The Magic of ASL
Funding
The Magic of ASL is a bi-annual, two-hour theatre performance, showcasing emerging and professional Deaf theatre artists. In normal circumstances, the event toakes place on a Winnipeg stage; in 2021, the event was virtual, taking place over Zoom. (In 2020, due to the pandemic, The Magic of ASL was cancelled.)
The Magic of ASL is a bi-annual (2-3 years) events. It provides professional opportunities for Deaf performers and encourages Deaf arts in our Deaf Community. It is completely in ASL (American Sign Language) with interpretation for the non-deaf audience, and encourage the use of ASL. Audiences are in all age brackets and have various degrees of ASL skills. This is a great opportunity to brush up on your ASL skills!
This event is volunteer-run. Typical expenses (in a normal year) include venue rental, ASL-English interpretation and refreshments.
The 2024 Magic of ASL:Live! was the first time the event was live on stage since the pandemic. This event was special with the presence of guest actor Landon Krentz from Calgary who was one of the Co-MCs with MSD students Ava May and Jancis Anthony. His two performances were Sea Mink's Maple Leaf and the thought provoking The Destruction of the Habitate of the Northern Spotted Owl.
The 2024 Magic of ASL was combined with the first of the Gathered Series program where an out-of-province guest performer is invited to perform and facilatate two workshops to the Manitoba Deaf Community.
2024 Visual Vernacular Workshop by Landon Krentz
Link to come: Gathered Series: Community Enrichement Through Deaf Arts
In 2021, MCSD-DAM's Magic of ASL event was online. The title of that year's event reflects the times we found ourselves in: “The Magic of ASL + LSQ: The Covid-19 Edition”. We used YouTube to show the compiled video performances, followed by a Q&A segment delivered over Zoom.
A Canada-wide call for Deaf artists & performers went out earlier in that year. 14 Deaf performer groups responded, ranging from Quebec to British Columbia. The Deaf theatre artists groups’ acts were pre-recorded and were compiled for the online event. All Deaf artists were paid professional fees.
The Magic of ASL is hosted by MCSD and is supported by the Manitoba Association of Visual Language Interpreters (MALVI).
Learn more about the 2021 Magic of ASL+ LSQ performers
On the performers' page you will see the teaser promo and the promo posters as well as the bios of the performers.
