SPECIAL
TICKET PRICING!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

PHILADELPHIA PA 

October 18 – November 20, 2007 
Deaf Arts & Culture-PaH! is part of Independence Starts Here: A Celebration of Disability Arts and Culture

Thirty days and nights of the talent, brains and beauty of Deaf artists shining American Sign Language as a new kind of VISUAL in the arts!

October 19 • RED CARPET PHILLY STYLE

Dedication of newly retrofitted, cutting-edge accessible concert hall and movie theater at Independence Seaport Museum. Master actor, director, teacher, producer, mime and “father” of Deaf theater in America, Bernard Bragg will welcome dignitaries and surprise celebrities; mayor-elect Michael Nutter will present the Philadelphia-specific, "Accessibility Beyond the Ramp" award to Nanci Linke-Ellis (President, InSight Cinema) and Bob Hiltermann (Orin in “Children of a Lesser God”, co-founder "Beethoven's Nightmare" and beginning this Fall, Walter in the ABC soap "All My Children"); "Beethoven's Nightmare", the world's only Deaf rock band, performing LIVE. Light breakfast served. Seating limited. Reservations required. Light breakfast served. Seating limited. Reservations requested.

October 19 • "CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD"

"Children of a Lesser God", the film for which Marlee Matlin won the Academy Award and brought the talent and abilities of a deaf actor to the public eye, will be shown with open captioning in this newly retrofitted, fully accessible theater.

NOTE: This is the first open-captioned screening at the Seaport Cinema (working title) and the first captioned version of the film ever screened, making it the first opportunity for deaf and hard-of-hearing movie lovers to enjoy it.

Event hosts: Nanci Linke-Ellis (President, InSight Cinema); Bob Hiltermann, Orin in the film and co-founder of “Beethoven’s Nightmare”; 2006-07 Miss Deaf New Jersey, Raymonda Azrelyant. Other surprise celebrities to be announced. Talk-back after film!

Introduction and talk-back interpreted in ASL and CART.

October 19 • DEAF FILMS 'n FILM MAKERS MINI FEST

Tracey Salaway, Jean Bergey et al. present clips from film "Through Deaf Eyes"; Tracey Salaway presents short of her film “That’s My Marshmellow”; Hilari B. Scarl's demo of "Documentary of Deaf Entertainers"; Dawn Schakett's personal journeys; Sarana Mehra's documentary of the UK's "Sign Dance Collective"; Dr. Simon Carmel's footage of Deaf Winter Olympics; “shorts” by Patti Durr, Con Mehlum of Norway, and more! Seating limited. Reservations required.

October 19 • COCKTAIL RECEPTION

October 19 • "THEATER IN THE SKY"
with Bernard Bragg

Master actor, teacher, director, mentor, and producer, Bernard Bragg shares his memories of “life on the wing”—as he puts it—having crossed the globe many times over on his way to becoming the “father” of Deaf theater in America and co-founder of National Theater of the Deaf. By now a national treasure, BB's tour raises dollars for the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and will be interpreted by the master sign language theater interpreter Alan Champion.

October 19 • MU-SIGN EXPLOSION: "BEETHOVEN'S NIGHTMARE" IN CONCERT

ROCK AND ROLL all night long! Influenced by everyone from Hank Williams to Black Sabbath and the Ramones, from Native American drummers to the Beatles, the three co-founders of "Beethoven's Nightmare" (drummer Bob Hiltermann, bassist/composer Ed Chevy and rhythm guitarist Steve Longo) pair the rhythm of the heart and the great story telling of American Sign Language to create an explosive and electrifying performance dispelling any myth about deaf people and music. The collective perception that music is the universal language of the soul—with or without words—will touch all audiences on new levels and in a new light! Seating limited. Reservations required.

