Meet the Artist: Director of Artistic Sign Language Regan Thibodeau
Regan Thibodeau
At the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, we view storytelling as an act of community. It’s about connection, creativity, and finding new ways to ensure that every audience member can fully experience the magic on stage. CMTM’s upcoming production of STELLALUNA marks the first time that American Sign Language (ASL) has been fully integrated into a CMTM theatrical production, and that work is being guided by a Director of Artistic Sign Language, or DASL.
In this Q&A, we chatted with Regan Thibodeau, the DASL for STELLALUNA, about what a DASL does, how ASL is woven into this production, and why gesture, effort, and creative connection are so powerful in the theatre, especially for young audiences.
Regan Thibodeau works with actor Jean Noe (Stellaluna) in rehearsal.
CMTM: What is a Director of Artistic Sign Language, or a DASL?
Regan: It is a Deaf person (or a native sign language user) that helps with the incorporation of ASL in the storytelling. Sometimes with the actors or the interpreters, whoever is using ASL.
CMTM: Regan, please tell us about your background and how you came to be a DASL.
Regan: I used to be in theater myself. Over the years I have had the opportunity to be a director, scriptwriter, production manager, and so on. Becoming a director of sign language naturally unfolded along the way. Having training as a Deaf Interpreter and ASL professor contributed to my passion in ensuring access can happen in the Arts.
CMTM: DASLs do so much to help bring theatrical productions to life. Could you please tell us about your specific roles within this production?
Regan: Upon seeing how much fun we can have in a children’s production, the opportunity to pull ASL into the puppets by adding modifications, creating an example of gesturing between different languages to form connections, grew into something really meaningful with this play. One of the main things that makes this work is the organic process of finding ways to make the actors look like they have been signing for a long time and the others expressing true representation of learning how to create on the spot communication. Making it a model for those in the audience who may have needed just a spark to turn around and start doing the same for people in their lives.
CMTM: What excites you about joining the team of STELLALUNA at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine?
Regan Thibodeau with actor Jean Noe and director Katelyn Manfre.
Regan: I love the team and the museum. In a way it is giving back to the museum for what it gave me in my early formative years as a toddler interacting with their theme rooms. It helped me make connections that I needed- a tangible visual representation of the world around me. So important for someone like me who started developing language at 6 and a half years old.
CMTM: What do you hope audiences take away from seeing this production?
Regan: Creative connections. I really hope the audience sees that it goes a mile to gesture even one thing- the effort to share something and be understood. To break myths about looking “right” and that sign language is unreachable.
CMTM: What advice or message would you share with someone who is interested in becoming a DASL?
Regan: I think it helps heal our inner deaf child when we can participate in this kind of artistic expression of our language in the world of theater. Where imagination and ideas come together to make time and the outside world be put on pause.
STELLALUNA opens January 31 and runs through February, 22, 2026 at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine.
When a curious young bat named Stellaluna is separated from her mother, she crash-lands into a nest of baby birds—and suddenly, everything is upside down! No flying at night? No hanging by her feet? No sweet, squishy fruit? Stellaluna does her best to fit in, but soon starts to wonder…can she be herself and still belong?
This ASL-integrated theatrical production blends American Sign Language, spoken English, and expressive movement as part of the story itself. ASL is used by key characters, while gesture becomes a bridge for others—inviting audiences to experience how communication grows through imagination, effort, and connection.
Get ready to flap, flutter, and fly along in this beautiful celebration of being different, sticking together, and discovering who you truly are. Because when you follow your heart, you just might find your way home.