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.

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

Year Award Production Category Nominee Result
2021 Ovation Awards The Solid Life
of Sugar Water 		Best Production of a Play (Intimate Theatre) Nominated
Scenic Design (Intimate Theatre) Sean Fanning Nominated
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 Stanton Nominated
2015 Ovation Awards Best Production of a Musical (Intimate Theater) Won
Best Production of a Musical (Large Theater) Won
Acting Ensemble of a Musical Won
Director of a Musical Michael Arden Won
Choreography Spencer Liff Won
Lighting Design (Large Theater) Ben Stanton Won
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 Direction Jared Stein Nominated
Lighting Design (Intimate Theater) Travis Hagenbuch Nominated
Scenic Design (Large Theater) Dane Laffrey Nominated
Sound Design (Intimate Theater) Phillip Allen Nominated
Video/Projection Design Lucy Mackinnon Nominated
2012 LA Drama Critics Circle Awards Cyrano Best Play Won
Best Actor Troy Kotsur Won
2010 LA Weekly Theater Awards Children of a Lesser God Leading Female Performance Shoshannah Stern Nominated
Best Ensemble Nominated
2008 BackStage West Garland Awards Sleeping Beauty Wakes Best Production Nominated
Choreography Jeff Calhoun Nominated
Sound Design Eric Snodgrass Nominated
2007 Ovation Awards Best World Premiere Musical Won
Best Musical Direction Brendan Milburn Won
2006 Helen Hayes Awards Big River Outstanding Musical Direction Nick DeGregorio Nominated
Outstanding Director Jeff Calhoun Nominated
Outstanding Lead Actor Christopher B. Corrigan Nominated
Michael McElroy Nominated
Bill O'Brien Nominated
Outstanding Resident Musical Nominated
2005 Ovation Awards Best Production of a Musical (Intimate Theater) Won
Director of a Musical Jeff Calhoun Won
Choreography Jeff Calhoun Won
Musical Direction Steven Landau Won
Scenic Design (Intimate Theater) Ray Klausen Won
Lighting Design (Intimate Theater) Michael Gilliam Won
Best Touring Production Won
Independent Reviewers
of New England 		Special Citation for Landmark Revival Won
Best Sound Design, Large Company Peter Fitzgerald Won
Best Set Design, Large Company Ray Klausen Nominated
Best Lighting Design, Large Company Michael Gilliam Nominated
Best Actor, Large Company Daniel Jenkins Nominated
Michael McElroy Nominated
Denver Post Ovation Awards Best Touring Production Won
Best Actor Tyrone Giordano Won
Daniel Jenkins Nominated
Best Supporting Actor David Aron Dumane Won
Kia Glover Nominated
LA Drama Critics Circle Awards Best Production Won
SFBA Theatre Critics Circle Best Musical (Touring) Nominated
2004 Tony Awards Honor for Excellence Broadway cast of Big River Won
Best Revival of a Musical Nominated
Best Featured Actor in a Musical Michael McElroy Nominated
Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Revival of a Musical Nominated
Outstanding Actor in a Musical Michael McElroy Nominated
Tyrone Giordano Nominated
Outstanding Director of a Musical Jeff Calhoun Nominated
Drama League Distinguished Production of a Revival Nominated
2002 Ovation Awards Best Production Won
Best Director Jeff Calhoun Won
Best Choreographer Jeff Calhoun Won
Best Musical Director Steven Landau Won
Best Set Design Ray Klausen Won
Best Lighting Design Michael Gilliam Won
Best Lead Actor Bill O'Brien Nominated
James Black Nominated
Best Featured Actor Troy Kotsur Nominated
Best Costume Design David Zyla Nominated
Best Sound Design Bill O'Brien Nominated
Valley Theatre League Best Musical Won
Best Director Jeff Calhoun Won
Best Choreographer Jeff Calhoun Won
Best Musical Director Steven Landau Won
Best Actor Tyrone Giordano Won
Best Supporting Actor Troy Kotsur Won
Best Actress Melissa van der Schyff Won
Best Supporting Actress Deanne Bray Won
True West Best Revival Drama Nominated
Best Actor Troy Kotsur Nominated
Bill O'Brien Nominated
2001 LA Weekly Theatre Awards Big River Best Director of a Musical Jeff Calhoun Won
Best Musical Nominated
Best Musical Ensemble Nominated
LA Drama Critics Circle Awards Best Production Won
Best Director Jeff Calhoun Won
Best Musical Director Steven Landau Won
Best Set Design Ray Klausen Won
Best Choreography Jeff Calhoun Won
Best Adaptation Nominated
Backstage West Garland Awards Best Musical Won
Best Director of a Musical Jeff Calhoun Won
Best Musical Direction Steven Landau Won
Best Actor Bill O'Brien Won
Tyrone Giordano Won
Best Set Design Ray Klausen Won
Entertainment Today
Ticketholder Awards 		Outstanding Production Won
Best New Discovery Tyrone Giordano Won
Best Supporting Actor Troy Kotsur Nominated
Lyle Kanouse Nominated
Best Director Jeff Calhoun Nominated
Best Ensemble Cast Nominated
Robby Awards Best Director Jeff Calhoun Nominated
Best Actor Tyrone Giordano Nominated
Best Set Design Ray Klausen Nominated
Road to Revolution Best Drama Nominated
Best Actress Phyllis Frelich Nominated
Deanne Bray Nominated
Best Playwright Mark Medoff Nominated
Best Director Mark Medoff Nominated
Best Lighting Design Steven Wallace Nominated
Valley Theatre League Best Actress Phyllis Frelich Won
Best Stage Manager Meredith Greenburg Won
2000 Ovation Awards Oliver! Best Musical Won
Best Director Jeff Calhoun Won
Best Choreographer Brian-Paul Mendoza Won
Best Adaptation/Translation Nominated
Best Actor George McDaniel Nominated
Best Featured Actor Harris Doran Nominated
Troy Kotsur Nominated
Best Featured Actress Antoinette Abbamonte Nominated
Carol Kline Nominated
Best Lighting Design Michael Gilliam Nominated
A Streetcar
Named Desire 		Best Director Deborah LaVine Nominated
Best Actress Suanne Spoke Nominated
Best Set Design Robert Steinberg Nominated
Best Lighting Design Ken Booth Nominated
Best Sound Design Bill O'Brien Nominated
Best Play Won
Best Adaptation/Translation Won
LA Weekly Theatre Awards Best Actress Suanne Spoke Nominated
Best Set Design Robert Steinberg Nominated
Valley Theatre Leavue Best Revival Drama Won
Best Actor in a Drama Troy Kotsur Won
Best Actress in a Drama Suanne Spoke Won
Best Director Deborah LaVine Won
Best Set Design Robert Steinberg Won
Oliver! Best Musical Won
Best Director of a Musical Jeff Calhoun Won

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. ^ a b 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.

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