October 20 • DEAF ARTISTS EXHIBITION AND PHOTOGRAPHIC RETROSPECTIVE

Opening wine and cheese reception. This exhibition will touch on the work of Deaf painters, sculptors and photographers, like Irene Daniels Kane, Gerald Kane, Fred Michael Beam, Beverly Groff, Nancy Arena, Tracey Cholmondeley and others who have been producing art for the past half century. This exquisite and partially deaf-perspective-specific show will be accompanied by a retrospective of photographs capturing Deaf performers from across the nation along with the audiences, programs and galas hosted by Creative Access over the last 20 years (Most photographs by Harvey Finkle and Rodney Atienza.) All work will remain up through November and is for sale

October 20 • MU-SIGN EXPLOSION: "BEETHOVEN'S NIGHTMARE"

ROCK AND ROLL all night long! Influenced by everyone from Hank Williams to Black Sabbath and the Ramones, from Native American drummers to the Beatles, the three co-founders of "Beethoven's Nightmare" (drummer Bob Hiltermann, bassist/composer Ed Chevy and rhythm guitarist Steve Longo) pair the rhythm of the heart and great story telling of American Sign Language to create an explosive and electrifying performance dispelling any myth about deaf people and music. The collective perception that music is the universal language of the soul—with or without words—will touch all audiences on new levels and in a new light! Seating limited. Reservations requested.

NOTE: Teachers receive Professional Development Hours credit for this event.

October 22 • SILENT NO MORE: TESTIMONIES OF DEAF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS
BY DR. SIMON J. CARMEL

Deaf himself, Dr. Simon Carmel is the world's premiere researcher of deaf survivors of Hitler's brutal WWII campaigns. For this unique seminar, Dr. Carmel presides over discussions resulting from a powerful presentation of images and stories from deaf survivors... about who was killed, who was spared, and why. Co-presented by Creative Access and Nora Levin Memorial Fund Holocaust Archive of Gratz College.

October 26 • LECTURE, FILM, EXHIBITION: AN EVENING WITH THE ART OF JAMES CASTLE

The Fleisher/Ollman Gallery will host a wine and cheese reception for Independence Starts Here. The reception will feature a one-night-only exhibition of selected work by mid 20th century Deaf visual artist, James Castle, and feature a brief talk about the artist by John Ollman, gallery owner and appreciator of Mr. Castle's life and work. The gallery will also have a sneak preview of a documentary film about the art and life of Mr. Castle, the first such documentary to be produced by the Foundation for Self-Taught American Artists. Co- presented by Fliehser/Ollman Gallery and Creative Access.

October 27 • EXTRAORDINARY DEAF CIRQUE CARNIVALE

Extraordinary Deaf magicians from around the nation, mimes, ventriloquists (Yes! a Deaf ventriloquist), clowns, unicyclists and more will perform under the baton of Simon Carmel, winner of World Deaf Magicians Fest (1998)! Performers: Iosef Schneiderman, Russian Mime/Story teller (Washington, DC); Rickie Rowray, balloonist (Iowa), Morty Feldman, magician (Pennsylvania); the team of Steve Longacre and Greg Koppel, magicians (Ontario and California); Pinky “The Juggler” Aiello (Oregon); Paul Dymoke, clown and juggler (Virginia); Tammy Jo Ellis, clown and ventriloquist (Maryland)... and more.

Amazing circus treats and libations served at this adult-only event!

October 28 • EXTRAORDINARY DEAF FAMILY CIRCUS CARNIVAL

Extraordinary Deaf magicians from around the nation, mimes, ventriloquists (Yes! a Deaf ventriloquist), clowns, unicyclists and more will perform under the baton of Simon Carmel, winner of World Deaf Magicians Fest (1998)! Performers: Iosef Schneiderman (Russian Mime/Story teller extraordinaire), Sammy Ruiz (California), Rickie Rowray (Iowa), Morton Feldman (Pennsylvania), the team of Steve Longacre and Greg Koppel (Ontario and California), Pinky Aiello (Oregon), Tammy Jo Ellis (Maryland).

Circus treats and drinks at this wonderful FAMILY event!

