Whew! Atlanta was great but I am so glad to be back home. I have only positive things to report about the experience of doing "Swimming Upstream" there, but the hotel we stayed at was a hot mess on a few levels, so I'm behind on sleep and the comfort of a peaceful environment. There was enough love flowing to balance it all out, though. I knew it was going to be intense and powerful and amazing but I could not have anticipated the feeling of being a part of what I can only describe as a movement. It was awesome to do the show at the Superdome during V-Day with all those women there, but it was a one-time event, something singular. Doing a run of the show, getting to experience the exchange with each audience and interact with sooo many people who were profoundly moved by the work even though many of them had no direct connection to New Orleans, bonding with the other women in the cast and participating in the evolution, the coming together of the piece as we did it day after day, truly a gift. I have been so blessed these past few months with opportunities to do the healing work that I've committed my life and gifts to through theatrical productions that have also brought me a tremendous amount of personal healing and growth.
It was deep to be in Atlanta doing the show (which is all about women's experiences before, during and after Katrina), because that was one of the first places I evacuated to after the storm, and the place where I really felt loved and taken care of and nurtured in just the way I needed after leaving and then watching the devastation unfold from far away. Kind of full circle for me, and of course I revisited some of the emotions from that experience, relived a lot of them, in fact, each time we did the show. But in an uplifting way. And there was never a day when I didn't get the chills watching Asali work her magic, or laugh so hard at Jasmine's and/or Kerry's foolishness, or just feel so immensely priveleged and blessed blessed blessed to be a part of the collective of incredible women who make up the cast and the writers, as well as Eve, of course, wonder woman herself, and beloved Carol. Oh, and last but certainly not least, Phylicia Rashad. A goddess. Period.
Tonight is our only show in New Orleans, for now, so I hope the place is packed because I know how much people here are still in need of therapeutic, cathartic and loving engagement around Katrina. I wish it weren't so cost-prohibitive for some. It's worth every dime, I swear it, but I can't help thinking about the people who just can't afford to pay it. What I feel certain of is that the show has a brilliant future and will be performed again and agian, so New Orleans will have other opportunities to soak it up. Meanwhile, I better get my butt showered and dressed for sound check. Late as usual.
Love.