Lay My Burden Down is a serious play with silly puppets about an interracial lesbian couple navigating the burdens of trauma, privilege, and racism—and the transformations possible with aging, dying, truth-telling, and love.
Two 60-something women—one a successful Black lawyer and survivor of violence, the other a white survivor of homelessness and mental illness—meet at a deathbed, 40 years after their explosive breakup. The dying woman—mother, savior, murderer—is both a puppet (literally) and the puppet master, having arranged a reunion between her spiritual daughter and estranged biological daughter. What could possibly go wrong?
This is the latest project of Strange Angels Theater, a collaboration between playwright Elizabeth Gjelten and
director Christine Young. We share a belief that theater can be a powerful tool for social transformation and community healing. Focusing on stories by and about women, we have a successful track record of producing high-quality artistic projects in community settings that bring unexpected groups of people together to share stories—thus building bridges and stimulating dialogue about the challenges we and our neighbors face.
Of course, those challenges are ever more dire at this moment. Which is why this play is important now—and why we’re coming to the community for support. Here’s how you can help:
- If you have the resources, consider donating here to help us pay our amazing actors. If you’re reading this, you probably already know how dire the current funding climate is for independent arts, so we won’t go into details.
- Buy tickets to one of the three performances (May 8, 9, and 10, 2026). There are only 50 seats for each show, and we’re making up to 25% of those seats available for free to the community.
- Spread the word! Especially to LGBTQ seniors, any seniors, anyone who thinks deeply about the issues touched on in this play—and anyone who loves imaginative theater and puppetry in close-up, community settings. Share links to our SFIAF page and the entire, fantastic 2026 SF International Arts Festival, as well as our Facebook and Instagram pages.