Deaf West Theatre is a non-profit arts organization based in Los Angeles, California, US. It is most well known for its Tony Award-nominated productions of Big River and Spring Awakening.
Deaf West Theatre is led by artistic director DJ Kurs.
History
Established in 1991 by Founding Artistic Director, Ed Waterstreet, Deaf West Theatre engages artists and audiences in unparalleled theater experiences inspired by Deaf culture and the expressive power of sign language. Committed to innovation, collaboration, and training, Deaf West Theatre is the artistic bridge between the deaf and hearing worlds. Deaf West productions are traditionally performed in American Sign Language with voice translation occurring at the same time so it is accessible to both deaf and hearing audiences. Deaf West has also held workshops for deaf youth who come from underprivileged communities and supported young deaf individuals who have a career in the arts. Since 2012, Deaf West has been led by Artistic Director DJ Kurs.
Deaf actors who have worked with Deaf West Theatre include Troy Kotsur, Phyllis Frelich, Daniel Durant, Marlee Matlin, and Alexandria Wailes.
Productions
Notable past productions include Our Town by Thornton Wilder in a co-production with Pasadena Playhouse; Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo in a co-production with The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts; Spring Awakening, which transferred from Inner-City Arts to The Wallis Annenberg and then to Broadway where it received three Tony Award nominations, including Best Revival; American Buffalo, which was labeled a Los Angeles Times Critic's Choice; Cyrano, a co-production with the Fountain Theatre which received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Production; Big River which received two Tony Award nominations (including Best Revival), Pippin, produced at the Mark Taper Forum in a co-production with Center Theatre Group; Oliver! which received the Ovation Award for Best Musical, and A Streetcar Named Desire which received the Ovation Award for Best Play.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Production | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Ovation Awards | The Solid Life of Sugar Water |
Best Production of a Play (Intimate Theatre) | Nominated | |
| Scenic Design (Intimate Theatre) | Sean Fanning | Nominated | |||
| 2016 | Tony Awards | Spring Awakening | Best Revival of a Musical | Nominated | |
| Best Direction of a Musical | Michael Arden | Nominated | |||
| Best Lighting Design of a Musical | Ben Stanton | Nominated | |||
| 2015 | Ovation Awards | Best Production of a Musical (Intimate Theater) | Won | ||
| Best Production of a Musical (Large Theater) | Won | ||||
| Acting Ensemble of a Musical | Won | ||||
| Director of a Musical | Michael Arden | Won | |||
| Choreography | Spencer Liff | Won | |||
| Lighting Design (Large Theater) | Ben Stanton | Won | |||
| Lead Actor in a Musical | Austin P. McKenzie | Nominated | |||
| Lead Actress in a Musical | Sandra Mae Frank | Nominated | |||
| Featured Actor in a Musical | Andy Mientus | Nominated | |||
| Featured Actress in a Musical | Krysta Rodriguez | Nominated | |||
| Music Direction | Jared Stein | Nominated | |||
| Lighting Design (Intimate Theater) | Travis Hagenbuch | Nominated | |||
| Scenic Design (Large Theater) | Dane Laffrey | Nominated | |||
| Sound Design (Intimate Theater) | Phillip Allen | Nominated | |||
| Video/Projection Design | Lucy Mackinnon | Nominated | |||
| 2012 | LA Drama Critics Circle Awards | Cyrano | Best Play | Won | |
| Best Actor | Troy Kotsur | Won | |||
| 2010 | LA Weekly Theater Awards | Children of a Lesser God | Leading Female Performance | Shoshannah Stern | Nominated |
| Best Ensemble | Nominated | ||||
| 2008 | BackStage West Garland Awards | Sleeping Beauty Wakes | Best Production | Nominated | |
| Choreography | Jeff Calhoun | Nominated | |||
| Sound Design | Eric Snodgrass | Nominated | |||
| 2007 | Ovation Awards | Best World Premiere Musical | Won | ||
| Best Musical Direction | Brendan Milburn | Won | |||
| 2006 | Helen Hayes Awards | Big River | Outstanding Musical Direction | Nick DeGregorio | Nominated |
