Doação protegida
I'm Mia Schachter and I’m writing a musical called Squirm: A True Story.
SQUIRM: A True Story is a surreal autobiographical musical that follows Mia, a nonbinary Jewish musician, as they navigate the complexities of chronic illness, personal identity, and a literal parasitic relationship with their tapeworm, Squirm. Through humor, raw honesty, and fantastical elements, Mia’s journey explores themes of codependency, self-discovery, and healing. Squirm, a puppet brought to life with a winding, ever-present tail, becomes both a confidant and an antagonist, embodying Mia’s inner struggles and fears.
Set against a dynamic backdrop of intimate settings—bathrooms, backyards, and a mikvah—the narrative is punctuated by live music and absurdist, poignant moments. The stage becomes a visual tapestry of projections, costumes, and clever choreography, drawing the audience into Mia’s chaotic yet relatable experience. Mia’s battle with Squirm becomes a metaphorical fight for autonomy, as they confront their deepest vulnerabilities, wrestle with their faith both spiritual and creative, fight through emotional blockages, and learn what it means to reclaim their body and voice.
With sharp humor and emotional depth, Squirm: A True Story, breaks the fourth wall and shatters traditional narrative boundaries, inviting audiences into a raw, hilarious, and ultimately redemptive exploration of survival, love, and self-acceptance. Squirm asks, “Who is the puppet when choice is an illusion and the one pulling the strings can’t be seen?”
•••
After decades of mysterious undiagnosed chronic illness, I began to recover once I received 5 diagnoses. But then I went to Mexico in 2019 and started to get worse. I assumed, as did everyone else, that my old issues had returned. Instead, it turned out that I had gotten a tapeworm and lived with it for almost 3 years. This musical covers new moon to new moon of last summer when I expelled a tapeworm and underwent a massive spiritual exorcism that demarcated a chapter ending and a new beginning in my life and bookending my 33rd birthday. It includes a mikvah on stage, a tapeworm puppet who joins me in song (which I crocheted), and a live band. I've written the script and all the music and will be performing the leading role. Growing up on RENT, Hedwig, Spring Awakening, and Wicked, it has always felt like one of my life's purposes to write a musical, and you can help me do it.
You can hear the record on Spotify and Apple Music.
Funds will be used to cover:
- Artist's and crew's fees such as actors, directors, stage manager, stage hands, musicians, costumes, and more.
- Set pieces such as a mikvah tank or bathtub, a sink, a toilet, and a massage table.
- Music recording costs for the soundtrack such as producer, engineer, studio, and musician fees, as well as mixing and mastering (can be up to $2000 per song and there are 10)
- Travel for me and other cast and crew between New York and LA to rehearse and perform.
- Food and lodging for cast and crew when traveling.
- Rehearsal and performance space rentals.
Your contribution will help make this dream a reality. I'm so excited and proud and can't wait to share it with you.
Organizador
Mia Schachter
Organizador
Glendale, CA