Play about Gary Malkowski

Gary Malkowski made history when he was elected to serve in Ontario’s parliament. As an NDP Member of Provincial Parliament, he was the first culturally Deaf person (using sign language to communicate instead of speaking) to hold a senior legislative office.

A new two-act play tells Gary’s story.

Adapted from a biography of Gary Malkowski, the play, “Bigger Dreams: A Two-Act Play about Deaf Politician Gary Malkowski,” outlines the early years of Gary’s political career. It also includes scenes about the discovery of Gary’s deafness as a child, his education at an Ontario deaf school, his struggles with his hearing family, and his years at Gaullaudet University in the U.S.

Playwright Richard Medugno lives in California, but met Gary while living in Toronto. Medugno’s daughter is profoundly deaf. Medugno was inspired and engaged by Gary’s story.

To find out how to order the play “Bigger Dreams,” contact the publisher, 1st Books, at 1-800-839-8640 or visit www.1stbooks.com.