AT MARIST UNIVERSITY & THE BARDAVON
TONY AWARD-WINNING DEAF WEST THEATRE AND DIRECTOR BILL RAUCH'S EXCITING INTEGRATION OF SIGN LANGUAGE AND DEAF CULTURE ADDS YET ANOTHER LAYER TO THIS POIGNANT STORY.
By arrangement with LW Entertainment Ltd.
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics by Jim Steinman
With book by Patricia Knop, Gale Edwards
and Andrew Lloyd Webber
Orchestrations by David Cullen & Andrew Lloyd Webber
Directed by Bill Rauch
In collaboration with
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Casting by The Telsey Office, Karyn Casl, CSA
Casting Associates: Charlie Hano, CSA and Jimmy Larkin, CSA
WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND is developed under New York Stage & Film’s Stories That Move: Developing Dance Narratives, with significant support from the Jerome Robbins Foundation and Judith Manocherian LLC. Additional support from Jeffrey Aman, Amy Aquino & Drew McCoy, Rick Elice, Tony & Carol Friscia, Donald Holder & Evan Yionoulis, Steve Martin, Christopher D. Shyer and Betti Steel.
Tony Award-winning Deaf West Theatre and director Bill Rauch's (CATS: The Jellicle Ball) reimagining stays true to the original musical as set in America’s Deep South in the late fifties, while further exploring the world as seen through the eyes of children, both deaf and hearing. This evocative musical fuses epic storytelling with compelling characters to create an unforgettable theatrical experience, now with a deepened perspective through Deaf West’s powerful, visually driven storytelling.
WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND revolves around the time and place where the word teenager was invented. Swallow, struggling to come to terms with the death of her mother, discovers a mysterious stranger whom she believes is Jesus. In a town where a miracle is long overdue, the children fight to protect him from an adult world determined to find an escaped convict hiding in their midst. As fantasy and reality collide, Swallow is torn between the two and begins to discover who she is and where she is going.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s emotive score combines hauntingly beautiful love songs and explosive rock music with lyrics by acclaimed rock’n‘roll songwriter Jim Steinman. This exciting integration of Sign Language and deaf culture adds yet another layer to this poignant story of belonging, understanding, and faith.
Friday, July 31 at 7:00pm
Saturday, August 1 at 8:00pm
Sunday, August 2 at 1:00pm
The Bardavon
Every performance of WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND will be fully bilingual in American Sign Language (ASL), Spoken English, and with Open Captions.
Andrew Lloyd Webber | Composer
Andrew Lloyd Webber has composed the scores of some of the world’s most famous musicals. His shows have run continuously in London’s West End for 50 years and ran for 43 uninterrupted years on Broadway.
When the original SUNSET BOULEVARD joined SCHOOL OF ROCK, CATS, and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA he equalled Rodgers & Hammerstein’s record of four shows running simultaneously on Broadway. He is one of the select group of artists with EGOT status, having received Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards.
Lloyd Webber owns six London theatres including the iconic London Palladium and Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Reopened in July 2021, the latter was completely restored and renovated at a cost of over £60 million. This was one of the biggest projects ever undertaken by a private theatre owner in recent times. His mantra is that every penny of profit made from his theatres is ploughed back into the buildings for their conservation and development.
Lloyd Webber is passionate about the importance of musical education and diversity in the arts. Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation provides 30 performing arts scholarships every year for talented students with financial need, and supports a range of projects such as the Music In Secondary Schools Trust (MiSST).
In academic year September 2025 - 2026, 14,885 children are being given free musical tuition and instruments as part of MiSST's Andrew Lloyd Webber Programme. The Foundation also commissions research into diversity in theatre.
Andrew Lloyd Webber has composed music for globally significant moments. Most recently, he was asked to compose MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE, the anthem for the Coronation of King Charles III.
Andrew Lloyd Webber was knighted in 1992, created an honorary life peer in 1997, and made a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter by King Charles III in 2024. He is the only person in the arts ever granted this personal honour by a monarch.
Jim Steinman | Lyrics
Jim Steinman began in theatre, although he is best known as a Grammy winning songwriter and producer whose records have sold more than 190,000,000 million copies worldwide. He was described by the L.A. Times as “the Richard Wagner of rock." While a student at Amherst College he wrote and starred in what he called "an epic rock spectacle," THE DREAM ENGINE. It caused a sensation and Joe Papp, founder of the New York Shakespeare Festival, purchased the rights at intermission. His first professional musical was More Than You Deserve at Papp's Public Theater, where he worked for five years.
While at the Public Theater, a singer named Meat Loaf auditioned for Jim, a meeting that Spin Magazine called “one of the Top 10 most important moments in the history of rock and roll.” Their first record together, the legendary Bat Out Of Hell, is the biggest debut album ever and the third best selling album of all time. Jim is also the only person in the Top 20 Albums of All Time to have written all songs, both music and lyrics, solo. In 1993, the sequel Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell topped the charts in 38 countries and spawned the global hit I'D DO ANYTHING FOR LOVE (BUT I WON'T DO THAT).
#1 songs include - for Bonnie Tyler: HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO, TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART (hitting #1 a remarkable four times - 1983, 1995, 2003 and 2017 - and was on both YouTube and Spotify's Most Played lists of the 2010s), for Meat Loaf: PARADISE BY THE DASHBOARD LIGHT, TWO OUT OF THREE AIN'T BAD, DEAD RINGER FOR LOVE, and I'D DO ANYTHING FOR LOVE BUT I WON'T DO THAT (which had the biggest rock single sales ever), for Air Supply: MAKING LOVE OUT OF NOTHING AT ALL, for Celine Dion: IT'S ALL COMING BACK TO ME NOW, (which was named the 1997 Song Of The Year by BMI for having had the most broadcasts worldwide), for Boyzone: NO MATTER WHAT, (record of the year in the UK for 1998 and #1 in 18 countries - the most successful single ever released from a musical in history). Steinman received a Grammy award as producer for Best Album of the Year, Celine Dion's Falling Into You. He made one platinum album as a singer, Bad For Good.
