Theater Talk: "Spring Awakening"

We focus on Spring Awakening, Deaf West Theatre's stunning musical revival now on Broadway. This radical reinterpretation of the TONY-winning musical adaptation of Frank Wedekind's 1890 play features both deaf and hearing actors in this story about sexual repression and adolescent angst in pre-World War I Germany.
Our guests include Michael Arden, who conceived and directed this new production of Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's 2006 rock musical, which makes the story not only about young people struggling with societal restraints and their burgeoning sexuality, but the additional problem of deaf adolescents in a hearing community unwilling to communicate with them. Actors Alex Boniello, Daniel Durant, Marlee Matlin and Camryn Manheim also appear on our show, along with Jack Jason, who serves as the ASL interpreter for both Matlin and Durant.
Taped: 10-09-15
Theater Talk is a series devoted to the world of the stage. It began on New York television in 1993 and is co-hosted by Michael Riedel (Broadway columnist for the New York Post) and series producer Susan Haskins.
The program is one of the few independent productions on PBS and now airs weekly on Thirteen/WNET in New York and WGBH in Boston. Now, CUNY TV offers New York City viewers additional opportunities to catch each week's show. (Of course, Theater Talk is no stranger to CUNY TV, since the show is taped here each week before its first airing on Thirteen/WNET.)
The series is produced by Theater Talk Productions, a not-for-profit corporation and is funded by contributions from private foundations and individuals, as well as The New York State Council on the Arts.
Watch more Theater Talk at www.tv.cuny.edu/show/theatertalk

[@rogerstoryteller]

Fascinating - really enjoyed these theatre practitioners sharing their craft, especially in the duality of Mannheim & Matlin working synchronously.

[@alexisbiles1295]

Hey

[@CiaranReads]

I have a ridiculous crush on Daniel Durant... I can't wait to see him in more productions!

[@alexisbiles1295]

Hey

[@rustyrelicsfarm2406]

I am seriously thinking about learning ASL.

[@alexisbiles1295]

Hey

[@sydneyashlyn]

I’m glad they talked about Deaf history, I’m in ASL 2 in my high school and my teacher always ensures we understand what determines the way Deaf people operate and how they were oppressed.

[@alexisbiles1295]

Hey

[@kimseymour5250]

Marlee marlin is so incredible!

[@alexisbiles1295]

Hey

[@giannarivera2686]

I love it!

[@beepbeepeddie8010]

Michael got so robbed of that tony

[@fugitivo5]

Deaf people watching this video should be able to see the interpreter!! Please!!!!

[@baileym8702]

+fugitivo5 I know :P

[@nathanliteroy9835]

This video has subtitles

[@ryebread9299]

Nathan Literoy and are well done :)

[@alexisbiles1295]

Hey

[@caitlyn62442]

At 10:02-06 ish, Michael Arden says "Because you're sort of doing two things at once and it can start to become a little confusing." and Jack Jason (the interpreter) does a sign where he rubs his stomach and has a flat hand on his head. What word/phrase is this a sign for? It's like the whole 'I bet you can't pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time' bit, and I'm wondering if that's actually a sign for doing two things at once. I'm intrigued!

[@tsz650]

It's not literally a sign, but it is a meaning in american culture that is also valid in ASL. The meaning is the same, but it's not actually a sign, just got the message across.

[@alexisbiles1295]

Hey

[@theanimeidiot8903]

kudos to Mr. Jack Jason who was interpreting *everything*!
a whole half an hour must be exhausting to translate!

[@theanimeidiot8903]

@Quaker 2019 Translation, even for a professional, takes a lot of work, and often fatigues the translator after long periods of constant... translation. /lh
Words are not my forte, apologies.

[@theanimeidiot8903]

@Quaker 2019 I was simply observing the lengthened amount of time Mr. Jason was translating for, especially for many people.

[@alexisbiles1295]

Hey

[@ire1398]

September 11, 1880 - never forget.

[@sarahvenable4710]

The original 9/11 in deaf history.

[@sneif24]

Michael Arden played the gay guy on the tv show Anger Management with Charlie Sheen

[@alexisbiles1295]

Hey

[@yeseniarodriguez4158]

I don't know about anybody else but I feel very weird seeing Jack Jason Marlee's interpreter interpreting for somebody else and not just for Marlee

[@alexisbiles1295]

Hey

[@TyrekeCorrea]

Oh, God, how hard is that?

[@alexisbiles1295]

Hey

[@TyrekeCorrea]

5:35 Chill out, Jack.
#JackGetBack

[@TyrekeCorrea]

Don't you think adding sign language to a production that already has what is required of a triple threat in singing, acting, and dancing makes material less accessible to general audiences? I mean to draw attention to a sense that the audience may not be able to follow or match up to what those on the stage do performance wise and find joy in penetrating the world in which the characters and even the performers live in doing so.

[@TyrekeCorrea]

When a work makes a case for itself, you don't have to work so hard to sell it.

[@fugitivo5]

Not everybody reads :(

[@carolineorchange21]

+fugitivo5
I just watched this video with the captions on and they were accurate, unlike some YT things.

[@austynreagan8072]

+carolineorchange21 awesome

[@alexisbiles1295]

Sup

[@arielg7000]

😎🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@TyrekeCorrea]

I find this production distressing.

[@alexisbiles1295]

Hey

[@alazjaw.8968]

so don’t fucking watch. you’re fucking weird and ignorant.