{"id":44258,"date":"2023-07-27T13:53:27","date_gmt":"2023-07-27T18:53:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/?p=44258"},"modified":"2023-07-27T13:53:27","modified_gmt":"2023-07-27T18:53:27","slug":"for-immediate-release-casting-complete-for-deaf-austin-theatres-the-laramie-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2023\/07\/27\/for-immediate-release-casting-complete-for-deaf-austin-theatres-the-laramie-project\/","title":{"rendered":"For Immediate Release: Casting Complete for Deaf Austin Theatre’s The Laramie Project"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

DAT Cast Announcement – click image to view full size.<\/p><\/div>\n

Press Contact:
\nDr. Brian A. Cheslik, Artistic Director of Deaf Austin Theatre
\nartisticdirector@deafaustintheatre.org<\/p>\n

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. (PRESS IMAGE ATTACHED)<\/strong><\/p>\n

CASTING COMPLETE FOR DEAF AUSTIN THEATRE\u2019S THE LARAMIE PROJECT<\/strong><\/p>\n

Austin, TX \u2013 Deaf Austin Theatre (DAT) premieres the first American Sign Language (ASL) and spoken English production of The Laramie Project<\/strong> with a Deaf and Hearing Cast opens on September 7th-16th, 2023. A livestream event via Stellar debuts on October 12th, 2023 to a global audience in honor of the 25th anniversary of Matthew Shepard\u2019s legacy. DAT\u2019s production will be the first professionally staged American Sign Language (ASL) production of The Laramie Project.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Laramie Project<\/strong> <\/em>is a thought-provoking documentary play that explores the aftermath of the tragic 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a young gay college student in Laramie, Wyoming. The play delves into the impact of the incident on the local community and raises important questions about prejudice, hate crimes and tolerance. DAT aims to promote inclusivity, accessibility, and awareness of these same experiences faced by the Deaf and LGBTQIA communities.<\/p>\n

Director Jules Dameron,<\/strong> along with DAT\u2019s Artistic Director Dr. Brian Cheslik<\/strong> and DAT Production Manager Sandra Mae Frank, from Broadway\u2019s Spring Awakening Revival and NBC\u2019s New Amsterdam, helm this production and have brought together a powerhouse of Deaf actors and hearing ASL fluent actors.<\/p>\n

Cast features Joey Antonio<\/strong> (Dance Camp, ABC\u2019s Zoey’s Extraordinary Play List), Joey Caverly*<\/strong> (Hulu\u2019s Only Murders in the Building, Olney Theatre Center\u2019s The Music Man), Brian Cheslik**<\/strong> (Co-Director DAT & ZACH Theatre’s Cinderella, DAT & GFT’s The Last Five Years & Next to Normal), Jules Dameron<\/strong> (see below), Taylor Flanagan<\/strong> (Ensemble\/Gabrielle\u2019s voice in DAT & ZACH Theatre’s Cinderella, Judith et al in Judith with Hyde Park Theatre), Leila Hanaumi<\/strong> (Assistant DASL\/Ensemble in DAT & ZACH Theatre’s Cinderella), Ashlea Hayes<\/strong> (ABC\u2019s Switched At Birth, NBC\u2019s Law and Order: SVU), Dickie Hearts*<\/strong> (Netflix\u2019s Tales of the City & Grace & Frankie, Public Theatre’s Dark Disabled Stories); Amelia Hensley*<\/strong> (ABC\u2019s Station 19, Broadway\u2019s Deaf West Spring Awakening Revival); Justin Jackerson<\/strong> (Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet at Ophelia Jump Productions; The Perfect Match), Krissy Lemon<\/strong> (Gabrielle in DAT & ZACH Theatre’s Cinderella, Cathy in DAT & GFT’s The Last Five Years), Saul Lopez<\/strong> (ASL Jamie in DAT & GFT’s The Last Five Years), Heba Toulan* (DAT & ZACH Theatre’s Cinderella, SENSES, The Window Washer)<\/p>\n

The creative team includes Director Jules Dameron<\/strong> (Director M\u00f8kkakaffe Norway TV series; Director of Crazy Town, Sesame Street ASL Series), Director of Artistic Sign Languag (DASL) Kailyn Aaron-Lozano<\/strong> (DASL DAT & ZACH Theatre’s Cinderella, Deaf Broadway’s Company at Lincoln Center, Hulu\u2019s Reverse Polarity); Stage Manager Miriam Rochford<\/strong>*; Assistant Stage Manager Kelsey Moringy;<\/strong> Lighting Designer Jacqueline Sindelar<\/strong>; Sound Designer Rodd Simonson<\/strong>; Costume & Set Designers Dr. Brian Cheslik**<\/strong> & Jules Dameron<\/strong>; Graphic Designer Michael Epstein<\/strong>.<\/p>\n