Beck Theater Teens Learn To "Speak" Without Talking

Parents will agree that it seems either you can’t get a word out of teenagers or you can’t get a word in edgewise, which is why it was a real learning experience for teen theater students at the Beck Center when they experienced firsthand some of the challenges facing the speech and hearing impaired. Recently, these aspiring thespians had the unique opportunity to learn to communicate using sign language from members of The HeArd, a group of professional theatrical sign language interpreters.

ASL coaches Deborah Epstein and Angie Herzberger joined students at rehearsals for Beck Teen Theater’s upcoming production of Reckless, opening February 24 in Beck’s Studio Theater. Several characters in the play use sign language to communicate with another character who cannot speak or hear. Epstein and Herzberger worked with cast members, teaching them basic sign language skills to help prepare them for their roles in the play.

“One of the hardest things to do is speaking and signing simultaneously, which they are required to do throughout the show,” explained Jonathan Kronenberger, associate director of Theater Education at the Beck Center and director of Reckless. “The students did an incredible job picking up sign language. By the second rehearsal with our ASL coaches, they were doing so well we were able to add more details and more signing.”

Cast members continued to learn more signs on their own, even sharing private jokes. Students whose characters do not sign in the play were also eager to learn and emulate what they saw in rehearsals. Kronenberger appreciates the valuable lessons students learned from this life-changing experience. “I am extremely grateful to these two dedicated women for sharing their talents and inspiring our students to express themselves in a new way.”

A dark comedy by Tony Award-nominated playwright Craig Lucas, Reckless has been described as “a modern-day Alice in a perilous winter wonderland.” Coincidentally, The HeArd will be signing an upcoming production of Alice in Wonderland at the Fine Arts Association in Willoughby on February 26. To learn more about The HeArd visit www.heardwhatsup.com.

Lucas originally wrote Reckless to work through some of the abandonment issues he felt as a result of being left as a baby in the backseat of a car at a gas station with a note pinned to his blanket. This satirical comedy raises the questions of whether we can ever really know people and that perhaps we simply lead reckless lives in which “things just happen.” The play’s plot, with its many comic twists and turns, is so improbable that it genuinely reflects the absurdities of life. Teenagers and their parents will enjoy this very funny play.

A special student matinee 10 a.m. Thursday, March 1 will provide ample learning opportunities for area middle and high school students to explore and discuss the psychological and philosophical topics from the play including alienation, existentialism and self-realization. For special group rates, call Rennie Tisdale at 216.521.2540, ext. 28.

Beck Center’s production of Reckless will run two weekends, February 24 through March 4. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $12 for adult/senior (65 and over) and $10 for children/student (18 and under). To purchase tickets, visit beckcenter.org or call 216.521.2540, ext. 10. Beck Center is located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, just 10 minutes west of downtown Cleveland. Free onsite parking is available.

Beck Center’s production of Reckless is presented through special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc. and is sponsored by Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, the Ohio Arts Council, and Music Is Elementary.

Beck Center for the Arts is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that offers professional theater productions, arts education programming in dance, music, theater, visual arts, early childhood and creative arts therapies and gallery exhibits featuring regional artists. For more information about the Beck Center, visit beckcenter.org.