Film music includes A SMALL CIRCLE OF FRIENDS, STREETS OF FIRE, FOOTLOOSE, THE SHADOW, MASK OF ZORRO, SHREK 2 and MTV's adaptation of WUTHERING HEIGHTS.
For the musical stage version of WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND, Jim Steinman teamed with Andrew Lloyd Webber providing lyrics to his score. This 1998 West End hit musical had performances in Portrush, Northern Ireland and Tokyo, Japan in 2020.
Steinman also wrote the score for TANZ DER VAMPIRE (Dance of the Vampires), a musical staged by Roman Polanski, which opened in Vienna in 1997 to rave reviews and record box office. It has been officially declared “the most successful musical ever to emerge from Continental Europe.” More than two decades later this musical has had numerous productions including runs in Berlin, St. Petersburg, Budapest, Warsaw, Helsinki, Tokyo, Moscow, New York and Paris. In 2020 it played in Oberhausen, Germany, along with Copenhagen, Denmark, and Fukuoka, Osaka and Tokyo, Japan.
Jim Steinman was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 2012. He received an honorary Doctorate Degree of Humane Letters from his alma mater, Amherst College, in 2013. Jim was entered into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2016.
In 2017 Steinman's dream project, BAT OUT OF HELL THE MUSICAL, opened to near perfect reviews and sold out crowds at Manchester's Opera House. It went on to run at the London Coliseum, the West End's Dominion Theatre, Toronto's Ed Mirvish Theatre and the Metronom Theatre in Oberhausen, Germany. Summer 2019, Bat Out Of Hell The Musical made its highly anticipated U.S. debut at the New York City Center in Manhattan. 2020 shows include a US touring production in association with the Hard Rock Casino Hotel, an arena tour of Australia as well as a returning UK tour. In 2020, shows included a US touring production in association with the Hard Rock Casino Hotel, an arena tour of Australia, as well as a returning UK tour.
Jim's work has permeated popular culture the world over. His distinctive, over-the-top style has influenced a genre of music and such songs are often referred to as “Steinmanesque.” He is known as the “Father of the Power Ballad” and one of the founders of epic rock.
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Bill Rauch | Director
Bill Rauch is the inaugural Artistic Director of the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC), at the World Trade Center. His work as a theater director has been seen across the nation, from community centers to Broadway in the Tony Award-winning production of ALL THE WAY, its sequel THE GREAT SOCIETY, and most recently co-directing CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL. From 2007 to 2019, Bill was Artistic Director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the country’s oldest and largest rotating repertory theater. Bill co-founded Cornerstone Theater Company where he served as artistic director from 1986 to 2006, directing collaborations with diverse rural and urban communities nationwide.
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DJ Kurs | Deaf West Theatre, Artistic Director
DJ Kurs is the Artistic Director of Deaf West Theatre, where he has shepherded productions from Los Angeles stages to Broadway and beyond. Under his leadership, Deaf West has produced SPRING AWAKENING on Broadway, Fidelio with the LA Philharmonic, and the forthcoming ELEPHANT SHOES at Two River Theater. His work across theater and technology reflects a sustained belief that deaf artists, stories, and culture belong at the center of American creative life.
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Jeff Perri | Deaf West Theatre, Managing Director
Jeff Perri serves as Managing Director of Deaf West Theatre, overseeing all operational and financial aspects of the company. He brings extensive experience in theatrical producing, touring, and co-production, and has been an essential partner in building Deaf West's national and international profile.
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Deaf West Theatre
Founded in Los Angeles in 1991, Tony Award®-winning Deaf West Theatre led by Artistic Director, David Kurs and Managing Director, Jeff Perri, engages artists and audiences in unparalleled theater experiences inspired by Deaf culture and the expressive power of sign language, weaving ASL with spoken English to create a seamless ballet of movement and voice. Committed to innovation, collaboration, and training, DWT is the artistic bridge between the Deaf and hearing worlds. Recent and past productions include a new production of Green Day’s AMERICAN IDIOT, in a co-production with Center Theatre Group; the groundbreaking production of Beethoven’s only opera FIDELIO with the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Maestro Gustavo Dudamel; an exciting new play adaptation of OEDIPUS at the Getty Villa Museum directed and adapted by Jenny Koons; THE SOLID OF LIFE OF SUGAR WATER by Jack Thorne; OUR TOWN, in a co-production with the Pasadena Playhouse; Edward Albee’s AT HOME AT THE ZOO, in a co-production with the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts; SPRING AWAKENING the Musical, which transferred from Inner-City Arts to the Wallis and then to Broadway (three Tony Award® nominations including Best Revival of a Musical); AMERICAN BUFFALO (Los Angeles Times “Critic’s Choice”); Cyrano, a co-production with the FOUNTAIN THEATRE (Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Production); BIG RIVER THE MUSICAL (Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle and Backstage Garland awards for Best Musical in its L.A. premiere, a Tony Award® nomination, and four Drama Desk Awards on Broadway); PIPPIN, produced at the Mark Taper Forum in a co-production with Center Theatre Group; SLEEPING BEAUTY WAKES, also a co-production with Center Theatre Group, presented at the Kirk Douglas Theatre; Oliver! (Ovation Award for Best Musical) and A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (Ovation Award for Best Play). In 2005, DWT was selected to receive the Highest Recognition Award by the Secretary of Health and Human Services for its “distinguished contributions to improve and enrich the culture lives of Deaf and hard of hearing actors and theater patrons.” To learn more visit deafwest.org.
LW Entertainment Ltd.
