2017 CNN Hero Directs SILENT NO MORE

No Limits, a nationwide non-profit organization proudly presents Silent NO MORE, directed by No Limits Founder and Executive Director Dr. Michelle Christie featuring five-time American Comedy Award nominee Kathy Buckley (the award winning PBS special "No Labels, No Limits"), acclaimed author Rebecca Alexander ("Not Fade Away") and alum of the No Limits Theater Group, on Saturday, Aug. 25 at 7:30 p.m. at The Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn Street. An open-forum Q&A will follow the performance with cast members and audience members from the deafSign and deafSpeak communities. Tickets are $25 and are available now online at https://www.goodmantheatre.org/silentnomore or by phone via the Box Office at 312.443.3800. ASL Interpreter, Captioning, and Assistive Listening Devices are available.

Silent NO MORE is an original theatrical documentary that features a collection of life stories shared by individuals with hearing loss and has been performed to sold-out audiences across the country, including Carnegie Hall in New York City and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Created as a theatrical documentary, Silent NO MORE is an intimate storytelling event comprised of witty, inspiring and raw stories that remind audiences of the power of the human spirit. Featuring performances by 10 cast members, Silent NO MORE showcases the experiences of growing up with hearing loss, highlighting both the struggles and successes of living in the modern world. The evening concludes with a Q&A with cast and audience members from the deafSign and deafSpeak communities; a discussion which will tackle head-on the debate between the deaf community who sign and the deaf community who speaks with the purpose to bridge the gap between both worlds.

Proceeds from Silent NO MORE benefit No Limits, a nationwide non-profit organization with over 20 years of empowering deaf children to speak, dream, achieve, and inspire. Founded in 1996 by Silent NO MORE director, and 2017 CNN Hero (https://goo.gl/VyV8yz) Dr. Michelle Christie, Ed.D, No Limits teaches underserved deaf children and their families the skills to succeed in school and in life through its after school educational centers (Los Angeles, Las Vegas, NV, and Oxnard, CA) and distinguished theatre arts program, promoting advocacy and awareness worldwide. No Limits is the only program in the country that provides life changing, impact driven programs that help school-age deaf children boost their self-esteem and develop communication skills as well as teach parents the skills to be advocates for their child. No Limits is proud to have reached over half a million people, with 100% of its alumni in college or graduated from college. The production of Silent NO MORE features adult alum of No Limits who have been through the No Limits program as children. For more information, visit: http://www.nolimitsfordeafchildren.org.

The cast of Silent NO MORE includes: Kathy Buckley, "America's First Hearing Impaired

Comedienne;" author Rebecca Alexander ("Not Fade Away") and alum of the No Limits Theater Group: John Autry II, Henry Greenfield David Hawkins, Ivy Lee, and Johnny Palmer. Additional cast members include Enid Wizig, Iris Lee, Margoth Granados, and Michelle Tang.

ABOUT DR. Michelle Christie, director

Michelle Christie, Ms.Ed., CCC, Ed.D, founded No Limits in 1996 to help deaf children and their families gain the skills in school and in life through national theater program and after-school educational centers. After 18 years in the entertainment industry, Dr. Christie decided to follow her dream of working with children with hearing loss. She earned a Masters Degree in Education, with a full fellowship and distinguished honors from the USC/John Tracy Clinic Program. Since starting No Limits out of her one-bedroom apartment, she has directed over 100 original productions throughout the country. Dr. Christie has written and produced all the children's plays so that each play can be tailored to meet the individual needs of the young actors involved.

After traveling around the country working with children and families, she realized that children who reside in poverty often do not have resources to excel in school, compared to their more affluent peers. In 2002, Dr. Christie expanded No Limits to provide comprehensive educational services year-round to impoverished deaf children. Her curriculum has been used in underdeveloped countries, including Africa and India. She later received her Doctorate in Education from UCLA with honors.

It began Dr. Christie's mission to create a grassroots effort to educate people across the world about the struggles and triumphs of people with hearing loss as well as bridge the tension between the DeafSign and deafSpeak communities. Her passion is embodied in the national production of Silent NO MORE. Dr. Christie has directed productions across the countries featuring different cast members sharing their inspiring stories to sold-out audiences, including at John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and Carnegie Hall. Silent NO MORE has received rave reviews for its ability to educate, entertain and inspire audiences. Dr. Christie has written and compiled these stories and authored a book of the same name.

As a leader in the field of deafness, Dr. Christie has been the subject of multiple documentaries for her revolutionary educational techniques that have been replicated nationwide. She was featured on OPRAH, The Learning Channel, PBS, CNN, NBC, ABC, and numerous local news stations throughout the country. She has received numerous awards and accolades for her outstanding work with children with hearing loss. Dr. Christie was honored as a 2017 CNN Hero as well as recognized in May of 2018 on Chicken Soup for the Soul's Hidden Heroes. Dr. Christie's passion and revolutionary techniques for children with hearing loss and their parents have allowed thousands of individuals with hearing loss to dream, speak, achieve, and inspire.

ABOUT Kathy Buckley, performer

Actress and comedienne Kathy Buckley has been a cast member touring with Silent NO MORE across the country. Ms. Buckley is a five-time American Comedy Award nominee and her television appearances include role in TV series such as "Touched by an Angel," as well as appearances on "The Tonight Show," "Good Morning America," "CBS This Morning," "The Today Show," "Entertainment Tonight," "Extra," "Inside Edition," CNN, and HBO. E! Entertainment named her one of the "World's Most Intriguing Women" in their original special. In addition to comedy, Buckley starred in her own original award winning PBS special, "No Labels, No Limits." A sought after motivational speaker, she has inspired people around the nation, speaking at corporate events, conferences, and universities.

ABOUT Rebecca Alexander, performer

Rebecca Alexander is an author who has appeared on "Today," "Morning Joe," "The Meredith Vieira Show" and "The Dr. Oz Show" in discussion of her memoir, "Not Fade Away," about living with Usher syndrome type III, a rare genetic mutation that impacts her hearing and sight. Simultaneously losing both her sight and hearing since she was a child, at the age of 18, a fall from a window also left her completely physically shattered. Rebecca refused to lose her drive, her zest for life and - maybe most importantly - her sense of humor, and now, at 39, with only a sliver of sight and significantly deteriorated hearing, she is a psychotherapist with two masters degrees from Columbia University, and an athlete who teaches spin classes and regularly competes in extreme endurance races.

For more information about the No Limits Theater Group, nationwide programming or the organization's other initiatives visit www.nolimitsfordeafchildren.org or contact Dr. Michelle Christie at 310-280-0878 or michelle@nolimitsfordeafchildren.org

No Limits, a nationwide non-profit organization proudly presents Silent NO MORE, directed by No Limits Founder and Executive Director Michelle Christie featuring five-time American Comedy Award nominee Kathy Buckley (the award winning PBS special "No Labels, No Limits"), acclaimed author Rebecca Alexander ("Not Fade Away") and alum of the No Limits Theater Group, on Saturday, Aug. 25 at 7:30 p.m. at The Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn Street. An open-forum Q&A will follow the performance with cast members and audience members from the deafSign and deafSpeak communities.. Tickets are $25 and are available now online at https://www.goodmantheatre.org/silentnomore or by phone via the Box Office at 312.443.3800. ASL Interpreter and Captioning is available.

Photo caption: (L to R) Kathy Buckley, Rebecca Alexander, John Autry, Henry Greenfield, David Hawkins, Iris Lee, Ivy Lee, Johnny Palmer, Michelle Tang, Enid Wizig

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