The Tony-winning play receives a revival
Mark Medoff's 1979 Tony Award-winning play sees a new revival at the Eventide Arts Centre in Boston, and follows the story of a clandestine relationship between a deaf former student of a teacher of deaf pupils, using both the spoken word and sign language, making this a truly inclusive production. Originally written for the deaf actress Phyllis Frelich, it was based in some part on her relationship with her husband, Robert Steinberg. As well as finding success in New York, it also travelled to the UK, winning three Laurence Olivier Awards in addition to the three Tony Awards.
The play also spawned a feature film in 1986, helmed by by Randa Haines and written by Hesper Anderson as well as Medoff. Carrying on the success of the original play, it garnered five Academy Award nominations, with a win for Marlee Matlin in the Best Actress category. It also co-starred William Hurt as the teacher whom she falls in love with.