Post 25: "Invisible Fences" Opens Next Thursday in Minneapolis! 🎭
Kevin Kling, Jeremy Ylvisaker, Paul and I are reviving "Invisible Fences" for the third time at Open Eye Theater from March 6th - 15th... Get your tickets while they last!
Hello Friends,
I hope this email finds you as well as can be despite the turbulence in the news (and its real-world impacts). I am so sorry if you are struggling right now — it has been very difficult to process everything in real time and I’ve been lapsing in and out of sadness. I am just so heartbroken for our country and the millions of innocent people who are going to suffer the terrible consequences of this administration.
Lately, I’ve been praying to discern the next right actions I can take — ones that are grounded in love. Checking out is not an option, even if I feel tempted to do so occasionally… The stakes are just too high to sit on the sidelines. So even if all you can manage are small acts of civic engagement and solidarity (like calling your representatives or checking in on a friend), keep doing your Next Right Actions… They all add up!
One thing I’ve been appreciating recently is reading The Tangle, an independent, non-partisan, and subscriber-supported newsletter that covers the biggest politics stories in the U.S. by summarizing arguments from the right, left, and center (plus their take). While I don’t always agree with their opinions, I appreciate that they’re trying to de-polarize the news media and promote real dialogue, while sticking to the facts and taking in multiple viewpoints. If you’ve never checked it out, I highly recommend it!
Anyway, I am writing to you from the lobby of our hotel in Minneapolis. This past week Paul and I have been busy with rehearsals to revive Invisible Fences at Open Eye Theatre, my original play with Kevin Kling. It feels good to be working on something so uplifting and joyful; I hope it brings our audiences a few hours of peace each night.
Late last night, I rewrote my artist statement for the program, and I thought I would share it with you. If you are able to get to Minneapolis this month, I’d love to see you at a show!
Because we want it to be a model of Disability Culture and inclusion, we have made sure the show is as accessible as possible to disabled people. To that end, ASL, captioning, and audio description are built into every performance. The show is also family-friendly… We truly want Invisible Fences to be welcoming to everyone... So bring the whole family! But don’t wait too long to get tickets… A few of the performances are already sold out!
Gaelynn Lea’s Artist Statement for Invisible Fences:
“When Kevin Kling asked me to collaborate on a disability-themed event at Open Eye Theatre back in 2023, I thought it would be one of those live shows where we'd trade off: he'd tell one of his stories and then I would sing one of my songs. Nothing fancy, just a stage and a couple of spotlights. We had done these kinds of performances before and they were fun! I’ve always loved working with Kevin, so I quickly signed on.
But as we started talking about our plans for the weekend, we realized that the story we wanted to tell hadn't been written yet. We both felt drawn to share about our own lives with disabilities in a way that felt real, empowering, fun, and accessible to anyone. A fable, with a fantastical twist, was the perfect fit.
Even though this play is fictional, the characters we inhabit onstage are us, through and through. Our identities are authentic, the barriers the characters face are based on real-life scenarios, and the friendship onstage is genuine. I’m grateful we've been able to revive it twice so far, once in Duluth and now at Open Eye Theatre for a second time.
Invisible Fences is dear to my heart because it touches on my core beliefs as an artist, disability activist and human being. I believe that every single person — disabled or not — can live an enriching life if they have the support, care, and loving friendships they need to thrive. The Grasshopper and Largroff are these kinds of friends.
What's more, I believe that disability can create possibilities. Disabled people adapt: we solve old problems with innovative techniques, we enrich others with our unique perspectives, and we demonstrate just how many ways there are to be human. When a culture embraces disability, it gives everyone permission to fully accept themselves.
It's so important for us to embrace our shared humanity right now — while still celebrating those things that make us distinct individuals. May empathy and integrity be our guides as we strive to build a more welcoming, accessible and caring world for all.
Kevin and I want Open Eye Theatre to be a peaceful refuge for you now. We are so grateful for your support of Invisible Fences. May it bring you new ideas, hope, and comfort — served up with a big dose of music and lots of laughter.”
More Shows Coming Soon!
I will be writing more in the weeks to come, but know that in April I am playing in Boston with the fabulous Music Inclusion Ensemble, and in May I am doing a ten-city tour in the UK for my forthcoming album — I’m finally releasing the soundtrack which features the music I composed for Macbeth on Broadway. The album is called (drum roll, please!) Music for Macbeth, and it’s gonna be quite an epic sonic adventure.