The Barn Identity
March 14 and 16, 2025
Alliance for the Arts Storytelling Festival
Fort Myers, FL
March 14 and 16, 2025
Alliance for the Arts Storytelling Festival
Fort Myers, FL
YOU, for being here; Carolyn and Misha (and Beth!) for hosting us in your beautiful home; Bill for the invite; Michael for the follow-through; Tamiami Tale Tellers for the warm welcome; Mom for making this amazing dress that I could only see out of the corner of my mind's eye until you made it a reality; Dad for giving just the right amount of information and inspiration to get things spinning; Paul for painting the music that holds this whole thing up (come back and see his incredible storytelling all weekend long!); and, of course, Nana for your porch.
I also want to acknowledge some of my artistic mentors and inspirations, friends and strangers, past and present... and future (who knows?): Dan Hurlin, Deb Margolin, Sharon Hayes, Antonio Rocha, Emily Decola, Deanna Fleysher, Nayana Fielkov, DK Reinemer, Candy Roberts, Lormarev Jones, the Coldharts, Animal Engine, Yanomi Shoshinz, Jimmy Grzelak, Miranda July, Danica Novgorodoff, Todd Trebour, Javiera Benavente, Desiree Burch, Anna Thomford, Erin Clark, Minton Sparks, Old Ma Miller, and many more.
Lastly, I am so grateful for every artist who is genuinely trying to express yourself, experimenting with every tool you can, "keeping the channel open" as Martha Graham said. Here's to "that queer divine dissatisfaction"! Keep going.
As a society we are all still learning how to make the arts more accessible to more people. Content warnings are one way that we can try to help people feel comfortable being more adventurous arts patrons. If you are at this show and you are uncomfortable right now because you are not sure what you are getting into... great! For many people that is exciting and what the spirit of live theater is all about! If that's you, DON'T CLICK THE BOXES BELOW!
But if you are very uncomfortable or you know that some content can be very upsetting for you, you might consider clicking the first heading, "CONTENT WARNINGS," below.
And then, if you are still unsure if this show is going to be a good fit for you, you can click the second heading as well, "MAJOR SPOILERS."
If, after reading either of these warnings you decide that you would like to leave the show before it starts, please email me directly and I will arrange for providing you a refund. My email is erikakatemacdonald@gmail.com .
I welcome feedback on these attempts at increasing accessibility in the theater for people with mental health concerns.
I hope you enjoy the show!
THEMES: Mental health, Depression, Queer/Bisexual identity including some words that are sometimes seen as derogatory, Migraines, Repeated description of mental health episode, audience participation from your seat (optional).
There is a moment in the show about halfway through where a prop gets knocked over and the performer seems to stop the show in distress. All of the house lights are turned on and the performer asks the audience to pretend to be trees or a lake or plants in a garden. No audience member is required to participate and no one is asked to leave their seat. The house lights are then turned back off and the show seems to resume.
If you loved this show, you can help us grow our audience in any or all of these ways!
TELL A FRIEND about the show! We have another performance here on Sunday, 3/16 at 2:30pm. Here's the ticket link.
JOIN THE MAILING LIST by adding your name and email to the paper list or emailing erikakatemacdonald@gmail.com
LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE Other Erika Presents, so you will see when we come here again! Link here: https://www.facebook.com/othererika
POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA about the show! Include your own favorite barn photo! Hashtags: #barnID #barnidentity
TELL FRIENDS IN OTHER CITIES that the show is coming to them soon! Our next stop is a secret show in Cincinnati - shhhh! Check our calendar HERE.
TIP THE ARTIST by sending a little something to Erika's Paypal: HERE
Lastly, if you would like to reach out to me directly with thoughts, I am at erikakatemacdonald@gmail.com . Thanks so much for coming!