OCEAN CITY — The ASL Performers at Ocean City High School are in rehearsals for their annual spring show. Unlike the shows presented in previous years, this year’s performance will come with an important message and a “gift” for Ocean City and its neighboring communities.
Amy Andersen, who teaches American Sign Language at OCHS and oversees the ASL Performers said this year’s show focuses on the importance of anti-bullying. “ASL Takes a Stand” will be presented June 5 and 6 at the high school auditorium.
“The idea for this year’s show came first from a student who has suffered from bullying,” Andersen said. “He and a close friend proposed a song for the show that asks society to remove labels and judge people instead on who they are as people.
“Soon after, I saw a post on Facebook for Stand for the Silent,” she added. “It got a huge response and a lot of positive comments from students and parents saying it was life changing and an eye-opening presentation. People said they thought every school should have it.”
Based in Oklahoma, Stand for the Silent is an anti-bullying organization that was founded in 2010 by a group of students from Oklahoma State University in response to the death of 11-year-old Ty Field-Smalley of Perkins, OK.
“Ty was bullied at school,” Andersen said. “After two years, he retaliated and was suspended as a result. He took his own life May 13, 2010.”
His parents, Kirk and Laura Smalley, have been traveling around the country since their son’s death, promoting the anti-bullying message. Their mission is to continue to change kids’ lives and bring awareness to bullying and the real devastation it causes. As of the end of April, the Stand for the Silent website says it has reached out to 851,000 students through 842 schools.
“We hadn’t actually picked a theme for this year’s ASL show yet,” Andersen said. “After listening to the ideas of those students and then seeing that post, I thought about all of the talk that we’ve had about anti-bullying, and it just became clear what this year’s show should focus on.”
Andersen presented the idea of an anti-bullying themed show to the ASL Performers.
“They loved the idea,” she said. “It has now blossomed. It is not just the ASL show, which is what we’ve done since 2008. It is a district-wide and even a multi-district event.”
Proceeds from the spring show, in part, will sponsor a visit from Stand for the Silent.
“The presenters are going to come from Oklahoma and give a free presentation,” Andersen said. “It is not only for our community. We are inviting all surrounding school districts, as well. The ASL Performers are gifting this to our community and the community beyond.”
The Stand for the Silent presentation will be held at 7 p.m., May 29 at the Ocean City High School auditorium. Andersen noted that it is a family event that is best received by children starting at 13 years old because of the mature content.
Andersen said those attending “ASL Takes a Stand” in June will see a different kind of show than they have in past years.
“The ASL show is different this year in that it’s more like musical theater,” Andersen explained. “Instead of doing individual songs connected to a central theme like Disney or Broadway, the students are creating a connected musical where there are acting skits in between the songs and the characters are brought together.”
“I think this is great,” said Jennifer Campbell, 18, a senior at OCHS. “There is a lot of bullying going on, especially in the Deaf community because there are not many Deaf people in hearing culture. I also think a lot of hearing kids are bullied because they are different. I think our show is important because it is all about anti-bullying.”
Caliope Yiannos, 16, a junior at OCHS, agrees. Yiannos is in her second year of ASL and said she is planning to take a third year as independent study next year. This will be her first time performing in the ASL spring show.
“I think this message is really important because we are taking a stand for everyone who is too scared to speak up for themselves,” Yiannos said.
In addition to the 39 ASL Performers – students at Ocean City who are taking ASL I, ASL II and independent study – Andersen said she has students working the tech and stage crew who aren’t ASL students but wanted to be involved in the show because of the theme. The group is also welcoming eight child signers to the show this year.
“Two of the children are Deaf and go to Upper Township schools (a second grader and a kindergartener),” she said. “We also have a child who has a Deaf father, so she is a CODA (child of deaf adults). American Sign Language was her first language.”
Andersen’s son Jordan has been in every ASL show the group has presented since he was four years old. This year, several of his friends – who did not know ASL before this performance – are also involved in the show and learning to sign.
“We also have Deaf community members coming to rehearsals to help support this so even rehearsals are a great experience,” Andersen noted.
Emily DuBruille, an Ocean City alumni who recently graduated from an ASL Interpreting program at Bloomsburg University, will be interpreting the show with her mentor, Georgiana Murnaghan as part of her practicum for certification. In addition, Sara Pustizzi, another alumni who is currently pursuing her master’s degree at Gallaudet University, attends rehearsals to help coach the students.
“Most importantly the ASL students are supported by our local Deaf community members who come to rehearsals to refine the ASL translations and offer their insight from the Deaf perspective.” Andersen said. “Carrie and Eli Pogue, Rosemarie and Dan Crisham and Annmarie Buraczeski have been invaluable in their dedication to these students. It truly take a village.”
Whitney Hanna, 18, a senior at OCHS, said the experience has been fantastic.
“I love sign language,” Hanna said. “I am a visual learner. When I see the signs, it helps me to remember them.”
Andersen pointed out that the show is being done in collaboration with the school safety team, which is made up of the guidance department and several teachers.
“They will be promoting that anti-bullying theme during the week leading up to Stand for the Silent presentation,” she said. “Our administrator, Sue Palmer, has also been very supportive in helping to facilitate a whole kick off that is going to happen the week leading up to the Stand for the Silent show.”
In addition to the Stand for the Silent presentation, funds raised through the show provide small scholarships to ASL seniors who are pursuing ASL-based careers through college, such as Deaf education, ASL interpreting and Deaf studies.
“We have eight seniors this year who are going into ASL related fields at colleges like TCNJ, Towson University, Bloomsburg and Montclair,” Andersen said.
Those interested in more information about Stand for the Silent can visit the organization’s website at www.standforthesilent.org. Additional information about “ASL Takes a Stand” can be found on the show’s Facebook page.
