James “Joey” Caverly, born on June 16, 1989, is a captivating American actor and playwright whose journey in the world of theatre is as inspiring as it is diverse. Born deaf in Royal Oak, Michigan, Joey navigated both the hearing and deaf worlds growing up, influenced deeply by his family—his parents and younger brothers are hearing, while his older sister is deaf.
Joey’s passion for theatre blossomed early, culminating in his graduation from Lahser High School in 2007 and later earning a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from Gallaudet University in 2011. His career has been marked by significant contributions, including his tenure at the National Theatre of the Deaf, where he not only acted but also directed productions that resonated across audiences.
His talents graced stages nationwide, from the Huntington Theatre Company to the prestigious Studio 54 on Broadway, where he starred in the acclaimed production of Children Of A Lesser God in 2018. His portrayal of Theo in the Only Murders in the Building episode “The Boy from 6B” earned him the Seal of Authentic Representation from the Ruderman Family Foundation, celebrating his impactful representation of characters with disabilities.
In 2010 Joey was awarded the World Deaf Cinema Festival Award for Best Student Mini-15 Short and Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Production by a Midsize Theatre. He has also won the Theatre Bay Area Award of Outstanding Performance by the Ensemble of a Play (2015) and the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical (2023).
Aside from acting, Joey is also a visionary director with deep roots at CCBC. His journey with the college began in 2017, when he directed their very first blended Deaf-hearing theatre production, Romeo and Juliet. In 2023, after attending CCBC’s second blended production, Goya—which starred his former roommate, Hector Reynoso—Joey was inspired to reconnect. He approached the CCBC Theatre Department with an idea for a new play, and the college enthusiastically agreed to commission him to write Milan 1880 which premieres May 1, 2025.
The Arts at CCBC presents Milan 1880 as part of its 2024-25 season under the theme Belonging. The season is filled with performances that celebrate stories of people finding a home, building their own community, and carving a place for themselves.
See Milan 1880 May 1 – May 5 at CCBC Catonsville, Center for the Arts, Theatre.
Performance Dates: May 1 at 11:10 a.m., May 2, 3 at 7 p.m., May 4 at 3 p.m., May 5 at 10 a.m.
General admission $10, Seniors, Students, CCBC Faculty/Staff/Alumni $5, FREE for CCBC Students with current ID
Purchase tickets online at www.ccbctickets or call the Box Office at 443-840-ARTS.
CONTENT WARNING: This play contains depictions of ableism, audism, religious discrimination, and mild violence.