Rocky Mountain Deaf Theatre's ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOOS NEST to Open 9/27

Rocky Mountain Deaf Theatre's (RMDT) Production of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest "presents the stage play with an added layer of depth. Dale Wasserman's play, adapted from Ken Kesey's novel, paints a vision where the lost souls of patients of a mental institution manage to feel human when they are befriended by a rebellious new patient named McMurphy. In RMDT's production, the patients represent Deaf culture, and the staff members represent the hearing majority to highlight a real-life Culture Clash experienced by deaf people around the globe. This new take gives the audience a glimpse of the isolation and communication difficulties experienced by many deaf patients in real-life medical situations.

The production has two directors, Rocky Mountain Deaf Theatre founder and Artistic Director, Nicki Runge, and guest director Pat Payne, a regional favorite. To highlight the directors' concept of communication difficulties between deaf and hearing worlds, their production uses a never-before-seen mix of communication strategies that will keep the audience engaged and leave them thinking about the deeper questions raised by the play for a long time to come.

"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" will be performed at Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora, CO 80010 September 27 through October 6. On October 18, 19 and 20 the show moves to the Colorado School for Deaf and Blind, 33 North Institute St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903. Cuckoo's Nest returns to the metro area October 25 through November 3 at the Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, CO 80302. All performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are available online at http://rmdeaftheatre.com/ or by emailing rmdeaftheatre@gmail.com.

Nicki Runge was amazed when she learned that there are over 16,000 fellow Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals in the Denver area and Front Range. She founded RMDT to give the Deaf Community a theater option where sign language is the focus, but that still appeals to audience members who do not know sign language by using voice interpreters. "I was tired of going to see live theater and having to choose between viewing the action or the sign language interpretation, but not being able to do both." She started RMDT with the mission to serve and support the art of American Sign Language on the stage, to promote the richness and variety of the art form in its fullest expression, and to advance the public interest in, and appreciation of the allied arts in theater with Deaf and Hearing actors.

An accomplished stage actor and director, Nicki started her Colorado acting career with the University of Northern Colorado's Theater Department where she earned her degree in Theatre Arts. Her professional debut was in PHAMALY's 2011 production of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying." In addition to managing RMDT and directing many of its productions, Runge teaches American Sign Language Theater workshops for children and adults. More information at http://rmdeaftheatre.com/

Rocky Mountain Deaf Theatre presents

An American Sign Language and Voice Performance

"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"

Sept. 27 - Oct. 6 @ Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora, CO 80010

Oct. 18 - 20 @ Colorado School for Deaf and Blind, 33 North Institute St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903.

Oct. 25 - Nov. 3 @ The Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, CO 80302.

All Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.

$30 cash at the door/$20 advance

For advance tickets, email: rmdeaftheatre@gmail.com or online at http://rmdeaftheatre.com/