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Comedian signs about life between two worlds

A comedian used sign language to convey his experiences as a hearing person growing up with deaf parents Saturday night before a packed audience in the South Ballroom of the Student Union Memorial Center.

Keith Wann, a child of deaf adults, or CODA, performed “”Watching Two Worlds Collide,”” a show about the merging of deaf and hearing worlds from the perspective of a child in the middle of it.

The audience was made up mostly of interpreters, CODAs and the deaf. Across the room, signing and talking went on before the show began.

“”I have seen a part of Wann’s performance on the Internet, and I heard he is really entertaining in person,”” said Sydney Corbett, an American Sign Language interpreter.

Brandy Resnick, a UA alumna and ASL interpreter, has seen the videos of Wann perform and said, “”He is hilarious.”

This was the first time Resnick saw him perform live, and she said she was looking forward to his interpretations of music.

Wann used ASL to interpret many songs, including Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “”Baby Got Back.”” He explained that his love of music comes from his parents blasting the radio in his ears as an infant, when they were trying to discover if he was hearing or deaf.

When children are first born, hearing parents cry if they find out their child is deaf, he signed.

Deaf parents cry when they find out their child is hearing, he added.

As a child, Wann signed, his parents wanted the doctor to pierce his eardrums so he would be deaf like them.

”I remember when I was a little guy, I wanted to go the deaf school,” Wann signed. ”My mom said, ‘You’re hearing. You are going to the hearing school.’

”I answered, ‘I don’t wanna go to hearing school. That is discrimination.’

”My mom said, ‘Too bad, you’re going.’ “

He complained to his mother that the people at the hearing school are “”all handicapped”” because they could not sign.

”My mom said, ‘That is your culture, go,’ “” Wann signed. “”Then I became a hearing person.”

New to the hearing world, it took Wann time to adjust. He recalled when his teacher informed his parents that he needed speech therapy, he said. His parents became very excited and began taking pictures of him along with the note from the teacher.

Wann’s wild energy and entertaining facial expressions kept the crowd laughing throughout the performance.

The Disability Resource Center, the Sign Language Educational Interpreter Training Program and the Social Justice Leadership Center came together to bring Wann’s performance to the UA, said Cindy Volk, a professor in the College of Education’s Special Education, Rehabilitation and School Psychology program.

Wann has been an extra in movies and television shows and has appeared on the television show “”Law and Order,”” Volk said as she introduced him to the crowd.

“”I have deaf parents,”” Volk added. “”That is why I am excited to have Keith Wann (at the UA).”

Comedian performs in Burlington

By Kera Wanielstra

Skagit Valley Herald

BURLINGTON — Comedian Keith Wann owned the stage in the Burlington-Edison High School auditorium — jumping, dancing and emoting his way to laughs from the audience.

But most of the time, Wann was silent.

Though Wann can hear and speak, his first language — and the language in which he performs — is American Sign Language.

“I say English is my second language, even though I’m a hearing person,” said Wann, who is the son of two deaf parents. “That’s my goal, to bring these two worlds together.”

Wann, a California native now living in Brooklyn, was brought to Burlington-Edison by the school’s Happy Hands ASL Club.

“He’s like the Kevin Hart of the deaf world,” said Happy Hands Club member Abbey Maroney, a sophomore. “He’s really famous.”

Some of Wann’s jokes — like unplugging the vacuum while his mother was using it to see how long it would take her to notice — resonate more with the deaf community than with the hearing community, he said.

By drawing from his own experiences, he is able to give the speaking and hearing ASL students a glimpse of life as a deaf or hard-of-hearing person, reported the Skagit Valley Herald.

“It’s a great way to share culture,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Wann spoke with ASL students, who were thrilled to have him around.

“(Having Wann is) such a big deal for our school and our club,” junior Jayla Dunn said.

“And also our town,” junior Jenica Medina chimed in.

While Burlington-Edison High School has no deaf students, Dunn said she became interested in learning sign language to be able to communicate with more people.

