Jacqui Brown
Although the outside world may seem quiet, the creative noises
rumbling inside 10-year-old Casey Johnson-Pasqua's head is loud and
clear -- she's discovered acting and loves it.
Being deaf is in no way holding this budding actress back as she
takes on her first acting role as the young piano student, Amaryllis,
in Glendale's Stepping Stone Players production of "The Music Man."
The musical opens Sept. 9 at Hoover High School Auditorium in
Glendale.
Stepping Stone Players, created in 2000 by a group of eight
mothers to give local students access to community theater, also
created an outreach program to the deaf and hard of hearing audience
by interpreting selected performances through sign language.
Under the watchful eye of veteran director Joshua Meltzer, this
performance is truly a stepping stone for the organization because it
marks the first time they have cast a deaf person.
Casey, who lives in Glendale and attends Washington Elementary
School in Burbank, admits it's a little difficult not being able to
hear the other actors to help keep her on cue, but she's determined
to put everything she's got into her role.
"I'm very proud that I got the part," said Casey through her sign
language interpreter Tiffany Smith. "I'm never nervous because it's
fun."
The American Sign Language interpreters, co-led by Jonica Patella
and Darlene Wittman, will perform simultaneously with the actors
during two Sunday matinee performances.
Casey's parents, Chris and Melinda Johnson-Pasqua, are thrilled
their daughter has been cast in the play.
"This is her first play and she's very excited," said Melinda
Johnson-Pasqua. "We found an interpreter who's been working with her
during all the rehearsals and is helping her learn the songs so she
can be signing them along with the interpreters."
Chris Johnson-Pasqua, lighting director for the company for three
years, is impressed by the company's continued support of
interpreting the performances for the deaf and hard of hearing, he
said. "Having the Stepping Stone Players do these interpretive
performances is amazing," he said.
Included in the cast of nearly 50 actors is actor, director and
acting coach Allan Hunt, most recognizable from his two-season stint
as crewman Stu Riley on the 1960s television series "Voyage to the
Bottom of the Sea" and for his roles in films such as "Herbie Goes
Bananas" (1980) and "Freaky Friday" (1976).
"This is a charming group to work with and it encourages the youth
