-05:00

Why did I start this blog in the first place? I wanted to share my love for the arts with others as well as reflect on the (limited) offerings for access to the arts for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deafblind audiences.

(cue "Any Dream Will Do" from the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.)

"Any dream will do." My exposure to the world of musical theatre occured as a child when I saw the production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Chicago Theatre. Captivated by the magic of live theatre - the lights, the sounds, the sights - I noticed something was amiss. No sign language interpreters. No captioning. No script. Nothing.

Seeing the show wasn't enough. As a Deaf theatre patron, I wanted to be able to understand the action unfolding onstage and I knew I wasn't the only one. Access to the visual and performing arts for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deafblind is oftentimes an afterthought; and services provided vary greatly from venue to venue. One location may have a single interpreter struggling to keep up with the cast of Les Miserables while in another venue one may find up to 16 interpreters keeping sync with the Radio City Rockettes. Want to see the latest movie? It depends on the location and the venue - and the captioning style as well. What about the historic tours in various cities and landmarks? It all depends. One thing they all have in common is a lack of awareness of access options in addition to inconsistent quality of services provided. Why do we remember the outstanding interpreters? The horrible horror interpreters? Nonexistent captions - or ineffective captioning? Exactly.

My dream? My dream is to see a rise in access to the visual and performing arts to attract more Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deafblind enthusiasts; from Shakespeare to the latest Broadway musical, from television to the big screen as well as the Internet and beyond. To do so, we need to establish standards for performing arts interpreting that focus not only on the mechanics but on the theatrics of their craft; advocate for greater access to media through captioning; and educate the community through awareness. Being able to enjoy the arts is a right, not a privilege.

Despite its spotlight, the face of access to the arts for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deafblind audiences hold numerous challenges that have yet to be formally addressed. The lack of standards leads to an imbalance in service quality and access options. The visual and performing arts hold a vital spot in our lives and the connection between the stage or screen and the audience must be maintained with not just 'good enough' but to ensure that Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deafblind patrons feel like they belong there amongst their hearing co-patrons. After all, 'the show must go on'!

And hence, the reason for this blog : )

Welcome Back!

2011-11-15T17:41:00.000-05:00

Hello, dear readers and followers (and the occasional dabblers);

I'm back after a long absense from this blog. Feeling it was time to change the look of the blog, I've updated the design and layout to make it easier on the eyes (particularily for our Deafblind readers). Hopefully they will enhance the reading experience for many.

The move to include the visual aspect (whether it be material such as paintings or sculptures or shown on a screen such as television or film) prompted the change to the byline of this blog to reflect today's changing world of multimedia viewings of artistic topics.

Stay tuned for new content and insight on issues and perspectives in the visual and performing arts as related to the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deafblind enthustiasts. Let's not forget our Deaf Allies as well - friends, parents, teachers, advocates and interpreters too!

Remembering Alan Champion

2011-04-25T17:29:00.007-04:00

Affectionately known as Mr. Broadway, Alan Champion, an interpreter on Broadway, passed away April 22 from cancer. Mr. Champion was a well-known face in the theater interpreting field and will be missed by many.

The New York Times covered his career and life in this well-written obituary.

"Alan Champion, a sign-language interpreter who opened up hundreds of Broadway and regional theater productions to deaf and hard-of-hearing audience members over the last three decades, died on Friday in Ramona, Okla. He was 55." Read the rest of the article at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/25/theater/alan-champion-sign-language-interpreter-for-theater-dies-at-55.html

And now, a tribute to Mr. Champion's presence in the theater world.

This video made in the fall of 2010 gives us a poignant reminder of Mr. Champion's unfailing humor as he and a team made a video in response to a facebook posting of a premature death announcement.

"He is Not Dead Yet"
(a parody of the song from the musical SPAMALOT - considered fitting for the team of B'way interpreters with a cameo from Keith Wann).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3wFQ-ED8AM

"When Theatre Meets Sign Language"
(Closed-Captioned)
This video from Theatre Development Fund (TDF) features both Mr. Champion and his long-time co-team Candace Broecker-Penn as they cover the finer details of theatrical interpreting. (It features one of my favorite shows of all time - MARY POPPINS!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUK_OUxN-1Q&feature=BFa&list=PLEBE705929852B877&index=11

Alan Champion, Broadway Interpreter Extraordinaire, you will be remembered. May the lights of Broadway be dimmed in memory of you.

(*standing ovation accompained with a show of hands*)

Please take a moment or two to share your stories and memories in the comments section.

