ID: a bricked wall in pink tone with white neon text: “Deaf Spotlight presents LIMITLESS EXPRESSIONS, a week of Deaf arts on stage, March 6-12, 2023, 12th Ave Arts Studio, 1620 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122.”
LIMITLESS EXPRESSIONS
Following its Short Play Festival in March, Deaf Spotlight hosted a new pop-up showcase experience called LIMITLESS EXPRESSIONS. The showcase features Deaf artists and creatives in different mediums. It took place March 6-12, 2023 at 12th Ave Arts in Capitol Hill.
The lineup includes:
Monday, March 6th – ASL CABARET with Sound Theatre Company
Tuesday, March 7th –ASL CABARET with Sound Theatre Company
Wednesday, March 8th – Deaf Legends Photography Project
Thursday, March 9th – Readings by Deaf Authors
Friday, March 10th – Visual Vernacular Performances
Saturday morning, March 11th- Dance Workshop with Sunshine 2.0
Saturday, March 11th – Dance Performances
Sunday morning, March 12th - Dance Workshop with Urban Jazz Dance Company
Each night’s proceeds will be shared with the guest artists for that evening.
LIMITLESS EXPRESSIONS is made possible with support from: 4Culture, ArtsFund, City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, and Washington State Arts Commission.
This event will be presented in American Sign Language. ASL CABARETS will have captions in English. Attendees with other access needs can submit a request at least two weeks in advance by emailing info@deafspotlight.org.
Deaf Spotlight inspires and showcases Deaf Culture and Sign Languages through the arts. A nationally recognized leader in Deaf arts, the organization emerged from the first Seattle Deaf Film Festival in 2012. Programming has since expanded to include theater productions / festivals; curated visual art exhibitions; and workshops for Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled and Hard of Hearing artists.
RADICAL HOSPITIALITY
We are using a different ticketing approach this year. We are using Radical Hospitality Ticket Program, inspired by Sound Theatre Company and other organizations to make our event more inclusive and welcome for all.
There are no assigned seatings at any performances at the Short Play Festival. We will prioritize seating for disabled community members.
COVID-19 SAFETY POLICY
To ensure a successful and healthy experience for all, Deaf Spotlight has a request for audiences like you: when attending a performance at the Short Play Festival 2023, please wear a mask over your nose and mouth except when eating or drinking (in venue lobby area only). We ask that all audience members be respectful of this decision.
Deaf Spotlight reserves the right to require health and safety protocols for all performances.
If you feel sick, have any of the following symptoms, or if you have tested positive for COVID-19, we request that you do not attend any performances in person:
Cough
Sore throat
Shortness of breath
Trouble breathing
Fever or chills
Loss of smell or taste
If you are unable to attend due to COVID-19, we will issue you a refund ticket. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. We look forward to welcoming you soon.
Day 7 Morning: Dance Workshop with Urban Jazz Dance Company
Urban Jazz Dance Company will teach a dance workshop!
Age range: middle school and up.
Founded in 2007 by a pioneering Deaf dancer/choreographer, Antoine Hunter, Urban Jazz Dance Co (Deaf-led business) consisted of a mix of professional deaf and hearing dancers. UJDC’s mission is to provide opportunities for deaf, hard of hearing and disabled artists to contribute to the arts and larger society, increasing awareness around deaf issues via the performing arts. Featuring the syncopation of urban jazz rhythms, the company values the importance of play and performance to connect cultures of all races, ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
UJDC performs all over the Bay Area and beyond, including festivals (John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Black Choreographers Festival, Cubacaribe Festival, Art and Soul Festival, Deaf Nation, Disneyland - Disney’s Signin’ in the Street, Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Green Show, and the Ethnic Dance Festival. Its programs thrill Deaf and Hard of Hearing audiences alike. UJDC is also the producer of the annual Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival (BAIDDF) and views deafness as a human experience with its own values, principles, and cultural norms, not a disability.
CLOSING NIGHT with Visually Speaking
Don't miss out on the unforgettable experience of LIMITLESS EXPRESSIONS, the week-long pop-up showcase presented by Deaf Spotlight! This week is going to be a blast, as the spotlight will be shining on some of the most talented Deaf celebrities from all over.
The Closing Night Party at the Vermillion Art Gallery and Bar is your chance to rub elbows with the stars and celebrate Deaf art and the hardworking crew behind this incredible event series. A huge round of applause to all contributors!
