Reflections Through a DeafLens

Dear friends,

Eric Malzkuhn, beloved actor, playwright, poet, songwriter, teacher, photographer, sportswriter, Sign Master and gifted ASL and English translator died this morning at the age of 85.

Those of us who were fortunate to have been a friend of Eric, (affectionately known as Malz), were aware of being in the presence of a genius. His love of English and ASL knew no bounds, although he was not a native signer. He could switch easily from one to the other and do it on his hands, upside down, crosseyed and backwards. For those of us who worked with him in theatre and elsewhere, his sense of humor and use of ASL for the stage were legendary.

While attending Gallaudet as a college student he worked during college breaks at the Firestone plant during WWII. http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/worldaroundyou/WWII/malz-ben.html. Malz is the one on the left.

Malz was heavily involved with the Gallaudet Dramatics Club and starred in its production of Arsenic and Old Lace. He had sought permission to do the play from the producers of the same production which was on Broadway at that time. The producers turned him down saying that it wasn't permitted to allow an amatuer company to do the production while a professional company was performing the play on Broadway. Malz's response was typical, "We are the best sign language performers in the world." (Padden & Humphries (2005) Inside Deaf Culture, p. 104.) The troupe ended up presenting a one-night performance on Broadway (May 1942.) Malz played Boris Karloff's role and wore his shoes that night.

Malz was also a filmmaker during the 1940s. Check out Gallaudet University's  Video Library link to see him in his 1944 film, Setting Out with Leon Baker.

Among his many theatrical accomplishments, he was instrumental in the development of the early works presented by The National Theatre of the Deaf, and adapted several classics for sign language productions in the late 1960s and early 1970s. See http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?ID=87290. Malz's creative translation into ASL of Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky and other works was highly regarded. For Jabberwocky, Malz worked together with Joe Velez  (NTD Deaf actor) to make the poem as beautiful, funny and beyond concept as the English version. 

Malz enjoyed working with young people, and ran the theatre program at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf from 1973-1986. Upon his retirement from teaching, the MSSD auditorium on the Gallaudet University campus was named in his honor, "Theatre Malz."

Malz, who graduated from Gallaudet in 1943, received an honorary doctorate from Gallaudet University in 1993.

Malz frequently served as Sign Master at both Arena Stage and Kennedy Center. He was the translator and Sign Master for Arena's award-winning The Miracle Worker (2000).

Malz had the unique vision to take our language and make it come alive, not just for Deaf people, but for a wider audience of theatre-goers. His unparalleled gifts will not soon be forgotten.

Jane

Greetings,

This month's Zoom web TV edition showcases the recent Deaf in the Picture film festival in Amsterdam.

The latest edition features interviews with the festival organizer, Tony Bloem as well as some of the filmmakers.

For background information on the film festival, click on Deaf in Picture website.  

Zoom web TV is the brainchild of filmmaker Con Mehlum and Ipek Mehlum, both of Norway. Con is the filmmaker and Ipek does the interviews and manages the Zoom website. Many thanks to Con and Ipek. It is through Zoom that we're able to stay tuned!

Jane

Greetings,

Exciting news! Gallaudet University's Goya: en la Quinta del Sordo, a student theatre production, has been selected for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Willy Conley and Iosif Schneiderman (renowned Russian Deaf actor) co-wrote the play. Conley also directed the production. Ethan Sinnott designed the set.  To see a video clip of the production, click here.

Congratulations Willy, Iosif and Ethan and all those involved in making the production possible. Way to go!

Jane

Greetings,

In between teaching and working on projects, I try to stay abreast of new discoveries on the Internet. I'm particularly excited about my latest find, Tommy Motswai. I'm blown away by his use of color and ability to capture the complexities of a moment. I'm sure you'll agree.

While I'm constantly seeking Deaf artists' websites, I do stay faithful to those I'm familiar with. One in particular is Susan Dupor's website.  Over the years I've followed her work and find her view of the world exciting and relevant.  Artists have the power to see and articulate truth in ways that can either hit us right between the eyes or bring tranquility into our souls.

Raymond Luczak, another favorite of mine, is coming out with a new book, Men With Their Hands. Check out his blog; he's not only a prolific writer (I've lost count!) but a playwright and filmmaker. He also is a strong advocate of Deaf artists. Check out his website. Many of us regularly read his column on Deaf artists in SignNews.

The Deaf Film Festival in Wolverhampton, England just completed its ninth Deaf film and TV festival in Wolverhampton, England. Is this the oldest continuous Deaf Film Festival in the world? I've heard that European Deaf people had film festivals during the 1940's. Does anybody know if this is true? I'm sure many of us would love to know.

Charlie Swinbourne's Four Deaf Yorkshiremen (Grumpy Old Deafies, U.K.) was part of the Deaffest.  The film received a nomination for best British film. The winner was Coming Out, a comedy written by Charlie Swinbourne and directed by Louis Neethling. Congratulations Charlie and Louis!

