The Laramie Project
by Deaf Austin Theatre

Sep. 07 - Sep. 16, 2023
Thursdays-Sundays

Deaf Austin Theatre is excited to be partnering with Hypernovas Productions to produce the first professional production of The Laramie Project by Moises Kauffman and the Tectonic Theatre Project. 

Deaf Austin Theatre is a non-profit theatre company located in Austin Texas which strives to make both original and published works accessible to the Deaf and hard of hearing community through American Sign Language. DAT was last seen hosting their DAT Short Play Festival in May 2021, which provided an opportunity to showcase new, original short plays written by Deaf playwrights. It was streamed virtually through StellarTickets for all to enjoy. Prior to that DAT co-produced Next to Normal, the 2019 smash hit production of the year with Ground Floor Theatre. A production that went on to win many local awards. 

Hypernovas Productions is an independent theatrical and film production company based in Los Angeles, California, founded in 2019 by Jules Dameron & Joshua Castille. Their projects have varied from immersive theatre, cabaret shows and short films. Hypernovas Production’s mission is to elevate worldwide stages by incorporating experiences and perspectives of the d/Deaf and hard of hearing and queer communities. 

This production will involve Deaf and hearing signing actors from all over the United States. Live performances will begin in the summer of 2022 for Austin audiences. Jules Dameron of Hypernovas Productions will direct the live production, which will be filmed and edited to live stream for a wider audience on October 12, 2021 in honor of Matthew Shepard’s death. 

The project includes the development of a full academic curriculum resource that is designed for Deaf and hard of hearing students, which will be made available to Deaf programs across the US. 

Review by Bob Abelman for the Austin Chronicle, September 15, 2023

 

  Deaf Austin Theatre (DAT) premieres the first American Sign Language (ASL) and spoken English production of The Laramie Project with a Deaf and Hearing Cast opens on September 7th-16th. A livestream event via Stellar debuts on October 12th, 2023 to a global audience in honor of the 25th anniversary of Matthew Shepard’s legacy. DAT’s production will be the first professionally staged American Sign Language (ASL) production of The Laramie Project. 

 

The Laramie Project is a thought-provoking documentary play that explores the aftermath of the tragic 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a young gay college student in Laramie, Wyoming. The play delves into the impact of the incident on the local community and raises important questions about prejudice, hate crimes and tolerance. DAT aims to promote inclusivity, accessibility, and awareness of these same experiences faced by the Deaf and LGBTQIA communities. 

 

Director Jules Dameron, along with DAT’s Artistic Director Dr. Brian Cheslik and DAT Production Manager Sandra Mae Frank, from Broadway’s Spring Awakening Revival and NBC’s New Amsterdam, helm this production and have brought together a powerhouse of Deaf actors and hearing ASL fluent actors. 

 

Cast features Joey Antonio (Dance Camp, ABC’s Zoey's Extraordinary Play List), Joey Caverly* (Hulu’sOnly Murders in the Building, Olney Theatre Center’s The Music Man), Brian Cheslik** (Co-Director DAT & ZACH Theatre's Cinderella, DAT & GFT's The Last Five Years & Next to Normal), Jules Dameron (see below), Taylor Flanagan (Ensemble/Gabrielle’s voice in DAT & ZACH Theatre's Cinderella, Judith et al in Judith with Hyde Park Theatre), Leila Hanaumi (Assistant DASL/Ensemble in DAT & ZACH Theatre'sCinderella), Ashlea Hayes (ABC’s Switched At Birth, NBC’s Law and Order: SVU), Dickie Hearts*(Netflix’s Tales of the City & Grace & Frankie, Public Theatre's Dark Disabled Stories); Amelia Hensley*(ABC’s Station 19, Broadway’s Deaf West Spring Awakening Revival); Justin Jackerson (Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet at Ophelia Jump Productions; The Perfect Match), Krissy Lemon (Gabrielle in DAT & ZACH Theatre's Cinderella, Cathy in DAT & GFT's The Last Five Years), Saul Lopez (ASL Jamie in DAT & GFT's The Last Five Years), Heba Toulan* (DAT & ZACH Theatre's Cinderella, SENSES, The Window Washer)

 

The creative team includes Director Jules Dameron (Director Møkkakaffe Norway TV series; Director of Crazy Town, Sesame Street ASL Series), Director of Artistic Sign Languag (DASL) Kailyn Aaron-Lozano(DASL DAT & ZACH Theatre's Cinderella, Deaf Broadway's Company at Lincoln Center, Hulu’s Reverse Polarity); Stage Manager Miriam Rochford*; Assistant Stage Manager Kelsey Moringy;  Lighting Designer  Jacqueline Sindelar; Sound Designer Rodd Simonson; Costume & Set Designers Dr. Brian Cheslik** & Jules Dameron; Graphic Designer Michael Epstein.

 

* denotes members of Actors Equity Association (AEA)

**denotes members of Stage Directors & Choreographers Society (SDC)

 

The Laramie Project is funded in part by National Endowment for the Arts, Greater Austin Foundation for the Deaf, Matthew Shepard Foundation, BEA Investment Group, Ploeger ASL Interpreting, LLC;  Dozanu Innovation, National Disability Theatre, Communication By Hand, Sorenson, True+Way ASL, Hypernovas Productions and SIGNmation.

 

Supporting partners for this production include Moises Kauffman & the Tectonic Theatre Project, The Matthew Shepard Foundation, Michael Epstein Designs, Texas School for the Deaf, Statewide Outreach Center, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts.

Sponsoring partners currently include Ground Floor Theatre, Sorenson VRS, Communication by Hand, the Greater Austin Foundation of the Deaf, and DHH Services.

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The Laramie Project
by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project
Deaf Austin Theatre

September 7 - 16, 2023

Thursdays - Sundays, 7 p.m.; Sunday, 5 p.m.

Ground Floor Theatre, Springdale Road, Austin

Tickets $25 - $35 plus service fee and tax, available online HERE

OPENS ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7th, 2023

FINAL PERFORMANCE SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th, 2023

Tickets, starting at $25, can be purchased online:

LIVE SHOW TICKETS

 

VIRTUAL LIVE STREAM THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12th, 2023

VIA STELLAR

STREAMING TICKETS

 

To donate or learn more about Deaf Austin Theatre's production of The Laramie Project, please visit www.deafaustintheatre.org and https://donorbox.org/the-laramie-project-2#info