NATIONAL DEAF HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE FESTIVAL

NDHSTF LIVESTREAM SATURDAY, MARCH 18 6:00 PM MST

Get Tix Now!

Virtual Festival: February 6 - March 10, 2023
In-Person Festival: March 16-19, 2023 in Salt Lake City, UT

About Us

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

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.

History of the NDHSTF

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Are you a high school teacher or administrator
that would like to register your Deaf student/s?
Students must be Deaf and enrolled in High School.

Join us for the 2023

National Deaf High School Theatre Festival!

Theater Training Workshops over Zoom February 6 - March 10, 2023
HandFlash Competition - Submission Deadline Friday, March 3, 2023
In-Person Festival March 16 - 19, 2023, in Salt Lake City, UT at USDB

To register for the 2023 festival, please fill out this in-take form below:

For any questions, please email: NDHSTF@deafwest.org

2023 Festival

With the overwhelming success of the 2022 National Deaf High School Theatre Festival which was attended by over 100 students nationwide, we are looking forward to the 2023 Festival.

The 2023 festival will consist of a five week virtual component of workshops and trainings taught by best in class instructors from the entertainment field. We will conclude the festival with an in-person weekend of artistry and performances, concluding in a nationally viewed live talent showcase which will be streamed on premiere national platform Stellar.

2023 NDHSTF Team

Zain Ahmed (Teaching Artist, Sunshine 2.0)

Fred Beam (Outreach Coordinator, NTID Sunshine 2.0)

Shiann Cook (Teaching Artist, Sunshine 2.0)

Renca Dunn (Teaching Artist, DWT)

Tyler Fortson (Teaching Artist, Sunshine 2.0)

Amelia Hensley (Teaching Artist, DWT)

David Kurs (Artistic Director, Deaf West Theatre)

Jonaz McMillan (Teaching Artist, NDHSTF Coordinator and Programmer)

Andrew Morrill (Teaching Artist, DWT)

Storm Smith (Teaching Artist, DWT)

2023 Festival

There are three exciting different parts to the National Deaf High School Theatre Festival. These different class offerings are meant to foster and nurture festival participant's inquisitive minds through creativity, while becoming confident, independent thinkers through social-emotional learning activities.

1. Virtual Festival:

This consist of five weeks of online workshops with our world-class Deaf Teaching Artists. These weeks will be filled with different workshops on such topics of Acting & Movement, Improvisation, Scripted Storytelling, Creativity & Filmmaking. See next section for class details.

2. Handflash Competition:

Students who wish to participate in HandFlash will create and submit videos of their work on several different topics. Categories for students to explore include monologues, Duo/Trio Scenes, Ensemble Work, ASL Artistic Expression and Theatre Arts. Presented by NTID Sunshine 2.0.

3. In-Person Festival:

Participating students and schools will travel to Utah School for the Deaf in Salt Lake City, UT for three days of in-person theatre arts workshops and classes from Teaching Artists from Deaf West Theatre and National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) Sunshine 2.0.

Workshop topics include: Acting, Filmmaking, Storytelling, Dancing, Performance and more!

CLICK HERE FOR 2023 HANDFLASH FLYER

2023 Virtual Class Descriptions

Intro to Acting & Movement

Course Description: Want to learn some new ropes to acting? This course covers an experiential exploration to introduce the fundamentals of acting including physical & voice awareness, monologue work, and audition technique & preparation with a strong concentration on movement.

Teaching Artist: Andrew Morrill

Deaf GenZ owns the World: Creativity & Filmmaking.

This course explores the influence and all the possibilities this generation has on creativity and filmmaking. There are many different ways to produce effective storytelling. Students will have the opportunity to experiment with the art of filmmaking using mobile devices where the power of storytelling will shape the future. Apple does it. Nike does it. Even TikTok does it. You can be part of the influential change by believing in your own gift!

Teaching Artist: Storm Smith

What’s your Story?

Every story starts with an idea. What comes with a great story actually begins with a seed of thought. Come join me to learn the difference between improv and scripted stories and how you can get your creative juices flowing. It’s your time to shine!

Teaching Artist: Renca Dunn