Mark Wood's Wrong Game is currently touring the U.S. Catch the film when it comes to your town.

NTID/RIT recently announced its Deaf-Themed Literacy Contest. NTID/RIT is seeking literary works about the Deaf experience. Top winners and honorable mentions will have their works published in an NTID/RIT Literary Works website. Deadline for entries is March 1, 2008.

Marlee Matlin is currently committed to Sweet Nothing in My Ear, a CBS Hallmark Hall of Fame television movie scheduled for release in April 2008. Kudos to Deaf Casting for their work in providing casting support.

There's much going on with Deaf artists and I'm having a good time trying to keep up! I hope you are too!

Stay tuned,

Jane

Greetings,

Recently I was interviewed by Paul Kahn, editor of Opening Stages, a newsletter produced by Washington, D.C.'s John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts at http://www.kennedy-center.org.  I thought I'd share the interview (click on the word "interview") with you. Opening Stages is a quarterly newsletter for people with disabilities pursuing careers in the performing arts. I'm hoping that you will subscribe to the newsletter. In working with our hearing allies, we can together make a difference in building access and opportunities for Deaf professionals in theatre, television, film and visual arts.

I'm interested in your comments and suggestions and look forward to hearing from you.

Jane

Greetings,

Asia Pacific Arts is a bi-weekly web magazine published by the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Asia Institute. The current November 16, 2007 issue features a video interview with Tia Lihua, the president and art director of China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe. Ms. Lihua, who is Deaf, discusses My Dream, the documentary film the troupe produced. The video interview also features clips of the troupe rehearsing and performing. 

Some of us will remember their exhilarating performance during Gallaudet University's Deaf Way 2002 . The troupe will perform at the opening of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.  

Enjoy,

Jane

Greetings,

There is much going on around the globe in terms of Deaf art and related events. What I have here is just a fraction of the positive developments that serve to inspire, motivate and ground us as human beings and artists.

Belgium: Theatre Hand in the Eye is a beautifully designed site and I know you'll enjoy the information it contains.

United States: CJ's Three Day Odyssey Around the Globe, International Sign Language Theatre Festival demonstates again CJ Jones' vision and drive. In my book, he is one of my heroes, and I'm sure he'll become one of yours when you see what he's planning!

Norway: Check out Zoom's newest edition. Con Mehum is a one of a kind filmmaker. His talented wife, Ipek, also Deaf, is an actress and correspondent for Zoom. You'll want to bookmark this site so you can keep up with Con and Ipek.

Bedouin:  Discover Magazine brings us a fascinating story of how a language develops among Deaf Bedouin children.

England: Deaf filmmaker Charlie Swinbourne's Coming Out is an award-winning film Deaf people are enjoying and sharing with friends and colleagues. See if you don't agree.

Malaysia: Deaf Artists collaborate on a calendar. Perhaps someday we'll see Deaf artists of the world collaborate on an art project that support Sign Languages of the world.

United States: Through D-PAN, we meet the Ghetto Hand Boyz from Texas and watch them, in one of their songs, rap on the rights of Deaf children.

France: Award-winning Deaf actress Emmanuelle Laborit is the Artistic and Administative Director of the theatre group, International Visual Theatre (IVT). As a child, Emmanuelle met Deaf American, Alfredo Corrado, the co-founder of IVT who has had a lasting influence on her life. 

Japan: Akhiro Yonaiyama, a former member of the United States' National Theatre of the Deaf is the co-founder of Japan Deaf Theatre. He is also one of the leading advocates for Japanese Sign Language and Deaf Art.

These stories make my day, and hope they do yours, too.

Jane

Hello,

Most of us know Marlee Matlin as the actress who won the 1987 Oscar as Best Actress for her work in the film Children of a Lesser God. Since that time, she has appeared in movies and many popular television shows. I don't think many of us realize that Marlee is also a writer who has published two books for children. Her first book, Deaf Child Crossing is about a 9-year-old Deaf girl named Megan and her experiences in a mainstream classroom. Marlee's most recent book, Nobody's Perfect is also about Megan. The second book was written with Doug Cooney. He adapted the story into a play for the stage. The play has been in rehearsal this past summer and will open on October 19th (world premiere) at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. The production was co-commissioned and is being co-produced by VSA arts and the Kennedy Center. I find this exciting because the production involves both Deaf and hearing people. The lead actor is a young Deaf woman, Tami Santimyer.

You know, it's a small world. The director of the play, Nobody's Perfect worked with the Big River production. I'm sure you remember Big River from 2003-2004 when it toured America. Both Deaf and hearing people flocked to see it. It was a popular musical production.  At that time, Coy Middlebrook was the associate director and choreographer of Big River. Now he's the director of Nobody's Perfect. It's also a musical. Coy's student intern (directing), is a Deaf student from Gallaudet University's Theatre Arts department.

I think it's cool, Deaf and hearing people working together to create a work of art. I think many children who see the play will learn something about Deaf people, American Sign Language and most importantly, that it's okay to be different.

