Announcing: My Sister In This House

DEAF WEST THEATRE PRESENTS
MY SISTER IN THIS HOUSE
BY WENDY ANN KESSELMAN
PERFORMANCES BEGINS APRIL 10

Deaf West Theatre, Ed Waterstreet, Artistic Director, has announced their next production, My Sister In This House by Wendy Ann Kesselman.  Directed by Michael Unger, My Sister … will begin previews on Saturday, April 10 and is set to open on Saturday, April 17 at 8pm.  The engagement will run through Sunday, May 30.  My Sister… follows the critical and audience success of their last production, the special 30th anniversary Children of a Lesser God last Fall.

Based on the true story of the Papin sisters, who suffered an abusive childhood followed by a dark and foreboding workplace in 1930s France, My Sister In This House is a haunting play exploring class struggle, identity, and what happens when the need for connection and companionship is abused and ignored. This bizarre tale inspired many writers of the era, including Jean Genet and Jean Paul Sartre.

The themes of this play are highlighted by the unique theatrical experience for which Deaf West Theatre is known.  In this production, deaf and hearing actors will perform in a multi-lingual setting of American Sign Language, spoken English, and open captioning.  The divide between the deaf and the hearing worlds provides added thematic weight to the world in which the Papin sisters live.

The cast will feature (in alphabetical order) Deanne Bray, Matthew Jaeger, Casey Kramer, Jennifer Losi, Darrin Revitz, Melissa Strom and Amber Zion.  The scenic design is by Tom Buderwitz, lighting design is by Leigh Allen, costume design is by A. Jeffrey Schoenberg, sound design is by John Zalewski, and the projection design is by Adam Flemming, hair and wig design is by Carol Doran and properties is by Jennifer Prince.  The fight coordinator is Megan Nguyen, casting is by Michael Donovan Casting, and the production stage manager is Leia Crawford.  David Kurs is associate producer and ASL Master, and My Sister In This House is produced by Laura Hill.

Preview performances begin on Saturday, April 10 at 8pm and continue on Sunday, April 11 at 2pm, Thursday, April 15 at 8pm and Friday, April 16 at 8pm.  Opening night is set for Saturday, April 17 at 8:00.  THE MEDIA IS INVITED TO ATTEND OPENING NIGHT ON 4/17, BUT IS ALSO WELCOME AT ANY OTHER PERFORMANCE AFTER THAT DATE. The regular performance schedule is Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm through Sunday, May 30.

Tickets are on sale now, and prices are $15 for previews, $25 for regular performances, and $50 for opening night.  To purchase tickets, visit www.deafwest.org, or call (818) 762-2773.  For group sales or other production information, call (818) 762-2773 [Voice], (866) 954-2986 [Video Phone], or email boxoffice@deafwest.org.

Three special 10am performances (Tuesdays; April 20, May 18 and May 25) will be offered for local deaf and hard of hearing high school students as part of Deaf West Theatre’s Dramatic Gestures educational outreach programming.

This production of My Sister In This House is sponsored in part by the James Irvine Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Thelma Pearl Howard Foundation, and a U.S. Department of Education congressionally-directed grant.

Deaf West Theatre is located at 5112 Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood.

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03-09-10