DEAF BROADWAY'S
SWEENEY TODD
at LINCOLN CENTER
DAMROSCH STAGE
JULY 31, 2022 - 7:30 pm
This PERFORMANCE is DEdicated to the memory of stephen sondheim
(1930-2021)
This show will run 90 minutes with no intermission.
We hope you enjoy tonight's free performance and would like to see more from Deaf Broadway!
To support this company, our artists, and help us continue to create exciting and authentically Deaf work in the future, we hope you'll consider making a donation. We are a very small organization, so every little bit goes a long way! To do so, you can use the Venmo code shown here. Anything you can give is immensely appreciated and, again, we are incredibly grateful for your support. Thank you in advance! |
The cast
Kailyn Aaron-Lozano (Beggar Woman/Director of Artistic Sign Language): she/her Deaf Broadway: Emmett in LEGALLY BLONDE. Aaron-Lozano is also a multi-media DASL. Film, theater, and music are her mediums. She's worked on Sesame Street's ASL music videos, DPAN's Reverse Polarity, ATT's Different Colors, and more. This Los Angeles native co-wrote "Sign Language Music Videos: Language Preservation or Appropriation?" Kailyn's goal is to raise mainstream attention to Deaf and ASL artists.
Fred Michael Beam (Sweeney Todd): he/him An acclaimed dancer, actor, poet, DASL, producer, director and choreographer, Beam has worked with many theater companies including NTID Sunshine 2.0 Theater Troupe, Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, Bethesda Academy of Performing Arts and National Theater of the Deaf, just to name a few. He also was involved in numerous dance companies, the Gallaudet Dance Company, the National Deaf Dance Theatre, the DuPont Dance Company, the Penn Vision Dance Company and the Bethesda Academy of Performing Arts. He has performed around the globe. He was also executive director of an award winning, Invisible Hands, Inc., which promotes deaf awareness through performing arts and was one of the founding members of The Wild Zappers, an all deaf male dance company ,which toured nationally and internationally. He also established Theater Arts Leadership Training for Deaf/Hard of Hearing People of Color at Gallaudet University. He is currently Outreach Coordinator of RIT/NTID Sunshine 2.0 Theater Troupe. Fred Beam is thrilled to be back with Deaf Broadway after his parts as the Criminologist in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW and Javert in LES MISERABLES. Smiles.
James Caverly (Adolfo Pirelli/Supervising Producer): he/him Deaf Broadway: SWEENEY TODD, INTO THE WOODS, SUNDAY IN THE PARK, ROCKY HORROR. Broadway: CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD; REGIONAL: Olney Theatre Center- THE MUSIC MAN; JACK NY- TRASH; Huntington Theatre Center- I WAS MOST ALIVE WITH YOU; Berkeley Repertory Theatre- TRIBES; Television: Only Murders In The Building; Chicago Med.
Hector Reynoso (Judge Turpin): he/him/él Reynoso has performed in a number of productions at Synetic Theater, Deaf Festival Kentucky, Capital Fringe Festival, Rustaveli Theater in Republic of Georgia, and New York Deaf Theatre. He won a Helen Hayes award for outstanding ensemble, and he was nominated for an actor in Goya's IN THE HOUSE OF THE DEAF MAN in 2008 at Carnegie Mellon University, and Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region II/Gallaudet University production. On film, he played all roles in one actor's play in Christmas Carol for New York Deaf Theatre.
Zavier Sabio (Anthony Hope): he/him Zavier Sabio is a proud graduate of Gallaudet University and the Fashion Institute of Technology. He is currently the host of ASL SLAM NYC and the owner/operator of The Oxford Vault, a luxury resale e-boutique. When he’s not too busy, he enjoys reading fashion and sneaker blogs, visiting art exhibitions, dining, shopping, traveling, and having a glass of cognac.
Neil Sprouse (Tobias Ragg/Beadle Bamford): he/him Deaf Broadway: COMPANY (David), SWEENEY TODD (Beadle). Regional: IRT Theatre: PLEASE UNTRANSLATE ME (Sommelier / Professor), Faction of Fools: A COMMEDIA CHRISTMAS CAROL (Tiny Tim/Ensemble). Virtual: WOOLLY MAMMOTH’S TEENAGE DICK (Richard Gloucester). DASL: RICHARD III (Public Theater), CAPTIVE AUDIENCE (New York Deaf Theatre). Additional credits: www.neilsprouse.wix.com/neilsprouse.