LW Entertainment manages Andrew Lloyd Webber’s body of work all over the world. The business partners with industry-leading creative teams, producers, and organisations to deliver world-class experiences and products across multiple entertainment formats — from theatrical productions and immersive experiences to music, film, publishing, and consumer products.
Evolving from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group, LW Entertainment has musical theatre at its heart. It develops brand and franchise strategies for some of the world’s most celebrated titles, including THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, CATS, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, EVITA, SUNSET BOULEVARD, and STARLIGHT EXPRESS.
Since 1977, the business has brought Andrew Lloyd Webber’s work to hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Today, LW Entertainment continues that legacy, driven by a passion for creating innovative and inspiring entertainment through powerful partnerships, creative collaborations, and strategic brand development that ensures these works resonate with audiences for generations to come.
PRODUCTION
Jessica Forella | Stage Manager
Jessica Forella (she/her) is delighted to be back for a second summer season at NYS&F. Favorite past credits include: SHELTER, NONE: A PRACTICAL BREVIARY (NYS&F); A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, TWELFTH NIGHT, MALVOLIO (The Classical Theatre of Harlem); Twelfth Night, Richard III (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); Fun Home, Mies Julie (Victory Gardens Theater); The Polar Express (Rail Events Productions); The Hound of the Baskervilles, James and the Giant Peach (Theatre-Hikes); Numbers Nerds (CPA Theatricals); Million Dollar Quartet (Barter Theatre); Burn the Floor (Norwegian Cruise Lines); The Hunchback of Notre Dame (RWCMD); A Small Oak Tree Runs Red (Congo Square Theatre); and Sondheim on Sondheim (Porchlight Music Theatre).
Jihee Jenny Park | Assistant Stage Manager
Jihee (Jenny) Park is a Korean American Stage Manager enjoying every second of living the dream and thrilled to join S&F! Select credits: PRIMARY TRUST, HERE LIES LOVE, JAJA’S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING (Mark Taper Forum), AMERICAN IDIOT (CTG/Deaf West), CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND (East West Players), Independent Shakespeare Company’s Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival, DOG MAN: THE MUSICAL (National Tour), HOW IT’S GON’ BE (Echo), KING LEAR (Wallis), REVENGE PORN: STORY OF A BODY AND THE GIANT VOID IN MY SOUL (Ammo).
Abigail Peterson | Assistant Stage Manager
Abby Peterson is a proud CODA. Broadway: STEPHEN SONDHEIM’S OLD FRIENDS. National Tour: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Regional: ELEPHANT SHOES (Two River/DeafWest), HERE LIES LOVE (Mark Taper Forum), STEPHEN SONDHEIM’S OLD FRIENDS (Center Theatre Group), AMERICAN IDIOT (Deaf West/Mark Taper Forum), IMMEDIATE FAMILY (Blumenthal Arts).
Rosa Lee Timm | ASL Choreographer
Rosa Lee Timm is a Deaf multidisciplinary artist, director, translator, and creative strategist whose work explores the intersection of American Sign Language, music, theater, and visual storytelling. With more than two decades of experience, she has collaborated across Broadway, film, television, and live performance, helping shape bilingual creative processes that center Deaf culture as an artistic asset rather than an accommodation. Her recent work includes ASL translation and consulting for film and stage productions, including collaborations with Deaf West Theatre, New York Stage & Film, and major studios. Rosa Lee is also the founder of More & Only, a creative studio exploring embodied communication, storytelling, and the artistry of signed languages. Whether performing, directing, or translating, she is passionate about creating work that invites audiences to experience language, rhythm, and human connection in new ways.
Joey Antonio | ASL Choreographer
Joey Antonio is a Deaf performance artist, educator, choreographer, and creative working across theater, dance, film, and ASL performance. Their credits include SESAME STREET (ASL), DANCE CAMP, ZOEY’S EXTRAORDINARY “SILENCE,” and ASIID on AMERICA’S BEST DANCE CREW. Joey has also performed in Deaf-centered productions including RENT with Deaf Broadway at Lincoln Center, THE LARAMIE PROJECT with Deaf Austin Theater, and SPRING AWAKENING with Deaf West. Through stage, screen, and community-based work, Joey is committed to expanding Deaf representation and creating space for Deaf and hard-of-hearing artists in the performing arts. Their work brings together choreography, movement, storytelling, and sign language to build connection, visibility, and culturally rooted performance.
Jeremy Lee Stone | ASL Choreographer
Jeremy Lee Stone is an educator, cultural consultant, and advocate whose work bridges the worlds of art, film, and inclusion. As an educator, he inspires audiences to explore American Sign Language as both a vibrant language and a powerful form of human connection, fostering greater understanding of Deaf culture and the arts. Jeremy has collaborated with leading filmmakers, artists, and institutions to advance authentic Deaf representation and inclusive storytelling.
