National Theatre of the Deaf annual reports and players guides

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: RITDSA-0003

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

National Theatre of the Deaf annual reports and players' guides provide documentation for the history of this professional theatre company. Annual reports (1967-1994) include production chronologies; biographies and images of actors, directors, and staff; and financial and donor reports. Only three players' guides are included in the collection, for 1979-1980, 1981, and 1982-1983. These guides are directories of deaf actors, most of which had trained and toured with the National Theatre of the Deaf. Guides include images and credits for each actor, as well as images of productions. Ephemeral materials include a playbill, programs, and an issue of NTD News from 1997-98.

Dates

Creation: 1967-1998

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Historical Information: The National Theatre of the Deaf

A professional ensemble of both deaf and hearing actors, the National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD) was formed in 1965 with a planning fund grant from the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Two years later, the U.S. Office of Education funded the Theatre's first Professional Training School held in the summer of 1967. The School was the first professional theatre training program for the deaf in America, and offered intensive training for deaf, hard of hearing, and signing artists in all aspects of the theater.

The first performance of the NTD was held in 1967 at Wesleyan University. The next year, the Little Theatre of the Deaf was formed for young audiences, and has remained active for over fifty years.

In 1994, NTD celebrated its 25th anniversary. By that time, they were the only professional company to play in all 50 states, and had given over 6,000 performances in more than 30 countries. As of the year 2020, the National Theatre of the Deaf is still flourishing, giving national tours each year, and training professionals in its annual Professional Theatre School. NTD is the oldest, continually-producing touring theatre company in the United States.

Originally, the inspiration for a deaf theatre came from “The Miracle Worker,” a Broadway Production in the 1950’s. The show was based on the true story about Helen Keller, a girl who was born deafblind. Through the use of sign language and physical interactions, Hellen was able to connect with the world and her experience was very moving and inspirational. Based on this, part of the initial mission of the NTD was to change society’s perception of the Deaf and to show the public the beauty and power of Sign Language.

Sources:

https://ntd.org/

https://ntd.org/about-us/

https://www.biography.com/news/anne-sullivan-the-miracle-worker-20761491

Extent

0.4 Linear Feet (1 document box)

Language

English

Additional Description

Overview

National Theatre of the Deaf annual reports and players' guides covers the theatre from 1967 to 1994. Reports include plays performed for that year; biographies of actors, directors, and staff; images; and in later years, financial information. Ephemeral materials include a playbill, programs, and an issue of NTD News from 1997-98.

Arrangement

Collection materials are arranged chronologically by subject: annual reports and players' guides.

Other Finding Aids

In addition to this finding aid, an inventory is available below. For more information, please contact the RIT Archive Collections.

National Theatre of the Deaf annual reports and players guides

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Accession number(s): 2010:033

The National Theatre of the Deaf annual reports and players' guides were gifted to the RIT/NTID Deaf Studies Archive by NTID Performing Arts Faculty member Aaron Kelstone.