Deaf Featured on Oprah and THE SOUND OF MUSIC

2010-10-30T14:48:00.001-04:00

On Thursday, October 28th, the Oprah Winfrey Show presented a 45th anniversary reunion of the cast of the highly acclaimed movie musical, THE SOUND OF MUSIC. During this particular show, a Deaf person (the current Miss Deaf Minnesota) was featured during the segment of how the film affected the lives of several fans. (See the four fans and their "stories" here at http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/How-The-Sound-of-Music-Affected-Their-Lives/4
(hit the previous/next buttons to see the other fans).

The entire show has been found on YouTube - the autocaptions do work occasionally (usually when Julie Andrews is speaking, they are more accurate - though the captions give up when there is music playing). But I do give the AutoCaptions some kudos for trying their best : ) (Don't forget to toggle the AutoCaptions button).

The part showing the Deaf person sharing her experience is shown during Part II around the 8:45 mark.

Part I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VgEma1JGE8
Part II
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMPKNVyWCCQ&feature=related
Part III
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYBp-10WHAA&feature=related

"Show Business" Video Extras Now CC

2010-09-06T17:38:00.004-04:00

A nice Labor Day surprise for our fabulous Broadway fanbase - a video update! Here's some of the video extras from the SHOW BUSINESS: THE ROAD TO BROADWAY DVD (we are working on captioning the rest now). The original DVD release did not carry captioning or subtitling, hence our little project. The feature film itself is completely captioned, all 11 parts of it (check it out at our Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/ASLPerformingArts

As promised, the video extras:

Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOmSXL-VEjE

(Don't forget to toggle the CC button!)

Okay, a hint for those who have been anticipating each video - the next video extras will cover the musical WICKED!

Miss Deaf America 2010 Reflections and Other Tidbits

2010-08-25T14:53:00.003-04:00

Busy summer = few postings if any!

In July, I had the opportunity to represent Minnesota at the 2010 National Association of the Deaf/Miss Deaf America Ambassadorship Program. I took my platform (arts advocacy - what else?) and my talent ("Defying Gravity" from Wicked). The experience itself was very rewarding and the networks I made shall come in handy someday!

Now, for the "arts edge" report - the opening performance we did. Now, there have been some discussion regarding the "Deaf" kids on Fox's Glee and their rendition of "Imagine" by John Lennon. With that in mind, the 11 states and former Miss Deaf America (Michelle Lapides) put on a stellar performance cover of Glee's version of "Dream On!" This time - with choreography included instead of standing stock still. Not perfect, but we're getting there! Once a video has been leaked of the final performance on the final night, it'll be shared up here with you guys! (There is a preliminary version floating around YouTube as we speak...)

We also doctored up the venerable favorite, "The Star Spangled Banner". Instead of having one person sign it while the rest hold flags, we had Michelle sign the entire thing while we girls sang "backup". (Again, when I get the video, clip will be shared). There is a "teaser" view at DeafNation's coverage of the NAD convention - but sadly, not the whole thing.

There are yet more videos captioned at DisneyOnBroadway - so check them out! (Don't forget to send them a thank-you note to show your appreciation!

Show of Hands is currently captioning a new set of videos so expect them soon!

As for my memoirs (on deafness, cochlear implants and musical theater), the manuscript is currently complete. The catch? No agent yet. I received 17 rejections thus far - but that's life! Many other works that made it have received anywhere from 10 to 250 rejections so I'm not worried. One agent even told me that it wasn't that I wasn't 'good enough' for him - but rather, he felt that HE wasn't good enough for ME! How's that for irony?

Until then.

Auditioning for GLEE

2010-04-24T14:16:00.004-04:00

Hello again!

GLEE (the wildly popular TV show on FOX about a high school glee club) is holding open auditions where hopefuls can submit audition videos via their Myspace profile: http://www.myspace.com/gleeauditions

This show featured d/Deaf students signing "Imagine" during the Hairography episode which fueled some hot debates on various sources.

Now, any of you Gleeks thinking of auditioning? (or if you already auditioned, share them with us!)

So far, there has been one audition submitted by a d/Deaf Gleek. Check out her version of "Rehab": http://www.myspace.com/gleeauditions?link=30458614

Looks like we have some talented people out there! (If you're a MySpace user, don't forget to leave a gold star or two!)

Google Announces Kickoff of Automatic Captioning and other Tidbits

2010-03-04T19:57:00.002-05:00

It has been brought to my attention that Google (which owns YouTube) has kicked off the start of Automatic Captioning to the many (millions) of videos streamed on YouTube. Now, not all the videos sport this capability as there are just too many videos but they are slowly appearing on channels such as the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis (guthrietheatre) among others.