“I was really excited to be able to make conversation with such a diverse population,” she said. “You can always have them lip read, but it’s such a deeper connection when you speak the same language.

For Wann, the students’ excitement is a sign of change. He remembers the stigma his parents faced while he was growing up.

“Now it’s cool,” he said. “If I was a teenager now, I’d get a lot more dates than I did in the ’80s.”

During his 20 years as a performer, Wann’s parents have remained an inspiration for his comedy show, he said.

“I feel like I want to sign in case my parents ever came to a show,” he said.

While his wife has served as his speaking interpreter for his comedy shows, Wann said he also often has local people — such as Happy Hands adviser Liza Bancroft — interpret sign language into speech.

“He’s so well-respected and well-known in the deaf community,” Bancroft said. “So it’s a real unique opportunity.”

Opportunity awaits the students continuing their ASL education as well, Wann said.

“You are learning our language,” Wann signed during his show. “You have two choices: You can use that language to help deaf people … or you can use it to hurt them. I know you guys want to use it to help. Really, I hope some of you become interpreters, or maybe lawyers. Or maybe you’ll work at McDonald’s.”

Keith Wann Visits Capitol View Thanks to Special Grant

Courtesy of the Des Moines Public Schools Deaf Education Department…

Thanks to the generosity of the Polk County Betterment Grant the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program was able to bring Keith Wann, a CODA, child of Deaf Adults, to Capitol View Elementary for an all-school assembly for students and staff. Mr. Wann shared his experience of growing up in a home with Deaf parents. One such story was his suspicions as to whether his mother was truly Deaf. One day while she was vacuuming Keith decided to unplug the vacuum just to test his mother’s hearing. His mother was unaware for a few minutes and continued to vacuum, however, when she did notice, Keith was then sent to his room.

That evening Mr. Wann performed for Deaf community members, staff, families of our DMPS DHH students, as well as ASL students and other guests.

Often when discussing culture, Deaf culture is overlooked. Many times, we think of cultural differences we think only of those from another country who speak a different language. It was inspiring for all in attendance to hear firsthand what it was like growing up in a Deaf household, with Deaf cultural values.

American Sign Language comedians illustrate immersion into the deaf community

Published by adviser, Author: Rebecca Marcucci - Campus Life Editor

During the course of his childhood in the 70s, his face was glued to his television set studying the art of comedy from Richard Pryor, Steve Martin, Bob Newhart and countless others.

From watching the comedy greats, soon Keith Wann began performing stand-up routines on his own.

Though Wann admit he needed to watch his comedy heroes ever so carefully, he explained. Wann grew up as a CODA, or child of a deaf adult. Both of Wann’s parents are deaf. He laughed to himself as he remembered the days before closed captioning when he was watching TV.

“I would be watching Richard Pryor on TV and my mom would stop to sign, ‘What is that man saying?’ as she would try to read his lips and I said, ‘Mom he’s saying mother, father deaf.’ (in place of an expletive) and she would say to me, ‘Oh! You should go clean your “mother father” room,” Wann said.

Keith Wann was welcomed to SRU Wednesday evening in the Smith Student Center Ballroom by SRU’s American Sign Language Club.

Keith also performed in a deaf improv show together called “Whose Sign Is It Anyway?”

His journey through comedy and ASL has led him to where he is now but Wann distinctly remembers his roots, he explained.

“I grew up in Oakland, California in the ‘70s,” he said. He is now 45 years old. “Before closed captioning I would interpret TV for my parents. Then the deaf community was a buzz when shows like Laverne and Shirley and Dynasty became closed captioned. Everyone was talking about that.”

Keith said he never minded signing for his parents. In fact, he enjoyed it.

Wann explained through his comedy that the deaf community is a very unique group of people. They are proud of who they are and do not see themselves as broken. They will drive with their legs while signing with passengers. With Wann's family, practical jokes with their CODAs were always a good time, he also added.

When it came to advice for being a skilled ASL communicator Keith adamantly suggested, “ASL is a very different language. It’s very conceptual. The best way to learn it is through interaction from a gaggle of deaf people.”