Don't miss this chance to immerse yourself in Deaf culture and make memories that will last a lifetime. So, mark your calendars, and see you at the party!
Vermillion Art Gallery and Bar is a single level gallery space, all ages are welcome. The bar is in the back and restricted for 21+. The lighting in the bar is dim. The front gallery space has ample track lighting and the walls are white with artwork displays. Bathrooms are gender neutral and accessible for wheelchair users.
When? March 11th 9pm PDT - close DST
Where? Vermillion - 1508 11th Ave. Seattle WA 98122
ID: a square post with purple brick wall and white text: "Limitless Expressions, a week of Deaf Arts on stage. Closing Night Party, Saturday, March 11. Hosted by Visually Speaking (a logo of a hand with a spiral inside the palm) and Deaf Spotlight logo.
Day 6 Evening: Deaf Dance Performances
Please join us in welcoming enthralling individual dancers and dance companies! Deaf Spotlight cannot wait to showcase these talents on the stage!
Harmony Baniaga | Dancer
Harmony Baniaga, a Deaf Filipina born and raised in Seattle, Washington. She is a ASL music performer, dancer, and choreographer. Usually her art pieces expresses herself through music and dance incorporating ASL are seen on Instagram and Tiktok: @hbsigndance.
She wanted to make music accessible for the Deaf Community so they can enjoy it through their eyes.
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Linktree
ID: a purple brick wall with neon white circle over white text: “X, Harmony Baniaga, Dancer.” Harmony is a Deaf Flipino female with long dyed hair in a checkered shirt.
Fred Beam | Dancer
Fred Beam is an experienced performer, dancer, director and choreographer, with rich experiences with local and international theaters. He also performs in his one-man shows, “Fred Michael Beam: Sign Me a Story” and “Black, Deaf Male: Who Am I?,” which toured nationwide. He was a member of “I Didn't Hear That Color,” the first black deaf play ever produced. His television and film credits include “If You Could Hear My Own Tune,” “The West Wing,” “Secret Dream,” “Little Lonely Monster,” “Deaf Mosaic” and “The New Captain Kangaroo,” for which he won the 2000 Media Access Award.
He is executive director of Invisible Hands, Inc., which promotes deaf awareness through performing arts and was a founding member of The Wild Zappers, an all deaf male dance company. He also established Theater Arts Leadership Training for Deaf People of Color at Gallaudet University. Beam established the Black Deaf Expo and has hosted it since 2003, providing the Deaf Black Community the opportunity to stand proud, displaying their culture.
ID: a purple brick wall with Fred Beam, an African American male with long dreadlocks with caramel skin and a goatee in black attire with a circle around white text: “X, Fred Beam, Performer.”
Sunshine 2.0
Sunshine 2.0 is a professional traveling theater troupe based at Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) in Rochester, New York. The troupe travels to public schools, schools for the deaf and hard-of-hearing students, colleges, or civic group venues and offers performances and activities that highlight STEM fields and other educational topics through the arts.
Its current company members are Shiann Cook, Tyler Fortson and Zain Ahmed.
Urban Jazz Dance Company
Founded in 2007 by a pioneering Deaf Dancer/Choreographer, Antoine Hunter, Urban Jazz Dance Company consists of a mix of professional Deaf and hearing dancers. UJDC’s mission is to provide opportunities for Deaf, hard of hearing, and disabled artists to contribute to the arts and larger society, increasing awareness around Deaf issues via the performing arts. Featuring the syncopation of urban jazz rhythms, the company values the importance of play and performance to connect cultures of all races, ages, abilities and backgrounds.
Featured dancers: Marissa Head, Zahna Simon and Piper Thomasson
ID: a purple brick wall with a neon white circle around white text: “X Urban Jazz Dance Company,” with three dancers in action.
Day 6 Morning: Dance Workshop with Sunshine 2.0.
Sunshine 2.0 will teach a dance workshop: Sign Dance Movement!
Age range: middle school and up
Sunshine 2.0 is a professional traveling theater troupe based at Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) in Rochester, New York. The troupe travels to public schools, schools for the deaf and hard-of-hearing students, colleges, or civic group venues and offers performances and activities that highlight STEM fields and other educational topics through the arts. Our performances are accessible to all audience members and cover subjects for people of all ages. Using unique approaches to theater and dance, Sunshine 2.0 develops programs, workshops, and performances featuring materials that provide educational content and demonstrate the special quality of the performing arts in Deaf theater, while introducing audiences to the experiences of Deaf people.
