First-of-its-kind American Sign Language (ASL) music theory lexicon to expand inclusive music education
Building a more accessible future for musical education in American Sign Language (ASL)
Beginning this fall, Pace University’s Sands College of Performing Arts and Deaf West Theatre, the Tony-honored company known for pioneering bilingual productions in American Sign Language (ASL) and English, are launching a groundbreaking artist-in-residence program focused on bridging performance and accessibility in musical theater training.
A key element of the residence program is the ASL Music Theory Lexicon Project — a first-of-its-kind, multi-phase initiative led by Deaf West Theatre to develop a comprehensive ASL lexicon for music theory. The goal is to expand access for deaf and hard-of-hearing students by creating clear, accurate signs for complex musical concepts such as rhythm, pitch, harmony, and notation — concepts that historically lack standardized visual language. The program will be broken up into multiple phases, with Phase I occurring during the fall semester with Sands College of Performing Arts musical theater BFA students and continuing through the 2025–2026 academic year.
“Sands College of Performing Arts admitted a deaf student — and an alumnus of our stages — into their prestigious BFA musical theatre program for the first time,” said DJ Kurs, artistic director of Deaf West Theatre. “While this is an extraordinary moment, it also raised an urgent question for us: How could we ensure that this student — and the many deaf artists who will follow — receive equitable access to the musical education their hearing peers take for granted? At Deaf West, we believe access is a creative asset, not a limitation. This residency with Sands College gives us the chance to create new tools for artists, ensuring that music and performance education are open to everyone.”
This collaborative residency will immerse Pace students in Deaf West’s inclusive performance practices from the very beginning of their theater training. Through class sessions and intensive workshops, students will explore Deaf West’s history, methodology, and impact.
“This partnership exemplifies our mission to prepare students not just for performance, but to be changemakers in the industry,” said Amanda Flynn, Ed.D., program head of musical theater at the Sands College of Performing Arts. “By engaging with Deaf West’s inclusive methods, our students are learning how access and innovation go hand in hand. This is the future of the performing arts — and our students are at the forefront.”
The residency is supported by an endowed fund at the Sands College of Performing Arts, which brings visiting artists to campus each semester to enhance the education and skills of Musical Theater undergraduates. Each artist collaborates with students on setting stage pieces, rehearsals, and providing an authentic, real-world performing arts experience.
Students will also gain hands-on experience with ASL musical staging and choreography under the guidance of Jennifer Weber, acclaimed choreographer known for Deaf West and Center Theatre Group’s co-production of Green Day’s American Idiot, Broadway’s & Juliet, and KPOP. Weber will be joined by ASL Choreographer, Daniela Maucere. Students will learn how movement adapts to support visual storytelling. In a bilingual rehearsal environment that values both deaf and hearing perspectives, they’ll discover how true collaboration breaks down barriers and expands storytelling.
“This residency represents what Sands College of Performing Arts is all about,” said Jennifer Holmes, Ph.D., dean of Sands College of Performing Arts. “We’re building an ecosystem where students learn from visionary artists who are shaping the future of the field. Deaf West’s approach to access, creativity and community is something we want every student to experience.”
The ASL Music Theory Lexicon Project was born not just from a desire to translate words into signs, but from a need to translate opportunity into equity. This project is a direct response to the voices of deaf artists who deserve full access to musical training — not as an accommodation, but as a right. Led by Christopher Tester, project lead and deaf subject matter expert; Christopher Lloyd Bratten-Zappala, project lead and music theory subject matter expert; and DJ Kurs, artistic director of Deaf West Theatre.
By the end of the residency, students will understand the foundations of Deaf West’s theatrical model, gain practical experience with ASL musical staging, further understand the intersection of deaf culture and mainstream theatre, and develop tools to approach access and inclusion as creative assets — not limitations.
“As both a proud Pace Musical Theater alum and a CODA — child of deaf adults — this residency is deeply personal to me,” said Jeff Perri '12, managing director of Deaf West Theatre. “To return to my alma mater and share our process with the next generation of artists is incredibly special. This isn’t just about teaching technique — it’s about giving students access to the moment of creation, where deaf and hearing cultures meet to build something greater together.”
About Deaf West Theatre
Committed to innovation, collaboration, training, and social change, Deaf West Theatre serves as the artistic bridge between the deaf and hearing worlds.
