DJ Kurs
Artistic Director, Deaf West Theatre
“At Deaf West Theatre, we believe that the arts can be heightened through the simple principle of inclusion. We feel that increased representation of deaf people is directly tied to the position of the deaf community in the world. It is my hope that the arc of history will bend toward a more level playing field, and that deaf actors, writers, and creators will no longer carry the signifier.”
Biography
DJ Kurs is the artistic director of Deaf West Theatre, a position he has held since 2012. On stage at DWT, there is a mix of deaf actors and actors who are new to the deaf world; there is a comparable mix in the audience. There are patrons who have been attending shows for 25 years and those who have never met deaf people. For two hours in the dark, all become one.
Kurs shepherded the production of Spring Awakening from its beginnings in a 99-seat theater in Los Angeles to its recent revival on Broadway. Prior to his current position, he served as an artistic associate and ASL master at Deaf West Theatre. He is also a freelance producer and filmmaker.
Photo Captions
Deaf West Theatre
Larry Busacca/Getty Images Portrait for Tony Awards Productions
“Brooks Atkinson Theater - Waitress” by Ajay Suresh, used under CC BY 2.0
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