Close-up of Jamie Fidler's Eye

Well, Bells Are Ringing is done! The interpreted performance on February 12 was a great success, with a large audience from the Deaf community.  Everyone at TerpTheatre is so thankful for the members of the cast of Bells Are Ringing, including its director, creative team and crew.  We’re especially excitedContinue Reading

James Cech and Jamie Fidler

So, Jamie and James have finished their performance of Bells Are Ringing, and we’re dying to know … Did you come to the show? What did you think? J & J started their day at the afternoon performance of Bells Are Ringing at 2 o’clock.  They had been rehearsing on-stageContinue Reading

The Eisenhower Auditorium, with the set for Bells Are Ringing

James and Jamie have worked hard to make themselves as visible as possible while they shadow the cast of Bells Are Ringing.  You could sit almost anywhere, and still seem them most of the time. But, there is a ‘sweet spot‘ for watching the interpreters for Bells Are Ringing atContinue Reading

Allison Kochanski rehearsing for Bells Are Ringing.

TerpTheatre typically rehearses for a show for about 5 weeks before the performance.  Hundreds of hours are spent at the theatre and at home, translating lines from English to ASL, memorizing those lines, and then working with the actors on how move with them throughout the production. Here is aContinue Reading

Close-up of Jamie Fidler's Eye

One of the things that hearing people don’t know about ASL [ American Sign Language ] is that names aren’t generally spelled each time.  Most membersof the Deaf community have ‘sign names‘ – unique signs that identify an individual.  Each sign name is really specific to one person.  This means thatContinue Reading

Close-up of Bells Are Ringing costume pieces.

Have you ever heard the expression, “It takes a village”?  Well, it takes at least a neighborhood to put costumes on the cast of Bells Are Ringing. Most people who go to see a play or musical the size of Bells would be shocked to find out how many peopleContinue Reading

Karen Sheridan

Here is a picture of me. I look very conservative. What’s up with that?!  Danny probably doesn’t even recognize this woman!  (Actually I’m duct-taped to the chair.) But, despite anything TerpTheatre may say about me, I am delighted to be celebrating the beginning of our 13th year of collaboration!  The first show was Children ofContinue Reading

One important question that we ask when beginning to work on a production is, “What will the set look like?”  Because we move on stage with the actors, it is important that we understand the details of the physical environment.  We need to how to get around on stage quicklyContinue Reading

Jake Wood and James Cech in Bells Are Ringing

“We just started working with them and I am excited to see how our relationships evolve with them on stage.”Continue Reading

Jamie Fidler and Jame Cech

Jamie Fidler and James Cech attended rehearsal for the first time for Bells Are Ringing tonight at Oakland University.  The huge cast has been hard at work for weeks – focusing mainly on practicing the show’s many songs and learning choreography. The show is directed by Karen Sheridan, who hasContinue Reading