The Marriage of Two Cultures

Guest Blog by Elizabeth Short
High School ASL Teacher
Volunteer ASL Instruction Consultant for MCT

Being a hearing member of the Deaf community for 4/5 of my life, I tend to look for things that join my two worlds together. Often times the space between is something hearing people take for granted - like being able to go see a movie is way more work than checking show times online. You need to see when the captioned shows are and unfortunately only one time in a hundred is there a captioned option. This is no easier when wanting to see a play. When a play is interpreted, the interpreters are standing to the side, off from view and out of the way. When you think about it like that, it becomes clear that following along with the story and watching the action on the stage is very difficult to do - but not anymore!

Madrona Children’s Theatre has been a part of the Edmonds community since 1993, but in recent years it’s grown to include the Deaf community. For more now than ever there is a play to cater to their every need and love for theatre! This year I have the opportunity to work with the Theatre - my first exposure actually since I am the worst actor on the face of the planet. I am a high school American Sign Language teacher, and volunteered to teach the hearing cast members their lines in ASL. Why you ask? Well this year’s production of The Boy Friend has both hearing and Deaf cast members interacting with one another in sign language, on stage. This is something the Theatre has done before, but never to this magnitude. Seeing these two worlds collide on and off the stage is simply fantastic.

Personally, I have seen a great divide in the hearing and Deaf worlds over my years, but never once at Madrona. It truly is inspiring to see the kids interact with one another, the TEAM of interpreters on hand for the staff’s and children’s every communication need, and to watch children grow as little actors in the Theatre. One of my biggest smiles comes from watching Ted, our director, treat every child just the same. It’s an amazing feeling for Deaf children to be treated just like everyone else. As a card carrying member of both communities, it’s great for me to see that there are people who will take the time to show these kids a little fun, whether they can hear or not.

The students this year have already put in so much hard work. The fact that they are only 4th – 8th graders simply blows me away. Being able to be a part of this production is something I will never forget. I hope that after all the hard work these kids and staff put in, they will see not only a great play come together on the stage, but a community brought together by a common language and shared with all to SEE.