Switched at Birth | Intimate Excellent

Troy Kotsur and Paul Raci in a scene from “Cyrano”.

Cast members from our acclaimed co-production of Cyrano were asked to perform a scene from the play at a Deaf West fundraising event  honoring Ed Waterstreet last Saturday at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. A co-production between Fountain Theatre and Deaf West Theatre, Cyrano ran for four sold-out months at the Fountain and has been honored with four Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award nominations for  Best Production, Best Director, Best Lead Actor and Best Writing.

The funny and charming ‘balcony scene’ from Cyrano was performed by cast members Troy Kotsur, Paul Raci and Erinn Anova. The gala evening also included remarks by actresses Marlee Matlin and Deanne Bray, former Mark Taper Forum Artistic Director Gordon Davidson, Broadway director Jeff Calhoun, and Fountain Co-Artistic Director Stephen Sachs.

Enjoy Some Photos!

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Posted in actors, Arts, Deaf, Fountain Theatre, new plays, performing arts, plays, playwright, Theater, theatre

Tagged 2012 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, Cyrano, Cyrano de Bergerac, Daniel Durant, deaf, deaf actor, deaf theatre, Deaf West Theatre, Deanne Bray, Ed Waterstreet, Erinn Anova, Fountain Theatre, Gordon Davidson, Jeff Calhoun, Joseph Sargent, Kirk Douglas Theatre, Los Angeles, Marlee Matlin, National Theatre of the Deaf, new plays, Paul Raci, performing arts, plays, Simon Levy, Stephen Sachs, Switched at Birth, theater, theatre, Troy Kotsur, world premiere

This past weekend brought film/TV actors Lea Thompson, Tara Samuel, and film director Joe Sargent to the Fountain Theatre to enjoy the world premiere production of Cyrano, now extended to July 8th.

Lea Thompson can be currently seen on the ABC Family TV series Switched at Birth. She starred in her own TV series Caroline in the City and starred opposite Michael J. Fox in the Back to the Future movies.

Tara Samuel co-starred on the TV series Sue Thomas: FB Eye. Joe Sargent is an Emmy-winning TV and film director, including the deaf-themed TV movies Sweet Nothing in my Ear and Love is Never Silent.

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Cyrano   Now to July 8th   (323) 663-1525    More Info

Posted in actors, Arts, Deaf, Fountain Theatre, new plays, performing arts, plays, playwright, theatre

Tagged American Sign Language, ASL, Back to the Future, Caroline in the City, Cyrano, Cyrano de Bergerac, Daniel Durant, deaf, Eddie Buck, Fountain Theatre, Ipek D. Mehlum, Joseph Sargent, Lea Thompson, Los Angeles, Love is Never Silent, Maleni Chaitoo, Michael J. Fox, plays, Sue Thomas, Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye, Sweet Nothing in my Ear, Switched at Birth, Tara Samuel, Troy Kotsur, Victor Warren

The cast from “Cyrano” take a bow after performing a scene at “Signin’ in the Street” at Downtown Disney, March 18.

Cyrano April 28 – June 10  (323) 663-1525  More Info   Get Tickets

Posted in actors, Arts, Deaf, Fountain Theatre, performing arts, plays, playwright, theatre

Tagged American Sign Language, ASL, Cyrano, deaf, Deaf West Theatre, Disney, Disneyland, Downtown Disney, Fountain Theatre, Los Angeles, Marlee Matlin, Sean Berdy, Signin’ in the Street, Simon Levy, Stephen Sachs, Switched at Birth, Troy Kotsur, world premiere

Calling All Fountain Folk!

Support the Fountain Theatre/Deaf West co-production, CYRANO, and enjoy a day at  Disney this weekend!  We need volunteers to join us and lend a hand at SIGNin’ in the Street, the exciting weekend event celebrating creativity in the deaf community at Downtown Disney District.  Along with our booth, there will screenings of films and TV shows, interactivity, the cast from “Switched at Birth“, and live performances including a scene from CYRANO each day. We need people to man the booth on Saturday and Sunday between 10am-4pm to answer questions and pass out flyers.  Looking for full-day or half-day shifts only. If interested, email us at [email protected].

