AIT Sponsors Free Performances by Tony Award-Winning National Theatre of the Deaf

PR-0938E | Date: 08/26/2009

In collaboration with the Taipei Organizing Committee of the 21st Summer Deaflympics and Taiwan's Seeing and Smiling Theater of the Deaf, the American Institute in Taiwan is pleased to sponsor two performances and one workshop by the U.S. National Theatre of the Deaf's Little Theatre of the Deaf.  The performances and workshop are free of charge and will take place in Taipei from September 11-13, 2009.

The National Theatre of the Deaf is a professional acting company made up of deaf and hearing actors.  Established in 1967, it is the oldest, continually-producing touring theatre company in the United States.  The theatre's signature style, a combination of sign language and spoken words, has expanded the boundaries of theatrical expression.  This double-sensory style enables audiences to see words as they are spoken.  The National Theatre of the Deaf received one of American theatre's highest honors, the Tony Award for Theatrical Excellence, in 1977.  The company's children's theatre wing, the Little Theatre of the Deaf, is comprised of actors from the National Theatre of the Deaf.

The Little Theatre of the Deaf will perform its 2009-2010 touring production of Tree Wise, based on the children's book by Antoinette Abbamonte, and adapted for stage by Garrett Zuercher.  It tells the story of a girl who has deaf parents and has made a new friend at school.  Through the help of a very special tree, the girl learns how to help her new friend and classmates understand more about deaf culture.  Tree Wise will be performed in easy-to-understand English and American Sign Language, and is suitable for children and adults.

Performance of Tree Wise

• Date:  Saturday and Sunday, September 12 and 13
• Time:  2:30 p.m.
• Location:  Taipei Zhongshan Hall
• Tickets:  Free - Available now at Taipei Zhongshan Hall, Tel: 02-2381-3137 ext 155 and the Chinese Deaf Association, Tel: 02-2521-9876

In addition to the performances, the Little Theatre for the Deaf will also give a public workshop on the concept and history of the National Theatre of the Deaf, with demonstrations by the actors of the group's unique style of visual theatre.

Workshop on the National Theatre of the Deaf

• Date:  Friday, September 11
• Time:  2:30 p.m.
• Location:  Chinese Culture University's School of Continuing Education
• Tickets:  Free - Advance registration required.  Contact Chinese Culture University's information desk at Tel: 02-2700-5858 ext. 1

For additional information about the National Theater of the Deaf and the Little Theatre of the Deaf, please visit: http://www.ntd.org/.  For additional information about the 21st Summer Deaflympics Taipei, please visit: http://english.2009deaflympics.org/bin/home.php

Note to Reporters:

The Little Theatre of the Deaf welcomes media interviews during its visit.  Please contact AIT's Public Affairs Section at 02-2162-2037 or send an e-mail to media@mail.ait.org.tw to schedule an interview.