Elementary Student - Keith Wann!

'America's Funniest ASL Comedian' visits Wright Elementary this morning in special assembly

Deaf Ed students representing several Parker County school districts were treated to a special assembly by ASL Comedian Keith Wann Friday morning in the Wright Elementary Cafeteria.

Wann, 45, is a CODA (children of deaf adults) interpreter and caters to all hearing, deaf, and hard-of-hearing audiences. He also spends a lot of time traveling across the country teaching workshops and even interpreting on Broadway.

Over the past 10 years, he has been dubbed as America’s funniest ASL comedian while continuing to bridge misconceptions and cultural gaps between the deaf and hearing worlds.

“We strive to raise awareness about ASL through comedy,” Wann said, “and we also believe in fully supporting the ASL community while offering ASL entertainment and learning.”

Wann spent nearly an hour and a half talking and interacting with the Deaf Ed students on Thursday. Also, at the conclusion of the assembly, he answered various questions from the audience and even posed with students in numerous photo opportunities.

“We were very lucky to have a person such as Keith’s caliber to come talk to our students,” Brazos River Regional Day School for the Deaf Coordinator Angela Belding said. “He’s not just a storyteller, but he actually brings the stories to life.”

Wann is also a stand-up comedian and will be performing his ASL Comedy Tour 2014 Friday at the Tarrant County College - Trinity River Campus in Fort Worth. His visit to Wright Elementary was made possible through an interpreter friend at no cost to the District.

Tickets for Friday’s performance may be purchased online at www.keithwann.com for a reduced cost, or at the door Friday beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Wann also has over 250 videos on published on YouTube...

JoshiesWorld.com

Keith Wann the ASL Comedy Performer.

Joshua Sullivan September 30, 2010

ASL comedy performer named Keith Wann is a skilled man in sign languages and has performed beautifully in front of several deaf, hard of hearing and even hearing people who is involved in deaf/hard of hearing culture. His parents are deaf as I heard about him on several websites and some of his videos. You know how deaf or hard of hearing cannot listen to radio and be involved with radio world, Keith Wann himself came up with an idea and finally made it to happen for deaf and hard of hearing to be able to have radio for their deaf/hard of hearing world. He went into video streaming and do his own ASL radios for all of people who are hard of hearing that everybody can watch over on the internet which it can be found on his website or you can go to it by (site: That Keith Wann Show) in ASL edition or (site: Hearing edition) and watch/listen to his radio show. I highly recommend you to go to it, I dare you to! Now for himself, he cares for everyone who is in deaf community and for all deaf community and other deaf related. However, Keith Wann himself is hearing but he says that ASL (sign language) is his language that are in his heart because technically, that’s only language he spoke when he was born since his parents are deaf. I thank him very much for being involved with deaf and hard of hearing world and I applaud him for that. He is one of the few that who has a good heart for deaf community and others. But what is he? He’s a CODA (child of deaf adult [i think]). I just felt like that I should write something little about him is because he amazed me with everything that he is doing for deaf community and all. Would you like to see his shows and such? Go to KeithWann.com and you will find all information you need to know about him and his upcoming shows and others so you can see how awesome guy he is! There’s some videos of his performing in ASL on his website as well so you can see how hilarious his jokes are! Indeed, he does know how to make jokes that always bring a huge laughter and smiles on everyone’s face that came and watch him or even watch his videos.

Thank you everybody for reading this post on JoshiesWorld.com and thank you Keith Wann for allowing me to use your picture so I can write about you! I will post one of his video that he uploaded a video on his YouTube channel (YouTube.com/codawann) and if you have a YouTube account, be sure to subscribe him also! He upload videos now and then. But for now, enjoy one video from his channel.

Coffee time with Coda

Dad, Husband, child of Deaf adults, with a dash of entrepreneur, performer/actor, access provider, and ASL interpreter.

Q: What is the most common first question you get when people find out you grew up with Deaf Parents? And how do you reply?

