Produce "Support"

From 2015 to 2018 I was a victim of domestic violence at the hands of my ex-partner. For a long time after I left, the only thing I thought I’d take away from this experience was harrowing memories, an order of protection and a lot of hours spent in therapy and support groups. The goal was just to move beyond and hope with time, I could heal and regain a sense of strength and safety.

Somewhere along the way, though, I began writing about my experience in recovering from this experience for my weekly writers group at Primary Stages in the form of a play called Support. At first it was a mess of raw emotion, sprawling and wild. Eventually, with the help of my fellow writers and later, the selection of my play, now known as Support, for the Ojai Playwrights Conference, it became a story of not just the experience of domestic/intimate partner violence and the healing process, but also an inquiry into how survivors might be a catalyst for changing a world that allows and condones abusive behavior.

I have been very fortunate to have some artist friends who believe in Support and are collaborating with me to produce a site-specific version of the play. As it revolves around the story of a DV support group, the play will take place in a conference room in midtown Manhattan and the audience will experience the play as witnesses to these survivors’ journey. The focus of this production is the story and most of the money we need to raise is to pay the artists who will work with us (actors, stage manager, designer) and for our low-budget space rental.

I never thought I could take the worst years of my life and make anything from them. I have never felt as broken and small as I did during that time. For a long time I mourned the loss of those years and regretted its waste. I am so grateful that I escaped with not just my physical life, but that I was able to rebuild a new one and somehow, unexpectedly, make a piece of art I am so very proud of from this experience.

I would be beyond grateful for any contribution you could make to the realization of this project. We will stage Support April 25th-May 20th, 2023 at ART/New York and will also be partnering with various DV/IPV organizations, including those who helped me, to offer free tickets to people affected by this so they can see their stories told and be offered a piece of hope for how we might make a better future together.

Donations of any amount are appreciated as well as sharing.

We are offering the following gestures of gratitude:

1. $25-100

Special Thanks in Digital Program

2. $100-$249

Special Thanks in Print Program

3. $250-$499

Special Thanks in Program

Signed Program from Cast

4. $500-$999

Special Thanks in Program

Signed Program from Cast

Invite to Final Dress Rehearsal

5. $1000-$1500

Special Thanks in Program

Signed Program from Cast

Invite to Final Dress Rehearsal

Invite to Opening Party

If you'd like to make a larger donation please reach out to Elizabeth Irwin (writer), Erin Daley (producer) or Kate Bergstrom (director).