Deaf West Theatre Launches 2024 – 2025 Season

Press release

DEAF WEST THEATRE

Launches

2024 – 2025 Season

with

GREEN DAY’s AMERICAN IDIOT

in collaboration with Center Theatre Group, LA

Upcoming Projects Include

CODA (Musical)

Wonderstruck (Play)

Elephant Shoes (Musical)

Sense and Sensibility (Play)

Two New Commissioned Musicals

The Tony Award-winning Deaf West Theatre (David J. Kurs, Artistic Director and Jeff Perri, Managing Director) has announced an ambitious program of new productions, workshops and developmental readings in Los Angeles and across the US for the 2024 – 2025 theatre season.

This announcement follows Deaf West’s groundbreaking production of Beethoven’s only opera Fidelio with the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Maestro Gustavo Dudamel, with encore productions in LA, Barcelona, Paris and London.

This Fall, Deaf West collaborates with Center Theatre Group (CTG) on a new groundbreaking production of the Green Day musical, American Idiot directed by CTG’s Artistic Director Snehal Desai. The production opens on October 9, 2024 at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles and will seamlessly integrate choreography and American Sign Language with choreography by Jennifer Weber and American Sign Language (ASL) choreography by Colin Analco and Amelia Hensley.

Some other projects that continue in various stages of development with a range of partners on both coasts include:

CODA a stage musical adaptation of the Academy Award-winning Best Picture CODA;

Wonderstruck, a stage dramatization of the novel by Brian Selznick;

Elephant Shoes, a contemporary new musical version of Cyrano de Bergerac set in the world of big tech starring Daniel N. Durant (CODA), directed by Jeff Calhoun;

Sense and Sensibility, adapted from the Jane Austen Novel by Kate Hamill and directed by Sarna Lapine.

In addition, Deaf West is working with emerging and established artists on multiple commissions for new works.

Artistic director DJ Kurs said, "As Deaf West continues to expand its repertoire of world-class theatrical productions, it's incredibly exciting to witness the passionate progress of so many projects. Our mission is to build a bridge between the Deaf and hearing worlds, fostering accessibility for deaf audiences and creating opportunities for deaf artists. In this pivotal moment for inclusion and new voices in the industry, we are proud to be at the forefront, leading the charge for greater representation. Our upcoming co-productions with Center Theatre Group and Roundabout Theatre Company underscore the vital need for our artistic voice in the theatre world. We are thrilled to see the theatrical community embrace our work and eagerly anticipate many more collaborations of this kind."

Managing Director Jeff Perri adds, "Deaf West Theatre envisions a bright future as we expand into a permanent, bi-coastal institution setting new standards for both non-profit and commercial productions. As the theatrical landscape continues to evolve, it is crucial for DWT to explore innovative models that ensure artistic impactful and financial stability. This growth is essential for us to fulfill our mission, allowing us to realize our artistic endeavors while reaching a wider, more equitable audience.

“It is more important than ever for Deaf West Theatre to adapt and reinvent our approach to producing. By embracing new possibilities and leveraging our unique strengths, we aim to create a resilient and dynamic future for our company, ensuring that our contributions to the arts remain vibrant and influential for years to come."

Committed to innovation, collaboration, training and social change, Deaf West Theatre serves as the artistic bridge between the Deaf and hearing worlds.

Founded in Los Angeles in 1991, Deaf West engages artists and audiences in unparalleled theater and media experiences inspired by Deaf culture and the expressive power of sign language and spoken English.

Deaf West Theatre presents a dynamic blend of adaptations and original works in both voice and American Sign Language. Our productions feature Deaf and hearing actors, directors, designers, and technicians, ensuring a rich and inclusive artistic environment. The visual elements of our shows, from sets and lighting to costume designs, uphold the highest standards of excellence, reflecting the unique visual aesthetic of our theater.

Recent and past productions include the groundbreaking production of Beethoven’s only opera Fidelio with the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Maestro Gustavo Dudamel; a new play adaptation of Oedipus at the Getty Villa Museum directed and adapted by Jenny Koons; The Solid of Life of Sugar Water by Jack Thorne; Our Town, in a co-production with the Pasadena Playhouse; Edward Albee’s At Home at the Zoo, in a co-production with the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts; Spring Awakening the Musical, which transferred from Inner-City Arts to the Wallis and then to Broadway (three Tony Award® nominations including Best Revival of a Musical); American Buffalo (Los Angeles Times “Critic’s Choice”); Cyrano, a co-production with the Fountain Theatre (Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Production); Big River the Musical (Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle and Backstage Garland awards for Best Musical in its L.A. premiere, a Tony Award® nomination, and four Drama Desk Awards on Broadway); Pippin, produced at the Mark Taper Forum in a co-production with Center Theatre Group; Sleeping Beauty Wakes, also a co-production with Center Theatre Group, presented at the Kirk Douglas Theatre; Oliver! (Ovation Award for Best Musical) and A Streetcar Named Desire (Ovation Award for Best Play). In 2005, DWT was selected to receive the Highest Recognition Award by the Secretary of Health and Human Services for its “distinguished contributions to improve and enrich the culture lives of Deaf and hard of hearing actors and theater patrons.” To learn more visit deafwest.org.

David J. Kurs (Artistic Director) became the Artistic Director of Deaf West Theatre in 2012. He has produced award-winning plays and musicals, including Spring Awakening, which he shepherded from its beginnings as an intimate 99-seat theater production in Los Angeles before it went on to Broadway, earning multiple Tony Award® nominations and the world tour of Fidelio, in conjunction with Gustavo Dudamel. Kurs sees his role at Deaf West as integral to his continued advocacy and activism within the Deaf community.

Jeff Perri (Managing Director) currently serves as the Managing Director at Deaf West since 2022. With a knack for high-level management and marketing, Jeff brings experience from the entertainment industry, specializing in Public Relations, Brand Development, Strategy, and Producing. Prior to joining Deaf West, Jeff refined his expertise within the advertising sector, specializing in entertainment and non-profit initiatives. His portfolio includes contributions to a diverse range of clients ranging from well-known corporations to Tony Award®-winning plays and musicals. As a Child of Deaf Adult/s (CODA), Jeff brings a unique perspective to foster connections between Deaf and hearing communities in entertainment. Rooted in a commitment to meaningful change in the arts, Jeff earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theatre from PACE University.