A: How do they drive? How is it having Deaf parents?... I always respond with ‘don’t know, never had hearing parents to compare to’. I understand most assume it is a different experience but I remind them my wife grew up with Spanish-speaking parents and our experiences were the same; our parents worked, they fed us, and sent us off to school. The only difference would be the language used in the house, was different than what was used out in the ‘world’. So then adding the difference would be most of us with

Deaf parents are bilingual. Ok, wait…loud cupboard slams, smoke detector alarms always beeping from dying batteries, tv captions 24/7 (a must for me even to this day), foot stomping, wall banging, light flashing, mischievous interpreting between teacher and parent, learning to talk

without moving lips so parents won’t know, and flashing ILY sign since day one!

Q: What advice would you give younger KODA/CODA’s?

Conversely, what advice should they ignore?

A: Embrace the language and culture. Eat up the ASL, absorb it, share it, provide access. My mom handed me a SEE book (we lived in San Jose during the 70’s and that was the epicenter of Signing Exact English) which confused me since both my parents were strong ASL, unless talking to a hearing person then my mom would code- switch to english ordered asl but I didn’t realize that to later. I asked why and my mom’s answer was because you might meet a deaf person who uses these signs and I want

you to be able to talk with them, she was huge on access.

When I was growing up our Deaf parents were called mutes and ‘deaf and dumb’, today’s kodas see people like their parents and their language on tv and in the movies, in popular culture, sporting events, and being taught all over for many to learn. Embrace the language, any version that allows for communication.

Q: You’ve done some pretty cool events in your career, what have been some of the most memorable?

A: The first time performing a song on stage with ½ and ½ - two codas from the bay area I grew up watching, the first time doing my comedy show in Fremont and having both my parents (divorced) in the front row looking at me and then each other and laughing. My mom would also start to stand up and sign “that’s not true…oh wait that’s right that happened” and then sit back down. The first time my wife (certified trilingual

interpreter) voiced for my show while we were dating. The first time my kids got on the stage after a show and jumped around and Jan Nishimura played with them. So many memories to last a lifetime and more.

Ok wait, always signing my shows so my parents would have first access and having the hearing audiences depend on the voicing, sometime good sometimes not.

Q: What is one leadership, life, or love lesson

that you learned from your parents?

A: Experience life and find your path. You may end up going down the wrong path for a short minute but as long as you can see that and turn around then you will be ok. My mom had a very hard life as a child and I can tell she tried to make sure everyone including me felt loved/included. She would talk to signing strangers, nosy neighbors, rude teachers all with the same smile. One memory that always jumps out is at a restaurant when I overheard the table next to us commenting about my parents ‘look at

those deaf and dumb people…’ and I would ‘interpret’ this and my mom would always say “don’t interpret, ignore”. I wanted justice done, those people weren’t nice, but my mom would just love and look towards them and smile. Once I learned this practice as an adult, had to muddle my way through and make many mistakes, it brought more peace to my life. Just love others. Ok wait, sharing jokes – that’s where my love for my dad’s storytelling led to the stage.

Q: What is the book (or books) you’ve given most as a gift, and why? Or what are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life?

A: In my entrepreneur life I love personal development and don’t have one particular book but many favorite chapters in many different books. As a coda I was able to read books at a very early age before I could pronounce half the words (yes I had to go to speech therapy all of second grade). When in first grade they would send me to the third grade class to read with them. I have always loved reading, including the teenager

years of reading all the Stephen King, John Saul, and Dean Koontz stories. As a young adult I transitioned to the personal development books like The Secret, How to win friends and influence people, and anything by John Maxwell. I also have to say the Bible is instrumental in my life too.

Q: Safest driver?

A: Dad

Q: Most flavorful cook?

A: Dad

Q: Most likely to join you on the comedy stage?

A:Mom

Q: Deaf School?

A:Both - Berkely

Thank you Mickey Carolan - Coffee with Coda!

On YouTube: Growing ASL Performances

For years, Keith Wann’s deaf father misunderstood why the dog got shot in the movie Old Yeller.

