BWW Interviews: AARON KUBEY Signs off as CEO of National Theatre of the Deaf

Almost four years ago, I went to the offices of The National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD) on the campus of the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford, CT.  I had been assigned by the now-defunct magazine Theatre CT to interview the Tony Award-winning company's new President.  There was much excitement surrounding their selection.  Why was he an exciting choice?  For the first time in its decades-long history, the company was being headed by a deaf executive.  Also, Kubey's hiring was a signal that the 40-plus-year touring theatre entity was getting serious about reasserting itself on the national stage after a ruinous embezzlement scandal almost leveled the organization in the mid-1990s and Federal funding was slashed forcing layoffs.   Downsizing left a staff of two - longtime employee Betty Beekman and the CEO position - and eliminated the core main stage productions that were seen on stages the world over, on television and on Broadway.  What was left was the successful touring education wing of the company, the Little Theatre of the Deaf.

In 2008, what I found amidst NTD's cramped offices in the back of the school's campus was an energetic, energized young man with big visions and big goals for the now-tiny troupe.  Three-and-a-half years later, I'm meeting with Kubey for an exit interview as his tenure at NTD draws to a close June 30^th.  The announcement came as a surprise to people in the industry as things seemed to be headed in the right direction for Kubey and The National Theatre of the Deaf.  It is clear that he leaves the company in a better position than he found it, but during our conversation I find there is a sense of frustration at what he was not able to accomplish during his time in Connecticut.  Even though his direction of the company is essentially over, he still refers to the things "we" need to achieve in order for NTD to revive its fortunes.  Over lunch at The Mark Twain House & Museum's Murasaki Café, Kubey opens up about his time heading this ground-breaking company.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO LEAVE AT THIS TIME?

I just felt that it was time for me to move onto new challenges and new adventures.

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT RUNNING NTD WOULD HAVE PLENTY OF CHALLENGES FOR ANYBODY.  WHAT DO YOU PERCEIVE TO BE THE LARGEST CHALLENGES FACING THE ORGANIZATION?

The financial challenge.  The fact that the arts are always the last ones to recover and the first to be cut.  We're still trying to put our brand-name recognition out there.  There are a lot of people who don't know us.  We've spent the past ten years trying to clean up what happened years ago.  We've been trying to rebuild and have spent too much time focusing on climbing out of the mess.  We haven't been as focused on the product and now people don't know us.  We are shifting our focus to put ourselves out there so people know what we do and what our mission is.  We are basically shifting from dwelling on the past to looking toward the future.

I MET WITH YOU RIGHT WHEN YOU STARTED THE JOB.  WHAT HAVE YOU ACCOMPLISHED THAT WERE AMONG YOUR ORIGINAL GOALS?

One thing that we did, twice actually, we went back to the interNational Theatre community.  We were invited by the State Department and the American Institute in Taiwan.  We went to the Deaflympics in Taipei in 2009.  We were invited to perform.  Last Fall, I went to Finland to direct a show in collaboration with a Finnish deaf theatre company.  That was a goal - to get out there and revive our international ties.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY WERE THE GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS OF YOUR TENURE AS PRESIDENT?

Reuniting with the O'Neill Center.  Strengthening our image with the Deaf Community.  Reaching out to new audiences.

HOW DID YOU ACCOMPLISH THAT?

Through the Little Theatre of the Deaf.  We tried new marketing ploys, like a billboard a couple of years ago. 

WHAT THINGS DO YOU REGRET NOT GETTING ACCOMPLISHED DURING YOUR TIME WITH NTD?

Not being able to revive the professional theatre school and the main stage.

WAS THAT PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF MONEY?

I strongly believe that if it wasn't for the recession, one or both would have happened.  I do believe that, at some point, NTD will revive them.

IS THE BOARD CONDUCTING A SEARCH FOR YOUR REPLACEMENT?

They've already hired an interim director, Betty Beekman.  She will be the interim for one year starting July 1^st.

THE ORGANIZATION HAS ESSENTIALLY BEEN TWO PEOPLE, YOUR POSITION AND BETTY BEING THE OTHER.  WILL SOMEONE BE HIRED TO FACILIATE THE LTD TOURING SCHEDULE?

Full-time, it will be one person after I leave.

SO IS THE BOARD GOING TO DO SOME STRATEGIC PLANNING? 

They have already started strategic planning.  They are going to look at restructuring the company so that NTD continues to survive.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE FOR NTD GOING FORWARD?

Financial.  We need to regain our Federal funding.  If we could get that back, then we will be able to do a whole lot more with the programs at NTD.

ARTISTICALLY, WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES FOR DEAF THEATRE IN GENERAL? 

The challenge still will be to get people to recognize deaf theatre and really understand how unique deaf theatre is.  They need a better understanding of how and why we are different from mainstream theatre?  We have a difficult time breaking into the mainstream and making people understand what makes it different - the marketing, the funding, the training.

WHAT MAKES IT SO DIFFERENT?

In deaf theatre you have a style that is much more visual, using sign language.  It is a visual language.  You are able to capture the subtext and the emotion through that.  Combining the American Sign Language with emoting is a beautiful thing.  It's the same thing how Asian theatre can say they are different and Spanish-speaking theatre.  We show a different culture.  In deaf theatre, we can do both.  We can do Hamlet or Huckleberry Finn.  It takes it to a whole different level and helps people to see things in a way they never thought they could see before.

HOW DID NTD HIRING THEIR FIRST DEAF CEO AFFECT HOW THE COMPANY WAS SEEN BY THE DEAF COMMUNITY?

In a very positive way.  I know that a lot of people are sad and disappointed that I'm leaving.  They felt that it helped NTD's credibility become more solidified.  Here is someone who grew up in our culture, in our world who understands the importance of ASL, the beauty of ASL.   I could apply the identity and thought process of how the deaf person approaches things.  It is different when the person is actually deaf.

IF YOU COULD GIVE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE TO THE NEXT PRESIDENT, WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THE COMPANY DO?

The word "patience" comes to mind.  Have patience that things will turn around.  Have patience that as you try to implement your new vision, it may be challenging, but be patient and have faith in it.  Keep pushing it and it will happen.  Eventually.

SO WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU?

I'm moving to Washington, D.C. in August.  I'm in the process of becoming a certified deaf interpreter (CDI).  I'm going to be going to grad school to get my MFA in theatre education and I've been invited to teach theatre at Gallaudet University.  I am hoping to develop a seminar or course on theatre or music interpreting.

Aaron Kubey's tenure at NTD ends June 30^th.  Betty Beekman will serve as the interim director starting July 1^st.  For more information on National Theatre of the Deaf and Little Theatre of the Deaf, visit www.ntd.org.

 

To post a comment, you must register and login.