Different worlds intersect in Kent-Trumbull production

The title of Kent-Trumbull Theatre's opening production is ''For Every Man, Woman and Child.''

A more appropriate title might be ''Intersections.''

''The whole experience has been about intersections - between medieval and contemporary plays and the styles and traditions of each, between the deaf and hearing worlds, between male and female,'' according to Daniel-Raymond Nadon, coordinator of theater at Kent State University Trumbull Campus.

There's also the intersection of multiple disciplines at the college that are coming together to stage the play.

The addition of a sign language major on campus increased the number the number of deaf students at the school, Nadon said and, ''We were looking for a way to make it a welcoming environment for those students.''

In conversations with professors Nancy Resh, who teaches sign language, and Carol Robinson, who studies deaf literature, they decided to collaborate on a production of ''For Every Man, Woman and Child'' by acclaimed deaf playwright Willy Conley.

Nadon normally handles directing chores alone, but all three professors receive directing credit on the production that starts a two-weekend run on Friday.

Based on the medieval play ''Everyman,'' Conley's script uses a comic style to tell how the gods and goddesses of the various religions prepare ''Everyone" for the afterlife.

Originally, the plan was for Resh to work with the sign language elements, Nadon to handle the staging and Robinson (who also is a medieval specialist) to work with the actors on the text.

''But we've managed to blur those boundaries,'' Nadon said. ''Carol has been helping with the staging and I'm looking at the text.''

Staging the play creates some unique challenges, further complicated by plans to take the show to New York next month for the 24th International Conference on Medievalism at Sienna College. Nadon and technical director/scenic designer Robert Katkowsky had to create the Kent-Trumbull set knowing that it would have to something that could be transported and simply assembled.

And while any cast has to work in sync, for this production speaking and signing actors must work in tandem to create many of the characters.

However, the one element Nadon expected to be the biggest hurdle - communication - has been relatively easy.

''The hearing actors are so interested in communicating, they've learned a lot of sign language,'' Nadon said. ''And the deaf actors very accommodating in helping to teach the signing. A lot of the communication problems we thought we'd have initially have ironed themselves out.''

The cast features Jenna Cintavey, Kurt Cullison, Rhiannon Namish, Joe Toto, Cleric Costes, Joao Ciuba, Kayla Donaldson, Christine Fowler, Tiffany Mulloy, Haley Jane Otto, Christiana Ozimek, Daniel Parsons, Patricia Rogan, Kurtis Showers, Katie Starling, Victoria Van Horn, Dorothy A. Voyda, Pamela Young and Thomas Young.

In addition to the theater's regular performances, a special 3 p.m. matinee is set for Saturday, and proceeds will be used to offset the travel costs for the cast and crew for the performance at Sienna College. An Ohio Deaf Leaders forum is planned after the performance, and Conley will sign copies of his new anthology of plays.