Miss-Delectable
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Journal Inquirer - Theatre of the Deaf delights East Windsor students
Not everyone can command the undivided attention of almost 600 elementary school students, but Thursday at the Broad Brook Elementary School, The National Theatre of the Deaf did just that.
The four performers entertained the children for an hour with colorful skits and improvisations using bright, simple, and colorful props such as umbrellas and boxes to tell tales, including "How the Ladybug Got Her Name," that felt a bit like "Sesame Street" meets Dr. Seuss.
They also used sign language and broad gestures to tell their stories, which were narrated by Marnie Sellers, who was the hearing person in the group.
The other three performers were Vikee Waltrip, Ian Sanborn, and Karla Marrero.
Jeanne McCarroll, Broad Brook Elementary School principal, said the performance was made possible through the generosity of the Parent-Teacher Organization.
Before the show began, McCarroll instructed the students on how to show their appreciation to the performers. She explained to the students that instead of clapping their hands, they were to wave their hands silently in the air for the performers to see.
Aaron M. Kubley, the theater group's executive director and president, said The National Theatre of the Deaf has been performing at schools and for other audiences for 40 years.
Kubley said he is the group's first deaf president and communicates with the hearing world through lip reading.
The group's headquarters are on the grounds of the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford, although they are not affiliated with the school, he said.
"We perform about 500 shows each year, up to three performances a day, and change the show every year," Kubley said, adding that the group is working with a deaf playwright to create a new production about what it is like to negotiate the world as a deaf person.
"We are the only troupe in the world that has performed on seven continents, including Antarctica," Kubley said.
During the finale, the performers asked the children for suggestions of machines or animals for them to improvise.
The children complied, and the performers became sequentially a jeep, a time machine, a roller coaster, and a washing machine, to the delight of the appreciative audience.
The children loved it all, and Kubley said they were a great audience.
After the show, Gyanni Davis, 9, said, "It was colorful and fun."
Tristan Balula, 9, agreed, adding, "The wrestling was funny too."
Lloyd Otero, 9, said he liked the way the performers' hands moved.
Jamiyah Jones, 9, felt the same as her classmates, and said: "I think it was really creative."
Not everyone can command the undivided attention of almost 600 elementary school students, but Thursday at the Broad Brook Elementary School, The National Theatre of the Deaf did just that.
The four performers entertained the children for an hour with colorful skits and improvisations using bright, simple, and colorful props such as umbrellas and boxes to tell tales, including "How the Ladybug Got Her Name," that felt a bit like "Sesame Street" meets Dr. Seuss.
They also used sign language and broad gestures to tell their stories, which were narrated by Marnie Sellers, who was the hearing person in the group.
The other three performers were Vikee Waltrip, Ian Sanborn, and Karla Marrero.
Jeanne McCarroll, Broad Brook Elementary School principal, said the performance was made possible through the generosity of the Parent-Teacher Organization.
Before the show began, McCarroll instructed the students on how to show their appreciation to the performers. She explained to the students that instead of clapping their hands, they were to wave their hands silently in the air for the performers to see.
Aaron M. Kubley, the theater group's executive director and president, said The National Theatre of the Deaf has been performing at schools and for other audiences for 40 years.
Kubley said he is the group's first deaf president and communicates with the hearing world through lip reading.
The group's headquarters are on the grounds of the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford, although they are not affiliated with the school, he said.
"We perform about 500 shows each year, up to three performances a day, and change the show every year," Kubley said, adding that the group is working with a deaf playwright to create a new production about what it is like to negotiate the world as a deaf person.
"We are the only troupe in the world that has performed on seven continents, including Antarctica," Kubley said.
During the finale, the performers asked the children for suggestions of machines or animals for them to improvise.
The children complied, and the performers became sequentially a jeep, a time machine, a roller coaster, and a washing machine, to the delight of the appreciative audience.
The children loved it all, and Kubley said they were a great audience.
After the show, Gyanni Davis, 9, said, "It was colorful and fun."
Tristan Balula, 9, agreed, adding, "The wrestling was funny too."
Lloyd Otero, 9, said he liked the way the performers' hands moved.
Jamiyah Jones, 9, felt the same as her classmates, and said: "I think it was really creative."