If you live near Washington, DC, or perhaps work in a school or have children in your life, I hope you will do what you can to arrange for them to see the play at JFK Center for the Performing Arts. I was excited, during the early part of the summer, when I had the rare privilege of attending a very rough reading of the play. I found it interesting. I've just recently received an invitation to attend the dress rehearsal. My  "granddaughter" Victoria and I are going. It promises to be a special night, and we're looking forward to it. The play is recommended for children ages 9 and up.

Congratulations Marlee!

Jane

p.s.  The Washington Post published a preview of Nobody's Perfect in the Style section on October 10, 2007.   Here's a review of the show that appeared in the Washington Post on October 24, 2007.

QuickTime

Transcript:

Hello! For Jane's Picks, I've selected Bernard Bragg, known by most of us as "BB." There are many reasons for my choice. He's an artist, actor, director, translator, playwright and teacher. BB is a second generation Deaf actor. His father was an actor and director in the New York City area. While growing up in a Deaf family, his father provided him with theatre experience and naturally through osmosis and constant exposure to theatre, BB became a professional actor. He was one of the people who played a key role in the formation of the National Theatre of the Deaf during the 1960s. He has traveled around the world several times. He recently decided to do a one-man show, Theatre in the Sky, flying to and performing in cities throughout America. This fall he will perform in seven cities.

We may wonder, why is he doing this? Yes, because it's entertaining but also there's an additional motive. He's raising money to support both the National Association of the Deaf (U.S.A.) and the World Federation of the Deaf. Money from his performances will be divided equally between NAD and WFD. During the recent WFD conference in Spain, BB was there doing a number of things including directing a children's production, Babel. During WFD's closing ceremony, BB, along with the president of NAD, presented the president of WFD with a check for $25,000. The money will be used to support Deaf people of the world, especially those in developing countries.

Now we would think BB was done, but no, he's still performing and is looking to raise money for NAD. His goal is to reach the same amount he raised for WFD.  BB told me he's determined to do this and if there is any remaining money, it will go to WFD.

That would probably be enough but no, I've discovered that he has also established endowments at different universities. At California State University at Northridge, he established an endowment in his name to support Deaf artists, filmmakers, actors, and theatre. He has done the same for NTID at RIT and at Gallaudet University.

I'm really impressed with what he's doing. I imagine you are too. I like that he's supporting Deaf people of the world and Deaf artists. BB will be performing in Washington, D.C. this week. I'm going to be there in the audience, enjoying his show. If you're curious and want to see his show, click on the link below to find his touring schedule. He will be performing in Rochester,  Philadelphia and other cities. If you want to contact him, do it.

Oh, yes, on the banner above, you'll see the fingerspelled word R-e-f-l-e-c-t-i-o-n-s. You might be interested to know that the concept behind this creative way of fingerspelling the word belongs to Bernard Bragg. Back in the early days of the National Theatre of the Deaf, during the 1960s, BB, working with actors, came up with this idea and they brought it to life on stage. So for all these reasons and more, Bernard Bragg is Jane's Pick, for sure! 

Click here for more information and touring schedule for Bernard Bragg's Theatre in the Sky: http://www.nad.org/site/pp.asp?c=foINKQMBF&b=3266677

Jane

Greetings,

It is exciting to see competitions in the arts for Deaf and hard of hearing students taking place throughout the country. Some have been around for a while and others are new. I've included here five links, all related to arts in education. It is my hope that you will, after viewing the works of Deaf and hard of hearing children, do all you can to encourage and support Deaf children in reaching their full potential. All children, d/Deaf or hearing, are entitled to explore their creative nature and to create works of art, be it painting, storytelling in ASL or in English, dance or any other creative form. It has long been known among artists and enlightened educators that children who participate in the arts tend to excel academically as compared to those who have been deprived.

National Arts Education Public Awareness Campaign, this site promotes the arts in education and explains the importance of having art education as part of every school's curriculum: http://www.americansforthearts.org/public_awareness/

The distinguished 2007 10th Annual Marie Jean Philip ASL Poetry, Storytelling and Deaf Art Competition sponsored by the American Sign Language Program at Northeastern University took place in March 2007. Click to see their site and list of winners: http://www.asl.neu.edu/festival/prior_festivals/2007/

The California School for the Deaf at Riverside posted videos of students who won the school's ASL competition. You are in for a heart-warming special treat.

http://csdr-cde.ca.gov/2007/04/18/marie-jean-philip-asl-competiton-winners/

Below are two upcoming national competitions for Deaf and hard of hearing students.  Check them out and share with your friends, especially those who teach.

2008 Gallaudet National Essay, Art and ASL Contest: Click here for details: http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/newsandnotables/flash/081507

RIT National Art Competition for Students With Hearing Loss: http://www.ntid.rit.edu/media/full_text.php?article_id=609

Congratulations to everyone–students, parents, faculty, staff, schools and universities involved in supporting the arts for all d/Deaf and hard of hearing children. You guys rock!

Jane