playbill vip

Playwright's Note

     This work is a direct response to the tender revelations that I was fortunate to experience in building realtionships with many of the families that survived the Sandy Hook School tragedy.  I hold the greatest respect and honor for the wounded clients who chose to work with me and experience the nurturing process of art therapy.  The stories told within the context of my narrative are pieces of true stories being told.  Covet them, honor them, respect them, they truly belong to other people, and in this instance, some of them children.

     The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) offers a platform for Performance as a teaching tool each year at its National Conference.  Upon acceptance of an idea in progress, I prepared the original adaptation in a few months before performing at AATA's 49th Annual Conference, Nov, 2018.

     I returned to the Honey Jar recording Studio in Dumbo, Brooklyn after being away from the original songs for five years.  Much of the music incorporated into the play I orginially wrote and recorded with the Artist and Engineer, Devin Greenwood in the early months of 2013.  Then I was actively mobilizing trauma response in Newtown, CT going weekly for several days.  These songs include, Drawing Fears/Lock the Doors & One Cold Winter.  These songs were directly inspired as I was creatively processing the intense trauma myself.  An additional musical note of intrigue, my vocals are also the siren for Siren Song.

     From the initial AATA performance with over 125 attendees, I made many more connections and initiated an opportunity to perform the work for The Art therapy Project at the School of Visual Art in New York City.  It was following this performance I immediately felt compelled to submit the work to this festival. 

     Now here I am performing for the first time on a NYC stage for the New York Theater Festival Summerfest.  This performance is an intimate expression of modern shamanism in that I am utilizing all forms of the creative sciences to inspire the viewer's understanding first of the depths of human trauma, and second how the art therapy relationship truly aids one in their healing journey. By the completion of the play one may feel many unpredictable sensations depending upon your own associations and histories.  Above all know that I, the wounded healer, am doing just fine living a charmed life as the happiest mother of a thriving, divine three year old girl.  I welcome all inquiries regarding this play, please send your reflections to me nicoleporterdavis@gmail.com.  

With gratitude, Nicole