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FARMINGTON: Renowned artist to perform at Mt. Blue HS Deaf storyteller incorporates acting, American Sign Language, pantomime
Nationally known deaf storyteller and performance artist Peter Cook is bringing his show to Farmington, thanks to a determined group of local volunteers who are advocates for the deaf and hard of hearing.
"He is the Elvis of the deaf word," said Lori Lewis, an English teacher at Mt. Blue High School.
Lewis is on the advisory board of Hands on PAH, a new service at the Wilton Public Library dedicated to meeting the information and accessibility needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community.
"When we were looking for programs, we said, why not dream big?" she said. "And he is the biggest star we could think of."
Cook, whose work incorporates American Sign Language, pantomime, storytelling, acting and movement, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at Mt. Blue High School, 129 Seamon Road, in Farmington. He will be accompanied on stage by Keith Wann, a certified deaf interpreter.
Wann, an entertainer himself, often works with Cook. Their performances are readily understood and enjoyed by both deaf and hearing audiences of all ages, Lewis said.
"To have someone of Peter's renown performing here is a remarkable achievement for a small, rural library," she said. "We are doing this to provide more exposure to the deaf community and to the library's programming."
Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children and are being sold at Mickey's Hallmark on Main Street in Farmington, the library on Main Street in Wilton, and at the door. For information, call the library at 645-4831; Sherry Walrath at 684-3702 (voice and TTY), or e-mail lorilewis@verizon.net.
According to the U.S. Census, 15 out of 1,000 people under the age of 18 have some type of hearing impairment and two million Americans have a profound hearing loss. More than 60,000 people who are deaf or hard of hearing live in Maine.
PAH is an American Sign Language expression that means, "Finally, we made it!", "What a breakthrough!" or "It's about time!"
Hands-on PAH is a new program at the Wilton Library that focuses on the needs of deaf and hard of hearing children, adults and their families. It is overseen by an advisory board made up of deaf and hearing community members.
"There is no other library in Maine that we know of that is doing this work," said librarian Lynne Hunter, who is a student of American Sign Language, or ASL.
The library is developing a collection of related resources, books and videos. The staff is learning about deaf culture, and there is an ASL-interpreted story hour on the third Thursday of every month at 6 p.m.
Also, an introductory class in ASL is planned for Tuesdays, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Wilton Congregational Church on Main Street, starting April 1. The cost is $30. For information, call 645-4831.
Cook's performance is being funded through the Maine Community Foundation, the Maine Humanities Council, Wal-Mart, Otis Credit Union, the Tyngtown Club of Wilton, Doug and Sherry Walrath and Franklin Savings Bank.
Nationally known deaf storyteller and performance artist Peter Cook is bringing his show to Farmington, thanks to a determined group of local volunteers who are advocates for the deaf and hard of hearing.
"He is the Elvis of the deaf word," said Lori Lewis, an English teacher at Mt. Blue High School.
Lewis is on the advisory board of Hands on PAH, a new service at the Wilton Public Library dedicated to meeting the information and accessibility needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community.
"When we were looking for programs, we said, why not dream big?" she said. "And he is the biggest star we could think of."
Cook, whose work incorporates American Sign Language, pantomime, storytelling, acting and movement, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at Mt. Blue High School, 129 Seamon Road, in Farmington. He will be accompanied on stage by Keith Wann, a certified deaf interpreter.
Wann, an entertainer himself, often works with Cook. Their performances are readily understood and enjoyed by both deaf and hearing audiences of all ages, Lewis said.
"To have someone of Peter's renown performing here is a remarkable achievement for a small, rural library," she said. "We are doing this to provide more exposure to the deaf community and to the library's programming."
Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children and are being sold at Mickey's Hallmark on Main Street in Farmington, the library on Main Street in Wilton, and at the door. For information, call the library at 645-4831; Sherry Walrath at 684-3702 (voice and TTY), or e-mail lorilewis@verizon.net.
According to the U.S. Census, 15 out of 1,000 people under the age of 18 have some type of hearing impairment and two million Americans have a profound hearing loss. More than 60,000 people who are deaf or hard of hearing live in Maine.
PAH is an American Sign Language expression that means, "Finally, we made it!", "What a breakthrough!" or "It's about time!"
Hands-on PAH is a new program at the Wilton Library that focuses on the needs of deaf and hard of hearing children, adults and their families. It is overseen by an advisory board made up of deaf and hearing community members.
"There is no other library in Maine that we know of that is doing this work," said librarian Lynne Hunter, who is a student of American Sign Language, or ASL.
The library is developing a collection of related resources, books and videos. The staff is learning about deaf culture, and there is an ASL-interpreted story hour on the third Thursday of every month at 6 p.m.
Also, an introductory class in ASL is planned for Tuesdays, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Wilton Congregational Church on Main Street, starting April 1. The cost is $30. For information, call 645-4831.
Cook's performance is being funded through the Maine Community Foundation, the Maine Humanities Council, Wal-Mart, Otis Credit Union, the Tyngtown Club of Wilton, Doug and Sherry Walrath and Franklin Savings Bank.