Mathilda and the Orange Balloon - US
Based on the book Mathilda and the Orange Balloon, text © 2010 by Randall de Sève, illustrations © 2010 by Jen Corace
In development as part of New Victory LabWorks at The New Victory Theater in New York City. The play is being redeveloped in ASL with Senses Askew Company and produced by Flying Leap Productions
Mathilda and the Orange Balloon is a groundbreaking new play for Deaf, hearing, and Hard of Hearing (HoH) children and families created by a team of Deaf, hearing, and HoH artists. There is almost no theater accessible to Deaf and HoH kids, and even less for Deaf, HoH and hearing people to enjoy together – which is a big deal, since most Deaf children are born to hearing parents. This play, which has been successful in the United Kingdom with the DH Ensemble, would likely be the first theater experience for many of our audiences.
We are raising $10,000 through Flying Leap Productions to pay for workshops this March at the New Victory.
Donations are tax-deductible*. CLICK HERE TO DONATE ONLINE or scroll down for check donation information.
You can read more about the play below. Any donation – whether it is $10 or $10,000 – will help. If you aren’t in a position to donate, please consider sharing our page with someone you know who may be interested.
ABOUT THE PLAY
Hermon Berhane, Mia Ward, and Adam Jay Price in the DH Ensemble Production. Photo by David Monteith-Hodge.
Mathilda and the Orange Balloon is a groundbreaking new play created for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and hearing children and families to enjoy together.
Access is built in as part of the creative storytelling through spoken English, innovative animated projections, and sign language
Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and hearing kids and adults can all have an equal, shared experience – a big deal, since 90% of Deaf/HoH children are born to hearing parents with no experience of Deafness, and 70% of Deaf/HoH students are the only Deaf/HoH person in their class.
The story is all about a little sheep who discovers the joy of self-expression and acceptance of self and others, critical themes for young people, especially marginalized young people.
The UK production had sold out audiences, 4 star reviews, and a feature article in The Guardian online. Parents said, “My girls won’t stop talking about it… Wish I had something like this when I was growing up” and “I would 100% recommend this to other parents”.
You can view a trailer for the UK production here.
ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS
Theaters and schools in multiple states have expressed interest, but first we need to redevelop the play in American Sign Language.
WHERE – New Victory LabWorks is the foremost development lab for experimental new children’s theater. The New Victory, New York’s only nonprofit family theater, is a national leader in children’s theater located right in the heart of Broadway.
WHAT – A British Sign Language version of the play successfully toured the UK in 2019. Now, a team of Deaf and hearing American artists will create a new iteration of the play in American Sign Language. This process will begin in March 2020 and end in June 2020. We need to raise the first $10,000 by March 20th to pay for these workshops.
WHO – Deaf and hearing artists co-leading this workshop include:
Alexandria Wailes – Multi-hyphenated theatre maker. Seen in Spring Awakening on Broadway and in For Colored Girls and Mother Courage, both at the Public.
John McGinty – King Lear on Broadway, Children of a Lesser God, both on Broadway. The only Deaf council member at Actors Equity Association (the stage actor’s union).
Jess Kaufman – international children’s theater producer with credits in the US, UK, Mexico, and the Czech Republic.
We’re also working with: a talented DASL (Director of Artistic Sign Language), one of Broadway’s top theatre interpreters, expert dramaturg Amy Jensen, a talented cast of young Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and hearing actors, and bringing The DH Ensemble across the pond to consult.
To Make a Tax-deductible* Donation
Click the button or visit bit.ly/flying-leap to donate by credit or debit card
Checks made out to “Fractured Atlas” can be mailed to: Jess Kaufman, PO Box 1120, New York NY 10030.
Trusts and Foundations – a letter with EIN information is available upon request.
Questions? Email jess@jesskaufman.net
*Flying Leap Productions is a fiscally sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a nonprofit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of Flying Leap must be made payable to “Fractured Atlas” only and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Click here for more information about Fractured Atlas fiscal sponsorship.