Deaf Cast Challenges Musical Theater Norms in Production of 'The Music Man'
Ask Students: Where is this version of the “Music Man” being performed? What modifications have been made to the stage for deaf people?
Summary
The classic American musical “The Music Man” has been a big hit this year with its revival on Broadway and on many regional and local stages across the country. John Yang went to the Olney Theatre Center in Maryland to see a novel take on the standard, and how art can be a model for a more inclusive society, where deaf and hearing communities live side by side. For a transcript, click here.
Discussion Questions
- Where is this version of the “Music Man” being performed?
- What modifications have been made to the stage for deaf people?
- Why do some actors wear see-through masks?
- Who is James Caverly? What is his background?
- How is this performance different from previous plays that included deaf actors?
Focus Questions
The directors talk about how the play could be a model for the way that deaf and hearing people interact, more generally. What elements from the play could you see being incorporated into everyday life to make deaf and hard of hearing people more equal members of society?
Media Literacy: Having learned about this deaf-inclusive play, how could the news media and broadcast journalism be made more inclusive for the hard of hearing?
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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