JONESBOROUGH REPERTORY THEATRE

Stage Hands uses both spoken English and American Sign Language to communicate dialogue while acting out each play. The group plans to take both classic stories and the art of theatre into area schools. At the same time, Stage Hands hopes to introduce hearing children to the beauty of American Sign Language and Deaf culture.

Stage Hands celebrated its premier performance(s) Tuesday, May 6, 2006, with Aesop’s Fables. It held two shows for The Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Learning and Development at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, and an afternoon performance for Mountain Empire Baptist School and Deaf School in Bristol, TN.

The current Stage Hands players include Shelby Edwards, Brandy Farris, Janette Gaines, Magda Gaines, Molly Gaines, Patty Harmon, and Karisha (Cissy) Little. These talented people have been working on several of the most well known of Aesop’s Fables. Some of which include The Boy That Cried Wolf, The Hare and the Tortoise, and The Fox Without a Tail.

Currently, Stage Hands is focusing on the October Main Stage production of The Firebird by Evan Guilford-Blake. Open auditions are set for August 3 and 4. Following the performances, the group will once again be preparing to take shows on the road to local schools and events.

If you are interested in having Stage Hands perform at your school or special event, please call 423-791-4440.

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