BOLD Maui announces a benefit performance of
Birth
A play by Karen Brody
A powerful play revealing the "naked truth about childbirth"
| WHEN: | November 1st 2009, 3:PM |
| WHERE: | Iao Theatre |
| ADVANCE TICKETS: | $ 20 (available through www.womenwhocare.org) |
| AT THE DOOR: | $ 25 |
Information: Women Who Care [Robin Garrison] ~ [charob@maui.net] ~ [808-283-3500]
Forget comedy central folks, come on out to see Kathy Collins in Birth. Don't get me wrong, the whole play isn't a comedy but Kathy's performance will have you rolling on the floor. There may be tears of sadness, moments of anger and hearts opening from compassion. It's all good! The play was performed in September, 2007 at the Iao Theatre for 3 shows. More than 750 people saw the show. It was educational, empowering and inspiring for many who saw it. This time, there will only be one show at the Iao and it will be sure to be sold out.
In addition to Kathy Collins from Mana'o Radio, the Maui community is well represented in the cast with Venus Rosete-Hill, Executive Director of Neighborhood Place of Wailuku, Jeana Naluai owner of Hale Hoomana Cultural Education Center and Chasity Nohealani Cadaoas, Ki'inaniokalani Kaho'ohanohano and Jennifer Noelani Ahia representing Na Wahine a Ka uhi a kama. Their performances will expand your mind, open your heart, touch your soul and hopefully encourage you to spread their message of empowerment.
Birth, a play by writer and childbirth advocate Karen Brody, captures the truth about our childbirth crisis today: that it is failing most low-risk pregnant women. The play, performed as part of a global activist theatre movement known as BOLD, uncovers the secret lives of low-risk women in labor as they confront coercion in hospitals and uncover "my body rocks" strategies for obtaining a powerful birth experience. Through the stories of eight women the audience begins to understand the truth behind how low-risk women are giving birth today.
Obstetrician-gynecologist and best-selling author Christiane Northrup, MD, a BOLD supporter, says, "Now it's time to free birth canals – and pregnant women everywhere. And that is the power and glory contained in this magnificent, funny and wonderfully wise play. And also for BOLD, the organization that is getting the word out about the joys of normal birth."
In the play you meet women like Sandy, a mother who thinks birth is "just one day" but is forced to confront an awakening to this notion; Amanda, who roars "my body rocks!" throughout her birth; Vanessa, drawn to an epidural; Natalie, who wants one type of birth but gets the complete opposite; Beth, who loves her C-section; and Jillian(well Keola on Maui!!!), whose journey through four different births shows women how to get an orgasmic birth.
"Childbirth today is a human rights issue for low-risk pregnant mothers," states Brody, who spent a year interviewing over 100 low risk women before writing her play. "Choices in childbirth have been severely restricted for this large population of pregnant women despite strong evidence-based research supporting a wide variety of birth choices."
Brody founded BOLD in 2006 with the intention to use her play to raise awareness and money that promotes childbirth choices that work for mothers. As Brody explains, "Pregnancy today is typically viewed as an illness and emergency. BOLD uses theatre to raise people's consciousness that childbirth is normal. Once this is recognized people will start demanding a childbirth model of care that is compassionate, evidence-based and puts the mother at the center of her birth experience."
Since 2006 nearly 100 BOLD locations have raised over $130,000 for childbirth organizations. BOLD programs also include the BOLD Red Tent, local gatherings of women around the world who tell their birth stories.
The BOLD performance on Maui will benefit Women Who Care whose mission is to educate, empower and inspire women to make clear, healthy life choices, by providing space for dialog, expression and healing.
The vision for our November 1st performance is a little different says Women Who Care founder, Robin Garrison. "This time we wanted to reach out to the local community. For the last show, there were midwives, doulas (childbirth labor assistants) and a lot of people who were already aware of empowering births. The local community was not represented in the audience. So … we chose a local cast, strong, wise, empowered women from our community. We are hoping that the cast will attract their ohana and that each one from there will teach another. We are also looking into community outreach for the play and are hoping to perform in the prison and other community settings. We are doing a one-act play (vs two act) this time so that there is time afterwards for community discussion. We really want to make an impact and take some positive steps towards mother-friendly birth on Maui."
A book of the play, including stories from the BOLD movement, is available for purchase at the event.
For more about the play and the BOLD movement please visit: www.BOLDaction.org.
###
| 
