Affectionately known as Mr. Broadway, Alan Champion, an interpreter on Broadway, passed away April 22 from cancer. Mr. Champion was a well-known face in the theater interpreting field and will be missed by many.
The New York Times covered his career and life in this well-written obituary.
"Alan Champion, a sign-language interpreter who opened up hundreds of Broadway and regional theater productions to deaf and hard-of-hearing audience members over the last three decades, died on Friday in Ramona, Okla. He was 55." Read the rest of the article at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/25/theater/alan-champion-sign-language-interpreter-for-theater-dies-at-55.html
And now, a tribute to Mr. Champion's presence in the theater world.
This video made in the fall of 2010 gives us a poignant reminder of Mr. Champion's unfailing humor as he and a team made a video in response to a facebook posting of a premature death announcement.
"He is Not Dead Yet"
(a parody of the song from the musical SPAMALOT - considered fitting for the team of B'way interpreters with a cameo from Keith Wann).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3wFQ-ED8AM
"When Theatre Meets Sign Language"
(Closed-Captioned)
This video from Theatre Development Fund (TDF) features both Mr. Champion and his long-time co-team Candace Broecker-Penn as they cover the finer details of theatrical interpreting. (It features one of my favorite shows of all time - MARY POPPINS!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUK_OUxN-1Q&feature=BFa&list=PLEBE705929852B877&index=11
Alan Champion, Broadway Interpreter Extraordinaire, you will be remembered. May the lights of Broadway be dimmed in memory of you.
(*standing ovation accompained with a show of hands*)
Please take a moment or two to share your stories and memories in the comments section.