Read the original article at: http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/youtube_turns_on_auto-captions_for_all_vidoes.php

Here's a sample of what it looks on a video appearing on the Guthrie's channel:

Link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hfdd_yUnqXY

Click on the red CC symbol to activate the Automatic Captions (a pop-up window will alert the viewer of the "raw" captions to be expected - the system is not without glitches yet and that they are working on it).

In addition, Theatre Development Fund (in NYC) has now started captioning their videos on their YouTube channel as well - here's a glimpse on a video about on-stage captioning in London's theatres provided by Stagetext:

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nUoJSTR37c&feature=channel

Some of their videos have burned-on captions (such as the one above), others use the Automatic Captions, and others are still uncaptioned.

Lastly, if one types in Everythingisrent into the search engine at Youtube, one will be pleased to see that the "CC" symbol now appears next to the title for user-created captioning. This makes searching for captioned videos much easier!

Let's put out hands up for Google (and make YouTube as well - let's show the folks at Netflix how it's done!)

"A Listening Ear"

2010-02-16T21:42:00.003-05:00

It is a small world, indeed. Several people contacted me recently to congratulate me for getting my name in print - only to leave me confused. What article? What magazine? Then I turn to my trusty friend - Mr. Google - and found the article, quite a lovely one at that.

The blurb mentioning me is as following:

"...Alumni include Kaitlyn Mielke, 25, who credits her stage experience for transforming her from 'a shy child who simply nodded yes or no to everything, to a full-emerged drama queen.'
'I became more confident in myself, in school, in life, at work - everywhere.', says Mielke, a student at the University of Minnesota and Miss Deaf Minnesota in 2008."...

Please proceed to the following link to read the full article regarding Dr. Pat Scherer and the folks at the International Center on Deafness and the Arts (located in Northbrook, IL)

"A Listening Ear" by Vicki Gerson (Published Feb 4, 2010 in American Profile)
http://www.americanprofile.com/heroes/article/37958.html

As for me, I recall my days at ICODA as a youth (though I wish I could have stuck around longer to participate in more productions, but I will always treasure the moments I did have - not to mention the photos and friends I keep in touch with via Facebook!)

For more information regarding the programs offered at ICODA, please visit their website at the following link: http://icodaarts.org/

Funny how this was printed just around when I (finally) discovered a photograph thought to be lost - but now found! This photograph of me (at age 2) taken with Marlee Matlin in 1988 at an event at Harper College (in Illinois).

Guthrie Theatre Presents ROMEO AND JULIET (video)

2010-01-11T14:54:00.002-05:00

Doing a little publicity for the renowned Guthrie Theatre, located in Minneapolis, MN. They are starting to post video announcements done in ASL and sporting closed-captioning. (They are really committed in making their venue and their productions accessible to everyone).

Here's the first one, for ROMEO AND JULIET. Don't forget to toggle the CC button on the lower right hand corner of the screen.

Come and see the show - bring your friends, your family, your co-workers! Not in the Minneapolis-St Paul area? Make a trip out of it! We know the Deaf community is small - tell your friends in the area to come to the show!

Video:

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juJZ2mWiMNg

"Show Business" and GLEE

2009-12-30T17:29:00.004-05:00

Parts 7-10 of the documentary "Show Business: the Road to Broadway" is now up on YouTube with captioning! (Finally we reach the Tony Awards coverage for those four shows that participated in the documentary!). We are working on captioning the rest of the installments.

"Show Business: the Road to Broadway" is a DVD documentary chronciling the journeys made by four musicals during the 2003-04 season: WICKED, TABOO, AVENUE Q, and CAROLINE, OR CHANGE. Of all, only WICKED is still running. The original DVD was not released with captioning nor subtitling, thus our little project in adding captioning for our Deaf and hard of hearing fans.

(As soon as we finish this project, we will move on captioning other theatre-related media - any requests? Please send them to us! (Or post under 'Comments').

Before we continue to showcase the captioned parts; I would like to inform our viewers that the GLEE Season 1 Vol. 1 DVD is indeed captioned and subtitled as well. However, there is one issue that I see - the bonus features are NOT captioned nor subtitled. This is a grave error that I wish they would have done something about - especially given that they had Deaf and hard of hearing actors in the show proper. Perhaps a shout out to them, for the subsequent DVDs in hopes they will provide captioning or subtitling for the bonus features?