Annie Wiegand | Lighting Designer
ANNIE WIEGAND (LIGHTING DESIGNER) (she/her) is the first professional Deaf Lighting Designer in the U.S. Des Moines, Iowa native; BA Theatre Design and Technology Appalachian State University; MFA Lighting Design Boston University. Off-Broadway: TRASH (PAC NYC/Out of the Box), I WAS MOST ALIVE WITH YOU (Playwrights Horizons). Regional: ELEPHANT SHOES (Two River Theatre/Deaf West), ANOTHER KIND OF SILENCE (City Theatre), SPRING AWAKENING (Skylight Music Theatre), CINDERELLA (Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, ZACH Theatre), ECLIPSED (Milwaukee Repertory Theater), STEEL MAGNOLIAS (Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Dallas Theater Center), THE UPSTAIRS DEPARTMENT (Signature Theatre), THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY (SpeakEasy Stage, IRNE Award nomination). Opera and interdisciplinary work: SENSORIUM EX (VIA/BMP Common Senses Festival Omaha), two shows with Open Call Shed, TOUCH (Opera Birmingham), Anikaya Dance, The Acting Company national tours 2010-2013, company member Kinetic Light Disability Arts Ensemble, Resident Lighting Designer Deaf Broadway, Professor and Production Program Director of Gallaudet University Performing Arts. anniewiegand.com
Owen Meadows | Sound Designer
Owen is excited to be making his debut with New York Stage & Film for WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND. Previous work includes: AN EVENING WITH KELLI O’HARA (Lincoln Center), THE LIGHT (Lyric Stage of Boston), DREAM BOSTON and COMMON GROUND: IN PERSPECTIVE (The Huntington, Audio Series), THE GREENWAY PLAYS (Lyric Stage of Boston, Audio Series). Broadway Associate Sound Design: CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL, RAGTIME, DEAD OUTLAW, A WONDERFUL WORLD, DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES, SPAMALOT, MIKE BIRBIGLIA: THE OLD MAN AND THE POOL. Thanks to the NYSF team for a warm welcome. And big thanks to his wife Sarah and pup Bagel for the support. OwenMeadows.com
Celeste Jennings | Costume Designer
Celeste Jennings is an Arkansas born, New York based playwright and costume designer who’s passionate about truth, community and her artistry. Recent/Upcoming Designs include MINORITY (Women’s Project & Colt Coeur), THE MONSTERS (Berkley Rep), FUN HOME, PURPOSE, and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (Huntington Theatre), MEMNON (The Classical Theatre of Harlem), MINOR MUSIC AT THE END OF THE WORLD (International Theatre of Amsterdam/Venice Biennale/BAM), UHURU (Alley Theatre) and APPROPRIATE (The Old Globe). She’s currently a Terrence McNally Fellow with Rattlestick Theatre. She’s a current Terrance McNally Fellow with Rattlestick Theatre and recently developed her play Potliqka with them as well as the Public Theatre with the Spotlight Series. Jennings holds an MFA in costume design from NYU Tish School of the Arts.
Chelsea Zalikowski | Visual Access Engineer
Chelsea is excited to be a part of the WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND community! She previously worked with Deaf West on ELEPHANT SHOES at Two River Theater. Thanks to DJ Kurs and Jeff Perri for their continued conversation and collaboration.
Lucy Whitehead | Click Light Operator
Lucy Whitehead is thrilled to be joining the S&F team! Lucy is rising fourth-year at the University of Chicago studying Theater and Performance Studies and English with a primary focus on directing. On campus Lucy directs plays, acts as the managing director small performing arts student group, performs improv with a student improv group, and works in the theater department as an administrative assistant. Most recently, she served as the assistant director for the world premiere of Untitled Vampire Play at Lookingglass Theater. She is currently serving as the directing apprentice at Definition Theater for their 2026 Season. She is excited to engage with the vibrant artistic community at NYSAF this summer!
Ryan Weadon | Visual Access Operator
Ryan is excited to be joining Deaf West for this production! He is an audio and video editor, composer, and producer who is dedicated to providing access in the arts. His work has been experienced by audiences all over the world through podcasts, video, albums, and live performances. Most recently he was on the captioning team for the world premiere of ELEPHANT SHOES at Two River Theater. Find more of his work at ryanweadon.com.
Jared Stein | Music Director + Conductor
Jared has spent his career as a music director and music supervisor for live theater, film and television. His credits include the Broadway and touring productions of AMERICAN IDIOT, HAIR, SPRING AWAKENING (1ST NATIONAL AND DEAF WEST THEATER), and RENT. In Los Angeles, he served as associate musical director for both GREASE LIVE! and RENT: LIVE. He appeared as a guest music director on Disney+’s series ENCORE!, and completed 5 seasons as music arranger/producer for Freeform’s GOOD TROUBLE. His first feature film as executive music producer, YOUR MONSTER, was accepted to Sundance Film Festival in 2024. Last summer, he served as associate music director for The Hollywood Bowl’s production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR starring Cynthia Erivo. Jared is the co-founder and executive artistic director for A.I.R. (Arts Incubator Ranch), a non-profit based in Bozeman, MT dedicated to educational opportunities and developmental residencies for artists from around the country. www.airmt.org
Ben Page | Associate Music Director + KEYS
Ben Page is a non-binary musical author, music director, and performer born and raised in Toronto, now based in New York. Ben’s composition debut LEAVING EDEN (book and lyrics by Jenny Waxman) won best musical in the New York Musical Festival in 2019. Their most recent work, ALL THE COWS ARE DEAD, for which they wrote book, music, and lyrics, premiered in January with Talk is Free theatre. Ben is a graduate of NYU’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. Selected performance credits include: JACK IN INTO THE WOODS (Koerner Hall) Young Henry in THE INHERITANCE (Canadian Stage). Cast albums: ALICE (Bad Hats), URSA: A FOLK MUSICAL (Uncommon Folk Collective).
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Amanda Kuo | Production Assistant/ Stage Management Intern
Amanda Kuo (she/they) is originally from Little Rock, Arkansas by way of Buffalo, New York and is excited for her first season at S&F! She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Religious Studies from Kenyon College. During their time at Kenyon, they worked as a First Hand in the costume shop for four years as well as producing and stage managing various theater productions. Her previous credits include THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED)(REVISED)(AGAIN) (Shake on the Lake), HENRY V (Shake on the Lake), 1776 (Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre), THE AUTOBIPUPPETRY OF JEGHETTO (NYS Puppet Festival), ERNIE'S SECRET LIFE (NYS Puppet Festival). She is the 2026-28 Miranda Family Foundation Production Fellow at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Co. in Washington D.C.
