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Help bring GASLIGHTING: THE MUSICAL! to life!
A dark solo musical comedy about emotional abuse, narcissism, and the circus inside your mind by award-winning solo artist Brooke McCarthy.
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Hi friends,
I’m Brooke McCarthy, actor, singer, writer, and award-winning solo performer — and I’m asking for your help to build something new! It will be raw, ridiculous, and uncomfortably real -- a true genre bending night of theatre.
My next show is called Gaslighting: The Musical! -- a circus of the mind.
It’s a dark musical comedy that dives headfirst into the chaotic experience of emotional abuse, told through original songs, character work, circus-inspired physicality, and the ironic metaphor of a one-ring circus happening inside your brain.
This is a show about what happens when someone convinces you not to trust your own memory, perception, or gut… and how you begin to rebuild when the circus charade collapses.
Why this show matters
I wrote this show after surviving a deeply confusing, manipulative relationship — one where I kept second-guessing reality, myself, and my worth. As I started naming the experience (gaslighting, love bombing, future faking, breadcrumbing...), I realized I wasn’t alone. So many people — especially women — have lived this story.
But we almost never get to laugh about it.
We rarely get to own it on our own terms.
And we certainly don’t get a musical number to reclaim the chaos in the spotlight!
This show is for anyone who's ever asked, "Am I crazy?"
Spoiler: you're not. You were manipulated. And that deserves a DANG SONG.
Where your support goes
Thanks to early support from the Charlotte community and venues like CATCh, Charlotte’s Off-Broadway, and Davidson Community Players, the show is gaining momentum. I'm also applying for a city arts grant — but it won't cover everything.
Your donation will help me:
- Write and record 8+ original songs with my collaborators (I already have 3 down!)
- Pay collaborators (composer, director, designers, magic consultants, etc.)
- Rent rehearsal and performance spaces
- Stage the first workshop in December 2025
- Stage a revised worked in Winter/Spring 2026
- Produce a fully staged Charlotte-area debut in Fall 2026
- Create a circus of the mind — full of illusions, magic, projections, and mind games
- Build a community of support for audience members who need it
Even $10 brings me closer to paying an artistic collaborator, printing materials, or building a prop that turns pain into empowerment!
Ways to help
- Donate (every dollar makes a difference!)
- Share this campaign with theatre lovers, mental health advocates, or anyone who’s been gaslit and lived to tell the tale
- Follow the show’s journey on Instagram: @GaslightingTheMusical
- Sponsor a song ($250 = fund one original musical number!)
- Feel free to reach out with any type of in-kind donations as well (rehearsal spaces, print materials, production marketing like photos/videos, etc.)
Thank you for believing in the power of edgy theatre, healing comedy, and the resilience of survivors. I’m so excited (and terrified!) to build this show, and I couldn’t do it without your support.
With so much love and gratitude,
Brooke McCarthy
Organizer
