Seasonal
Dinner Note
A Black Deaf high school student's ASL project on U.S. Deaf history is questioned by his educator, and his family gathers for Sunday dinner to fight for belonging, equity, and recognition of Black Deaf culture.
PRODUCTION DETAILS
Venue
Gilbert C. Eastman Studio Theatre, Gallaudet University
Category
World Premiere
Starts
Ends
Season
2025–2026
Playwright Rhonda Cochran. Directed by Michelle A. Banks. A co-production with Gallaudet University Performing Arts, Theatre and Dance.
Antawn Wanliss plays Junior.
A Black Deaf high school student named JR presents a creative project on U.S. Deaf history using American Sign Language exclusively, only to have it questioned by his educator. When a note reaches his home, the family gathers for Sunday dinner to determine their response and advocate for his identity and self-expression.
The situation escalates as the teen and his family fight for belonging, equity, and recognition of Black Deaf culture.
Ran March 26 to 29 and April 2 to 5, 2026 at the Gilbert C. Eastman Studio Theatre, Gallaudet University.
Performance details
Runtime approximately 90 minutes, no intermission. All performances were presented in Black Sign Language and ASL with open captioning.
Performance schedule
Preview, Thursday 26 March 2026, 7:30pm.
Opening, Friday 27 March 2026, 7:30pm.
Thursday and Friday 7:30pm, Saturday 2:00pm and 8:00pm, Sunday 2:00pm.
The Thursday 2 April 7:00pm performance was cancelled.
Talkbacks with the creative team and cast followed the 2:00pm performances on Saturday 28 March and Saturday 4 April.
Content note: brief use of strong language.
Creative team
Rhonda Cochran, Playwright
Irvine Stewart, Poet
Michelle Banks, Director and VOCA Artistic Director
Carolyn McCaskill, Director of Artistic Sign Language
Ethan Sinnott, Scenic Designer
Jeremy Pitts, Co-Lighting Designer
Norah Matthews, Co-Lighting Designer
Annie Wiegand, Associate Lighting Designer and Production Manager
Nikolya Sereda, Costume Designer
Justin Schmitz, Sound Designer
Kiefer Cure, Assistant Sound Designer
Andres Poch, Projections and Captions Designer
August Bird, Assistant Projections and Captions Designer
Rooster Sultan, Prop Designer
Stage management
MarcusKeith Island, Assistant Production Manager
Fatimah Abdul-Rahim, Co-Stage Manager
Taylor Victor, Co-Stage Manager
Danyeal Davis, Assistant Stage Manager
Zoeii Strong, Assistant Stage Manager
