ABOUT THE EVENT

DJ Kurs, artistic director of Deaf West Theatre, known for its Tony Award-nominated Broadway productions of Spring Awakening and Big River, will give a presentation at 7:30 p.m. that is free and open to the public. He will discuss Deaf West’s beginnings, Broadway successes and recent collaboration with the LA Philharmonic on an international tour of Beethoven’s opera Fidelio. As part of this talk, Fidelio actor Hector Reynoso will perform “Rocco’s Aria” from Fidelio in American Sign Language with a pianist and soloist. This event is sponsored by TDPS, UMD School of Music, The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, the ARHU Dean’s Office and Arts for All.

This performance follows a day-long summit for invited guests. The DC metro area has one of the largest populations of Deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States, yet this audience rarely has opportunities to see itself represented onstage in productions by major companies. Creative team opportunities are similarly limited, despite the region being home to one of three professional Deaf set designers and the only professional Deaf lighting designer in the United States. 

The summit will feature an opening talk by DJ Kurs, a panel discussion with local Deaf theater artists and networking opportunities.