Cabaret-Style Show Invites Deaf Artists, Allies to Have Their Main Character Moment

Candlelight set the mood for a cozy Saturday evening that delivered adrenaline-inducing performances, including a chair acrobat and a juggling duo, clownish comedy skits and vulnerable poetry. Eight acts — some with deaf performers and others who are allies of the deaf community — were showcased on night two of the 258 (ASL slang for “very Interesting”) Deaf Variety Show designed by deaf artists for deaf audiences.

The cabaret-style spectacle opened with a call to action from co-host Rebekah Covington, asking, “How will you utilize your inner flame? The choice is yours.” She was joined onstage by her castmates and co-host, Alix Gavin, each holding a candle. Dressed in red steampunk trench coats, Covington and Gavin set the mood for the hour with playful banter and charismatic expressions that brightened the intimate Artstillery performance space in Dallas.

Gavin and Covington, who directed the show with Prism Movement Theater co-founder Jeff Colangelo, radiated a natural, vibrant stage presence. The hosts, who were both born deaf and work as ASL educators, leveraged their similarities to make the show come to life.

“I know her personality, she knows my personality, and we mesh really well,” Gavin says. “And I think during the show, while we were doing the script development, we were really in sync with things.”

In their directorial roles, Gavin and Covington worked with Colangelo to tailor the show to deaf folks while incorporating interpreters Erin Johnson and Tiffany Lloyd for hearing attendees. The showcase was optimized for connection and inclusivity, down to the details in the script and lighting choices that kept ease of visibility in mind. To create a more immersive experience, platform seating and a speaker setup designed to send sound vibrations through the floor were used.

“Hearing theater troupes can often have this vision of what a deaf person looks like, which can be inaccurate,” Covington says. “That's not necessarily really what a deaf person looks like. And then when you bring in a deaf person, they can advise them on what our role is — who we are as a deaf person.”

During the show, which was performed entirely in ASL and assisted by visual tech, Gavin and Covington included brief demonstrations for the hearing showgoers. They demonstrated how to express applause in the deaf community and periodically instructed the audience to stomp their feet to generate zealous floor vibrations, engaging the audience with warm, genuine enthusiasm.

The show came to a dazzling conclusion with hula hoop performer Asaf Moore, who exuded seemingly effortless grace as he balanced hoops on his arms, legs and topless torso. After Moore drew gasps, cheers and enthusiastic applause from the crowd, hosts Covington and Gavin invited attendees to mix with the artists and return for the upcoming shows.

Two more 258 Deaf Variety performances are slated for next month, the first on Sept. 5 at Bachman Lake Recreation Center in Dallas and the second on Sept. 13 at Dallas Children’s Theater. The remaining shows will follow the cabaret formula, but will vary by details, performers and surprises in the mix. The endgame is to return for an annual event that can provide deaf artists with a bigger spotlight.

“I don't want to be on the sidelines,” Covington says. “Even if it's just five deaf people to just dream. It's not just a dream... it's something that we can work to do [so] that our dreams can become true.”