'Beach Blanket Babylon' to Have ASL Interpreted Show

Steve Silver's Beach Blanket Babylon, the nation's longest running musical revue, presents a sign language interpreted performance on Sunday, April 20 at 5 p.m. at Club Fugazi in the heart of San Francisco's North Beach district.

There will be two American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, Michael Velez and Sherry Hicks. Using their hands, bodies and facial expressions, the interpreters will translate the spoken and musical parts of the show into signs and rhythms. The interpreters will be placed on the main floor and will have separate lighting, which will enable the audience to see them during low light moments.

"Snow White continues her fast-paced musical journey around the world in search of her "Prince Charming" and encounters a star-studded, ever-changing line-up of hilarious pop-culture characters along the way, including Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, John McCain, Amy Winehouse and Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi," press notes state.

Tickets are on sale now and are available at beachblanketbabylon.com, at the Club Fugazi box office or by phone at (415) 421-4222. TTY users may call the California Relay System at (800) 735-2929. Tickets for the Sunday, April 20 sign language interpreted performance are $25 - $78. Tickets may also be purchased by fax at (415) 421-4817. Tickets are being held for hearing impaired audience members.

Michael Velez is a mixture of actor, performer, writer, producer and interpreter. The hearing son of deaf parents, Michael is a founder and active member of Half-n-Half, a musical sign language ensemble that blends ASL, music and choreography. He has performed nationally with Half-n-Half and on his own abroad in Copenhagen, Sydney and San Juan. As a concert interpreter his experience has enabled him to work with Elton John, Billy Joel, The Rolling Stones, The Dixie Chicks, Melissa Etheridge, Garth Brooks, George Michael, Cyndi Lauper and The Backstreet Boys.

Sherry Hicks is one of the co-founders and director of Half-n-Half. She has been interpreting for over twenty-five years and has worked with Ani DiFranco, Van Morrison, John Denver, Indigo Girls, LL Cool J, and Run DMC. She performed at the International Deaf Club at the World Federation for the Deaf convention in Sydney, Australia and recently at the 2nd World Mental Health and Deafness Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. Hicks earned her MA and MFA from New College of California in Writing and Consciousness.  

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