Posted in actors, Arts, Deaf, Fountain Theatre, new plays, performing arts, plays, playwright, theatre

Tagged American Sign Language, ASL, Cyrano, deaf, deaf theatre, Deaf West Theatre, Disneyland, Downtown Disney, Fountain Theatre, Signin’ in the Street, Switched at Birth, volunteer

Troy Kotsur is “Cyrano”, opening April 28 at the Fountain Theatre.

Our upcoming signed/spoken production of Cyrano will be featured in a Special Event weekend at Disneyland later this month.  On the weekend of March 17 and 18, Downtown Disney District will host a celebration of creativity in the deaf community – SIGNin’ in the Street. During this special 2-day-weekend event, the public is invited to embrace the social, technological and artistic accomplishments of world-renowned Deaf talent and local community organizations. The Fountain Theatre and Deaf West have been asked by Disney to share a scene from our upcoming co-production of Cyrano on both Saturday, March 17th and Sunday March 18th. Exact times to be announced.

This fun-filled, educational and exciting weekend celebration is open to all — deaf and hearing guests.

The event will spotlight top performers, interactive workshops, film screenings and appearances by the stars of ABC Family’s hit series, “Switched at Birth”: Katie Leclerc, Vanessa Marano, Constance Marie, Lea Thompson, D.W. Moffett, Lucas Grabeel, Sean Berdy and Academy Award winner Marlee Matlin.

In addition, two episodes of the show, including an exclusive sneak preview of the spring finale, will be screened at AMC Theatres on Saturday, March 17.

The “Switched at Birth” cast will be on hand earlier in the day for panel question and answer sessions, as well as autograph signings.

Throughout the weekend, AMC Theatres will show two feature films, “The Hammer,” based on the life of triple NCAA champ and professional mixed martial artist Matt Hamill, and the award-winning documentary “See What I’m Saying” featuring our very own Bob Hiltermann, also in Cyrano.   Stars from the films will host question and answer sessions, sign autographs and perform live.

Other highlights of this fun, interactive weekend include:

  • Musical performances from Big River and Pippin by Tony Award-winning Deaf West Theatre, including a sneak preview of the group’s upcoming world premiere of Cyrano, and workshops for guests interested in learning American Sign Language and acting.
  • Drum Café, the internationally acclaimed drumming crew, will super-charge the audience through interactive performances and workshops.
  • Nighttime concerts by popular deaf performers including singer-signer TL Forsberg, rock band Beethoven’s Nightmare, and comic CJ Jones.
  • Specially created Disney merchandise featuring American Sign Language.

The high-energy entertainment kicks off at 1 p.m. both days and continues until 9 p.m. Saturday and 8 p.m. Sunday.

We’re thrilled and excited to be part of this weekend celebration of deaf talent, artistry and entertainment. Please click here for the full schedule of events and how you might grab a seat to the sneak preview scene from our upcoming production of Cyrano!

Cyrano April 20 – June 10 (323) 663-1525  More Info   Get Tickets

Posted in actors, Arts, Deaf, Fountain Theatre, new plays, performing arts, plays, playwright, theatre

Tagged ABC Family, AMC Theatres, American Sign Language, ASL, Beethoven’s Nightmare, Big River, Bob Hiltermann, CJ Jones, Constance Marie, Cyrano, D.W. Moffett, deaf actors, Deaf West Theatre, Disneyland, Downtown Disney, Drum Cafe, Fountain Theatre, Katie Leclerc, Lea Thompson, Los Angeles, Lucas Grabeel, Marlee Matlin, Matt Hamill, new plays, Pippin, plays, playwriting, Sean Berdy, See What I’m Saying, Signin’ in the Street, Simon Levy, Stephen Sachs, Switched at Birth, The Hammer, TL Forsberg, Troy Kotsur, Vanessa Marano, world premiere