National Theatre Of The Deaf Performers Appear On Sesame Street

From: NTD - Mar 22, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Pamela Holden, Director of Media
National Theatre of the Deaf
139 North Main Street
West Hartford, CT 06107
(860) 236-4193 v/tty

March 22, 2005

NATIONAL THEATRE OF THE DEAF PERFORMERS APPEAR ON SESAME STREET

First Segment Airs on Wednesday, April 13th

Hartford, CT, March 22, 2005- The National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD) is excited to announce the Little Theatre of the Deaf, its children's wing, appears on the ever-popular children's show, Sesame Street beginning on April 13th and ending in September 2005. The non-profit educational Sesame Street Workshop has produced the segments airing this season. This is not the first time the National Theatre of the Deaf has appeared on Sesame Street. Former company member, Linda Bove, first appeared on the show in 1975.

Actors Colleen Foy, Ian Sanborn, Greg Anderson and Little Theatre of the Deaf (LTD) director Shanny Mow will be among the cast appearing in four separate segments introducing the "Sign Language Moment of the Day." The scenes feature the LTD cast with some well-known muppet friends like Elmo and Big Bird. Founded in Connecticut in 1967, the National Theatre of the Deaf is the oldest continually producing and touring professional Deaf 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 consists 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 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.

Sesame Workshop was founded in 1968 as the Children's Television Workshop. Identifying a specific need to help children from low-income families prepare for school, the Workshop's founders shared a common goal: to use television as a tool to help children learn. This group of visionary educators, researchers, psychologists, child development experts, artists, writers and musicians pioneered the concept of entertaining, enriching television that could measurably enhance the lives of millions of educationally disadvantaged youngsters. From this collaboration came Sesame Street - now one of the world's largest informal educators of children around the world.

Dr. Paul L. Winters, Executive Director of the NTD, is thrilled that the organization will be appearing on such a well renown children's show. "The National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD) is most excited about working with Sesame Street in celebration of their 36th anniversary. NTD is celebrating its 37th year anniversary and what a perfect time for two 'national treasures' to work together for one common mission - to educate entertain and children through the wonderful medium of theatre."

Sesame Street will be airing its 36th anniversary season on April 4th, 2005. Tune in to these dates on PBS to see the LTD cast teaching signs like "jump, dance, run, and exercise."

Check your local listings for times.

• April 13th, 14th, 15th

• May 4th, 5th, 19th, 20th

• June 1st, 9th, 24th, 27th

• July 7th, 15th, 18th

• August 1st, 2nd, 12th, 22nd, 23rd

• September 6th, 7th, 27th, 28th

• October 12th, 13th

• November 2nd, 3rd

EDITOR'S NOTE: Interviews with the creators and actors of LTD are welcomed. Please call Pamela Castle Holden, Director of Media at 860-236-4193, ext. 3015 to make arrangements.

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