Its current company members are Shiann Cook, Tyler Fortson and Zain Ahmed.
Day 5: Visual Vernacular Performances
Deaf Spotlight is excited to host the lineup full of amazing local and out of state visual verncular (VV) performers! VV is a cinematic storytelling technique using physical expressions of body movement and motion in four-dimensional environment: cuts, angles, zooms, and rhythm. We cannot wait to see them in action!
Lisa McBee | VV Performer
Lisa McBee is a vibrant, high-spirited deaf woman with a “pure and simple” philosophy on life. Her charismatic personality and beautiful attraction inside and outside can be seen through her soulful performances with American Sign Language (ASL.) Lisa can take her audience on a captivating journey through the eyes of a deaf person. She deeply embraces the deaf life and culture. She loves to showcase her talents in poetry, and storytelling.
She has acted in and participated in the making of many Deaf videos and is involved in ASL Casting in the film industry. Lisa has a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts Visual Communications. She constantly expands her knowledge and loves sharing herself in the deaf community.
Facebook | Instagram | Website
[ID: a square post with a purple brick background and white text; a headshot of Lisa McBee on the right side and text on the left side. Text under a decorative X: “Lisa McBee, Performer”. Lisa, a Vietnamese / Scottish / Irish woman in a black top in action front of the camera.]
Evelina Gaina | VV Performer
Oh the stories Evelina could tell you...
Evelina Gaina is a woman of many talents: an actress, an entrepreneur, an event planner, a storyteller, a teacher, director, and a mother. Born in Romania, Evelina first learned International Sign and Romanian Sign Language from her Deaf parents. After moving to America, they all learned American Sign Language together.
Evelina calls the City of Angels - Los Angeles - her home: the place where all stories are born, created and adapted. She got her acting trained by Deaf West Theatre. Not only that, visual vernacular training by Bernard Bragg. She performs her one woman show called No Name Yet! Show in America and Europe. Currently, she resides in DC metro with their lovely family and spread the love of acting to her daughter.
[ID: a square post with a purple brick background and white text; a headshot of Evelina Gaina on the left side and text on the right side. Text under a decorative X: “Evelina Gaina, Performer”. Evelina, a Romanian woman with long brown hair, stands posing with a hand on a hip and a hand holding a piece of chalk. She wears a black shirt and a black and white hat and smiles.]
Justin Perez | VV Performer
Was born and raised in Houston, Texas. He was a student at Texas School for the Deaf. He has always been fascinated by American Sign Language (ASL) performance art and storytelling styles. Throughout his teenage years, he had incredibly deep bonds with several of his close friends who also enjoy sharing a variety of ASL stories, and that was where he defined numerous storytelling techniques along with sign language expressions. The more he shared his stories with the public; the more people have asked him to continue sharing his stories.
Facebook | Instagram | Website
[ID: a square post with a purple brick background and white text; a headshot ofJustin on the left side and text on the right side. Text under a decorative X: “Justin Perez, Performer”. Justin, a multiracial-skinned man in a dark shirt and has curly dark hair. He poses with his elbow propped up to the side.]
Sam Sanders | Performer
Sam lives in Seattle, teaches children aged 0-5, and enjoys telling visual vernacular stories whenever inspiration strikes.
[ID: a square post with purple brick background and white text, a headshot of Sam Sanders on the right side and text on the left side. Text under a decorative X: “Sam Sanders, Performer”. Sam, a white man with swooped hair to the side and a graying beard, and he is smiling slightly.]
Day 4: Deaf Author Readings
Deaf Spotlight will host a night featuring Deaf authors and their works. LIterature have been around since 3400 BC. Please join us welcoming local and out of state authors and absorbing their stories on the stage. You will have a chance to browse and buy books from the visiting authors!
Donald Bangs | Playwright
Dr. Don Bangs is a Deaf actor, producer, director and playwright. He has developed sixteen plays and television programs about Deaf people’s lives and cultures, produced in various locations in the U.S. and Canada. He is the author of “My ASL Book” and “Deaf Gifts to the World of Theater”
ID: a purple brick wall with neon white circle around white text: “X Donald Bangs, Playwright." Don is a white person with white hair and rimless eyeglasses in a blue top.
