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History
Artistic Director Ed Waterstreet, actress Linda Bove, and Professor Bob Daniels, a former teacher of English and film at Gallaudet University, launched the Summer program in 2000. Taught entirely in American Sign Language, the school serves the specific needs of aspiring deaf and hard of hearing actors to receive professional training focused on the artistry of performing with sign language and the deaf actors’ experience of navigating the theatre and film industries. It also enhances their chances for successful careers. As this rising generation of actors advances the art of sign language theatre and performs on our nation’s stages and screens, they influence our society’s perspective on deafness and deaf culture, helping to build acceptance and understanding. Since inception, the program has launched the careers of 64 artists, including Deanne Bray (TV’s Sue Thomas F.B. Eye), Tyrone Giordano (“ Big River” on Broadway, movies The Family Stone and A Lot Like Love) and Shoshannah Stern (TV’s Weeds and Jericho).
At this time, there are no plans to re-launch the program.
Have more questions? Check out our Summer School FAQs.
Testimonials
Find out what our past students thought
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Highlights from 2004
Los Angeles' award-winning
Deaf West Theatre (DWT) held its 4th
Annual Professional Summer School
for Actors last June 2004. The three-week
intensive program for deaf and hard-of-hearing
actors ran from June 7-27, 2004, at
its North Hollywood Theatre.
Time flew before we knew it was already over. The three-week summer school program, however, has been a rewarding experience for the students, staff, and faculty.
Twelve students, who were selected to
attend this year' summer school, got
the opportunity to work with skillful
masters/teachers such as Beverly Nero
(Acting), Groundling founder Gary
Austin (Improvisation), Keith Berger
(Mime), Ella Lentz (ASL Storytelling),
and others. They also were fortunate
to have sessions with well-known deaf
a ctors such as Marlee Matlin, Phyllis
Frelich, and Bernard Bragg as well.
They had the benefit to see two play
productions, Dead West Theatre's own
CJ Jones's one-man show, What
Are You·Deaf? and Mark
Taper Forum's Stones In
His Pocket . Moreover,
the students performed the short recital
of CATS
brilliantly choreographed by Cisco
Drayton at the closing of
the summer school program.
The students were very committed to learning various disciplines in acting and improving their acting crafts. We saw that they really enjoyed themselves and were always ready to work. We were so delighted to have such a wonderful group this year. We wish these students the best of success in their acting careers.
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A night out enjoying a local Los Angeles production
for our Summer School students.
Students are treated to special
guest speakers, including Camryn
Manheim from CBS - "The
Practice"
Students work together to form one machine.
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Testimonials
"Deaf West Theatre's
Summer School program is such a valuable
resource for today's actors. My experience
with the program gave me a much clearer
sense of my goals and my worth as an actor,
and a better sense of what it takes to be
successful in the industry. The teachers
of this program opened my eyes as to how
much development I needed as an actor, and
the direction I wanted to take. It is so
important that the members of the acting
community come together and share their
talents and inspire and uplift each other
to a better, higher standard. Deaf West
Theatre's Summer School program is the perfect
place for this."
Tyrone Giordano, 2003 Drama Desk Outstanding Actor nominee for BIG
RIVER The Adventures
of Huckleberry Finn and DWSS participant
2001
"Being in a community
so sprawled out that the artistic individual
seems like a rare commodity, DWSS proved
to be a hotbed for those who are serious
about their craft. It’s a reassuring
comfort knowing that deaf/hard of hearing
veteran and aspiring actors, dancers, directors
and writers exist and strive to make their
mark in the world beyond the deaf community.
The overall objectives are to enlighten
us, challenge us, remind us of our history
and provide us with acting/ show business
tools. With the experiences at DWSS, it
is crystal clear that we are the ones who
will heavily impact current perspectives
of deaf theatre through our work."
Alexandria Wailes, Broadway performer of BIG
RIVER The Adventures
of Huckleberry Finn and DWSS participant 2002
"I had the honor
of attending the very first session of Deaf
West's Summer School. It changed my life.
I learned so much from deaf mentors and
fellow students who were immersed in the
acting world. I was surrounded by people
who shared the same ambitions as me and
I realized acting was something I had to
do with my life. Going to DWT Summer school
gave my life the direction it has taken!"
Shoshannah Stern, DWSS
participant 2000
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