#HealMeToo Festival: Final Weekend!

friday april 12 at 7pm

SKIN–by Fest Founder Hope Singsen, directed by Jessi D. Hill —Followed by Art Therapy Talkback

“Amazing show… Fabulous evening.” —Tony-winner Tonya Pinkins

Two things threaten a grad student’s dissertation on Virginia Woolf: her hot new girlfriend and her own dark past. Frank and funny, this queer love story with music explores some of the ways art helps us heal, tracking a woman’s road back toward intimacy and wholeness after sexual violence. Racing to write herself into a happier future, both work and sex get more and more inventive. She strives for a love greater than any she’s known before. But after you learn to guard against life, can you open up again?

"INCREDIBLE… A TOUR DE FORCE.”—Audience member

"SUCH A POWERFUL EXPLORATION OF SELF, TOUCH, TIME, AND HEALING. IT TOOK MY BREATH AWAY.”—Audience member

saturday 4/13 7pm

Gutless & Grateful: The Deliciously Inspiring One-Woman Musical—by Amy Oestreicher

Don’t miss this extraordinary and family-friendly comedic journey of hope, resilience and gratitude, with original music by Oestreicher, Kathie Lee Gifford and David Friedman, Sondheim, Cy Coleman, Ricky Ian Gordon, and others.

The week before her senior prom and Amy had only just acknowledged that she’d experienced sexual abuse by a trusted mentor. That’s when she abruptly developed a blood clot that caused her stomach to explode, collapsing both her lungs. She nearly died.

Upon waking from a coma several months later, Amy no longer had a stomach. After 27 surgeries and years unable to drink a drop of fluid, Amy discovered that you never know what you’re capable of until you’re tested, and that the gifts of a “detour” can be beautifully rewarding. Her story shows just how much the human spirit can heal through “gutsiness,” gratitude, and an overabundance of humor.

sun 4/14 3pm

Self / Worth: a Variety Show

A full-length show of beautiful and uplifting multi-disciplinary dance, puppetry, stories and songs. These playful and powerful works grapple with intimate partner violence as well as undocumented or marginalized status. They celebrate queer resilience and breaking the cycles of trauma. Throughout, they explore the many roads to healing after coercion, harassment and assault.

Content Warning: Brief descriptions of intimate partner violence, coercion, and sex work.

Sunday 4/14 @7pm — the festival’s closing night!

Truth & Reconciliation of Womyn–curated by Tony-winner Tonya Pinkins

In a collection of ten-minute plays and songs by leading intersectional feminist playwrights, these restorative narratives address historical and contemporary stories of the oppression of (and by) womyn – and offer paths to healing. TRW’s mission is building bridges to an oppression free world. Every performance is followed by a psychologist-facilitated talkback.

saturday april 13 from 12-1pm

Art Therapy Workshop

Join The Art Therapy Project, a #HealMeToo Festival Sponsor, for an art-making workshop where participants will use art materials to explore themes relevant to the core mission of the festival, and consider what progress and healing may look like. Led by art therapist Suzanne Deisher, ATR-BC, LCAT, attendees will gain an understanding of what art therapy is by expressing themselves and communicating feelings around the festival and its purpose through the art process. Participants will not be asked or expected to expose or explore details surrounding any personal trauma.