Jo-Ann Dean is a Creative Producer and CEO of SIGNmation LLC and Broadway SIGNs! live and virtual productions. A Grant Writer and recipient of a 2023 National Endowment for the Arts Challenge America Award for Deaf Austin Theater to stage, film and livestream The Laramie Project in American Sign Language. Broadway SIGN’s a cabaret bridging Broadway Talent and Deaf Artists launched Off Broadway and sold out at legendary Feinstein’s 54 Below featuring Oscar, Tony and Grammy winning artists.

Dean’s company SIGNmation produced with Grupo Steno for Disney Plus their first ASL Option offered in extras on Marvel’s Ant Man (2015) feature film via their streaming platform. SIGNmation promotes Deaf centric, native ASL signers as ASL Talent and Director of Artistic Sign Language (DASL) in productions. Deaf Creatives Doug Ridloff (DASL A Quiet Place) and ASL Talent JAC Cook have been lauded for their skill on release of the ASL option feature. The production was a collaboration between several entities consulting, BHO5 for Deluxe and Respectability’s Delbert Whetter for Disney Plus.

Additionally, she’s credited as Producer on Director Cameron S. Mitchell (PBS American Masters “Elsa”) short film “Kryptonite” for 2023 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge with Ryan Lane (Switched at Birth) and R&B legend Shanice. Nominated for 3 Awards Best Actor Ryan Lane, Best Writer and Best Film. Dean’s passion lies in accessibility and inclusion in the arts. Dean has created Open Caption screening and film panels in partnership with Sony Pictures and Oscar nominated Film Directors Edgar Wright (Baby Driver) and Paul Weitz (Grandma, Mozart in the Jungle) and accessibility panels for NYWIFT, WIF and New York Film Festival. Dean is a community partner with The Harriet Tubman Effect upholding their tenets of arts for all.