“I’m 8 years old and signing ‘rabbit’ instead of ‘rabies,’ and my father thinks he got shot because he ate a rabbit,” says Wann, who now works as an ASL comedian.

When the FCC founded the National Captioning Institute in 1979, its closed captioning began eliminating these small misunderstandings for both Wann’s father and the estimated 38 million Americans who are either deaf or hard of hearing.

But for those who communicate using American Sign Language (ASL), captions are translations. And as with all translations, inevitably something is still lost. The deaf community, with few exceptions, has not had easy access to content created in its own language–until recently.

With the dawn of Internet video, many ASL musicians, poets, and comedians reach geographically dispersed audiences as easily as their spoken-language counterparts. About 40% of the videos tagged “sign language” on YouTube have been uploaded in the last year, says YouTube trend manager Kevin Allocca. And the rate at which “ASL” is typed in the site’s search box has increased two-fold since 2008.

“Everyone did music in the beginning. Which is like, ‘hey, look at me, I can sign,’” says Wann, whose repertoire includes a skit in which he pretends to be an interpreter for Vanilla Ice. “We’re looking at you, and it’s terrible. More and more deaf people are saying, ‘this is what it should look like.’”

The Deaf Professional Arts Network (D-PAN) is an organization that promotes deaf performers, including musicians. It’s helped create (with permission) ASL music videos for popular songs from artists like Christina Aguilera, John Mayer, and the White Stripes.

“I saw firsthand that there were many deaf and hard of hearing people who loved music but were not getting all that music had to offer, especially lyrics,” says D-PAN’s deaf founder, the hip-hop artist Sean Forbes.

Forbes says he was drawn to hip hop at an early age because it was easier to “feel” the bass, the kick drum and the percussively delivered lyrics than it was to pick out the high-pitched lyrics of other genres. He now makes it his career.

“It’s what you see that sets me apart,” he says. “I can tell you without a doubt that if my videos weren’t on the Internet I wouldn’t have the visibility that I have today.”

ASL Talk Radio

Comedian Keith Wann Launches First Talk Radio Show For ASL Community on Toginet Talk Radio

PRESS RELEASE • JUL 31, 2010

Coda Comedian of International Acclaim Keith Wann Launches First Talk Radio Show for ASL Community on August 4th from 8:00-9:00 PM EST, on the Toginet Radio Network.

Online, July 31, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Lindale, TX-ASL comedian Keith Wann, adds the title of premiere ASL talk radio host to his list of ongoing endeavors within the ASL community. Over the past twenty years in entertainment, Wann has become a leading figure in his industry as an entrepreneur and bilingual ASL comedian of international acclaim. Wann's show, titled That Keith Wann Show-Cultural Bridges, launches on August 4th from 8:00-9:00 pm EST, on the Toginet talk radio network. Wann will host guests; Inspirational, bi-lingual and bi-cultural Speaker, Lisa Callsen, and Stand-up Comedian Lianna Carrera.

Addressing the launch of his unique show, Wann states, "My goal is to offer the deaf community insight and connection to the hearing world in all media forms, and vice versa. Talk radio is an extension of my continued efforts to connect to the hearing, ASL and Coda communities in shared experiences and entertainment." Wann views his upcoming show as a potential study tool for ASL teachers and students. "It is imperative that ASL students, new and veteran interpreters, and professors in diverse fields of the ASL industry, understand this show as a valuable resource to reference. Talk radio is yet another outlet that will help put a voice on their profession. Guests requiring an interpreter will be featured periodically, and will offer further context to the personal and professional headway, that the deaf and Coda communities have made in connecting with the hearing world." Each of Wann's guest interviews will roll live stream captioning and be interpreted in sign language for access on YouTube the following day.

Reflecting an important need for the community, Wann views his show as a pivotal tool in opening up further connective opportunities among his counterparts and following base. Cultural Bridges will offer an educational platform for listeners to share life experiences, inspirational stories, and industry expertise among each other. Guests will include a wide range of talent from Wann's non-profit organization coda365.org (children of deaf adults) and ASL community. Interviews will focus on issues appealing to listeners, from the perspective of ASL and CODA entertainers, teachers, interpreters and industry professionals.