And now on to "Show Business: the Road to Broadway" (Links are provided under each snapshot; do not forget to toggle the CC button on the lower right hand corner of the video screen).

Part 7

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQRMBMoRR-A

Part 8

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhP7n22XNe8

Part 9

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUKptIKmH9M

Part 10

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Rux5E3fK-I

In the Heights

2009-12-07T11:57:00.003-05:00

Another theatre event to keep the boredom of writing term papers at bay... (The semester's wrapping up so it was nice to run away to the theatre for three hours to escape the neverending pile of assignments to finish!)

The touring Broadway company of In the Heights visited the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis this past week and the interpreted performance was yesterday. I was nervous that there would be only three Deaf patrons but imagine my surprise when I saw the ASL section full (with some interpreters scattered around). It's wonderful to see a large turnout from the Deaf community, given the stigma associated with theatre. (My friend and I had a lively discussion about "the arts versus sports" and how one had to choose between one track and the another - never mingling the two, due to schedules and expectations). Another reason of why it may be full is that it's a new show and made its premiere appeareance in the (frigid) Twin Cities.

The two interpreters were amazing as usual - they used some innovative interpreting techniques, especially given the bilingual approach of this show (with both English and Spanish used). From the naked eye, it appears to be Rent meets West Side Story put in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York. (In fact, the playwright, Lin Manuel Miranda referenced to Rent being an inspiration that made him write In the Heights).

Due to the Spanish language infusion, the interpreters decided not to translate the Spanish into ASL (as some have done in other productions using Spanish such as West Side Story; or foreign languages (such as "Wilkommen" in Cabaret which uses French, German and English lyrics); but rather, they turned to LSM (Mexican Sign Language, the closest they could get to knowing someone that used the sign language used in the Dominican Republic). This strategy was mainly used during the scene where Nina teaches Benny the Spanish words for 'sunrise' (which leads to a song number of the same theme). I felt this was effective - it gave us a flavor of the bilingualism used without watering it down with ASL .

For me, it was a refreshing experience - as I'm not sure which method I like better. I'm accustomed to memorizing the entire script/libretto; watching the film equivalent (if one is available) or the stage recording; listening to the cast recording on my iPod - the works. (Did it with most of the Broadway tours that came through town - especially Rent, The Phantom of the Opera, Wicked and Mary Poppins.) That way I'm prepared for everything and lets me watch the show more than the interpreters. But at the same time, I don't have the "first-time experience" that others experience by doing little or no research for the show. With this show, I did not have the chance to memorize the script/libretto, which provided some 'surprises' along the way and I could see it the way most of the audience was seeing it without having the script playing in ones head during the show.

Which do you prefer - seeing the show with a fresh eye, or mentally preparing for it (just in case the interpreters don't work out or don't meet your expectations)?

Deaf Students on Fox's GLEE

2009-11-29T20:14:00.003-05:00

As a die-hard fan of musical theater, I watch GLEE on the Fox channel diligently, saving my Wendesday nights for this treat.

This past espiode that aired on 11/25 titled "Hairography" showcased Deaf actors portraying Deaf characters from the fictional Haverbrook School of the Deaf in Dayton, Ohio.

During this espiode, the Glee team meets with their two opponents before heading to Sectionals (next week, I believe). Their opponents? Bad girls from the Jane Addams reform school and the prevously mentioned Haverbrook School of the Deaf. The girls from Jane Addams performed "Bootylicious" while the Deaf students (before being joined by the Glee cast) performed "Imagine" by John Lennon.

Please watch the episode, available with closed-captioning at either the www.fox.com/glee website or at www.hulu.com (search for Episode 1.11, or "Hairography") before continuing reading as it contains spoilers for those who have not seen the episode.

My thoughts?

1.) Where was the interpreter? I would think, with all the IEPs involved, there would be an interpreter provided by the school or the district for mainstream extracurricular activities? And why did the "deaf" teacher interpret for his students when he couldn't understand most of it himself? I was so looking forward to seeing how the interpreter would cover the number from HAIR with no preparation (i.e. interpreting it 'cold'). Imagine my disappointment when the interpreter was a no-show.

2.) Contrary from the comments read at YouTube, I felt it was rude for the Glee cast to jump into the Deaf students' performance of "Imagine". The Deaf kids didn't interrupt them during their "Hair" number, so why should the hearing students feel a urge to "help" them? But at the same time, I can see how the hearing kids were 'inspired' by the Deaf students and felt moved to join in. But still? Also, the sign language orchestrations felt a bit fake. If it was their first time "meeting" deaf students, then why did half of the Glee team all of a sudden know sign language? Some were obviously semi-fluent in ASL or rehearsed it too many times before 'mirror-copy-signing" their partners on the Deaf team.

