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Ownership and Engagement in Performance Art: The Black Drum Signed Musical Theatre Case Study

Abstract:Signed music is a rapidly growing artistic practice that incorporates signed language lyrics and/or features non-lyric- and non-auditory-based pieces The first Deaf-led signed music theatre production, The Black Drum, was performed in Toronto, Canada, and Reims, France, in 2019. Examining The Black Drum's creative development and cast perceptions offers the opportunity for ethical consideration when sharing authentic experience in signed language onstage (that is, one aspect of ownership). For the first time, Deaf professionals felt open—'having permission'—to explore and play with their signed music performances in signed language theatre. This signed musical (and its script) also confronted social justice issues through sharing signing people's experiences on the stage for broad audiences. Deaf (signed language) performers, who experience oppression of their signed language in contemporary society, wished to remain true to their signed language artistic forms onstage while simultaneously engaging diverse audience members (both Deaf and hearing people) to witness and appreciate these signed language performers' unique contributions to humanity in a society dominated by spoken language. The need to express oneself fully relates to all human experience and ultimately enriches Deaf and hearing alike. Engaging diverse audience members meaningfully without sacrificing collective authentic creation and ownership among signing Deaf professionals makes The Black Drum unique and empowering in mainstream theatre.