Children of a Lesser God

A student who attends Camden County College through the Mid-Atlantic PostSecondary Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is making her acting debut in the college's Center Stage Theatre production of "Children of a Lesser God."

"Children of a Lesser God" uses the love story of a young deaf woman and her hearing teacher to explore how the deaf and hearing cultures communicate, clash and collaborate. Written by Mark Medoff to be performed to hearing audiences, the drama requires a lead actress who is deaf rather than a hearing actress who is playing deaf. Phyllis Frelich won a Tony Award for originating the role of Sarah Norman on Broadway, and Marlee Matlin won an Oscar for her performance in the film version.

Denai Aytch of Lindenwold stars as Sarah in CCC's production, communicating as she does in life primarily through sign language. Paul Jost of Vineland portrays her teacher and husband, James Leeds, whose own lines have been crafted to vocalize Sarah's dialogue as well. Completing the cast are Joe Christopher of Turnersville; Brett Fauver of Millville; Lindsey Sherman of Gloucester City; Danene Vogt of Somerdale; and Paige Reinzo of Franklinville.

Professor Marjorie Sokoloff is the director. CCC Interpreter Education Program director Brian Morrison and his students interpreted rehearsals for Aytch and trained the hearing actors in the signing necessitated by the script. Interpreters will be available for deaf/hard of hearing audience members.

"Children of a Lesser God" will be performed at 8pm Dec. 17 and 18 and at 3pm Dec. 12 in Dennis Flyer Memorial Theatre, which is located inside Lincoln Hall. The Dec. 18 show, which will be followed by a reception with the cast, will serve as a benefit performance for the Camden County College Foundation's Naureen Farooq Collazo Scholarship Endowment for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students.

Tickets for the Dec. 10, 11, 12 and 17 shows are available at the door at a cost of $6 for students, college staff and senior citizens or $10 for all others. Tickets for the Dec. 18 show are available in advance at a cost of $25 for the performance and party or $10 for just the performance or at the door at a cost of $35 for the performance and party or $20 for just the performance.

For additional information regarding the Dec. 10, 11, 12 and 17 shows, contact the Camden County College Theatre Department at (856) 227-7200, ext. 4737, or msokoloff@camdencc.edu. For further details regarding the Dec. 18 show and reception, contact the Camden County College Foundation at (856) 374-4946 or mmckelvey@camdencc.edu.

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Author: Press Release-CCC