November 2 • SIGN-DANCE EXPLOSION: THE WILD ZAPPERS IN CONCERT WITH DC'S HELIX BOYZ

Internationally acclaimed, The Wild Zappers' seven-strong ensemble was co-founded nearly twenty years ago creating opportunities for Deaf male dancers. ...And man oh man have they succeeded! The troupe's recent return abroad continues to be fired artistically by Fred M. Beam and Warren "WAWA" Snipe, who will delight and move devotees from jazz to hip-hop and pop with the added dimension of ASL poetry in motion. During this audio/visual journey, the Zappers combination sign-dancing is sure to bring audiences to their feet, moving them to pathos and back again when the group's signature finale, "I Believe I Can Fly" is guaranteed to bring the entire audience to its proverbial feet. All of this and the Helix Boyz with Prince Darius and Sho Roc too, to kick it up a notch for a bit of rap Deaf style!

November 3 • SIGN DANCE EXPLOSION: LONDON'S "SIGN DANCE COLLECTIVE" AND NEW YORK CITY'S "BAWDVILLE" ...TOGETHER

"Sign Dance Collective" (www.signdancecollective.co.uk/press.html) and its dynamic creators, David Bower (first noted as the brother of Hugh Grant in the movie "Four Weddings and a Funeral") and Isolte Avila, make this stop in Philadelphia to pay tribute to the life and music of American jazz great, Art Pepper. With their newest work, "But Beautiful", this spectacle of performance and dance includes SDC's specialty of incorporating dance on video with a technique of 'sculpting space'. All of this is said to add an extra dimension, as the Luke Balow Band joins them to enthrall all jazz fans and Kevin Jewell, the latest deaf member of SDC, towers above Ms. Avila with facial expressions and contortions that add to SDC's reputation for being the hottest show in Disability or Deaf Arts anywhere—from this coast to the other side of the Atlantic. "But Beautiful" is sure to leave the experience etched on the brain after leaving the wonderful venue in which it will be performed. To round out this extraordinary evening, New York City's reinvention of comedy/burlesque will bring it all home... and then some! BAWDVILLE (pronounced BawDEville) is the troupe from the Big Apple that provides a revolutionary approach to the fine art of burlesque and Vaudeville. They present this genre in the form of many classic storylines punctuated by memorable parodies. BAWDVILLE boasts of spreading love and the message that audiences of all abilities can appreciate fine tumescent entertainment! Again... another eye-opening delight from a seeing culture.

NOTE: The “Bawdville” themes and costumes may not be appropriate for children.

November 4 • BLACK, DEAF, FEMALE: MICHELLE BANKS & ANN MARIE "JADE" BRYAN ON STAGE AND SCREEN!

Michelle A. Banks’ is an award-winning actress, writer, director and producer. "Reflections of a Black Deaf Woman", Banks' one woman show, reflects it all. A combination of drama and humor, the play describes the bonding between a Deaf mother and her daughter. While the themes are not unique, nor the play autobiographical, the life experiences depicted show stages of growth from the perspectives of Black Deaf culture. It is also the first play that speaks to and about the relationship between a Black Deaf mother and her daughter. Inspired by the life experiences of African-American Deaf women. Performed in American Sign Language and spoken English.

9/11 FEAR IN SILENCE: THE FORGOTTEN UNDERDOGS is the controversial new film from director and producer Ann Marie "Jade" Bryan, an award-winning African American Deaf filmmaker which was nominated for best documentary feature at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles. The 88-minute film takes the viewer on a deeply personal journey into the lives of the World Trade Center survivors and witnesses who were among the last to receive access to critical information on September 11, 2001. "This documentary highlights unique individuals' testimonials—how they survived 9/11. Jade says "It's a chilling and somber documentary that provides an in-depth look at what it was like for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in the city that day." Post show talk-back with both women!

NOTE: This show may contain scenes that are too graphic for small children.

