The Beautiful Dance of Life & Death
Donation protected
It’s been 25 years since I got that fateful tick bite. I was 8. No one would know that it would alter the course of my life. In fact, it’s the reason I became who I am. After 19 years without a correct diagnosis, I found a doctor who did the right blood-work and asked the right questions. I started treatment for late stage, neurological Lyme disease the moment I returned home. (My doctor was 3 states away.)
Somehow, despite the illness, I managed to find myself in theatre. Now, 5+ years after I began treatment, I have decided to share that journey. Lyme is extremely isolating. Friendships are lost. The treatment and the disease cause pain, and severe depression accompanies every moment. There was not a drama I could turn to. Nothing, outside of one documentary and internet support groups, where I could see someone representing the Experiance of Lyme.
This is why “The Beautiful Dance of Life & Death” was written. Now, it is time to show people that they are not alone. Their sister, daughter, or friend with strange and “unexplained” symptoms and behaviors are not crazy or making anything up. This is a piece of art I wish I had had in those tough moments of insane pain.
The show itself is an intimate piece. We will debut it at Brighton Fringe Festival in the UK. With a preview reading in Kansas City before we leave.
Why England first? It started with the scale of their rural touring and some lovely friends who took me under their wing and mentored me into producing original content. It continued with me having done my freshman show about Lyme, which came out of the anger of the symptoms and social losses from the illness, called, “How to Walk Through Hell” at Brighton Fringe in 2017. While there, I learned that my physical symptoms improve while I am there. Maybe it’s the sea air, maybe sea level, maybe the lack of intense Kansas City weather changes (talking 40 *F in hours), maybe it’s the afternoon teas... But, in all likelihood, it’s all the above.
Why this fundraiser? I believe this story can save lives. Also, medical treatment for Lyme was not covered by my insurance. One of my meds cost $1,300 a MONTH. I am still paying for the bulk of my treatment. People need help now. They need to see that they aren’t going crazy, they aren’t alone, and if they are not sick themselves, it is likely they already know someone with Lyme. Please help us show people what it looks like to Dance on that terrifying line of Life and Death.
For us to get our 3 person team from KC to Brighton our budget is 5,500. Every little bit helps.
The story of Lucy and Will is based off of my experiance, and will be portrayed by Meredith Lindsey and Connor Branson, both KC natives.
We will be in Brighton Monday 27th May- Sunday 2nd June. The lovely Sweet Werks 2 at 18:30 each night.
Somehow, despite the illness, I managed to find myself in theatre. Now, 5+ years after I began treatment, I have decided to share that journey. Lyme is extremely isolating. Friendships are lost. The treatment and the disease cause pain, and severe depression accompanies every moment. There was not a drama I could turn to. Nothing, outside of one documentary and internet support groups, where I could see someone representing the Experiance of Lyme.
This is why “The Beautiful Dance of Life & Death” was written. Now, it is time to show people that they are not alone. Their sister, daughter, or friend with strange and “unexplained” symptoms and behaviors are not crazy or making anything up. This is a piece of art I wish I had had in those tough moments of insane pain.
The show itself is an intimate piece. We will debut it at Brighton Fringe Festival in the UK. With a preview reading in Kansas City before we leave.
Why England first? It started with the scale of their rural touring and some lovely friends who took me under their wing and mentored me into producing original content. It continued with me having done my freshman show about Lyme, which came out of the anger of the symptoms and social losses from the illness, called, “How to Walk Through Hell” at Brighton Fringe in 2017. While there, I learned that my physical symptoms improve while I am there. Maybe it’s the sea air, maybe sea level, maybe the lack of intense Kansas City weather changes (talking 40 *F in hours), maybe it’s the afternoon teas... But, in all likelihood, it’s all the above.
Why this fundraiser? I believe this story can save lives. Also, medical treatment for Lyme was not covered by my insurance. One of my meds cost $1,300 a MONTH. I am still paying for the bulk of my treatment. People need help now. They need to see that they aren’t going crazy, they aren’t alone, and if they are not sick themselves, it is likely they already know someone with Lyme. Please help us show people what it looks like to Dance on that terrifying line of Life and Death.
For us to get our 3 person team from KC to Brighton our budget is 5,500. Every little bit helps.
The story of Lucy and Will is based off of my experiance, and will be portrayed by Meredith Lindsey and Connor Branson, both KC natives.
We will be in Brighton Monday 27th May- Sunday 2nd June. The lovely Sweet Werks 2 at 18:30 each night.
Fundraising team: ERH Productions (3)
Erin Hartnett
Organizer
Raised $200 from 2 donations
Kansas City, MO
Connor Branson
Team member
Raised $200 from 2 donations
Meredith Lindsey-Gregg
Team member