Anne Tomasetti (Mrs Lovett): she/her Anne is honored to return to Deaf Broadway/Lincoln Center after last year's INTO THE WOODS (Jack's Mother/Stepmother). When not acting in productions, Anne is a TV/Film/Stage Director of ASL (DASL). Recent: CODA (Academy Award Best Picture Winner). During the daytime, Anne is a Certified Deaf Interpreter with NYC's Department of Education.
Heba Toulan (Johanna Barker): she/her Born in Cairo, Egypt, Heba's credits include Olivia in TWELFTH NIGHT, Gwendolen in THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, Hecate for MACBETH, ensemble in Deaf Broadway's LES MISÉRABLES and ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. Film credits include Reverse, You're Home, Compromised Experiment, Bailey's Voice. Her web site is www.hebatoulan.com.
CREATIVES/CREW
Garrett Zuercher (Director/Producer): he/him Profoundly Deaf theatre and film artist Garrett Zuercher holds an MFA in playwriting from Hunter College, class of 2022. Two of his plays, QUID PRO QUO and HARD PLACES, have been honored with multiple awards from the Kennedy Center. His latest film, Flirting (With Possibilities), made its world premiere in Paris in March and continues to receive awards and honors on the festival circuit. It was the only American film selected by the Clin d’Oeil International Deaf Festival in France this year where it was nominated for Best Picture, along with nods for Best Actor and Best Director for Garrett. During the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, Deaf Broadway was founded in his living room with the mission of providing native American Sign Language access to theatre for the Deaf community. Dedicated to bringing authentic Deaf voices to the mainstream, he continues to advocate for awareness and representation within the theatre and film industries. For more, please visit garrettzuercher.com.
Miriam Rochford (Stage Manager): she/her
Emily Hart (Stage Manager): she/her Emily is a NYC-based ASL Interpreter and Stage Manager. Originally from the Boston area, she moved to NYC since 2017. She has worked with Huntington Theater Company, Wheelock Family Theatre, The Vineyard Playhouse, CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD on Broadway, The Public Theatre, New York Deaf Theatre, IRT Theater, Goodspeed Musicals, New Ohio Theatre, and Rising Sun Performance Company.
Dana Zolli (Assistant Stage Manager): she/her Dana is excited to join the Deaf Broadway Team! Previous theatre: New York Deaf Theatre’s SYLVIA (Asst. Director), ROMANTIC FOOLS (Voice Coach). Film/TV: Law & Order SVU, 30 Rock, Younger, Dickinson and the upcoming Universal Pictures movie, Bros.
Stewart Caswell (Production Assistant): he/him Stewart has globetrotted as a cast member of Up with People in 2008, appeared in many shows with Phamaly Theater Company in Denver, bringing Mortimer in THE FANTASTICKS to life in Osaka, Japan, and now he’s honored to work on his first show with Deaf Broadway.
Annie Weigand (Lighting Consultant): she/her OFF-BROADWAY: Playwrights Horizons: I WAS MOST ALIVE WITH YOU. REGIONAL: Signature Theater Company: THE UPSTAIRS DEPARTMENT; Milwaukee Repertory Theatre: ECLIPSED; Alabama Shakespeare Festival: STEEL MAGNOLIAS and UNDER THE BREECHES; Dallas Theater Center: STEEL MAGNOLIAS; Huntington Theatre Company: THE WHO AND THE WHAT; Kitchen Theatre Company: THE CHILDREN, MATT AND BEN, BRAHMAN/I; and SMALL MOUTH SOUNDS, Speakeasy Stage Company: THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY (IRNE Nominee for Best Lighting Design), and TRIBES. OFF-OFF-BROADWAY: Select: Astoria Performing Arts Center: FOLLIES (NYIT Nominee for Best Lighting Design). TEACHING: Assistant Professor, Theatre and Dance, Gallaudet University. Annie Wiegand is the first and only professional Deaf lighting designer in the US theater industry. www.anniewiegand.com
Kimberly Hale (Supervising Producer): she/her Kimberly Hale is a Teaching Artist, Interpreter, Actor & Director. Acting work includes HARD PLACES/Reverb Festival & SYLVIA/New York Deaf Theatre. She is the Assistant Artistic Director of the NYC DOE All IN(clusive) HS Theatre Ensemble, and also works with Lexington School For The Deaf, Actionplay, NexGen Youth Theatre, and Ocean Beach Youth Group.
Special Thanks:
- F. Richard Pappas and the estate of Stephen Sondheim for their unwavering support, without which this production would not be possible.
- Ellen M. Krass for the kind permission to use the recorded video of her 2001 San Francisco Philharmonic concert.
- Kori Rushton and IRT Theater for their generous support.