Recognized as the producer of the ASL Comedy Tour with wife Emilia, ASL Across America and manager of interpreter video service company callVRS.org, Wann is acclaimed as the funniest and most diverse ASL comedian on the circuit. He has become a leading force in allowing the deaf community to experience entertainment and programming from a hearing point of view. Wann's notoriety among the ASL audience, has led to TV features on Law and Order, Pepsi Super Bowl commercials, and a constantly growing following on Facebook and You Tube.

Growing up in the Bay area of Northern California as the hearing son of two deaf parents, Wann brings a previously undiscovered genre to the talk radio scene. "I feel like a deaf person who has a handicap for hearing. ASL is my first language. It's in my heart," says Wann of his dual citizenship in the hearing and deaf communities. Wann's passion, ease and highly developed ASL skill, combined with an instinctive ability to connect with both his deaf and hearing environments, make him one of the most sought after and highly credentialed interpreters on the ASL speaking circuit. Comedic appearances and speaking engagements on cruises, college campuses, ASL conventions, educational conferences and entertainment venues, have caused the media to take a more in depth interest of the coda365.org founder-a pattern Wann hopes to continue as the industry's first ASL focused talk radio host. Captivating his audience with a fresh spin on cultural diversity, Wann will engage his listeners in meaningful, serious and comedic discussions as he bridges the gap between his two native worlds.

ICEWORM Newsletter 2004

The year 1969 brings a lot of wonderful memories back
for many people...Woodstock, Summer of Love, Man on
the Moon, and the arrival of Keith Wann.
From day one his mother was trying to find the receipt
so she could take him back to the CODAland store and
trade him in for a more mellow baby.
Born with energy and a knack for getting in trouble,
Keith learned about facial grammar when in the 4th
grade he had to interpret for his mom. The teacher
was upset at the constant interruptions and laughter
from the classroom and said, "Your son is the class
clown!" Keith signed to his mom, "Teacher says me
good boy always!" Keith's mom looked at the frowning
teacher and back at the smiling young evil child and
finished the meeting with pen and paper.
Keith was fired from his first interpreting job.
Not discouraged, Keith tried interpreting again when
he was an adult and his first consumer was Juggy
Jordan in 1992. Keith didn't understand a word Juggy
signed so he made some stuff up and swore at the boss
and as a result Juggy was fired from his job. Still
the two became good friends and started playing
softball together.
Juggy wanted to apply for another job so he encouraged
Keith to become a real interpreter and Keith, with his
coffee cup, became RID CI CT certified. Since then he
has traveled all over California, up to Alaska, out to
Bermuda, and over to Germany as a Sign Language
interpreter. (Although some say to escape from Juggy.)
While on these journeys in 1993 Keith met Wormy at a
Deaf Camp, and the two became the worst counselors in
history. Instead of watching the kids Keith and Wormy
sat around in their underwear, smoking cigars, and
playing strip-poker with the Camp nurse. The second
year Juggy joined the camp and the three were seen
selling off the kids' camping gear and clothes to raise
money so they could go the local strip-bar at nights.
Then the three went their separate ways...
But that was not the end. Remembering how much fun he
had as the 'class clown' Keith started to join Deaf
Comedy groups and has been in a few performances in
Alaska and recently joined the Dream Team of ICEWORM in Sacramento
where he met Crom and rejoined with Wormy and Juggy.
Crom and Keith bonded like lost brothers and Crom has
been known to sign, "Keith...it's like I have known
you since 1992." Keith and Crom were last seen
hugging.

ICEWORM ROCKS!!!

Keith Wann, Santa's Elf helper!

Santa arrives for deaf children

DREW HARWELL St. Petersburg Times

CLEARWATER - Santa's videophone rang the other night. An elf answered.

A boy in blue pajamas appeared, calling from Wisconsin. He stared into the camera with a look of doubt, then curiosity.

The elf traced a flurry of sign language with his hands, made funny faces into the camera, shook his head until his hat fell off. The boy giggled, showing a gap in his teeth.