| Outstanding Director | Jeff Calhoun | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Lead Actor | Christopher B. Corrigan | Nominated | |||
| Michael McElroy | Nominated | ||||
| Bill O'Brien | Nominated | ||||
| Outstanding Resident Musical | Nominated | ||||
| 2005 | Ovation Awards | Best Production of a Musical (Intimate Theater) | Won | ||
| Director of a Musical | Jeff Calhoun | Won | |||
| Choreography | Jeff Calhoun | Won | |||
| Musical Direction | Steven Landau | Won | |||
| Scenic Design (Intimate Theater) | Ray Klausen | Won | |||
| Lighting Design (Intimate Theater) | Michael Gilliam | Won | |||
| Best Touring Production | Won | ||||
| Independent Reviewers of New England |
Special Citation for Landmark Revival | Won | |||
| Best Sound Design, Large Company | Peter Fitzgerald | Won | |||
| Best Set Design, Large Company | Ray Klausen | Nominated | |||
| Best Lighting Design, Large Company | Michael Gilliam | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor, Large Company | Daniel Jenkins | Nominated | |||
| Michael McElroy | Nominated | ||||
| Denver Post Ovation Awards | Best Touring Production | Won | |||
| Best Actor | Tyrone Giordano | Won | |||
| Daniel Jenkins | Nominated | ||||
| Best Supporting Actor | David Aron Dumane | Won | |||
| Kia Glover | Nominated | ||||
| LA Drama Critics Circle Awards | Best Production | Won | |||
| SFBA Theatre Critics Circle | Best Musical (Touring) | Nominated | |||
| 2004 | Tony Awards | Honor for Excellence | Broadway cast of Big River | Won | |
| Best Revival of a Musical | Nominated | ||||
| Best Featured Actor in a Musical | Michael McElroy | Nominated | |||
| Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Michael McElroy | Nominated | |||
| Tyrone Giordano | Nominated | ||||
| Outstanding Director of a Musical | Jeff Calhoun | Nominated | |||
| Drama League | Distinguished Production of a Revival | Nominated | |||
| 2002 | Ovation Awards | Best Production | Won | ||
| Best Director | Jeff Calhoun | Won | |||
| Best Choreographer | Jeff Calhoun | Won | |||
| Best Musical Director | Steven Landau | Won | |||
| Best Set Design | Ray Klausen | Won | |||
| Best Lighting Design | Michael Gilliam | Won | |||
| Best Lead Actor | Bill O'Brien | Nominated | |||
| James Black | Nominated | ||||
| Best Featured Actor | Troy Kotsur | Nominated | |||
| Best Costume Design | David Zyla | Nominated | |||
| Best Sound Design | Bill O'Brien | Nominated | |||
| Valley Theatre League | Best Musical | Won | |||
| Best Director | Jeff Calhoun | Won | |||
| Best Choreographer | Jeff Calhoun | Won | |||
| Best Musical Director | Steven Landau | Won | |||
| Best Actor | Tyrone Giordano | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Troy Kotsur | Won | |||
| Best Actress | Melissa van der Schyff | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | Deanne Bray | Won | |||
| True West | Best Revival Drama | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor | Troy Kotsur | Nominated | |||
| Bill O'Brien | Nominated | ||||
| 2001 | LA Weekly Theatre Awards | Big River | Best Director of a Musical | Jeff Calhoun | Won |
| Best Musical | Nominated | ||||
| Best Musical Ensemble | Nominated | ||||
| LA Drama Critics Circle Awards | Best Production | Won | |||
| Best Director | Jeff Calhoun | Won | |||
| Best Musical Director | Steven Landau | Won | |||
| Best Set Design | Ray Klausen | Won | |||
| Best Choreography | Jeff Calhoun | Won | |||
| Best Adaptation | Nominated | ||||
| Backstage West Garland Awards | Best Musical | Won | |||
| Best Director of a Musical | Jeff Calhoun | Won | |||
| Best Musical Direction | Steven Landau | Won | |||
| Best Actor | Bill O'Brien | Won | |||
| Tyrone Giordano | Won | ||||
| Best Set Design | Ray Klausen | Won | |||
| Entertainment Today Ticketholder Awards |
Outstanding Production | Won | |||
| Best New Discovery | Tyrone Giordano | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Troy Kotsur | Nominated | |||
| Lyle Kanouse | Nominated | ||||
| Best Director | Jeff Calhoun | Nominated | |||
| Best Ensemble Cast | Nominated | ||||
| Robby Awards | Best Director | Jeff Calhoun | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor | Tyrone Giordano | Nominated | |||
