Page 24, The Loafer • September 14, 2010
Jonesborough Repertory Theatre to Host Annual Stage Hands Production for Hearing Impaired
The Jonesborough Repertory Theatre will present the Stage Hands production of Mye and the Sandpeople September 16-19 and 23-26, Thursday-Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Mye, a young storyteller in search of a story, finds one in the deaf Empress Imperia. Imperia’s happiness has been stolen from her by the mysterious Bork. It will take the help of Mye, Mungo the Music Maker, the Sandpeople, and the Audience to get it back. Stage Hands is the only Community Theatre Sign Language Troupe in East TN. In each of its productions, Stage Hands communicates through both spoken English and American Sign Language. This allows Stage
Hands to introduce hearing audiences to the beauty of American Sign Language and deaf culture. “One of my goals is to give the deaf in our community another option for entertainment while introducing them to the wonder of live theatre. Because of the communication barrier, their entertainment choices are extremely limited,” said Stage Hands founder Janette Gaines. “Because our local movie theaters are not captioned, deaf cannot go see the latest box office hit like most of us. Stage Hands performances give deaf one more option on a limited menu. What better opportunity to provide than our live theatre.” Stage Hands celebrated its premier performance in 2008 with Aesop’s Fables. The group has held performances for The Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Learning and Development at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, and for Mountain Empire Baptist School and Deaf School in Bristol. In October of 2008, Stage Hands took on its first slated main-stage production at the Jonesborough Repertory Theatre, The Firebird. And in 2009, Stage Hands presented The Signal Season of Dummy Hoy, based on a non-fictional character who was a deaf professional baseball player at the turn of the 20th century who was ultimately responsible for the hand signals used in baseball today. This year’s production of Mye and the Sandpeople focuses on the value of storytelling. “I really think this story is perfect to show the value of storytelling to communication. Both our hearing and hearing impaired patrons will get the same story at the same time through our shadow interpreting-style theatre,” Gaines said. “My goal with all Stage Hands productions is not only to have a language interpreted, but to have interpreters as actors in every scene and part of the show.” Reservations are recommended and tickets cost $12 general admission and $10 for students and seniors. For information or to make a reservation, contact the Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center at (423) 753-1010 or the Jonesborough Repertory Theatre at (423) 791-4440, or you may visit www.jonesboroughtheatre.com. The Jonesborough Repertory Theatre is located at 125½ West Main Street, Jonesborough, across from Jonesborough Presbyterian Church, next door to the Historic Eureka Inn.