NOVEMBER 9-10 • DEAF WEST THEATER COMES EAST! EDWARD ALBEE'S "THE ZOO STORY"

A co-presentation of Penn Presents and Creative Access, this outstanding Deaf West Theater production is a harrowing depiction of a young man alienated from the human race—a searing story of loneliness and the desperate need for recognition that builds to a violent, shattering climax. Troy Kotsur and Tyrone Giordano carry this powerful drama through the nuanced delicacy and passion of American Sign Language and spoken English simultaneously on stage. Directed by Coy Middlebrook.

November 11 • SUNDAY AFTERNOON TEA: UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH DEANNE BRAY!

Deanne Bray’s vast fan base grows from her role as the real Sue Thomas for the past five years on PAX TV's "Sue Thomas: FB Eye" and as she ventures toward even wider appeal with an upcoming new TV role (Come and find out which one!) Deanne will share life experiences as a Deaf actress navigating her way through hearing television, and will show some of her favorite scenes from "Sue Thomas.” Attendees can ask Deanne what she thinks of "The L Word" and also get a peek at her own new documentary film. Lots of interaction with the audience! Plus tea and scones! Seating limited. Reservations required.

November 14 • FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA'S "AUTHOR SERIES" PRESENTS DEAF AUTHOR, MARK DROLSBAUGH'S "DEAF AGAIN

Creative Access collaborates with the Free Library of Philadelphia in presenting "Deaf Again" by Mark Drolsbaugh. The prolific young author will share, with humor and insight, the experience that millions ask about: "What is it like to be Deaf?" The program will be voiced for the hearing audience. Introduction by popularly- and critically-acclaimed Philadelphia writer and University of Pennsylvania instructor, Lorene Cary.

November 16 • DEAF CABARET & COMEDY CENTRAL ALL-IN-ONE!

Robert DeMayo, Mike Canfield and Fred Beam to MC. Old time vaudeville and class acts—the Deaf way— including the world-traveled and critically-acclaimed “living cartoon,” C.J. Jones' presenting his newest offering “What Are You... Deaf? to the delight of all audiences. In it, C.J. shares his life world view. Audience members will also get a taste of "Heeeerrrre's Ogden”; the U.K.s Johnny Creshendo; one and only Jagannath “JAG” Einhorn, the amazing deaf-blind storyteller and more; Mark Davis’ “Miss Altered States”; new Deaf hip- hop—“DIP HOP”—from Warren "WAWA" Snipe; Janice Cole and Rosa Lee's "Who's on First?”; beauteous verse from Kris Merriweather... and surprise guests galore!

NOVEMBER 17 • JONATHAN KOVAKS' "RATHSKELLAR" MAKES PHILADELPHIA STOP OVER F

Vivid, visual and vibrant, RATHSKELLAR is back by popular demand, stopping in Philly for one night only as part of its thirty city road tour—Powered by Viable!

NOVEMBER 18 • Movies n Dance: Sunday afternoon with CJ Jones to EM-C! PAH!

You saw C.J. on stage, now see him ON SCREEN. C.J. will personally MC a marvelous afternoon of captioned movies that includes his own starring role in John Flanders’ “The Ride!” As a serious actor, Jones portrays a nuanced role as a deaf hitchhiker who teaches the driver who picked him up something about life and loneliness. New film about Dummy Hoy, the Deaf baseball star who has yet to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame!

NOVEMBER 19 • FACE THE MUSIC AND DANCE: SIGN-DANCE EXPLOSION- NATIONAL DEAF DANCE THEATER

TICKETS: TBD

NOVEMBER 19 • MONDAY NIGHT TEA AND BOOK SIGNING FOR PHILADELPHIA AREA BOOK CLUBS!

Historian and author Mark Drolsbaugh returns to PaH! for a special discussion and book-signing. All area book clubs are invited to join Mr. Drolsbaugh for an encore discussion of his book “Deaf Again.” Reservations required. E-mail info@creativeaccess.org to RSVP.

 

Creative Access :: 7144 Market Street, Suite 205 Philadelphia, PA 19106
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