Big Read: NTID
Big Read: NTID
April 1 - 30, 2023
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read—a partnership with Arts Midwest—broadens our understanding of our world, our neighbors, and ourselves through the power of a shared reading experience. By showcasing diverse themes, voices, and perspectives, the NEA Big Read aims to inspire meaningful conversations, artistic responses, and new discoveries and connections in each community.
Deaf Republic Stage Play
Written by Illya Kaminsky
Directed by Malik Paris
Fri, Apr 14, 7:30-9:30 pm
Sat, Apr 15, 2-4 pm & 7:30-9:30 pm
Sun, Apr 16, 2-4 pm
Deaf Republic takes place in an unspecified time of political unrest in an occupied territory. The story unfolds in episodic poems, opening with the shooting of a young deaf boy at a protest. In response, the entire town adopts deafness as a strategy of resistance.
The Deaf Republic Stage Play will be held in the
RIT Inn & Conference Center, Henrietta Ballroom *
[ map to RIT Inn ] [ RIT Inn layout ]
Mature Content Warning: This play contains themes such as sexuality, murder, and police violence. Most appropriate for ages 13 and up.
* Due to renovations of department production spaces, Deaf Republic will be staged in the RIT Inn and Conference Center’s Henrietta Ballroom. This large space will be transformed into a small theater with platform seating for good sightlines. Only 100 tickets are available for each show. RIT shuttles run to the RIT Inn regularly (shuttle schedules).
Media Interviews and Coverage
Rochester First
RIT’s National Tech. Institute for the Deaf kicks off Big Read project
Fox Rochester
RIT/NTID to host "Big Read"
About Big Read: NTID
RIT/NTID will host a Big Read featuring Ilya Kaminsky’s Deaf Republic. Programming explores the themes of language, power, and community in Deaf Republic, spotlights the history of deaf poetry in the United States, and encourages people from diverse backgrounds to experiment with poetry as a means of expressing their own experiences of language, power, and community.
NTID is partnering with Monroe County Library System (MCLS) and other colleges in RIT to organize local events open to the entire Rochester community. NTID is also partnering with deaf organizations and schools for the deaf to organize satellite events across the country. Rochester programming includes Deaf Republic book giveaways, a reading and talk by Kaminsky, book group discussions, and ASL performances of the poems; as well art exhibits exploring the themes in Deaf Republic, poetry workshops, and readings by other poets.
About Ilya Kaminsky
Ilya Kaminsky
Ilya Kaminsky is a hard-of-hearing Ukrainian immigrant whose family was granted political asylum due to anti-semitism. Kaminsky, the Bourne Chair of Poetry at Georgia Tech’s School of Literature, Media, and Communications, is best known for his poetry collections, including the Deaf Republic, Traveling Musicians, and Dancing in Odessa, which have earned him several awards.
Opportunities for Deaf/HOH Students!
NTID is excited to announce special opportunities for Deaf and hard-of-hearing middle and high school students nationwide to participate in the Big Read.
Deaf and hard-of-hearing students can submit an essay on Deaf Republic to the SpiRIT Writing Competition. They can also submit artwork that is inspired by or related to themes in Deaf Republic to the NTID Digital Arts, Film, and Animation Competition. Submitted artwork will be considered for inclusion in the Big Read: NTID Art Exhibit in Dyer Arts Center.
SpiRIT Writing Contest
https://www.rit.edu/ntid/writingcontest
Big Read: NTID Dyer Arts Center Exhibit
https://www.rit.edu/ntid/digital-arts-film-and-animation-competition
Teachers of Deaf and hard-of-hearing K-12 students can involve their classes in Big Read: NTID activities in a variety of ways. Free books are available for teachers, as well as a reading guide and lesson plan for five key poems developed by staff in the Masters of Secondary Education Department. Teachers can also register their students to attend a book discussion led by faculty in the Department of Liberal Studies, and a webinar with Ilya Kaminsky.
Free Books for Teachers
Contact Jill.Bradbury@rit.edu to request a free copy of Deaf Republic
Deaf Republic Book Discussion
Join NTID English faculty Sarah Kinor in a discussion of Deaf Republic. Discussion will be conducted in ASL with voice interpreting and captioning.
Apr 21, 2023 1-2 pm EST
Registration is required:
This event is open only to Deaf/hard-of-hearing high school students and their teachers. Click to register.
Ilya Kaminsky Webinar
Join the author for a discussion of Deaf Republic, poetry, and the war in Ukraine. Students are encouraged to submit questions in advance. Discussion will be conducted in spoken English with ASL interpreting and captioning.
Apr 3, 2023 1 pm EST
Registration is required:
This event is open only to Deaf/hard-of-hearing high school students and their teachers. Click to register.
Resources for Teachers and Big Read: NTID Event Organizers
Deaf Republic Info Guide
https://infoguides.rit.edu/bigread/authorbio
Deaf Poets Info Guide
https://infoguides.rit.edu/deafpoets
Deaf Republic Teacher Resource Guide
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Bbq-jyeggyj2q5_BpZQj580p700JkgUYJN65hf95RkM/edit?usp=sharing
Big Read: NTID Event Attendance Reporting
https://forms.gle/6zFvD84Ure5dZ2bo9