Faculty member Annie Wiegand spotlighted by alma mater Boston University

Anne E. Wiegand, E-’99, a professor in the Theatre and Dance Program, was recently spotlighted in an article entitled “A Singular Light”, written by Andrew Thurston, which covered Wiegand’s journey in the theatre industry to where she is today. 

Wiegand has been teaching at Gallaudet University since 2014—and full-time since 2019. As a working professional theatre artist, Wiegand continues to make waves in the theatre world through her lighting design. Notable works in her portfolio include Deaf West’s Spring Awakening, and more recently, Playwrights Horizons’ 2018 Off Broadway production of I Was Most Alive With You.

Another one of Wiegand’s most recent productions took place on campus during the spring 2021 semester, despite the university’s remote learning status. With 15 of her students and three guest artists, she’d been quarantined on the Gallaudet University campus for a production of Deafenstein, a new play by Anna Wood-Jacobowitz, ‘21. As a faculty advisor to the play, Wiegand was a production manager, lighting designer, and COVID safety lead. 

Deafenstein tells the story of two Deaf sisters producing a film version of Frankenstein with a Deaf monster. “It was really exciting. The script had a lot of valuable themes, and themes that are important to the Deaf community.” The filmed stage performance was a co-production with the National Theatre of the Deaf and Connecticut Deaf Theatre.

In the interview with Boston University, she shares her vision for the future of theatre, and how it can be more accessible to include deaf and hard of hearing people. With more organizations focusing on diversity, equity, and representation, opportunities are coming up for other Deaf people to enter the theater industry.

“Be stubborn. Be stubborn for what you’re passionate about—and what you want to do—and find a way,” Wiegand shares her mantra. Read the article for the full story. Congratulations, Annie, on this recognition, and thank you for all that you do for Gallaudet!