| Best Set Design | Ray Klausen | Nominated | |||
| Road to Revolution | Best Drama | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress | Phyllis Frelich | Nominated | |||
| Deanne Bray | Nominated | ||||
| Best Playwright | Mark Medoff | Nominated | |||
| Best Director | Mark Medoff | Nominated | |||
| Best Lighting Design | Steven Wallace | Nominated | |||
| Valley Theatre League | Best Actress | Phyllis Frelich | Won | ||
| Best Stage Manager | Meredith Greenburg | Won | |||
| 2000 | Ovation Awards | Oliver! | Best Musical | Won | |
| Best Director | Jeff Calhoun | Won | |||
| Best Choreographer | Brian-Paul Mendoza | Won | |||
| Best Adaptation/Translation | Nominated | ||||
| Best Actor | George McDaniel | Nominated | |||
| Best Featured Actor | Harris Doran | Nominated | |||
| Troy Kotsur | Nominated | ||||
| Best Featured Actress | Antoinette Abbamonte | Nominated | |||
| Carol Kline | Nominated | ||||
| Best Lighting Design | Michael Gilliam | Nominated | |||
| A Streetcar Named Desire |
Best Director | Deborah LaVine | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress | Suanne Spoke | Nominated | |||
| Best Set Design | Robert Steinberg | Nominated | |||
| Best Lighting Design | Ken Booth | Nominated | |||
| Best Sound Design | Bill O'Brien | Nominated | |||
| Best Play | Won | ||||
| Best Adaptation/Translation | Won | ||||
| LA Weekly Theatre Awards | Best Actress | Suanne Spoke | Nominated | ||
| Best Set Design | Robert Steinberg | Nominated | |||
| Valley Theatre Leavue | Best Revival Drama | Won | |||
| Best Actor in a Drama | Troy Kotsur | Won | |||
| Best Actress in a Drama | Suanne Spoke | Won | |||
| Best Director | Deborah LaVine | Won | |||
| Best Set Design | Robert Steinberg | Won | |||
| Oliver! | Best Musical | Won | |||
| Best Director of a Musical | Jeff Calhoun | Won | |||
References
- "Deaf West Theatre". Deaf West Theatre. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
- "Deaf West artistic director David Kurs: Why deaf actors should be cast to play deaf characters". Los Angeles Times. 13 July 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-07-13.
- BWW News Desk. "Deaf West Theatre to Honor Retired Founding Artistic Director Ed Waterstreet, 2/9". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
- "About". Deaf West Theatre. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
- ^ Gelt, Jessica (26 August 2022). "How L.A.'s Deaf West is becoming the American theater company of the moment". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
- Lefkowitz, David; Manus, Willard (30 January 1998). "Phyllis Frelich Tracks Brilliant Traces at Deaf West, Feb. 1". Playbill. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
- Lundstrom, Jim (19 August 2021). "Daniel Durant hopes Duluth enjoys CODA". Duluth Reader.
- Gioia, Michael; Viagas, Robert (21 July 2015). ""Children of a Lesser God" Oscar Winner Marlee Matlin Will Make Broadway Debut in Spring Awakening". Playbill. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
- "Deaf West's Our Town to Open New Season at Pasadena Playhouse". Playbill. 1 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-06-01.
- "The Wallis and Deaf West Theatre present EDWARD ALBEE'S AT HOME AT THE ZOO". The Wallis Annenberg. Archived from the original on 2016-07-13.
- "The Tony Award Nominations". www.tonyawards.com. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
- "Deaf West's AMERICAN BUFFALO To Play Columbus this Fall". Broadway World. Archived from the original on 2020-07-17.
- "New Deaf West and Fountain Theatre Coproduction of CYRANO Is Skillful and Impressive". LAist. 4 May 2020. Archived from the original on 2015-04-14.
- "Deaf West's Big River Shines on Broadway as Roundabout Revival Opens". Playbill. 24 July 2003. Archived from the original on 2016-04-29.
- "Deaf West presents 'Pippin'". Variety. 23 Jan 2009. Archived from the original on 2020-07-17.
- "OLIVER! Deaf West Theatre's First-Ever Musical". Playbill. 12 May 2000. Archived from the original on 2020-07-17.
- "Stella, Blanche and ASL". Los Angeles Times. 2 April 2000. Archived from the original on 2020-07-17.