Deaf and hearing students combine talents for Queens Theatre musical

Both students from the Lexington School for the Deaf and one from the Repertory Company High School for Theatre Arts performed at the Queens Theatre last week. Photo courtesy of the Queens Theatre.

By Victoria Merlino

More than 40 deaf and hearing students recently joined together to perform an inclusive showing of the play “Once Upon a Mattress” at the Queens Theatre in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. 

Each part was assigned two actors: one from the Lexington School for the Deaf and one from the Repertory Company High School for Theatre Arts. One student used American Sign Language to sign the role while the other would interpret them for those in the audience who did not know ASL. 

The shows took place on Dec. 11 and Dec. 12.

"This is not two high schools onstage: this is one company," show director Jared Lopatin wrote in the show's playbill. "You are not seeing Deaf students act and hearing students interpret for them. You are seeing one cast performing for you."

Lopatin, a teacher at Lexington, said he has long considered this kind of dual production. Lexington is located in East Elmhurst. 

"It's been a dream of mine to see Deaf and hearing actors working together to create something magical," Lopatin said. "We do not live in a vacuum. Theatre, especially, cannot happen alone. So, we share our cultures, our languages, our viewpoints, all while working toward a common goal."

“Once Upon a Mattress” is a comedic take on the fairytale “The Princess and the Pea,” and originally premiered in an off-Broadway theater in 1959. 

"We are thrilled we got to work with this amazing cast on this show," said Queens Theatre Executive Director Taryn Sacramone said in a statement. "It was an amazing show. And we are looking forward to working with the Lexington School for the Deaf on future projects."