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Mars Juno Bartolome Neri | Production Assistant
Mars Juno Bartolome Neri (they/them) is an artist and stage manager dedicated to supporting those who want to tell their personal stories and creating community through social justice oriented art through new plays or devised works. Their passion lies in community care and the joy that can be found through these collaborative storytelling processes. They’re devoted to doing work that brings unheard voices and untold stories to light. Previous collaborators include Leviathan Lab, NAATCO, Breaking the Binary Theatre, National Queer Theater, JACK, and Signature Theatre DC. marsjbneri.com
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Tatiana Baccari | Directing Assistant
Tatiana (she/they) is a director making tragicomic theater and films that explore grief, disability, dissent, and intergenerational change by connecting with audiences through the inexplicable. Select new play credits: RADIO MAN by Sarah Groustra (World Premiere/The Paradise Factory), MONSTROUS by Elle Thoni (ColLABo Residency), THEN ACT LIKE IT by Savannah Lyons Anthony (Writing Is Live/Brown University), HEAVEN IS SOMETHING TO KEEP YOU WARM by Kandace James (Carnegie Mellon University), and DAUGHTERS OF THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION by Dana Leslie-Goldstein (Brave New World Rep). Production credits include THE TAMING OF THE SHREW (NYU Tisch/Atlantic Acting School), MR. BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY by Anne Washburn (CMU), LEAR by Young Jean Lee (CMU), and ANIMALS OUT OF PAPER by Rajiv Joseph (Jobsite Theater/Straz Center). Tatiana has served as an assistant/associate regionally at Asolo Rep, Geva Theatre, Northern Stage, and City Theatre Company. She is a 2026-2028 Drama League Stage Directing Fellow. BFA: NYU Tisch. MFA: John Wells Fellow at Carnegie Mellon University. TatianaBaccari.com.
Deborah Hecht | Vocal Coach
DEBORAH HECHT (Dialect coach) - BROADWAY: 101 productions, including THE BALUSTERS, RAGTIME, THE GREAT GATSBY, SWEENEY TODD, HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, HANGMEN, ANGELS IN AMERICA (original and recent Broadway productions), THE FERRYMAN. The full list can be seen at IBdb.com. OFF-BROADWAY: Encores! RAGTIME, TITANIC; hundreds of productions including Seaview Studio (THE UNKNOWN with Sean Hayes), Playwrights Horizons (PRINCE FAGGOT), MCC, MTC, Signature (GRANGEVILLE), Vineyard, Laura Pels, others. REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL: LaJolla Playhouse (WORKING GIRL), Berkeley Rep (HARRY CLARKE with Billy Crudup), Seattle Rep, Yale Rep, Long Wharf, Huntington, others. International: Royal National Theatre (BURIED CHILD), RSC (THE WINTER'S TALE), West End (HARRY CLARKE). FILM: MOANA, ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD, UNDER THE SKIN, KINSEY, others. TV: many including TOKYO VICE, WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES.
Justine Rivera | ASL Interpreter
Justine Rivera she/her (Interpreter) is a nationally certified ASL Interpreter and a proud Coda (Child of Deaf Adults). Interpreted theater credits include: PUBLIC CHARGE, TARTUFFE, ARCHDUKE, RADIO CITY’S CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR, & JULIET, MAYBE HAPPY ENDING, SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK’S HAMLET and TWELFTH NIGHT, THE CHURCHILL PLAYS, YELLOW FACE, SALLY & TOM, PERICLES, HELL’S KITCHEN, I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE, SWEENEY TODD, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, CAROLINE, OR CHANGE, HADESTOWN, and SOFT POWER.
J’da Damas | ASL Interpreter
Mark Weissglass | ASL Interpreter
Mark Weissglass is a nationally certified ASL interpreter whose interpreting credits include SWEENEY TODD and THE BOOK OF MORMON on Broadway, HERE THERE ARE BLUEBERRIES at New York Theater Workshop, THE ANTIQUITIES and STAFF MEAL at Playwrights Horizons, TITANIC and BAT BOY at New York City Center, THE BAKER’S WIFE at Classic Stage Company, and several seasons at Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. As a creative and behind the scenes, Mark has worked at IRT, New York Deaf Theater, Deaf Spotlight, The Shed, and with the drama department at Lexington School for the Deaf.
Lynette Taylor | ASL Interpreter
Pradanya Subramanyan | Intimacy Consultant
Pradanya Subramanyan (she/her) is an Indian American intimacy director, creative producer, and community-based advocate dedicated to building equitable, inclusive spaces in the arts. She holds a specialized background in new work development, allowing her to join a team confidently from early developmental touchpoints to fully realized productions. Tailoring her approach to each project, whether exploring the text with a playwright to ensure intimate moments drive the narrative forward and feel earned, or choreographing the visual language, she integrates intimacy at any stage of production. At the heart of her practice is a commitment to destigmatizing intimacy and dismantling cultural barriers. By equipping artists with practical tools for autonomy and consent, Pradanya fosters the empowered, collaborative environment needed to bring authentic human connection to life onstage. | pradanyasubramanyan.com.
CAST
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Rayly Aquino | Edward
Rayly Aquino is an actor, writer, and activist advocating for the disability and LGBTQ+ communities. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in the Bronx, New York, Aquino’s early life and cultural roots deeply inform his creative voice and storytelling. He began his artistic journey through dance training at the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club on Randall’s Avenue in the Bronx, where he developed a strong foundation in performance and self-expression. His path later expanded into fashion, where he explored modeling and cultivated a distinct visual identity that continues to influence his multidisciplinary work. Aquino has been featured in and starred in award-winning short films, including A BRONX STORY (2021) and THE BEAUTY OF BEING DEAF (2021), further establishing his presence as a compelling on-screen talent. He is the founder of the NYC-based publication Rewired Blues and has built a dynamic career across film, media, and storytelling. As a creative, he is committed to producing meaningful, socially driven content that uplifts marginalized voices and fosters community.
