"...But this production really belongs to the two brilliant actors in the title roles. McKenna Liesman, who surprisingly isn’t hearing-impaired at all, but speaks here entirely through ASL, is luminous as Juliet. At times resembling a lovely, young Claire Danes (who coincidentally played Juliet opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Baz Luhrmann’s acclaimed 1996 film adaptation), Ms. Liesman boasts an impressive theatrical resume, and is currently training to be an ASL interpreter at Columbia College. But beyond all of these accomplishments, McKenna is simply exquisite as this ill-fated young woman. Sometimes her adolescent Juliet is childish and petulant, often curious and adventurous, occasionally defiant of authority and, in the very best moments of this production, consumed with passion. The highlight of this daring performance are the soundless love scenes performed by Ms. Liesman and her talented, handsome young acting partner, Brendan Connelly, as Romeo."
Highly Recommended R & J: The Vineyard.
-Colin Douglas, Chicago Theater Review-
'Tribes'
"He also captures the thunderbolt that hits Billy when he meets the charming Sylvia (the terrific McKenna Liesman). Sylvia was born into a deaf family and grew up signing. She also grew up hearing, though she is now starting to lose that sense. Liesman captures the terror and loneliness of that experience with heartbreaking power."
-Deborah Martin, My SA
'R + J: The Vineyard'
"Since the grammars of American Sign Language and English aren’t a one-to-one match, the dialogue between Romeo and Juliet is likely also an approximation. Hearing audience members don’t get a direct translation, but we get the meaning regardless in the charming and palpable chemistry between the enchanting Connelly (who bears a strong resemblance to Zachary Quinto, but with a more puppyish quality) and Liesman (who makes for a strong-willed but stymied Juliet)."
CRITIC'S PICK!
-Kris Vire, Timeout Chicago
Photo: Joe Mazza, Brave Lux. Oracle Theater
'R & J: The Vineyard'
"McKenna Liesman (Juliet) had committed the entire script to memory before learning nearly all of her dialogue would be signed. The learning process worked to unite the cast as a bilingual unit. Once immersed in the very visual language, hearing performers noted how easy it became to forget to hear their audible cues when their full attentions were engaged in seeing and feeling their next stage action."
-Sean Margaret Wagner, Spork!
Photo: Joe Mazza, Brave Lux. Oracle Theater
'Little Red Cyrano'
Sign is used by all the actors onstage, hearing and Deaf alike, and the production has been billed as a union of diverse experiences. The best theatre grows from collaboration and a bringing together of multiple points of view. The strongest sections of “Little Red Cyrano” often involve moments of connection and communication... it’s the Chorus teaching ASL to audience members during the pre-show.
-Sarah Bowden, Theater By Numbers
McKenna Liesman (Fluff and Understudy Little Red Riding Hood) teaching sign to audience members during Little Red Cyrano at Red Theater Chicago.
Photo by M. Freer Photography
'Sanders Family Christmas'
"June is the only nonsinger of the group and signs the words to the songs instead of singing, even though she is not hard of hearing. Liesman said the technique is June’s way of being part of the family without using her voice. The use of sign language was something the Chicago-based actress related to closely, as she is studying to be a sign interpreter.
...“With June, all her life she was told she doesn’t sing. But they’re a tightknit singing family. So her mission was to find a way to be a part of this family and be included in a family of singers. So she became the percussion and then her link is to sign all or most of the songs.”
-Marijke Rowland, The Modesto Bee
Rich Miller Photo Sierra Repertory Theatre
-America's Got Talent-
"She said her act is called Steve’s Segway Dance Troupe. It grew out of Liesman’s two jobs in her current home of Chicago, Illinois: a tour guide for Segway Tours and Trikkes and a member of a multidisciplinary dance company called Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble.
Liesman, 25 and a graduate of the North East School of the Arts at Robert E. Lee High, described it this way: “It’s a 90-second dance on segways with a big reveal. The first 15 seconds consists of me floating around in a huge hoop skirt that covers the machine completely and makes it look like I’m floating in space.”"
-Jeanne Jakle, My SA