In the Spotlight: International Center on Deafness and the Arts

Here's the first entry in the new series of postings In the Spotlight where an organization or event will be reflected upon. First up is Centerlight Theatre, a project under the International Center on Deafness and the Arts banner. The organization based in the northwest suburb of Chicago in Northbrook, Illinois is where I got my start in the theatre arts - and as I mentioned in an earlier posting, the Academy-Award winning actress (and former Dancing with the Stars contender) Marlee Matlin did as well. There must be something in the water in Chicagoland to produce such a rich crop of Deaf artists!

The organization consists of several programs including the renowed Centerlight Theatre where shows are put on simultaneously in sign and voice (namely musicals); Story-N-Sign, Traveling Hands Troupe, Icodance, International Creative Arts Camp and the traveling Museum on Deafness. For more information regarding a particular program, please visit the website at www.icodaarts.org .

The following video showcases the programs and success of the organization:

Watch on YouTube

To see what Marlee Matlin has to share about her experiences at ICODA as a youth, please watch the following video:

Watch on YouTube

My start with this amazing organization came at age six when my grandmother mentioned it to my mother. We trooped out to see a production of Bye Bye Birdie put on by the teenagers and adults. I still remember sitting on the floor (adults sat in chairs but us kids sat up front on the floor for the best view) and gawking up at the actors who I couldn't believe were Deaf and Hard of Hearing. There was a misconception amongst deaf youngsters back then that when they turned 18 and 'grew up' they would become hearing - or die. This debunked the 'myth' since the original belief formed when we really didn't have much exposure to Deaf adults - and successful ones at that. So seeing Deaf teenagers and adults put on a show - let alone a musical - was mind-boggling. I wanted to be part of it.

(Flashback: as I saw the latest ASL Films production of Versa Effect, I recongized the principal as the actor who played Mr. McAfee all those years back in Bye Bye Birdie! Dug out my box of old Playbills and programmes to make sure : )

Enter Youth Fine Arts Day where I participated in a full day of arts and crafts amongst other Deaf and Hard of Hearing youngsters. What I remember most vividly about this day was the talent showcase where I performed "Do-Re-Mi" from the musical The Sound of Music. Here is a picture of me signing 'name' as in "Mi (me), a name I call myself":

(Please disregard the horrible "stylish" fashion that was all the rage in the mid-1990s. A time capsule portrait, indeed.)

Soon after, the center put on a production of Alice in Wonderland and I auditioned for the show. I knew I didn't want to be Alice (after all, she was blonde... and a bit lost. : ) The character of the Caterpillar seemed a better match - I was quite the bookworm back then and the prospect of reading onstage while in character was appealing. I got the character I wanted - but imagine my disappointment when the stage prop serving as the 'book' wouldn't open! There went my chance of secret-reading on stage while ignoring Alice's pleas for help navigating Wonderland. Here's a picture of myself with some of my fellow castmates:

(An appropriate caption for my facial expression would be: "Dude, what's up with the book that wouldn't open? What's the point of having a book that nobody could read?")

My mother made my lovely costume and I still have the leftover scraps of the fabric used to tuck away in my memory box. I wonder if the original costume is still in the costume archives at ICODA? Perhaps I should ask...

What has ICODA done for myself? I stand by what I mentioned in this article, Champion for Deaf Children: "Alumni include Kaitlyn Mielke, 25, who credits her stage experience for transforming her from 'a shy child who simply nodded yes or no to everything, to a full-emerged drama queen.'

 'I became more confident in myself, in school, in life, at work - everywhere,' says Mielke, a student at the University of Minnesota and Miss Deaf Minnesota."

 In short, ICODA and the folks involved helped pave a path in many disciplines, not only the theatre and the arts, but in self esteem, in confidence, communication as well. Echoing Marlee Matlin's words, "if it weren't for ICODA, I wouldn't be where I am today."

If you're in the area, be sure to stop by and catch a performance of Into the Woods, playing Dec. 2nd-18th at the beloved Black Box Theatre at the center! To the actors and crew involved - break a finger : )