NYDT: #DeafinNYC written by Julia Silvestri, and directed by JW Guido

The plot

PLAY DESCRIPTION:

#DeafInNYC is a snapshot of a social, cultural, educational, and political experience of a deaf adult in the city. The story begins with a train ride into the city, and ends with a train ride departing from the city. Through the use of ASL poetry, repetition and symbolism, the content portrays elements of Deaf cultural music making, the hustle and bustle of New York City, and the vibrant and challenging experience of deaf people navigating the city. The main character is a woman, aged 25-40. She is a deaf teacher of the deaf and ASL teacher. There are three additional ensemble characters. The story begins with the teacher on an inbound train into the city, expressing excitement for the day ahead in the city. The day includes four vignettes before returning to the train: a busy street and hectic communication, a signing classroom and complicated dynamics between deaf/hearing ASL/language learners, a deaf town hall meeting, and an ASL Slam poetry event. Although the excursion into a New York City day begins challenges and nuances in deaf communication and education, the strength of NYC Deaf culture is revealed through the elements of community, communication spaces, and ASL performing arts.

ABOUT PLAYWRIGHT:

Julia Silvestri, Ph.D., Ed.S. is an adjunct assistant professor in the Program for Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at Teachers College, Columbia University. She has worked as an educator and administrator in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. After majoring in creative writing and theatre at Northeastern University, Julia worked as an actress in the Boston-based Show of Hands Theatre Company, studying the craft of ASL playwriting, later applied to developing ASL drama and film programs at a variety of deaf schools, public schools, and university programs. Additional community projects include producing a live ASL TV show in Boston; expanding the ASL Slam poetry society in NYC, collaborating with the NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities on a series of film and civic

ABOUT DIRECTOR:

JW Guido is the Artistic Director for New York Deaf Theatre (NYDT). Since joining NYDT as the Artistic Director in 2012, JW has been focused on creating opportunities for Deaf artists through theatre. He uses these experiences, along with what he will gained from his Ed.D. in theatre education at NYU and to work with TDF as a teaching artist, and as an actor . Acting credits included: Twelfth Nights (Shakespeare at the Park), Train Gone Sorry (Amazon), Soot and Spit (James Castle; Ohio Theatre)

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• Age Rating Teen(13+ years old)
• Running time 00:10:46 mins



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