Texas School for the Deaf rocks ‘Grease’ in a whole new way<\/p>\n
By Ricardo G\u00e1ndara<\/p>\n
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF<\/p>\n
Saturday, March 28, 2009<\/p>\n
During the number “You’re the One That I Want,” Kalie Kubes and Skye
\nAlanis are flirtatiously dancing with eyes just for each other, as
\nwell they should, because they are playing Sandy and Danny in the
\nmusical “Grease.” Artistic director Russell Harvard, however,
\ninterrupts.<\/p>\n
“You are performing for the audience. They came to see you. They want
\nto see your face,” he instructs in American Sign Language. “You’re
\nlooking too much at each other.” Kubes and Alanis are deaf actors in
\nthe Texas School for the Deaf’s presentation of “Grease.”<\/p>\n
Harvard and co-director Don Miller, who are both deaf, do a lot
\nteaching in rehearsals, which started back in January. It all comes to
\nfruition Friday and Saturday when the general public can see their
\nwork. Six interpreters with microphones will read the script to
\ncorrespond with action on stage. (Some of the actors are deaf, and
\nsome are hard of hearing. Also, the cast includes alumni of the
\nschool.)<\/p>\n
During musical numbers, actors will sign and dance to recorded music.
\nTwo of the musical numbers – “Beauty School Drop-Out” and “Greased
\nLightnin’ ” – were taped earlier and will be shown on screen.
\nEverything else is live.<\/p>\n
The presentation is a partnership between the school and DeafACT Inc.
\n(www.deafact.org ), an Austin nonprofit group that puts on productions
\nby deaf and hearing children using American Sign Language.<\/p>\n
“The actors are giving everything they have, but my only concern at
\nthis point is the media and technological aspects that we haven’t had
\na chance to practice,” Harvard says through a sign-language
\ninterpreter during a break in rehearsal last week.<\/p>\n
“Some of the actors wanted to do `High School Musical,’ ” signs
\nFranky Ramont, producer for DeafACT. “But `Grease’ is a
\nfamily-friendly show and people are familiar with it.” The script used
\nfor the production is written to be performed by high school students.
\nIt differs in some ways from the version of “Grease” most people are
\nfamiliar with – the film starring John Travolta and Olivia
\nNewton-John.<\/p>\n
DeafACT paid for the rights to the musical and hired Harvard, an
\nalumnus from the school, and Miller, an associate professor at Austin
\nCommunity College. The school is providing costumes, props and
\nequipment.<\/p>\n
The production presents Harvard and Miller with several challenges.
\n“How can we follow the songs when some of the students are profoundly
\ndeaf?” signs Harvard. “One way is to have some of the other students
\nwho have partial hearing give out cues to the ones who are performing
\ntheir parts. For instance, in `Freddy, My Love,’ I am planning on
\nhaving Rizzo and Frenchy sign the song and incorporate signed cues
\nwhile facing Marty so that Marty, who is profoundly deaf, can follow
\nthroughout the song.”<\/p>\n
And some words in songs are near impossible to translate into sign
\nlanguage, such as “chang chang changity chang shoo bop” in the number
\n“We Go Together.”<\/p>\n
“I plan to have the students do some hand movements such as shaking
\ntheir hands and pointing fingers in disco style. We are still
\ndiscovering how to do this,” signs Harvard.<\/p>\n
Harvard, a Texas-born and Austin-raised professional actor, is having
\nthe time of his life working with high school students. His credits
\ninclude “There Will Be Blood,” in which he played the son of Daniel
\nDay-Lewis’ character as an adult.<\/p>\n
“Some of the actors are very determined and serious, and some not so
\nmuch, but we’re having a lot of fun,” he signs.<\/p>\n
The students are, too. “It’s fun and hard work,” signs Kirsten
\nCoahran,, 17, who plays Rizzo and is a junior at the school. “Russell
\nis great because he tries to make us feel relaxed.” For many of the
\nactors, it’s their first time on stage.<\/p>\n
Coahran, for example, has blossomed. “She was very quiet and in a
\nshell,” signs Miller of the girl. “But when we did a fundraiser at the
\nAlamo Drafthouse and had a sing-along, Kirsten rocked out. We had to
\nask, `Who is that girl?’ ”<\/p>\n
Coahran’s mother, Terri Coahran, has seen her daughter, who has a
\nhearing twin sister, go from being extremely shy to being very social.
