DEAF THEATER

PBS Digital Studios presents

Wonderfully Made Productions, LLC

in association with Black Robin Media

A film by Benita Ozoude

DEAF THEATRE

Produced & Directed By

Benita Ozoude

Writer

Gaby Wilson 

Director of Photography  

Shawn Foulks

Christopher Duncan

Editor

Karen Kloss

Benita Ozoude 

Executive Producer

Lynne Robinson

MEDIA CONTACT

Stephanie Kennard, PBS

skkennard@pbs.org;

571-319-7478

TAGLINE: you are not alone …

LOGLINE: A theater showcase of “Deaf. President. Now!” inspires others to become heroes of their own deaf community. 

SYNOPSIS: NTPA Deaf Theatre Program Director Daymond Sands creates a showcase as his legacy, to “pass the candle flame”by reaching and inspiring others to become heroes to their own deaf community. In this dynamic storytelling tradition, Sign Language serves as the core of artistic expression, cultural preservation, and resistance. 

PBS: DEAF THEATER is one of eight films in the PBS Creative Voices series, “The Story in Us”, a new anthology series premiering on PBS VOICES, a documentary-focused YouTube channel. Produced in collaboration with PBS Creative Voices Ignite Filmmakers Program, the eight-part series explores how culture, history, and identity are preserved through the universal art of storytelling.

Director’s Bio: Benita Ozoude is a Nigerian-American documentary filmmaker and a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied Journalism and Radio-Television-Film. Her work is driven by a passion for amplifying underrepresented communities and creating space for stories that challenge assumptions, spark dialogue, and inspire empathy.

Her films blend observational storytelling with cultural depth, exploring identity, equity, and the resilience people draw on as they navigate adversity and grow toward self-acceptance. She is the recipient of the 2018 Horizon Award presented at the Sundance Film Festival, the 2021 Short Documentary Jury Award from the Austin Film Festival, and the 2021 Best Reel South Short Documentary at BronzeLens. She is also a PBS Creative Voices Fellow.

Through her films, Benita continues to build a body of work grounded in authenticity and advocacy.

Technical Details: DEAF THEATRE

Country of Origin: United States

Runtime: 15:55 minutes

Screening Formats DCP

Aspect Ratio 16:9

Sound Dolby 5.1

Spoken Language: English

Subtitles: Yes

Closed Captions Yes

Principle Location: Filmed in Houston, Texas at the NTPA Southlake Theater and Tarrant County College.

 FULL CREDITS

Produced and Directed by  

Benita Ozoude 

Producer 

Tamar Price 

Fact Checker 

Christopher Munden 

Writer and Researcher 

Gaby Wilson 

Subject Matter Experts 

Brian Cheslik and Daymond Sands 

Director of Photography 

Shawn Foulks and Christopher Duncan 

Editors 

Karen Kloss and Benita Ozoude 

Colorist 

Kolton Dallas 

Featuring 

Daymond Sands 

Dale Keterson 

Darrell Rodenbaugh 

April Sands 

The NTPA Deaf Theater cast 

Translation Services provided by  

Hired Hands, Inc. 

American Sign Language Interpreting Services 

Plogeger ASL Interpreting Services 

DCMP 

Daymond Sands 

April Sands 

Jennifer Hunter 

Archival Photos Provided By  

Daymond Sands 

Archival Video Furnished by 

Gallaudet University 

Locations Furnished by 

NTPA Southlake Theater 

NTPA Plano Theater 

Tarrant County College 

FOR BLACK ROBIN MEDIA

Executive Producer

Lynne Robinson

FOR PBS

Executive In Charge

Maribel Lopez

Director of Programming

Gabrielle Ewing

Fact Checker

Yvonne McGreevy

Series Branding

Leah Nichols

Project Manager for PBS Creative Voices

Nina Shelton

Sr. Director of Programming/Development for PBS Creative Voices

Wendy Llinas

Original Production Funding provided by Anne Ray Foundation.

The Story In Us is a production of Wonderfully Made Productions, LLC in association with Black Robin Media for PBS Digital Studios. 

This program is produced by Wonderfully Made Productions, LLC, which is solely responsible for its content.