About Us

National Deaf High School Theatre Festival is an educational theatrical competition for young Deaf actors across the United States.

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The NDHSTF gives young Deaf performers the ability to perform on a national stage, refine their skills through competition and feedback, use ASL as their medium for acting, witness professional theatre in an accessible language, and socialize with like-minded Deaf peers.

2022 Festival

Building on the work started by Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind last year, this year the festival is partnering with Tony Award® winning Deaf West Theatre to create a truly rich experience. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Deaf West Theatre has been performing sign language entertainment for over thirty years. Our educators are talented, experienced and bring real-world training to the table.

In addition, this year we are bringing in Deaf artists from across the country, including from Sunshine 2.0, a theater company based at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).

Schedule

There will be 3 components of this years festival - 8 week digital classes, a virtual competition and an in-person 3 day theatre camp in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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For more information and how to register, please fill out the registration form.

M-F

Virtual 8 week digital training, 60-minute weekly workshops.

There will be several tracks for students to explore including theater, dance/song and visual storytelling. There will be separate modules for those who are unable to attend the in-person festival and can submit videos of their work as part of the competition.

Th

March 10

Afternoon:

Teams arrive in Salt Lake City.

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Evening:

Dinner and social activities provided

Fr

March 11

All Day:

Workshops with artists from Deaf West Theatre and Sunshine 2.0 where the focus is on learning and making theatre together.

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Evening:

Dinner and activities

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Sat

March 12

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Morning:

Workshops with artists from Deaf West Theatre and Sunshine 2.0 where the focus is on learning and making theatre together.

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An evening public variety show of students and performers from Deaf West and Sunshine 2.0 will be held at the Sanderson Community Center for the Deaf and live streamed.

Sun

March 13

Festival goodbye and travel home day.

MONOLOGUE

1 person, 2-4 min, from published script

DUO/TRIO

2-3 people, 3-5 min, from a published script

Ensemble

4+ people, 5-10 min, from a published script

asl artistic expression

1+ person, 1-5 min, original or borrowed ASL poetry/story/VV

Theatre arts

Mime, dance, set design, original script, makeup, editing, animation, etc.

2022 Festival Organizers