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During a traditional theater stage performance, American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters are often off to the side to sign the show. That leaves deaf audience members out of enjoying the entire event. One theatre company is rectifying that problem by collaborating with an interpreting organization where the interpreters join the action on stage.
San Antonio’s Miscast Theatre Company has partnered up with Stage Hands, an organization that gives its interpreters a chance to be live on stage incorporating something called shadow interpreted performance.
“So being on stage with the actors, shadowing what they're doing on stage, then the deaf patrons can look at the stage itself, look at the actors and look at the interpreter at the same time,” said Stage Hands ASL director, Robert Cardoza.
Director of the production Do You Feel Anger, Luke Stout, says even non-deaf audience members can enjoy the shadow interpretation.
“Our ASL crew are so talented, and because they are not able to vocalize and say what their characters are thinking,” said Stout. “They have to do double the amount of work and put it into their facial expressions, their movements, their gestures. And so they're very emotive and so fun to watch.”
Stout and Cardoza previously worked together on the play Bright Ideas.
“He was my shadow interpreter,” said Stout. “So we played the same characters, and … we both had to dress up … in a beaver costume.”
Both actors have a tremendous respect for each other and their craft and envision a long-term relationship to give the deaf community a chance to enjoy the arts.
Cardoza would love to see more ASL interpreters perform on stage for the deaf community.
“Whether it's having the interpreters on the side of the stage, but still at a level to where the deaf patrons don't have to physically turn their heads to be able to get a full view of the performance,” said Cardoza. “If not that, then actually getting shadow performers on stage.”
Stage Hands will perform at Miscast’s play Do You Feel Anger? Friday, Aug. 1 and Saturday, Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Palo Alto College Performing Arts Center, 1400 W. Villaret Blvd.
