"Basilisks, Bears and Assorted Beasties," a compilation of favorite children's stories, will be presented May 12-13 by the Los Angeles Little Theatre of the Deaf.
The touring ensemble of both deaf and hearing actors uses an innovative combination of sign and spoken language to bring the world's great literature to life.The company's latest piece is a collection of stories, fables and poems from the worlds of fantasy and imagination. It was adapted for the stage by Will Rhys, artistic director for the National Theatre for the Deaf (NTD).
Members of the L.A. LTD company are Robbi Hunt, Donna Scarfe and Alan Spo Schwartz. Two of the three actors are deaf.
The troupe will perform at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at the Utah Community Center for the Deaf, 5709 S. 1500 West, in Taylorsville. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under. For advance reservations, call 263-4860.
"The music of the hand and also in the voice will delight children of all ages," according to Dale H. Boam of the Utah center. "You just need an active imagination and an appetite for fun."
The first children's ensemble of the National Theatre of the Deaf was established in 1968 in Chester, Conn., where the Tony Award-winning NTD is based. Since then, the LTD has performed in schools, community centers, theaters and museums around the world. Its popularity inspired the creation of a second, Los Angeles-based company in 1992.
The company tailors its performances to accommodate school schedules. Each performance includes an informative introduction to American sign language.