Director and theater teaching faculty Ralph Janes watches a rehearsal of "Sweat." He has a particular interest in accessible theater with multiple languages more equally incorporated into the storytelling. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Interpreters are at the front table. Pictured are (from left) Paige Rivers, Kristin Dravus, Tori Briggs and Nix Carlson. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Assistant director Marie Helser is theater-trained and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in ASL Studies in May. She also will be assistant director this summer for the American Players Theatre’s production of “Romeo and Juliet,” featuring a deaf actor playing Romeo. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Acting during rehearsal are Tori Briggs (left) and Nix Carlson. ASL is a complex skill that makes extensive use of facial expressions to help impart meaning. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Because the shape of the stage accommodates audience seating on three sides, Helser opted to cluster the interpreters in one place on stage rather than have them shadow their spoken-word actor counterparts. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Rather than putting sign language interpreters to the side and separate from the action, UWM’s new production of “Sweat” puts them fully into the action on stage.
The show, which runs from April 19 to 23, furthers a five-year collaboration between the Theatre Department and the American Sign Language Interpreter program.
