News & Events
American Sign Language and Interpreting students host National Theatre of the Deaf
Year-long planning process culminates with Nov. 13 and 14 on-campus performances and student workshop
The American Sign Language and Interpreting Club in collaboration with the School of Theatre are hosting on-campus performances by the world renowned and Tony Award-winning National Theatre of the Deaf on November 13 and 14.
The shows will be held in the Jose Qunitero Theatre in the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts Building at Entrance 16 on Cullen Boulevard. The show on Friday, Nov. 13 will be at 7:30 pm. The show on Saturday, Nov. 14 will be at 3 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here.
A free, interactive workshop for all enrolled UH students will happen from noon to 1:30 p.m. before the Saturday matinee. Workshop registration details may be found here.
The National Theatre of the Deaf began in 1967 at a time when communicating through sign language was stigmatized in the United States. The NTD challenged overt hostilities directed at Deaf people by placing sign language on the national stage – both figuratively and literally – to allow the acting talents of Deaf performers to shine using American Sign Language as their medium.
Celebrating over forty-five years of touring the nation and the world, the National Theatre of the Deaf is the longest existing touring theatre company in the United States.
NTD has performed in all fifty states and on all seven continents. Its company members have performed on the Disney Channel and the Public Broadcasting System’s iconic “Sesame Street” program. They’ve performed on Broadway, at the White House and for royalty around the world.
NTD was the first company to tour South Africa when sanctions were lifted and the first company from the West to tour The People’s Republic of China. The company represented the United States of America the Los Angeles Olympic Arts Festival and performed in Taiwan through the American Cultural Center to represent the United States during the Deaflympics.
To bring the company to the University of Houston, two CLASS units and a student organization worked closely for more than a year to bring the theatre company to the University of Houston.
Sharon Hill, assistant professor and director of the American Sign Language Interpreting Program in the Department of Communication Science and Disorders coordinated with Michelle Robinson, marketing director for the School of Theatre & Dance to manage to negotiations between the NTD and UH.
Additionally, the American Sign Language and Interpreting Club officers Kristina Rodriguez, Dominique Blaske, Barae Frizzel, Melanie Witherwax and Mursaleen Anim coordinated with NTD and the Activities Funding Board to create the interactive and informative student workshop. Professor Scot Pott served is the faculty advisor for this workshop and presentation.
