Baltimore County, MD (April, 28, 2025) – Community College of Baltimore County Performing Arts presents Milan 1880, a new blended deaf-hearing, ASL-English play by James Caverly, May 1 – 5, 2025 in the Center for the Arts, Theatre at CCBC Catonsville, 800 S. Rolling Road.
In partnership with The A. Eugene & Bernice Hoeper ASL and Interpreting Program Milan 1880 is a groundbreaking new production written by James Caverly (Only Murders in the Building) that blends Deaf and hearing performers with dialogue in both ASL and English. Commissioned by CCBC as part of its biennial initiative to present blended productions, this play explores a pivotal moment in Deaf history: the 1880 Second International Congress on the Education of the Deaf in Milan, Italy, which declared aural education superior to sign language, leading to a decades-long ban on sign language education. The cast includes Deaf performers, hearing bilingual performers, and hearing English-speaking students, with Deaf actors portraying the American contingent, enabling the Deaf community to bring this vital history to life.
The Arts at CCBC presents Milan 1880 as part of its 2024-25 season under the theme Belonging. The season is filled with performances that celebrate stories of people finding a home, building their own community, and carving a place for themselves.
Performance times include:
CCBC’s production of Milan 1880 is directed by CCBC faculty member Michelle Banks, with scenic, lighting and technical direction by G. Morris “Moe” Conn. JAC Cook serves as the Director of Artistic Sign Language (DASL), and costumes are designed by Jess Rassp. The production coordinator is Damon Krometis, and the stage manager is Bethany Slater.
Tickets are $10 general admission; $5 students, seniors, CCBC faculty and staff; and free for currently enrolled CCBC students with ID. Tickets can be purchased at the CCBC Box Office at 443-840-ARTS (2787), online at www.ccbctickets.com or at the door one hour prior to the performances.
Since 1957, CCBC has opened the doors to accessible, affordable, high-quality education empowering generations of area residents to transform their lives and the lives of others. Each year, over 50,000 students enroll at the college’s main campuses, extension centers and online to make their starts, earn degrees, launch and build careers. CCBC offers the region’s most expansive selection of degree, certificate and workplace certification programs that prepare students for transfer, job entry and career advancement in such industries as business, education, health care, information technology, cybersecurity, construction, and transportation. Designated as the “Best Community College” among the Maryland Daily Record’s 2024 Reader Rankings, CCBC is also nationally recognized as a leader in innovative learning strategies and among the nation’s top associate degree producers.
Dir, Communications