Pedro Solis and Jill Beebout signing and interpreting a children’s story

Pedro Solis and other deaf and hard-of-hearing people in Houston enjoy the only professional performing arts organization in Texas that caters to their community. Mr. Solis, who serves on the board of Illuminations...Theatre with the Deaf, says in sign language, “We offer children and adults the opportunity to experience a whole variety of cultural activities that are accessible for the deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing. We encourage involvement by all groups and hope that people realize that we aren’t disabled, but rather we are a cultural and linguistic minority.”

Illuminations was established 18 years ago after a group of Houstonians went to Atlanta and saw a shadowed performance, where roles are played simultaneously by a speaking actor and a signing actor. Since then, Illuminations has become a unifying force for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community of Houston. Production coordinator Jill Beebot explains, “The deaf community is very diversified. Before Illuminations, there wasn’t an organization in town that appealed to their differences and brought them together. Everything we do truly is accessible. We always have sign language and voicing interpreters, and we almost always have captioning for movies, so everyone is accommodated.”

In addition to enjoying theatrical performances and classic movie nights, members of Illuminations also act, direct, sign and coordinate events. Many of the events occur outside the theater’s venue in the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center and often include the general public. Illuminations interprets Alley Theatre productions, performs at the Children’s Museum and at Family Day Events at Bayou Bend and works with area schools to promote literacy in deaf children. The theater also hosts Ear News, a monthly television show that provides a forum for deaf and hard-of-hearing issues, and recently organized the nation’s first deaf film festival.

Mr. Solis, who acts in Illuminations’ American Sign Language Storytelling program, believes that signed performances are important opportunities for both deaf and hearing people. He says, “Hearing people often think that deaf people can’t do anything, like drive or read, so it’s important for them to see us in action.”

Ms. Beebot adds, “It’s especially interesting to see hearing kids’ responses, because they’ll just sit there completely enamored with the story. Often this is the first time they’ve seen deaf people, especially when they’re signing together. It’s great for them to see that it doesn’t matter if you’re different, and that we all can enjoy the same things.”

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