Noah Buchholz | The Man
Noah Buchholz is an actor, poet, and translator based in NYC. Recent acting credits include u/s Jake and Tim in TRASH (Out of the Box/PAC NYC), Dad in SONGS FOR HANDS ON A THURSDAY (Prospect Musicals), Dr. Pomatter in WAITRESS (Deaf Broadway/Lincoln Center), and Edward Ferrars in a staged reading of SENSE & SENSIBILITY (Deaf West). He recently served as Director of Interpreters for KING LEAR (The Shed), ALADDIN (Broadway), and PIRATES! (Broadway). Other highlights include having a poem exhibited at the Guggenheim and winning an international sign language improv poetry competition. Noah is also Senior Lecturer and Director of the ASL program at Princeton University, where he teaches courses in ASL, disability/Deaf studies, and ASL literature. He would like to thank his family, friends, the production team, and the cast for their incredible support. www.noahbuchholz.com
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Kate Connors | Earl
Kate Connors is a Brooklyn-based actor, writer, and graduate of the William Esper Studio. Their short play, IN THE MINUTES BEFORE I LEAVE, was a Finalist at the Queens Short Play Festival and featured at the New York Theatre Festival. They can be seen in the upcoming short films HIGHLY MOTIVATED INDIVIDUALS and UNLIMITED FOREVER AND EVER NO MATTER WHAT and are in development for their own short film, I NEED TO GET THIS OFF MY CHEST. Endless gratitude to Deaf West, the whole WHISTLE team, and Robyn Bluestone Management. www.kateconnors.org
Savannah Dahan | Swallow
Savannah Dahan is a Deaf actress, dancer, content creator, and advocate from Maryland. She is best known as the first Deaf KIDZ BOP Kid, where she has spent three years making music more accessible through American Sign Language. Savannah has also appeared on LAW & ORDER and uses her social media platforms to share ASL music, lifestyle content, and Deaf awareness with hundreds of thousands of followers. In 2022, she received the Youth Activism Award for her advocacy and community impact. When she’s not performing, Savannah enjoys baking, creating educational content, and volunteering. She is thrilled to be joining the company of WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND and is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such a talented team.
Jared Dixon | Ghost of Prison Guard
Jared Dixon recently ‘Aaron Burr’ in HAMILTON on Broadway and tour. THE LION KING (‘Simba’), THE COLOR PURPLE (‘Grady’), HAIRSPRAY (‘Seaweed’), IN THE HEIGHTS (‘Benny’) and SISTER ACT (‘Eddie’).
Adi Dougherty | Brat
Adi Dougherty has sung at The Kennedy Center in "THE NUTCRACKER"; performed as a member of the Adventure Theatre MTC Pre-Pro Theater Troupe; and with the Children’s Chorus of Washington. In addition to performing, she plays piano, guitar, and clarinet and has training in jazz, modern, and hip hop dance. Adi is a proud CODA who is fluent in American Sign Language (ASL). She enjoys developing her skills across theater, music, and dance and is excited to continue growing as a young performer.
Mya Rena Hunter | Candy
Mya is thrilled to bring this story to life at NYS&F this summer! Proud CODA and Houston native. National Tour: ÉPONINE, LES MISÉRABLES. Regional: DYNAMITE, HAIRSPRAY (Fulton Theatre, Maine State Music Theatre). BFA Musical Theatre, Howard U. She extends her gratitude to the cast and creative team of Whistle Down the Wind for this experience. Endless love to her parents, sisters, community, and team at BRS/Gage. AVID! IG: @mya.rena
Marina Jansen | Vocal Ensemble
Marina Jansen is so excited to make her New York Stage & Film debut in this amazing show! Selected credits include the original Broadway cast of HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO, the world premiere of ALWAYS SOMETHING THERE at the Marriott Theatre, and the Macy’s Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. Elon Music Theatre 2025. Thank you to DGRW, Telsey, and for my amazing ASL teachers! www.marinajansen.com
Marc Kudisch | Boone
Most recently Lee Collins in FLOYD COLLINS, his 16th Broadway show.
3 time Tony Award nominee: Trevor Graydon/THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, Baron Bomburst/CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, Franklin Hart/9 TO 5; 2 time Outer Critics Award nominee, 4 time Drama Desk Award nominee and winner for THE WAYSIDE MOTOR INN at The Signature Theatre.
Opera: ADORATION (2026 Grammy nomination), TRADE and ANATOMY THEATRE-Prototype Festival (world premieres), A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, PIRATES OF PENZANCE-NYC Opera, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, ANATOMY THEATRE, TRADE, WONDERFUL TOWN-LA Opera, THE NEW PRINCE-The Dutch National Opera (world premiere)
Select TV/Film: Dr Gus on BILLIONS (Showtime), Ty Rathbone on THE TICK (Amazon), Billy Kastner on LATE NIGHT (Amazon), Roger Wade on MINDHUNTER (Netflix), and Conrad Birdie on BYE BYE BIRDIE (ABC/Hallmark TV)
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Romy Kurs | Charity
Romy Kurs is delighted to be part of WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND. At home in both English and American Sign Language, she loves to perform. Romy is honored to share the stage with this remarkable company of deaf and hearing artists, and thanks her family for their love and support.
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Taylor-Brinaé Lane | Louise
Taylor-Brinaé is an 11-year-old singer, performer, and viral social media sensation from Atlanta, Georgia. Known for her powerful voice and captivating stage presence, she has been inspiring audiences since the age of four.
She has been featured on THE JENNIFER HUDSON SHOW and Fox 5 Atlanta’s GOOD DAY ATLANTA, performed the Black National Anthem live on Atlanta News First during the JUNETEENTH ATLANTA PARADE broadcast, and opened the FIFA WORLD CUP FASHION EXPERIENCE at Atlanta City Hall with a performance of the National Anthem. Her performances have garnered millions of views online and recognition from acclaimed artists including Billie Eilish and H.E.R..
Through music, Taylor-Brinaé inspires young people to dream big, lead with confidence, and use their gifts to make a positive impact.
