CCBC ASL and Interpreting Prep Program along with Performing Arts at CCBC have joined forces. There is strength in numbers! On Thursday, September 20 at CCBC Catonsville, Maryland Governor’s Office of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing leads a Deaf Community Town Hall meeting at 6 p.m. This is followed by the performance of Mosaic, presented by Quest Visual Theatre. Both events are FREE and open to everyone. Details for each event can be found at http://www.ccbcmd.edu/Programs-and-Courses/Schools-and-Academic-Departments/School-of-Liberal-Arts/Communication-Arts/Interpreter-Preparation.aspx
Rebecca Minor, Coordinator of Interpreter Prep and Cohen Ambrose, Theatre Coordinator share in coordinating these events. Rebecca, who also happily answers to Becca, is responsible for the American Sign Language and Interpreter Prep programs at CCBC. She oversees the curriculum, articulation, quality and standards for the programs while teaching. Cohen is based at Catonsville. He teaches and is involved with curriculum decisions and advises theatre majors. He assists with event programming, brings in guests for talks to master classes, and is also involved with professional and academic theatre productions including season selections and the publicity committee. Cohen directs an academic production each year, this year it’s The Verge.
Two years ago, Performing Arts and Interpreter Prep performed Romeo & Juliet with a mixed cast of hearing and deaf actors. It was a big hit and showed a need to do a blended performance again. Conversations and plans for a deaf centered performance are taking place with a goal of a show every 2 years. In the mean time, Quest Visual Theatre was brought in as guest performers. Their presentation of Mosaic is an entirely visual performance using facial expressions and body gestures, no speaking.
Becca and Cohen know that everyone will enjoy participating in the Town Hall meeting which will be open forum style to allow community members to bring their concerns to the office for discussion. They’ll also enjoy seeing Mosaic, noting you don’t have to know sign language, it’s not part of the performance. The story is told through movement and dance. Attendees will realize CCBC supports the deaf and local community both academically and theatrically.
On Monday, September 24 at 12:30 p.m. a workshop lead by Tim McCarthy and another company Quest member is planned. Discussions will include how visual theatre creates stories without using spoken language, using body language not sign language. It’s open to everyone but please r.s.v.p. to Cohen at cambrose2@ccbcmd.edu. Space is limited.
CCBC’s Interpreter Prep is supporting the Children’s Playhouse of Maryland, in residence at CCBC Essex, by providing a student interpreter for Anything Goes on September 29 at 1 p.m. Other productions with professional interpreters are The Verge on October 21 at 3:00 p.m., August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone on November 4 at 3:00 p.m. and Working on December 2 at 3:00 p.m.