Retrace the Last Day of Susan's Mom
A solo show about the true story of a daughter's quest to know her deceased mother and the plastic surgeon who killed her.
22 years ago, my mother went in for surgery and never came back. She didn't know that the surgeon had 20 lawsuits against him, was on probation for years and didn't carry medical insurance. "140 LBS" is a show that tells this story and about the obsessions that are universal to human existence: parent-child relationships, loss, beauty, perfection, forgiveness.
In November 2017, I created Episode I, playing 8 characters and telling the story of what happened and how I wanted to avenge my mother's death. In March 2018, I created Episode II, playing in three sold out shows, where I dove into my relationship with my mother, the hero who had it all and then wanted more. And now, in June, I'll be creating Episode III, retracing the route my mother took on her last day and my attempt to reconnect with the doctor's family. And the biggest question driving this piece is: Can I forgive him?
Episode III will debut at On the Boards' Northwest New Works, a festival showcasing 16 Pacific Northwest artists' work and I'll be one of them! To make it the best show possible, I'll be collaborating with a sound designer, light designer, visual designer and director -- and I want to pay them what they're worth. I am fundraising $3000 to pay for their time to design, edit direct, and rehearse the show. The overall goal is to create a full-length 60-90 minute show that will premier in Seattle in Spring 2019 and then tour in metropolitan cities across the United States. A Key Collaborator for this piece is Paul Budraitis .
Photo credit: Jenny Crooks