\n“She is looking at the world more brightly. Just the other day she
\ncame home to say that she had asked a boy in the production to go to
\nprom with her,” she says.<\/p>\n
Juan Mu\u00f1oz, who plays Kenickie – Rizzo’s love interest – is enjoying
\nsome of the similarities with his character. “We both like to get
\nattention, mess up our hair, laugh a lot, and yeah, there is some of
\nthat in me, being a ladies’ man at school,” he signs.<\/p>\n
Harvard and Miller are demanding on stage, especially with the
\ndetails involved in putting on a production that both a deaf and
\nhearing audience can enjoy. “Don’t stutter with your lines. You need
\nto work on clarity,” Harvard signs.<\/p>\n
“Sandy,” Harvard signs to Kalie Kubes, “You need to slow your
\ndialogue down. You’re signing too fast. And Marty, you need to sign
\nbigger. Open up your signs so that the audience can see you.”<\/p>\n
As show time nears, the director is nervous but optimistic. After a
\nrecent rehearsal that concluded with a critique of each actor’s work,
\nhe and Miller huddled the cast like a football team after a victory.<\/p>\n
“I’m very inspired by all of you,” he signed. “I can’t wait to do all
\nof this live.”<\/p>\n
rgandara@statesman.com; 445-3632<\/p>\n
‘Grease’<\/p>\n
Where: Texas School for the Deaf, 1102 S. Congress Ave.<\/p>\n
When: 7 p.m. Friday, April 3 and Saturday, April 4<\/p>\n
Cost: $5 students, $8 adults<\/p>\n
The cast of ‘Grease’<\/p>\n
Kalie Kubes, 17, of Georgetown – Sandy, the wholesome girl new to
\nRydell High<\/p>\n
Skye Alanis, 21, of Austin – Danny, the cute and cocky leader of the
\nT-Birds greaser gang<\/p>\n
Kirsten Coahran, 17, of Georgetown – Rizzo , the wild leader of the
\nPink Ladies (greaser girls’ gang)<\/p>\n
Juan Mu\u00f1oz, 18, of Houston – Kenickie, toughest of the T-Birds and
\nsecond in command to Danny<\/p>\n
Claira Oberrender, 16, of Austin – Frenchy, the high school dropout
\nwho opts for beauty school<\/p>\n
Valeria Fuentes, 15, of Arlington – Marty, the prettiest of the Pink
\nLadies who likes older guys<\/p>\n
Brennan Ruffin, 16, of Houston – Vince Fontaine, the DJ with a huge
\nego<\/p>\n
Cruz Lane, 19, of Austin – Frankie Avalon and Doody, the youngest of
\nthe T-Birds<\/p>\n
Morgan Campbell , 17, of Keller – the quirky member of the Pink
\nLadies<\/p>\n
Todd Wakefield, 30, of Austin – Roger, the prankster, is one of the
\nT-Birds<\/p>\n
Laura Garza , 17, of Grand Prairie – Cha-Cha , the best dancer at St.
\nBernadette’s<\/p>\n
Jose Manrique, 16, of Houston – Eugene, the nerd<\/p>\n
Darby Layton, 14, of Austin – Patty, the perky cheerleader<\/p>\n
Emmanuel Trevi\u00f1o, 18, of Dallas – Sonny, one of the T-Birds<\/p>\n
Crew: Merrick Lovell, Brittnee Farek, Rhiannon Farek, Amanda Weiser<\/p>\n
Stage manager and costume designer: Kristin Granitz<\/p>\n
Stage manager: Wendy Green<\/p>\n
Co-directors: Russell Harvard (artistic director) and Don Miller<\/p>\n
Source:<\/p>\n