Josué Martinez | Luis
Josué Martinez is a Deaf artist from Georgia and a rising sophomore pursuing a BFA in Musical Theater with a minor in Political Science at Pace University in New York City. Josué loves experimenting and discovering new ways of storytelling because, after all, that’s the magic of theater. Beyond performing, you can usually find him baking cookies while blasting Beyoncé or playing the piano. He is thrilled to be part of this workshop and to reunite with Deaf West Theatre after previously appearing in American Idiot. He would like to thank his mom, his brothers, and his teachers for their endless tough love and support.
IG: @jsuemrtinez
John McGinty | The Preacher
John McGinty is a Deaf actor whose work spans Broadway, film, television, and regional theater. On Broadway, he has appeared in OUR TOWN alongside Jim Parsons and Katie Holmes, CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD with Joshua Jackson, and KING LEAR starring Glenda Jackson. He made history as the first Deaf actor to portray Quasimodo in THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME at Sacramento Music Circus and La Mirada Theatre. His selected regional theater credits include TRIBES (Steppenwolf Theatre Company and the Guthrie Theater), PIPPIN (Center Theatre Group/Deaf West Theatre), BLOCK ASSOCIATION (Actors Theatre of Louisville), and LEVITY. His selected film credits include BETTER NATE THAN EVER, WONDERSTRUCK, THE FIRST PURGE, SIGN, and UP UNTIL NOW. His selected television credits include NEW AMSTERDAM, LISey's Story, ZOEY'S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST, THIS CLOSE, and HIGH MAINTENANCE. He continues to develop new work, including the upcoming feature film HAPPY HOURS, which reunites him with Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson.
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Anthony Norman | Amos
ALW debut, NYS&F debut, Deaf West debut! Does it get any better than that?! Theater credits include: Evan in Dear Evan Hansen (1st Nat'l), The Prom (OBC), Newsies (1st Nat'l), Reefer Madness (LA Revival), Pump up the Volume (LA Fringe). TV credits include: Happy's Place (NBC), Mare of Easttown (HBO), Chicago Med (NBC), Newsies Live! (Netflix/Disney). Thank you to Telsey for "thinking of me" (shout out Phantom of the Opera), to Colette (the whistle to my wind), to Nate (my best friend), to Mom (for letting me use the car to drive to and from Millikin to Chicago for auditions and shows), and to you, for being here. I'm so glad you are here.
Titilayo Odupolu | Lavonne
Titilayo Odupolu. She is born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a rising sophomore in Kennesaw State University. She is majoring in Theatre and Performance Studies with concentration of Musical Theatre and minor in Biology for pre-dental track. This is her first professional workshop. She is thrilled to participate into this wonderful opportunity. She has a passion in expressing her stories. She intended to take up more space and share more knowledge of the beauty of Deaf and Black Cultures.
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Dylan Patterson | Clarence
Dylan Patterson is a young actor currently starring as Winthrop Paroo on the national tour of THE MUSIC MAN. He previously made his Off-Broadway debut as Brendan in DRAG: THE MUSICAL at New World Stages. His additional theater credits include OLIVER! (Oliver), SEUSSICAL (Baby Elephant Bird), and SPONGEBOB THE MUSICAL (Perch Perkins). Dylan trains with respected industry coaches in acting, voice, audition technique, and voiceover performance, continually refining his craft. Offstage, he enjoys playing baseball, basketball, and football, gaming on his PS5, and speaks Ilonggo and Tagalog. Dylan is passionate about storytelling and looks forward to continuing to grow as a performer both on stage and in new creative opportunities.
Adam Rawlings | Sheriff/Minister
Adam Rawlings is a Brooklyn based performer and they are thrilled to be working with Deaf West Theater again. Most recently, they were in A TRU-BIZ CABARET at The Green Room 42 performing alongside deaf and hearing performers. Before that, they were apart of the workshops for the Deaf West musical that eventually became ELEPHANT SHOES. They are forever grateful for their supportive roommates, Noelle and David, for helping with countless self tapes. Special shoutout to their parents, for taking them to see Deaf West’s Spring Awakening as their first Broadway show. Follow them on Instagram @adamerawlings for future updates.
Alona Jane Robbins | Elizabeth
Alona Jane Robbins is a young Deaf actor who made her film debut alongside Sarah Paulson in the thriller, HOLD YOUR BREATH. Alona has also guest-starred on episodes of the television series LAW & ORDER and NEW AMSTERDAM.
Alona made her theater debut with Deaf Broadway as Lulu in WAITRESS and subsequently starred as Young Vi in VIOLET, both performed at Lincoln Center. She most recently appeared in THANK YOU RYAN FOR A CLEAN MICROWAVE, at The Shed.
Born and raised in New York City, Alona is a big sister, an obsessive reader, and loves traveling and knocking back oysters.
Alston Robbins | Poor Baby
Alston Robbins is a proud SODA (Sibling of Deaf Adult) — his older sister is Deaf, so he began learning ASL with his family and beloved Deaf babysitter the moment he was born. He is a student at NYC’s P.S. 347 THE ASL & ENGLISH SCHOOL and has spent many summers attending camp at Gallaudet University.
Alston has always had a passion for performing, so he’s taken a variety of dance, musical theater, and voice classes. In addition to ASL, one of Alston’s super powers is the ability to sing a song after hearing it just once. Alston also loves dressing up in costumes that he designs, building with Lego blocks, and, of course, singing, singing, and more singing!
