The Deaf West Theatre Company and Elena Minor's new play Evolution Piques are among the highlights of the Mark Taper Forum Other Voices' Chautauqua 2002: The Theatrical Landscape of Disability and Deafness: Future, Past and Present Aug. 17 at Los Angeles' El Portal Center.

The day-long event, which begins at 11AM, will celebrate the disabled and deaf theatre communities with presentations of work that feature disabled and deaf characters and actors. A scene from Shakespeare's Richard III will be peformed as will bits from Lord Byron's The Deformed Transformed and George Boker's Francesca Da Rimini. The award-winning Deaf West Theatre, who will revive their Big River in the fall at the Taper Forum, will perform an excerpt from Sam Shepard's True West.

Minor's play, Evolution Piques, travels with a pregnant woman in a wheelchair as she goes on a journey through the stages of evolution. Luis Alfaro directs.

After the performances, there will be a panel discussion with Lenora Inez Brown, Sharon Jensen, Corey Madden, Charles L. Mee (Big Love, First Love), Dr. david Mitchell and Ed Waterstreet.

All Chautauqua events are free. Reservations can be made by calling (213) 972-0790. The El Portal Center is located at 5269 Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood. — By Christine Ehren