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December 19, 2003

National THeatre of the Deaf January 8th Performance in West hart ford, CT

From: NTD - Dec 19, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2003

FOR MORE INFORMATION
CALL
PAMELA C. HOLDEN
DIRECTOR OF MEDIA
860-724-5179, ext. 3023
pcastle@ntd.org

NATIONAL THEATRE OF THE DEAF ANNOUNCES THEIR 2004 HARTFORD DEBUT OF "THE GIVING TREE" Hartford, CT- The Hartford based, National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD), in cooperation with Hartford Children's Theatre and Saint Joseph College, announce their 2004 season premiere of The Little Theatre of the Deaf's The Giving Tree and Other Stories to be held at the Carol Autorino Center at Saint Joseph College in West Hartford, CT on Thursday, January 8th at 7:30 PM.
Thirty-nine years ago, a lonely boy fell in love with a tree. Over the years, the entire world has fallen in love with Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree." The Little Theatre of the Deaf (LTD) will bring this very special love to life in sign language and spoken word. The LTD brings a unique and creative presentation of this classic story of unconditional love to America's classrooms and theatres. This is an unforgettable hour, which will stay with you for a long time to come. There will also be a question and answer period immediately following the show.

Founded in Connecticut in 1967, the National Theatre of the Deaf is the oldest continually producing and touring theatre company in the United States. It was the first theatre company to perform in all 50 states, has toured to all seven continents and in 32 countries. NTD's professional acting company is made up of both Deaf and Hearing Artists working together as an ensemble. The audience sees and hears every word through the NTD's signature performance style, which combines American Sign Language (ASL) and the spoken word. The unique double-sensory experience has expanded the boundaries of theatrical expression and is considered to be the only new art form to be developed in the 20th century.

"As part of our goal to establish a local presence, we at NTD are excited about the joint programming with HCT and Saint Joseph College," said Dr. Paul L. Winters, Executive Director.
Hartford Children's Theatre (HCT), CT's premiere theatre and drama school for children and families, was founded and incorporated in February 1989 with the intent of providing a variety of opportunities for area residents with a diversified selection of quality live theatre that entertains and educates. During its first year of operation, the company developed the HCT Drama School, a series of progressive drama classes, a Main Stage program, professional level productions performed by the area's most talented youth and HCT Summer Youtheatre, a program designed to serve those interested in an introduction to the theatrical arts as well as those pursuing a concentrated summer theatre training program. One of the goals of HCT is to bring people together of all ages and social, economic and cultural environments in a safe, supportive and encouraging environment.
Michael L. Campbell, director of Hartford's Children's Theatre said, "HCT is looking forward to their partnership with NTD and wishes them a successful 2004 season with their Little Theatre of the Deaf." Saint Joseph College was founded in 1932 by the Sisters of Mercy to provide higher education opportunities for women. Over the years, the College has remained true to this vision, offering students solid professional training grounded in a tradition rich in the liberal arts.

Built in 2000, The Carol Autorino Center is home to Saint Joseph College's arts and humanities divisions. Since its opening, The Center has hosted an array of musical and theatrical performances, art exhibitions, poetry readings, lectures, classes and seminars.
The Bruyette Athenaeum features the 365-seat Hoffman Auditorium, the Saint Joseph College Art Gallery with five exhibition areas, a print study room, an audio-visual lecture hall, a grand reception room, the College archives, numerous music practice rooms, classrooms and the Bistro. Lynch Hall features seminar rooms, classrooms, faculty offices, a lounge-study area, and an indoor atrium garden. Through its extensive programming options, The Center serves both the academic needs of the College and the cultural needs of the greater community. In keeping with the College's rich tradition in the liberal arts, students attend and participate in a wide variety of artistic and cultural events.

Robert Smith, Director of the Carol Autorino Center said "The new Carol Autorino Center at Saint Joseph College is honored to be offering the distinctive performances and rich tradition of the National Theatre of the Deaf to Greater Hartford audiences."

For ticket information, please contact The Carol Autorino Center at (860) 231-5555 or by mail; send check or credit card information to: Driscoll Box Office, The Carol Autorino Center, Saint Joseph College, 1678 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117-2791

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