ODU Theatre Hosts Emmy-Nominated Rachel Coleman of "Signing Time!" Aug. 12

The Old Dominion University theatre department will host and co-produce a fundraising concert to benefit the families of Dreamcatchers, a nonprofit family support group for those touched by deafblindness, in conjunction with the Pathways to Possibilities Conference in Virginia Beach.

Rachel Coleman, host and co-creator of the popular children's TV series "Signing Time!" will share her personal story about how she overcame communication challenges with her own two daughters - one deaf and the other born with spina bifida and cerebral palsy.

"Signing Time!" both a DVD and public television series, was created as a means to teach children of all abilities how to communicate using American Sign Language (ASL) and offers an unparalleled multisensory approach with diverse learning styles. It encourages interaction through signing, singing, speaking and moving.

The performance will be held at the University Theatre, located on Hampton Boulevard in Norfolk. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door for $10 each, with all proceeds going toward future training and support for family members of Dreamcatchers.

Coleman, who will be available after the performance to sign autographs, will be the keynote speaker at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13 during the Pathways to Possibilities Conference. The conference will be sponsored by Virginia Commonwealth University's Partnership for People with Disabilities at the Wyndham Ocean Front Hotel in Virginia Beach.