Emjay Roa | Winston
Emjay Roa is thrilled to be part of WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND. Most recently, he made his Broadway debut as Little Michael in MJ THE MUSICAL. His regional theater credits include SOUTH PACIFIC (Jerome, Goodspeed Musicals) and THE BODYGUARD (Fletcher, Theatre By The Sea). He has also appeared in readings of CHIMNEY TOWN (Young Lubicci) and BIG FISH (Young Will), and his voice can be heard in ALMA’S WAY, DORA THE EXPLORER, and HORTON! Special thanks to Anjali and Kainoa, his manager, John Mara Jr., David Doan and the team at CESD, Barbara Coleman and the team at Innovative Artists, Random Farms, Dance Molinari, Alyson Isbrandtsen, and Nattalyee Randall. He is grateful to the Telsey Office and Bill Rauch for this incredible opportunity! @emjayroa
Elena Shaddow | Ghost of Swallow’s Mother
Broadway: THE VISIT, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, THE WOMAN IN WHITE, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, NINE, SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS, LES MISÉRABLES. Tours: THE KING AND I as Anna Leonowens, THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA as Clara Johnson. Favorite Regional: Mary in MARY POPPINS, Maria in THE SOUND OF MUSIC, Sara in GUYS & DOLLS, Lili in CARNIVAL! TV/FILM: FBI: INTERNATIONAL, NCIS: NEW ORLEANS, CONVICTION, PERSON OF INTEREST, THE INTERN, TIME AFTER TIME, THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE! Symphony: Royal Philharmonic, Orchestra of Saint Luke’s, Pacific, Milwaukee, North Carolina, New Bedford, Newport, Rochester, Albany. elenashaddow.net, @elenashaddowofficial
Pax Stein | Ramona
PAX STEIN is so excited to make her debut with New York Stage & Film and Deaf West Theater's production of WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND! Pax's favorite roles so far include Rafiki in THE LION KING and Charlie Bucket in WILLY WONKA, JR. with Bozeman Children's Theater, plus Belinda Cratchit in A CHRISTMAS CAROL at the Ellen Theater. She can next be seen as Ivonka in Opera Montana's upcoming production of ONCE. On screen, Pax played Young Clara in the upcoming film CLARA BOONE. She studies voice at Aimée Steele Vocal Studio in NYC and theater with Camp Equinox. Pax also loves playing drums, viola, and piano. Huge thanks to her parents for always cheering her on and allowing her to dream big!
Mina Sanatdar Stevens | Stage Directions
Mina Sanatdar Stevens (they/them) is an Iranian-Irish American poet, scholar, and non-profit administrator. They previously worked as Assistant to the Executive Director of The Manton Avenue Project, and are thrilled to join S&F this summer as a Producing Assistant. They are in their Junior year at Smith College and look forward to graduating with a degree in American Studies with a minor in Theatre and a concentration in Poetry.
MUSICIANS
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John Kengla | Guitarist
New York City based guitarist, composer, multi-instrumentalist and singer.
Performances/Recordings: Aaron Lee Tasjan, Deva Mahal, Ana Egge, Serena Ryder, Jason Derulo, Jonathan Batiste, Tom Kitt, Tim Easton, Mary McBride, Jamie Mclean, Ben Kweller, The Madison Square Gardeners, Red Wanting Blue, and many others.
Broadway and Musical Theatre: HAMILTON, ALADDIN, ALMOST FAMOUS, ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, David Byrne’s JOAN OF ARC, Green Day’s AMERICAN IDIOT, THE KING’S WIFE, The Royal Shakespeare Company, ROCK OF AGES, U2’s SPIDER-MAN.
Dominic LaMorte | Bassist
Dominic LaMorte is a bassist who works primarily in theatre, orchestral, folk, and contemporary music; he can be heard playing on and off Broadway, at beloved venues and halls across NYC, and touring the U.S. & abroad. National tours: KIMBERLY AKIMBO, OKLAHOMA! (Associate Conductor). Festivals: Next Festival for Emerging Artists, Edinburgh Fringe, Internationales Jazzfestival Bern. He is also a private instructor, recording artist, and an avid collector of books and records.
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Maggy Simon | Violinist
Maggy Simon is a Brooklyn-based violinist, educator, songwriter, and collaborator whose work spans performance, teaching, and creative artistry. She is a member of the Dream String Quartet, known for the ensemble’s unique ability to sing while playing their instruments, and also leads a folk-indie project.
Maggy teaches Middle School String Orchestra at Grace Church Charter School and maintains a private violin, viola, and piano studio.
She has performed with Yasmin Williams for NPR's Tiny Desk, Don Toliver on The Tonight Show, Yandel at Radio City Music Hall, Broadway Sings, the Philadelphia Pops Orchestra, Palaver Strings, the Brooklyn Chamber Orchestra, and Playbill's Songwriter Series. Her Off-Broadway credits include the viola chair for PRTT's production of THE WEDDING MARCH and subbing on violin/viola for BLOOD LOVE.
Maggy holds a Master's degree in Violin Performance from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor's degree in Music Education and Violin Performance from Temple University.
Derek Stoltenberg | Drummer
Derek is a freelance drummer/percussionist in NYC where he has played on multiple Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, as well as in concert with artists such as Kristin Chenoweth and Jessica Vosk. He was most recently seen making his acting debut in BEAU: THE MUSICAL at Theater 154 and St. Luke’s Playhouse.
SUPPORT
Ashley Caturano | Child Wrangler
Ashley Caturano is a NYC DOE Special Education & Math teacher. She teaches at a Musical Theater school and is so thrilled to be working with the child actors performing in WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND!
Annalise Schuck | Child Wrangler
Annalise Schuck is a recent graduate from Princeton University’s Engineering and Theater programs, who often does technical direction, scenic design, and stage management. She is so excited to join S&F and Deaf West for WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND, and she especially congratulates the child actors on their hard work!
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ASL and Deaf Culture Training Facilitator | Alyssa Buchholz
Alyssa teaches American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf culture at The College of New Jersey. She also runs a compliance consulting business, working with healthcare organizations on language access and disability rights. In addition, she has collaborated on theater projects with Deaf West, providing ASL and Deaf culture training to support effective collaboration between hearing and Deaf artists.