Institute of Musical Traditions

Let’s tackle the “C” word with humor and hope.  Not Covid…Cancer.

ALL WIGGED OUT is Marcy Marxer ’s poignant, yet often surprisingly hilarious, musical show about her cancer experience. But ALL WIGGED OUT NEEDS YOUR HELP.

In ALL WIGGED OUT, Grammy® Award-winner Marcy Marxer blends music, storytelling, comedy and advice based on her firsthand experiences with breast cancer, starting with a funky mammogram in June 2015 and ending shortly after her last chemo pill in spring of 2021. Says Marxer, "There were times when the wig shop gals gave me more information than my doctors. So did conversations with other patients in the chemo room." With her renowned musical mastery and eclectic wit, Marxer traces her transition from award-winning virtuosic musician to artist struggling with chemo-induced neuropathy, and the path back to touring musician. It happens to coincide with her hair story. Marcy will be joined by partner Cathy Fink, and a three-piece band.

Why this project?

Hardly anyone these days is not touched by cancer in some way, either directly or via friends and family. The goal of the play is not just to tell Marcy’s story, but to help medical professionals, friends, family and even strangers learn how they can best support those with cancer while keeping a sense of humor.  Marcy, and her partner Cathy, were blown away about what the doctors didn’t say, but help others understand what questions to ask the doctors, and what things friends and family shouldn’t say!

Why raise $100,000? ALL WIGGED OUT was scheduled to make its theater debut in the summer of 2020, which was cancelled due to the pandemic. As theater options became more and more distant, Marcy & Cathy decided to reinvent the project as a musical theater piece for film and television broadcast, potentially reaching a larger audience. They are working with the Emmy® Award-winning HMS Media, to mount the show in a small theater with a vaccinated, safely situated audience. HMS Media will film the show and prepare it for broadcast. Broadcast will begin as a pay per view stream during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October, 2021.

Movies are made for millions and millions of dollars. Throughout the development process, Marcy & Cathy have paid everyone who has worked on development of the show. The pandemic does not change that. HMS Media’s team includes a full 4 camera shoot, set designer, lighting designer, theater director, film/camera director, full audio recording and mixing, cast album and full show editing. There will be costs for rehearsal space, band members, theater rental, insurance and re-locating to Chicago for 2.5 weeks. Then there is the team that will work on marketing, promotion, ticket sales for livestream events, outreach to serve organizations related to cancer, and so much more.

The Institute of Musical Traditions (IMT) is pleased to work with one of the greater Washington area’s best musicians and community members in helping to sponsor this endeavor. IMT is a 501c3 non-profit organization and donations are tax-deductable. For those who wish to write a check directly to IMT for ALL WIGGED OUT, please contact us and we will forward the information. 

If you would like to connect beyond this post, please  contact us, or visit our facebook page....https://www.facebook.com/allwiggedout

THANKS!
Institute of Musical Traditions,  Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer