Howie Seago
Encyclopedia
Howie Seago is an American
deaf actor and director. Born deaf, he first began to develop his mimic abilities as a child with the help of his mother. He began his serious acting work in college, when he joined the National Theatre of the Deaf
. His break-out role was in Peter Sellars
' production of Ajax
. He was later cast by David Byrne
for the German production of The Forest (1989), because he was so impressed with Seago's performance. This production was directed by Robert Wilson
for the Berliner Festspiele
. In Austria he worked as an actor for the Salzburg Festival
and the Vienna Festival
and as a director for ARBOS - Company for Music and Theatre. He also had a significant role in Beyond Silence, a German film about a hearing girl growing up with deaf parents directed by Caroline Link
.
His television career has included appearances on Hunter, Star Trek: The Next Generation
and The Equalizer
as well as involvement in the Emmy award winning children's show, Rainbow's End. He has also produced some plays, using both hearing and deaf actors. He is a central figure of the American Deaf Community, especially as an author and teacher. Seago has been honored many times, including being a recipient of the Helen Hayes
award.
Since 2009, Seago has been a company member with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
, in Ashland, Oregon, where he is the first deaf actor to perform in the festival's history. His roles there have included The Ghost of Hamlet's Father in Hamlet
, Ned Poins in Henry IV, Part I and Henry IV, Part II, Marcellus Washburn in The Music Man
, and Bob Ewell in To Kill a Mockingbird
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
deaf actor and director. Born deaf, he first began to develop his mimic abilities as a child with the help of his mother. He began his serious acting work in college, when he joined the National Theatre of the Deaf
National Theatre of the Deaf
The National Theatre of the Deaf is a touring theatre company in the United States. It was founded in 1967. Productions combine the use of American Sign Language with the spoken word. The theatre has won several awards, including the Tony Award for Theatrical Excellence...
. His break-out role was in Peter Sellars
Peter Sellars
Peter Sellars is an American theatre director, noted for his unique contemporary stagings of classical and contemporary operas and plays...
' production of Ajax
Ajax (Sophocles)
Sophocles's Ajax is a Greek tragedy written in the 5th century BC. The date of Ajax's first performance is unknown, but most scholars regard it as an early work, circa 450 - 430 B.C....
. He was later cast by David Byrne
David Byrne (musician)
David Byrne is a musician and artist, best known as a founding member and principal songwriter of the American new wave band Talking Heads, which was active between 1975 and 1991. Since then, Byrne has released his own solo recordings and worked with various media including film, photography,...
for the German production of The Forest (1989), because he was so impressed with Seago's performance. This production was directed by Robert Wilson
Robert Wilson (director)
Robert Wilson is an American avant-garde stage director and playwright who has been called "[America]'s — or even the world's — foremost vanguard 'theater artist'". Over the course of his wide-ranging career, he has also worked as a choreographer, performer, painter, sculptor, video...
for the Berliner Festspiele
Berliner Festspiele
The Berliner Festspiele arts center brings together a variety of arts and culture events under one roof each year in Berlin, Germany. It was founded in West Berlin in 1951. Throughout the year, festivals, program series, and individual events enrich the cultural scene of the city...
. In Austria he worked as an actor for the Salzburg Festival
Salzburg Festival
The Salzburg Festival is a prominent festival of music and drama established in 1920. It is held each summer within the Austrian town of Salzburg, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart...
and the Vienna Festival
Vienna Festival
The Wiener Festwochen is a cultural festival in Vienna that takes place every year for five or six weeks in May and June.The Wiener Festwochen was established in 1951, when Vienna was still occupied by the four Allies...
and as a director for ARBOS - Company for Music and Theatre. He also had a significant role in Beyond Silence, a German film about a hearing girl growing up with deaf parents directed by Caroline Link
Caroline Link
Caroline Link , is a German film director and screenwriter.-Life and work:Caroline Link is the daughter of Jürgen and Ilse Link. From 1986 to 1990 she studied at the Munich Academy of Film and Television , and then worked as an assistant director and script writer.Link's early work includes the...
.
His television career has included appearances on Hunter, Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
and The Equalizer
The Equalizer
The Equalizer is an American television series that ran for four seasons, initially on CBS, between 1985 and 1989. It starred Edward Woodward as an aging New York vigilante with a mysterious past...
as well as involvement in the Emmy award winning children's show, Rainbow's End. He has also produced some plays, using both hearing and deaf actors. He is a central figure of the American Deaf Community, especially as an author and teacher. Seago has been honored many times, including being a recipient of the Helen Hayes
Helen Hayes
Helen Hayes Brown was an American actress whose career spanned almost 70 years. She eventually garnered the nickname "First Lady of the American Theatre" and was one of twelve people who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony Award...
award.
Since 2009, Seago has been a company member with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Oregon Shakespeare Festival
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is a regional repertory theatre in Ashland, Oregon, United States. The festival annually produces eleven plays on three stages during a season that lasts from February to October...
, in Ashland, Oregon, where he is the first deaf actor to perform in the festival's history. His roles there have included The Ghost of Hamlet's Father in Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
, Ned Poins in Henry IV, Part I and Henry IV, Part II, Marcellus Washburn in The Music Man
The Music Man
The Music Man is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader and sells band instruments and uniforms to naive townsfolk before skipping town with...
, and Bob Ewell in To Kill a Mockingbird
To Kill a Mockingbird
To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel by Harper Lee published in 1960. It was instantly successful, winning the Pulitzer Prize, and has become a classic of modern American literature...
.