Looking Forward in a Time of Flux

*update 10/15/2020: Theatres are moving into virtual live-streamed and recorded events, a few in-person events with safety protocols + limited audience + distancing. Theater communities are looking for ways to share the work we do during this changing and challenging time - working with new works from BIPOC artists, producing and performing in new ways and avenues. There are some exciting events coming up which will have interpreters on-site and on-screen, as we all navigate this new territory.*

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In-person theater for the remainder of the 2019-20 season was cancelled or postponed. The medical  and scientific communities are still monitoring the coronavirus, watching trends, making predictions. We are living in a time of constant flux - globally, nationwide, and locally. There are many conversations happening around performances of all kinds, with the exploration of options and possibilities. New forms are being created or old ones revised. But, for now, live theater in a closed space with 100 or 200 or 800 people is months away; current predictions are 6-18 months. Broadway in NYC announced there will be no productions for the remainder of 2020; other performance venues and companies are following suit. There may not be a 2020-21 season; or there may be a shortened one. One thing is for certain, whatever 2020-21 season we have will be different.

I am continuing to work with a few local theater on providing access for productions as things change. And change again. There are some exciting possibilities ahead - which I can't tell you, yet, because there is still so much which is unknown. Theatre is not dead - it is being adapted to this requirements of this current time we are living in. I will continue to try to share online opportunities as they become available, as new forms are created and shared, as I find new Deaf productions being shared. I look forward to the time when we can be in the room together, sharing laughter and breath and tears and surprise and wonder with the actors on the stage and tech crew in the booth and backstage. Until that time, let's keep our creativity alive and support the efforts of each other as we navigate distancing and face masks and large gathering bans.

You can also check us out on Facebook @paiaPDX, where there are links to Deaf productions, conversations about signing in theatre, online Deaf film and arts events, Deaf improv comedy, and more.

Deafinitely Theatre's "Love's Labour's Lost"

While we're waiting out the pandemic to see what the situation is going to look like for theatre and performing arts when we start transitioning out of stricter social distancing guidelines, I will be searching for videos of Deaf performance to share. This seems like a great start, one of Shakespeare's early comedies!

SparkNotes has an online study guide for this play if you want more information.

Deafinitely Theatre's production of Love's Labour's Lost

performed in British Sign Language at The Globe Theatre.

For more information, visit www.deafinitelytheatre.co.uk

deafinitely theatre and shakespeare’s globe present

love’s labour’s lost

by william shakespeare

Presented at Shakespeare's Globe for the World Shakespeare Festival in May 2012, Deafinitely Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe’s production of Love's Labour's Lost then toured the UK as part of the Globe to Globe Festival, in which each of Shakespeare's 37 plays were shown in a different language. By translating the rich, pun-riddled text of Love's Labour's Lost into the physical language of BSL, Deafinitely Theatre created a new interpretation of Shakespeare's comedy, accessible to theatregoers of all backgrounds. This is the first time this has been attempted with a full Shakespeare play.

The court of Navarre: the King and his three Lords vow to stay away from wine, women and luxury; but when the princess and her ladies from France arrive, they begin to change their minds. As each gives in to his affections and breaks his oath, they all try – unsuccessfully - to keep their love secret from each other.

Love’s Labour’s Lost was filmed at Shakespeare’s Globe.

OSD's "The Happy Prince" - Dec 13 & 14

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Oregon School for the Deaf 

presents 

"The Happy Prince" 

a stage adaptation of the Oscar Wilde story of the same name 

The play was written by, and will be performed by, OSD drama students. 

Voice interpreters will be provided for non-signers.

Dates & Time: Tues, Dec 13th & Wed, Dec 14th at 7:00 pm.

Location: OSD, 999 Locust Street, Salem, OR.

"Neverland" at Oregon School for the Deaf

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Oregon School for the Deaf

presents

"Neverland"

the story of Peter Pan

created and performed by OSD students

January 8, 2014 at 6:30 pm

OSD in the gym

999 Locust Street, Salem, OR

Admission is FREE

This play is performed in American Sign Language 
and will be voice interpreted for the signing impaired. 

OSD's "Neverland" official flyer

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Oregon School for the Deaf : "Neverland"

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I will post more information as it is available, but want to give everyone early notice about this exciting event.

Gayle Robertson, the Fine Arts and Drama Teacher at OSD, is working with students to develop an adaptation of 'Peter Pan,' which they are calling "Neverland." This play will be performed on Wednesday, December 11th and Thursday, December 12th, at 6:30 pm.

Save one of those dates (or both) on your calendar and support OSD's theater students and Fine Arts department! I'm excited to see theater returning to OSD.


In the meantime, remember that OSD currently has their famous (or is that infamous!) "Nightmare Factory" in process. There is still time to visit this annual event where you will have "some scary good times."

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