New Ain Gordon Comedy Uses Hearing and Deaf Performers

From: Playbill.com, NY - Jul 29, 2003

By Robert Simonson

Is it a new trend?

The Roundabout Theatre Company recently opened the Deaf West Theatre production of the musical Big River , which employs both hearing and non-hearing performers. Later this fall, Dance Theatre Workshop will present Epic Family Epic , a new play by Ain Gordon, also enacted by hearing, hearing impaired and deaf performers. The show opens Nov. 19 at DTW 219 W. 19th Street space, and continues through Nov. 29.

Epic Family Epic is described as "a furious comedy of mass (mis)communication," which asks the question "Do genetics equal destiny?" The characters are members of the Hell family, in which each person's body is inhabited by five relatives.

Gordon won an Obie Award in 1996 for his play Wally's Ghost . Last season, he presented Art, Life & Show-Biz , a documentary-like mediation on entertainers and entertaining, at P.S. 122.

DTW can be contacted at (212) 691-6500.

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