Jo-Ann dean ceo/founder
Jo-Ann Dean is a Creative Producer and CEO SIGNmation L.L.C. and Broadway SIGNs! live and virtual productions. A Grant Writer and Recipient of the 2023 National Endowment for the Arts Challenge America Award for Deaf Austin Theatre’s The Laramie Project. Dean launched Broadway SIGNs! Off Broadway at The Triad Theatre in NYC and in 2022 debuted at the legendary Feinstein’s 54 Below to rave reviews from Broadway journalists and theater critics. Hailed for bridging Deaf Artists with Broadway talent in Cabaret with sold out shows working with Oscar, Tony and Grammy winning artists. Accolades include On Stage: Broadway SIGNs! Off Broadway Pick of the Week by NY1’s Emmy Award Winner Frank DiLella; a featured segment in Fox 5 News Emmy Winning Broadcast “Breaking Sound Barriers” by Anchor Chris Welch on Broadway Actor Russell Harvard’s stage performance with To Kill A Mockingbird and his musical Off Broadway debut with Broadway SIGNs!. Dean is the Coordinator of ASL Tutoring Classes with Deaf Actors for the 2023 National Tour of Into The Woods Broadway Cast, a pilot program helmed by the Harriet Tubman Effect. Dean’s Commercial Off Broadway Producing credits include Cody Lassen’s A Commercial Jingle for Regina Comet at the Darryl Roth Theater, NYC featuring Alex Wise (Good Night, Oscar, Waitress), Ben Frankhauser (Newsies) and Joe Iconis’ Broadway Bounty Hunter.
Dean is the CoProducer and Cofounder of ASL Cabaret creating a platform for Deaf Artists in Los Angeles performing at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club, the iconic Rockwell Table & Stage & Prospect Theatre, with invitations to produce at The Wallis Annenberg’s Center for Performing Arts Sorting Room and at Fountain Theatre, the birthplace of Deaf West Theatre. Dean’s company SIGNmation is a proud Sponsor and ASL Interpreter Coordinator for Broadway Producer Ken Davenport’s TheaterMakers Summit 2020. A Broadway first, an all access ASL Interpreted virtual three day industry event. Jo-Ann is the recipient of Davenport Theatrical’s 2020 TheaterMakers Studio Producer of the Year Award for Broadway SIGNs!.
Her advocacy for American Sign Language, Deaf Artists and equal access on stage and audience led to Sponsorship and Alliance with Broadway Dreams Artist Intensive Week LA The Wallis and NYC Showcase. Dean is a member of New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT) and Women in Film (WIF). SIGNmation and Dean produce Open Caption Film Screenings, Industry ASL Interpreted Panels and Events to promote equity, inclusion, and diversity. Community Partnerships with Harriet Tubman Effect, Access Broadway, Act1Access and Theater Development Fund (TDF), Broadway Dreams Foundation. Film: Sony Pictures Studio, New York Film Festival, NYWIFT, WIF, ReelAbilities, American Foundation for the Blind and Lights, Camera, Access! Federal Grants awarded include National Endowment for the Arts, California Federal Charter School Implementation Grant for ASL Digital Imaging and Film Studio. LA Cultural Affairs Grant for Caption This! an original cable series with Deaf Artists. She is CoProducer on Indie Fest Winner, Director Linda Palmer’s Feature Film “Turnover” on Amazon. Creative Consultant on Director’s Judy Lieff’s Award Winning Documentary “Deaf Jam" on American Film Showcase and PBS. Her passion is producing accessible arts on stage, film & television and performing arts.
Dean’s company SIGNmation pioneered Marvel’s first ASL Option for Ant Man (2015) on Disney Plus’ Streaming Platform with Post Production company Grupo Steno based in Brazil. She was directly responsible for providing casting of ASL Talent, Director of Artistic Sign Language (DASL) and set ASL Interpreter for the Picture in Picture (PIP) feature and set consultation. Additionally, she’s credited as Producer on Director Cameron S. Mitchell (PBS American Masters “Elsa”) short film “Kryptonite” for Easterseals Disability Film Challenge with Ryan Lane (Switched at Birth) and R&B legend Shanice. Nominated for 3 Awards: Best Actor Ryan Lane, Best Writer and Best Film.