The Vivacity of ASL

Katie Roberts

 

Other than being an all-around nice guy that is well liked, Ryan Schlecht is well-known around Seattle for his work with theatre productions, being a director for the ADWAS’ special performances in 2010 and 2011. It was much to my delight to discover that he is reconnecting with his acting roots by creating a one-man show to be presented.  I had already witnessed his performance during Epic Jam II, during which he shared some new snippets that he had created. His performance will be entirely new material, entitled the “The Vivacity of ASL”. This is a new adventure for him to embark on. We spoke about how delightful it is to take advantage of new opportunities that present themselves within Seattle.  Deaf Spotlight, as an organization, hopes to create new opportunities in the Pacific Northwest for all types of Deaf artists. With that being said, both Ryan and Deaf Spotlight decided to create an exciting partnership to help further their endeavors, in terms of broadening the artists’ opportunities to show their amazing work! Not only will he be the director of Deaf Spotlight’s first theatre production in the Fall of 2013, the organization is sponsoring his one-man show, to come later this month. It is both exciting and humbling experience for him. This performance will be held on Sunday, October 21, of 2012, which falls on the weekend of both the Deaf Nation and the annual ADWAS Hope and Justice Auction.

 

 

His show will have ASL storytelling with a variety of genres that will glue you to your seat. He looks to Peter Cook as his inspiration who possesses different elements of amazing ASL storytelling. He also looks to Troy Kostur who is known as one amazing actor that projects abundance skills and knowledge onto Ryan while working together for years while he was in California, working in different productions with Deaf West Theatre. With that being said, Ryan will bring his own ideas, combining different aspects of his craft over the years to the stage that will be nothing but pleasure to watch. A successful show is one where the performer will connect with the audience, to take them on a journey throughout the evening to a place where they never thought such.

During my interview, I learned that Mr. Schlecht is a professional actor with years of experience, both as an actor first and director since 1999. I asked him about his directing work – how does he find this experience as an actor to be different from his directing experience? From what he told me, it was clear that he believed both the director and the actor to be vital to the final production.

 

 

As an actor he focuses on character development and preparing for the production which entails as supporting the production developments, and the director’s vision for the work itself. As far as directing goes, Ryan, as a director is to bring the actors together to create a strong ensemble work to create a vigorous teamwork that will show itself in the play.

 

When combining the two, acting and directing requires different types of skills, but the keyword to this is team work. Since he started acting in 1999 until 2005, in different cities - being on tour which earned him a Tony Award! After attending college which earned him his Bachelor’s degree that led him to a 9-5 job, he realized his undying passion to act has not gone away which leads him to create new endeavors when it comes to showing his craft. He decided to start in Seattle and is forever grateful that Deaf Spotlight agreed to partner with him to see this come to fruition.

 

 

Looking ahead to the “The Vivacity of ASL”, he has invested his best work in this show. He is always determined to optimize his skills through American Sign Language and portray the beauty and complexity of ASL itself, for everyone to enjoy. It does not alter his work if the person is deaf or hearing.  
Big River: 2004 Tony Award

 

Deaf Spotlight is honored to work with Ryan Schlecht for our first theatre production, namely known as one man show. Together, we are making the steps necessary, such as finding a location, providing resources such as advertising, recruiting staff/volunteers to help increase the knowledge about both Ryan’s one man show and Deaf Spotlight.  This experience is especially different, as Deaf Spotlight is entrusting Mr. Schlecht in this this new creative endeavor. Deaf Spotlight hopes to continue finding and offering opportunities not just for acting, but artists of all types – performing, painting, writing to name a few.

 

Being an actor, an artist - is an act of faith, to have courage to step into the spotlight – to work throughout those butterflies in his stomach – is to bare himself. Kudos to Ryan!