Deaf West Theatre

Deaf West Theatre is a non-profit arts organization based in Los Angeles, CA.[1] It is most well known for its Tony Award nominated productions of Big River and Spring Awakening. By combining American Sign Language and Spoken English, Deaf West sets the standard for bold and inclusive theatrical experiences in the United States.

Deaf West Theatre is led by Artistic Director, DJ Kurs.[2]

Mission & History

Established  in 1991 by Founding Artistic Director, Ed Waterstreet,[3] 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.

Productions

Notable past productions include Our Town by Thornton Wilder in a co-production with Pasadena Playhouse;[4] Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo in a co-production with The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts;[5] 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;[6] American Buffalo, which was labeled a Los Angeles Times Critic's Choice;[7] Cyrano, a co-production with the Fountain Theatre which received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Production;[8] Big River which received two Tony Award nominations (including Best Revival),[9] Pippin, produced at the Mark Taper Forum in a co-production with Center Theatre Group;[10] Oliver! which received the Ovation Award for Best Musical,[11] and A Streetcar Named Desire which received the Ovation Award for Best Play.[12]

Awards & Nominations

Year Award Production Category Nominee Result
2016 Tony Awards [6] Spring Awakening Best Revival of a Musical Deaf West's Spring Awakening Nominated
Best Direction of a Musical Michael Arden Nominated
Best Lighting Design of a Musical Ben Stanton Nominated
2015 Ovation Awards [13] Best Production of a Musical (Intimate Theater) Deaf West Won
Best Production of a Musical (Large Theater) Deaf West / Wallis Annenberg Won
Acting Ensemble of a Musical Cast of Spring Awakening Won
Director of a Musical Michael Arden Won
Choreography Spencer Lfif 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 Deaf West Won
Best Actor Troy Kotsur Won
2010 LA Weekly Theater Awards Children of a Lesser God Leading Female Performance Shoshannah Stern Nominated
Best Ensemble Cast of Children of a Lesser God Nominated
2008 BackStage West Garland Awards Sleeping Beauty Wakes Best Production Sleeping Beauty Wakes Nominated
Choreography Jeff Calhoun Nominated
Sound Design Eric Snodgrass Nominated
2007 Ovation Awards Best World Premiere Musical Sleeping Beauty Wakes Won
Best Musical Direction Brendan Milburn Won
2006 The Helen Hayes Awards Big River Outstanding Musical Direction Nick DeGregorio Nominated
Outstanding Director Jeff Calhoun Nominated
Outstanding Lead Actor Christopher B. Corrigan Nominated
Outstanding Lead Actor Michael McElroy Nominated
Outstanding Lead Actor Bill O'Brien Nominated
Outstanding Resident Musical Big River Nominated
2005 Ovation Awards Best Production of a Musical (Intimate Theater) Deaf West 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 Big River Won
Independent Reviewers of New England Special Citation for Landmark Revival Big River 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 Design, Large Company Daniel Jenkins Nominated
Best Actor Design, Large Company Michael McElroy Nominated
Denver Post Ovation Awards Best Touring Production Big River Won
Best Actor Tyrone Giordano Won
Best Supporting Actor David Aron Dumane Won
Best Actor Daniel Jenkins Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Kia Glover Nominated
LA Drama Critics Circle Awards Best Production Big River Won
SFBA Theatre Critics Circle Best Musical (Touring) Big River Nominated
2004 Tony Awards [14] Honor for Excellence Broadway cast of Big River Won
Best Revival of a Musical Big River Nominated
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Michael McElroy Nominated
Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Revival of a Musical Big River Nominated
Outstanding Actor in a Musical Michael McElroy Nominated
Outstanding Actor in a Musical Tyrone Giordano Nominated
Outstanding Director of a Musical Jeff Calhoun Nominated
Drama League Distinguished Production of a Revival Big River Nominated
2002 Ovation Awards Best Production Big River 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
Best Lead Actor 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 Big River 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 True West Nominated
Best Actor Troy Kotsur Nominated
Best Actor Bill O'Brien Nominated
2001 LA Weekly Theatre Awards Big River Best Director of a Musical Jeff Calhoun Won
Best Musical Big River Nominated
Best Musical Ensemble Cast of Big River Nominated
Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards Best Production Big River 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 Big River Nominated
Backstage West Garland Awards Best Musical Big River Won
Best Director of a Musical Jeff Calhoun Won
Best Musical Direction Steven Landau Won
Best Actor Bill O'Brien Won
Best Actor Tyrone Giordano Won
Best Set Design Ray Klausen Won
Entertainment Today Ticketholder Awards Outstanding Production Big River Won
Best New Discovery Tyrone Giordano Won
Best Supporting Actor Troy Kotsur Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Lyle Kanouse Nominated
Best Director Jeff Calhoun Nominated
Best Ensemble Cast Cast of Big River Nominated
Robby Awards Best Director Jeff Calhoun Nominated
Best Actor Tyrone Giordano Nominated
Best Set Design Ray Klausen Nominated
Road to Revolution Best Drama Road to Revolution Nominated
Best Actress Phyllis Frelich Nominated
Best Actress 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 Oliver! Won
Best Director Jeff Calhoun Won
Best Choreographer Brian-Paul Mendoza Won
Best Adaptation/Translation Oliver! Nominated
Best Actor George McDaniel Nominated
Best Featured Actor Harris Doran Nominated
Best Featured Actor Troy Kotsur Nominated
Best Featured Actress Antoinette Abbamonte Nominated
Best Featured Actress 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 A Streetcar Named Desire Won
Best Adaptation/Translation A Streetcar Named Desire Won
LA Weekly Theatre Awards Best Actress Suanne Spoke Nominated
Best Set Design Robert Steinberg Nominated
Valley Theatre Leavue Best Revival Drama A Streetcar Named Desire 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 Oliver! Won
Best Director of a Musical Jeff Calhoun Won


In addition to the awards listed above, Deaf West is the recipient of the Peter Zeisler Award from the Theatre Communications Group (2016), the Unique Contribution to the Theater Award from the Drama League (2016), The Extraordinary Excellence in Diversity from the Actors' Equity Association (2016) and the Champion of Change Award from the New York City Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (2015).

In 2005, Deaf West was selected to receive the Highest Recognition Award by the Secretary of Health and Human Services for its “distinguished contributions to improve and enrich the culture lives of deaf and hard of hearing actors and theater patrons.”

References

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