"There is a desperate need to increase the representation of those living with Alzheimer's and caregivers in media and pieces like this; this disease continues to impact more families and we need art pieces to help the broader public understand this disease." -Meghan Lemay, Alzheimer's Association, Regional Manager, supporting consultant for When The Mind's Free. Colleen (Liz Stanton) & Sharon (Carolyn Goelzer) in rehearsal July 2024. Photo by Ellen Augarten.
When the Mind’s Free isa 90-minute original dance-theatre production that has been devised and developed over a multi-year period of improvisation and in conversation with Shakespeare’s King Lear, as well as in consultation with memory care organizations, caretakers, families, and individuals dealing with memory loss.
When the Mind’s Free centers the experience of a lesbian couple and their family confronting the challenges of dementia and addiction. The production premiered in 2024 in Western Massachusetts, performing at The Shea Theater in Montague, MA and at local senior centers and assisted living communities. Each performance concluded with a moderated community conversation calling forth the lived experiences of audience members impacted by the themes of the play, providing a safe space where people could feel grief, hope, recovery, and a sense of belonging and community.
The piece then toured to Cleveland State University in September where we also shot a unique film adaptation of the play.
We are gathering support for our ongoing work in bringing this story to as many communities as possible, planning for a release at film festivals in 2026, and then a longer life in relationship with universities, public health conferences, hospice centers, and other community organizations who will be able to access the film and accompanying education materials.
Our production and design team includes Toby Vera Bercovici, Annelise Nielsen, Ezekiel Baskin, Mikayla Reid, Samuel V. Perry, Ellen Morbyrne, Trevor Byrne, Nick Morr, David Stoughton, and many more.
Cast:
Colleen: Liz Stanton*
Sharon: Carolyn Goelzer*
Gwendolyn: Myka Plunkett
Rowan: Annelise Nielsen
Delia: Linda Tardif
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association
When The Mind's Free is produced by Real Live Theatre (RLT), a cooperatively-run theatre company based in the Connecticut River Valley of Western Massachusetts whose mission is to enrich and uplift the cultures of our region through the medium of live theatre. www.reallivetheatre.net