His name was Humberto, he signed with a smile. He wanted to speak with Santa.

The elf tapped at his cell phone. Santa stepped into the shot with a heartily waved hello, lifting his list of good children to the camera. Would you look at that, he jokingly signed - Humberto was at the top.

The boy laughed and hopped in place and signed his wishes for Wii games and Bakugan toys. He promised cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. Humberto's dad, smiling behind him, signed messages above the boy's head.

The elf signed that other children were waiting and reminded Humberto to sleep all night on Christmas Eve. They signed their goodbyes - "I love you" - and closed the connection.

Here, for the first time, was a Christmas rite many deaf people had missed: speaking with Santa. He didn't ho-ho-ho and didn't need to. This Clearwater Santa just watched the signs and shared his own. He understood. And for a few hours, he was a phone call away.

Keith Wann, the 40-year-old elf, could relate. He had joked earlier of his childhood with two deaf parents, how they got him socks when he wanted an Atari.

"This little kid is me," he said of Humberto, his funny face turning serious. "That's why I do this. For this little kid to be able to tell his deaf dad what he wants."

A few seconds later, the phone rang again. Like many of the calls, this one wasn't asking for toys.

The wives of Wann and Tony Barraza, the 39-year-old Santa, laughed from off-screen. Emilia Lorenti-Wann, 42, and Jenn Barraza, 26, poured the actors ginger ale and tallied the callers' wishes on Wann's Facebook.

"We're live tonight," Jenn updated, "Rocking and rolling."

During the day, the four worked for callVRS, their relay interpreting service, from the closed-in garage in Wann's back yard. But during the off-time, they decided, they could share Signing Santa with the rest of the country.

Wann, a touring comedian of deaf stand-up, advertised they would take calls every week until Christmas Eve. Last week was their first.

For the first half of the night, the calls, more than a dozen and growing, never seemed to stop. Wann drew wishes of cars and laptops on a whiteboard, feverishly cleaning it with his knee. Barraza jumped out between calls, wiping away sweat, awaiting his next grand entrance.

Jena, an older woman, wanted a BMW. Destiny, a young girl, wanted a doll. Heather, her mother, wished for prayers for her family.

A deaf father called next with a phone number and a request. Could they call his daughter, he signed? She spoke from the other room.

Barraza conjured his first-ever Santa voice. "Hi, is this Jada?" he bellowed. "This is Santa Claus."

Jada clasped the phone to her face and walked to her father's side. He looked at her as she asked for "a doll that pees and goes to the toilet." Wann signed her wish back to the dad.

"That's so cool," he signed. He leaned back in his chair, his smile widening. "Thank you. Thank you."

When the ringing calmed, Santa's helpers settled. The Wanns found coupons and ordered a Jet's pizza. Barraza, in socks and the Santa suit, stepped outside for a cigarette.

They proposed a Walmart trip to research toys. They laughed at their family members who kept calling in. And they shared a realization. This had all been for the little ones, the mall Santa miss-outs, who couldn't sing carols or listen for sleigh bells but could still share in the spirit.

Yet many of the callers had no kids in sight. They were middle-aged men crumpled into desk chairs, frizzy-haired women in sweats, asking for mansions and luxury cars.

Grown-ups with wish lists, performing a childhood ritual, seeking someone who understood.

Even if that person was dressed in a Santa suit.

It was 9 o'clock, log-off time, when Wann and Barraza prepared to shut down. The phone rang before they could. This would be the last, they swore.

One man, maybe in his 20s, with thinning hair and a gray hoodie. "I saw you on Facebook," he signed, "and saw how you were asking if people want something. Is that right?"

Santa and the elf hid their fatigue. They joked and made faces and scribbled. His name was Kohl. They asked about his gift.

"I just want a peaceful life," he signed. "So I can just be cool, and be cool with people. Know what I mean?"

Santa nodded, stroked his beard. His fingers signed the night's last message.

"You're on the list."

Video

School visit - 3 shows in one day

ASL Comedy Tour