Founded in Los Angeles in 1991, Deaf West Theatre is dedicated to advancing accessibility, equity, and representation for the deaf community through groundbreaking arts projects. By engaging both deaf and hearing creatives and audiences, we amplify deaf perspectives and expand the definition of cultural life. As a vital force in the arts landscape, we elevate deaf artists and stories, ensuring visibility and impact in entertainment while fostering a more inclusive and dynamic artistic world.
Deaf West Theatre presents a dynamic blend of adaptations and original works in both voice and American Sign Language. Our productions feature deaf and hearing actors, directors, designers, and technicians, ensuring a rich and inclusive artistic environment. The visual elements of our shows, from sets and lighting to costume designs, uphold the highest standards of excellence, reflecting the unique visual aesthetic of our theater.
Recent and past productions include a new production of Green Day’s American Idiot, in a co-production with Center Theatre Group; the groundbreaking production of Beethoven’s only opera Fidelio with the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Maestro Gustavo Dudamel; a new play adaptation of Oedipus at the Getty Villa Museum directed and adapted by Jenny Koons; The Solid of Life of Sugar Water by Jack Thorne; Our Town, in a co-production with the Pasadena Playhouse; Edward Albee’s At Home at the Zoo, in a co-production with the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts; Spring Awakening the Musical, which transferred from Inner-City Arts to the Wallis and then to Broadway (three Tony Award® nominations including Best Revival of a Musical); American Buffalo (Los Angeles Times “Critic’s Choice”); Cyrano, a co-production with the Fountain Theatre (Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Production); Big River the Musical (Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle and Backstage Garland awards for Best Musical in its L.A. premiere, a Tony Award® nomination, and four Drama Desk Awards on Broadway); Pippin, produced at the Mark Taper Forum in a co-production with Center Theatre Group; Sleeping Beauty Wakes, also a co-production with Center Theatre Group, presented at the Kirk Douglas Theatre; Oliver! (Ovation Award for Best Musical) and A Streetcar Named Desire (Ovation Award for Best Play). In 2005, DWT was selected to receive the Highest Recognition Award by the Secretary of Health and Human Services for its “distinguished contributions to improve and enrich the cultural lives of deaf and hard of hearing actors and theater patrons.” To learn more, visit the Deaf West website.
David J. Kurs (Artistic Director) became the Artistic Director of Deaf West Theatre in 2012. He has produced award-winning plays and musicals, including Spring Awakening, which he shepherded from its beginnings as an intimate 99-seat theater production in Los Angeles before it went on to Broadway, earning multiple Tony Award® nominations and the world tour of Fidelio, in conjunction with Gustavo Dudamel. Kurs sees his role at Deaf West as integral to his continued advocacy and activism within the deaf community.
Jeff Perri (Managing Director) currently serves as the Managing Director at Deaf West since 2022. With a knack for high-level management and marketing, Jeff brings experience from the entertainment industry, specializing in Public Relations, Brand Development, Strategy, and Producing. Prior to joining Deaf West, Jeff refined his expertise within the advertising sector, specializing in entertainment and non-profit initiatives. His portfolio includes contributions to a diverse range of clients from well-known corporations to Tony Award®-winning plays and musicals. As a Child of Deaf Adult/s (CODA), Jeff brings a unique perspective to foster connections between deaf and hearing communities in entertainment. Rooted in a commitment to meaningful change in the arts, Jeff earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theater from Pace University.
About Pace University
Since 1906, Pace University has been transforming the lives of its diverse students—academically, professionally, and socioeconomically. With campuses in New York City and Westchester County, Pace offers bachelor, master, and doctoral degree programs to 13,600 students in its College of Health Professions, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Lubin School of Business, Sands College of Performing Arts, School of Education, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.
About Sands College of Performing Arts
Sands College of Performing Arts at Pace University is a cutting-edge performing arts school that nurtures artistic innovation and develops future leaders and changemakers in the profession. Renowned for its diverse range of highly-ranked programs, Sands College is committed to cultivating top-talent performers, designers, and production professionals. From Hollywood to Broadway, Sands College students and alumni have appeared in major film and television productions and theater performances such as & Juliet, A Beautiful Noise, A Strange Loop, Almost Famous, Hadestown, Hamilton, Kimberly Akimbo, MJ The Musical, Moulin Rouge, Ohio State Murders, Wicked, and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Recognized by Playbill as one of the 10 most represented colleges on Broadway, Sands College continues to inspire the next generation of artists both on stage and screen.
