Columbus State American Sign Language Students Take the Stage at Shadowbox Live

Students from the Interpreter Education Program at Columbus State Community College will once again be joining the metaperformers of Shadowbox Live for two shows of Holiday Hoopla!

Last year, Shadowbox Live invited American Sign Language students from Columbus State to interpret select performances of the popular Holiday Hoopla both as a service for any hearing impaired patrons and as a learning experience unlike any other for the Interpreter Education Program.

"Shadowbox Live has numerous hearing impaired patrons who request interpreted performances," says Stacie Boord, Community Relations Director. "We'd used a wide variety of services, but I always felt they were a little flat. I knew the experience could be so much better if I had the opportunity to help train them."

Boord then contacted Columbus State Administration with a radical idea, an American Sign Language class focused on interpreting a performing arts show. Columbus State quickly agreed and, for the first time, incorporated a theatrical performance elective into their Interpreter Education Program, a two-year degree that trains American Sign Language interpreters for a wide variety of settings. Last year's students interpreted both sides of the Shadowbox stage, signing the lyrics along with the singers, and jumping in and out of multiple characters from the sketch comedy scenes.

"The class was developed so ASL students could learn how to be more engaging for the audience," says Boord. "When you're interpreting live performance, you have to match the energy level of the actors and singers. You have to adopt the physicality of a character so the audience knows at a glance which one you're interpreting. Essentially we asked these ASL students to become performers themselves."

After a semester of learning stage craft, and receiving onstage coaching the students were ready to get on stage with the Shadowbox Livemetaperformers in front of hundreds of people. The result was overwhelmingly positive feedback from the audiences, students and instructors!

"This helps them in interpreting situations in the future," says Lori Peters, Columbus State Interpreting Instructor. "I have seen students grow over the semester, feeling more confident about their interpretations and about being on stage with others watching. They have been pushed to take on personality traits of characters that are much different then their own, and in the interpreting profession, this is key when trying to convey the message of the speaker."

And while the students were acting out the sketches and bopping along to the holiday rock 'n' roll, the audiences were loving it!

"The bonus for us is not only does it provide a better way for our hearing impaired patrons to experience Holiday Hoopla," says Boord, "but when the students truly get into the show, it becomes another entertaining performance discipline for everyone to enjoy."

With such a win-win scenario, Shadowbox Live is thrilled to announce the performance dates that will be interpreted by this year's Columbus State students, an open preview night on December 7th, and the official showcase on December 14th!

"Last year was wonderfully successful! It was a reunion of a large portion of the deaf community that wildly exceeded our expectations!" says Boord. "Columbus State has an amazing program, and we are so happy to be able to provide a new angle to help educate these students. Hopefully we can continue and perhaps even expand on this collaboration in the future!"

Holiday Hoopla featuring Columbus State Student Interpreters will be showing on Weds December 7th and 14th at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $20 - $35. Hearing impaired patrons receive a $10 discount. For more information or to make reservations, call the Box Office at 614-416-7625 or visit www.shadowboxlive.org.