Willy Conley | Playwright
After the production of Broken Spokes, and winning SDFF’s 2022 Best Experimental Film award, Willy Conley is thrilled to return to Deaf Spotlight. His books include Plays of Our Own, The World of White Water, Visual-Gestural Communication, Listening Through the Bone, The Deaf Heart, and Vignettes of the Deaf Character.
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Website
ID: a purple brick wall with neon white circle around white text: “X Willy Conley, Playwright." Willy is a Caucasian male with a shaved head and a goatee wearing a plaid shirt and a bolo tie.
Peter Quint | Author
Drawing from his career as a teacher, leader and advocate within and for the Deaf community, Peter M. Quint writes novels about Deaf characters facing life challenges which shake their foundations and beliefs. Resilient Silence his debut novel and is the first novel in the Resilient Silence series.
Facebook | Instagram | Website
ID: a purple brick wall with neon white circle around white text: “X Peter Quint, Author." Peter is a white balding male with glasses in a green polo shirt.
Ross Showalter | Writer
Ross Showalter's stories, essays, and criticism have published in The New York Times, Electric Literature, The Rumpus, Catapult, Literary Hub, Black Warrior Review, and elsewhere. He currently teaches creative writing courses in UCLA Extension Writers’ Program.
ID: a purple brick wall with neon white circle around white text: “X, Ross Showalter.” Ross is a white cisgender male with short brown hair and green eyes, wearing a blue button-down shirt and hearing aids.
Rachel Zemach | Author
Rachel Zemach has been Deaf since age ten. She taught a Deaf class for ten years in a mainstream program in California. The experience shook, educated and changed her significantly. Rachel wrote a book, The Butterfly Cage, about the experience, after the death of one of her former students. It is a funny /serious /memoir /expose, slated to come out April 2023.
ID: a purple brick wall with neon white circle around white text: “X Rachel Zemach, Author." Rachel is a white woman with shoulder-length brown-grey hair.
Day 3: Deaf Legends Photography Project
Jason Tang, a Deaf photographer, and Patty Liang, a Deaf interviewer, will host Deaf Legends of the Pacific Northwest, a free portrait and interview session for Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled and Hard of Hearing community members who reside in the Pacific Northwest. This is a community effort project to document amazing people like you!
Jason will take portraits of people while Patty will interview people about their experiences and hopes for the Pacific Northwest Deaf community.
Questions: info@deafspotlight.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deaflegends
Follow Jason on FB: @jasongtang and on IG: @atomic80.
Donations suggested for this event to support the ongoing photography project.
Day 2: ASL Cabaret with Sound Theatre Company
A Cabaret of Broadway Hits, in American Sign Language (ASL), ft. Joshua Castille
Signers and singers both harmonize in this production by Sound Theatre Company. Presenting the musicality of American Sign Language (ASL), Deaf Spotlight’s week-long variety show includes our favorite major Broadway hits. Deaf entertainers will perform songs in sign language, accompanied by English-speaking vocalists. Following Deaf West, Deaf Broadway, Gallaudet University, and other U.S. arts organizations that feature Deaf artists, the cabaret will train local Deaf and hearing musical theatre artists in synchrony, centering artistic sign language translations. Headlining the evenings is Joshua Castille (Deaf West's Spring Awakening).
Please contact access@soundtheatrecompany.org for any accessibility needs.
Day 1: ASL Cabaret with Sound Theatre Company
A Cabaret of Broadway Hits, in American Sign Language (ASL), ft. Joshua Castille
Signers and singers both harmonize in this production by Sound Theatre Company. Presenting the musicality of American Sign Language (ASL), Deaf Spotlight’s week-long variety show includes our favorite major Broadway hits. Deaf entertainers will perform songs in sign language, accompanied by English-speaking vocalists. Following Deaf West, Deaf Broadway, Gallaudet University, and other U.S. arts organizations that feature Deaf artists, the cabaret will train local Deaf and hearing musical theatre artists in synchrony, centering artistic sign language translations. Headlining the evenings is Joshua Castille (Deaf West's Spring Awakening).
Please contact access@soundtheatrecompany.org for any accessibility needs.