3.) The lipreading joke is getting old. (Referring to the part at the end with Sue Sylvester meeting with the two coaches of the opposing schools). But again, someone with single-sideness deafness can still function as a hearing person - I felt that wasn't portrayed accurately.

4.) Kudos to GLEE for portraying actual deaf students; opposed to casting an abled cast member to play Artie, the wheelchair kid. It's a start - even though it's the third time it showcased a person with disabilities. (First Artie, then Becky, the kid with Downs Syndrome, then now Deaf kids).

What are your thoughts?

Grease is the Word!

2009-11-24T21:23:00.003-05:00

Saw Grease this past Sunday at the Orpheum Theater. This was the second stop for the national Broadway tour in our town, but my first time seeing a production that wasn't done by summer stock theater. (I missed the first round last year when I flew out of state). My intial thoughts? Cute. Had a lot of potential, just didn't realize it - could have skipped this show but I went to see it because of the crazy-talented interpreters ; )

This production took the best parts of the original Broadway script and added several songs from the film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John ("Grease", "Hopelessly Devoted to You", and "You're the One I Want"). Otherwise, it was pretty much a carbon copy of the film (and I found the film more entertaining than the stage version, perhaps as the energy was not there on stage.) Nevertheless, still a cute 'fluff' show.

Honestly, I felt the two interpreters did a much better job of conveying the show than the actual actors - I felt the actors were lacking... something. They certainly didn't put out the best show - nor was the energy 'there'.

Now, the interpreters...

The verdict? WOW. There is a fine line between interpreting adequately and overinterpreting (and thus stealing the spotlight from the actors). But what to do if the interpreters clearly do the job better than the actors? Do they 'dumb' down to match the actors - and give lackluster versions as their counterparts on stage did? Or do they give the ASL audience the 'best' version possible - even if it means surpassing the actors in terms of energy and delivery? Issues, issues! In my case, I would rather the interpreters do the best they can, regardless of the actors onstage, but there are others that may disagree with me.

I love it when the interpreters blend into the show by 'dressing up' - but still retaining the 'interpreter black'. It helps draw them into the show, and for the audience, easier to make the connection. How did they do this? Terp Guy had a black T-shirt with bluejeans. Did he grease his hair? You bet! With a little twirl in front as well. His teammate, Terp Lady had a black shirt with a black poodle skirt. Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail with a ribbon to bow it off. They looked GREAT (and certainly helped paint the scene of 1950s America).

Best translated songs:

"Greased Lightning" (Seriously, this songs looks so much better in ASL than when it's sung in English. Somehow those classifiers came in handy...)

"Mooning" (The interpreters were able to convey the multiple meanings of 'mooning' (pulling one's pants and baring their backside for one; looking lovingly at one's sweetheart, etc)

"Look at me, I'm Sandra Dee" (for those wondering, they did NOT fingerspell 'Sandra Dee' but rather, made the iconic hairstyle with their hands by curving their hands to follow the hairline followed by a fluff at the bottom.)

"Born to Hand-Jive" (Yes, the interpreters participated in the 1950s staple dance movements!) With this song, they took some liberties and got rid of the English lyrics in favor of revitalizing the song as an ASL/Deaf culture song - ie, the mulitple meanings of hand-jiving by using sign language as one. (In other words - 'born to sign'). Did it work? Yup! I thought the ASL version actually surpassed the original lyrics, while retaining the flavor of the original.

Songs that needed work:

"You're the One I Want" - I felt that this one was forced - forcing the ASL to somehow create something out of the English lyrics. It works until one signs 'want' and then it feels forced. (It just didn't flow well in sign language).

Trying to think of the others...

Eventually, by the time "Greased Lightning" came around, I let my eyes watch the interpreters more often than the actors - they seemed to show the songs and story better as I was disappointed by the flatness of the actors - I've seen better summer stock productions with higher levels of energy and 'togetherness' going on.

Last two cents:

Show - mediocre - compared to other recent revivals such as My Fair Lady and South Pacific, this show clearly needs work. But then, it's on its last leg of the tour before shutting down so the cast may be mentally ready for something new to move on.

Interpreters - Excellent! (I just feel bad that the actors weren't able to match up to the interpreters' level; especially that it's a given Broadway show.