"Visceral: transforming trauma through theatre" documentary screening--free

3620 McClintock Avenue,Los Angeles CA 90089

15 January, 2023

Description

Visceral tells the stories of four individuals, three of whom are veterans. Each of these individuals performs Shakespeare and/or dramatic and musical theatre productions as a way to begin healing from post-traumatic stress. Featuring Stephen Porges, PhD; Bessel van der Kolk, MD, Gabor Maté, MD. NOTE: THIS IS A LIVE EVENT Watch the trailer A Q&A with producer/director Amy L. Erickson and special guests will follow the film. About the Director: Amy grew up near Detroit in the 60s in a family of singers. This, along with the music of Motown and Burt Bacharach blaring on her kitchen radio helped her learn to sing by ear. She also loved to dance and stared working at age 13 to take jazz lessons. These, combined with her introduction to musical theatre as a child, nurtured Amy’s love of the performing arts. But in her 20s, the singing and dancing stopped due to the impact of early-childhood trauma. The physical and emotional pain kept her shut down. Then, in her 40s, she found the courage to perform in a musical theatre production and rediscovered the vitality she felt in her youth. This proved to be the first step of healing from PTS. Amy was inspired to create Visceral after working with the Community Resilience Initiative in Walla Walla in 2010. She also is trained as a traumatic-stress responder by First Aid Arts, Seattle, WA. In 2017, Amy received a WA state Artist Trust Grant for Artists’ Projects for Visceral, and an Artist Residency at the Jack Straw Cultural Center, Seattle. And yes, she still sings, dances and performs onstage! Since 2010 she’s performed in seven musical productions, continues to sing with a community choir, and takes musical theatre dance classes. She recently had her first lead role in the play "The Children." For her, movement, voice, and social engagement through the performing arts continue to be life-giving forces.