‘ZOEY’S’ SILENT SOUND
Twist on popular show when star ‘hears’ a dea person
For a few minutes in Sunday’s episode, “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” goes quiet.
The NBC series about a coder, played by Jane Levy, who can suddenly hear everyone’s innermost thoughts in the form of song, is typically loud and full of color, with larger-than-life musical numbers set to The Jonas Brothers, Billy Joel and Wham! Zoey’s world is straight off Broadway.
But the writers wanted to do something different.
“A lot of times in the writers’ room, we’re always trying to think of new ways to use Zoey’s power and abilities or surprise people with her power and abilities,” show creator Austin Winsberg told the Daily News. “[Writer]
George Sloan came up with the idea: What if Zoey could hear a deaf person?”
Sunday’s episode introduces Abigail, the daughter of Zoey’s father’s aide, as a deaf college student who dreams of working in tech like Zoey. But first she dreams of going to Kenya, which her father won’t allow because he thinks it would be too difficult for her.
So Abigail, played by deaf actress Sandra Mae Frank, who has starred in Deaf West’s “Spring Awakening” on Broadway and other performances around the country, sings to her father, just like everyone else in Zoey’s life sings their feelings for only her to hear.
But Zoey can’t hear Abigail’s song either. Instead, Abigail’s rendition of Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song” is signed in American Sign LanCoast. guage, backed by deaf dancers also signing. There’s a musical backing, but no subtitles.
“I thought most people would know the melody of ‘Fight Song,’ ” Winsberg told The News. “I felt like I wanted there to be some barrier to entry, the same way that they have to figure out their own ways to communicate with each other. I figured the audience would be smart enough to figure it out.”
Choreographer Mandy Moore learned ASL for the routine, then flew in deaf performers from around the country to the set in Vancouver. Some were from Deaf West, the California-based organization founded 30 years ago as the first professional resident Sign Language Theatre on the West
But Frank was the draw, Winsberg said.
“She’s so expressive and communicative and grounded and believable,” he told The News. “When she was signing dialogue or mouthing along, I felt her frustration.”
Zoey’s “heart songs,” as she calls them, always come with a message, sometimes heartfelt, sometimes horny, sometimes comedic — her coworkers singing “Jesus Christ Superstar” to a tech wizard was a particularly nice touch. For Abigail, the message is one of power.
“I felt like I wanted something that was strong and anthemic,” Winsberg told The News. “The father is preventing the daughter from going on a trip to Kenya, saying she isn’t capable of doing this. ‘Fight Song’ is the right kind of idea of, ‘Don’t tell me what I can’t do. I can do anything.’ ”
Winsberg, who based Zoey’s father’s neurological disease on his own dad and his progressive supranuclear palsy, said her experience with the deaf students gives her new perspective to her “gift” of hearing songs.
“Zoey really feels like something is wrong with her, that she’s broken in some way. When she meets Abigail and she’s so confident, it makes Zoey self-reflect and makes her realize that what she has isn’t so bad,” Winsberg said. “No matter what situation you’re in, there’s always going to be people suffering. It’s how we deal with our circumstances.”
“Zoey’s Extraordinary Silence” airs Sunday at 9 p.m. on NBC.