ABOUT US
The Appointment is a powerful and thought-provoking solo show that seeks to humanize the experience of abortion as healthcare. By combining personal narrative with a commitment to destigmatization, the production aims to contribute to a more compassionate and understanding society. America needs to do better for women.
lena gilbert
Lena Gilbert is a writer, choreographer and performer with deep roots in the artistry of ballet and modern dance. She is a distinguished choreographer and dance educator renowned for her innovative contributions to the performing arts. As a writer, her work is known for honesty combined with warmth and humor — always with an eye toward activism and improving how human we are to each other.
As a dancer, she has performed with the Vytis Jankauskas Dance Company in Lithuania, around New York City at Joe’s Pub, Aaron Davis Hall, the Joyce Soho. In Montpellier, France she was a performer/choreographer for l’Université Paul Valéry. She has also danced in film, television and as an entertainer at corporate events.
She has been Resident Choreographer at SOOP Theatre since 2009 where she has choreographed over 30 musical theater productions, earning accolades such as a Metro Theater Award nomination. Some favorites include; Legally Blonde, Chicago, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mary Poppins, Lion King, Heathers. She has taught dance technique and choreography at the New York Film Academy’s undergraduate Musical Theatre for Film program, as a guest teacher at NYU Tisch Dance department, as well as in public school enrichment programs. She considers her work successful only when it is also fun. MFA NYU/Tisch Dance. Member: AEA.
Find out more at www.lenagilbert.com.
JOANNA PARSON
Joanna Parson is a director, actor, and writer. Her musical monologues have been heard on WNYC’s public radio program, "The Next Big Thing", and she has written and performed solo work for “The Liar Show,” “The AtrainPlays,” Caitlin Shetterly’s “Letters to” series, and most of NYC’s comedy clubs and alternative venues. Joanna co-wrote and co-starred in the well-received cabaret shows “Reddy or Not: A Musical Comedy Tribute to Helen Reddy,” and "Not Helpful: Pretty Songs and Feminine Harms." She is a contributor to “The Idiot’s Guide to Jokes.” As a playwright, Joanna is the author of three radio mystery theatre scripts for young people called “The Janet Any-Gal Series."
Joanna also produced and hosted The Happy Hour Salon, a bimonthly new works variety show, for five seasons, providing development opportunities for comics, actors, performers and writers at venues as varied as Club El Flamingo, the D-Lounge at the Daryl Roth Theatre, and Siberia Bar. Salon alumni include solo performers like James Braly (“Committed: Life in a Marital Institution”), sound effects uberkind Zero Boy, comedian Christian Finnegan, writer/performer Lena Gilbert, and many more. She has taught solo workshops privately and for New York’s Screen Actors Guild, as well as the Broken Bridge Workshop for Young Writers in Pomfret, Connecticut. Her latest solo show “A Transcriber’s Tale” has won rave reviews at the Hollywood Fringe Festival and is headed to the Gilded Balloon Patterhoos at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2024. Tickets here. Learn more at www.joannaparson.com.
Key themes of the appointment
Access to healthcare
The show addresses the built in obstacles for women accessing healthcare services. It shows how easy it is to get lost and turned away from care. An unspoken subtitle of the show might be “And This is A White Lady in a Liberal State”; forcing the audience to consider the challenges faced by individuals in different socio-economic backgrounds and geographical locations.
Stigma and shame
The Appointment confronts the pervasive stigma surrounding maternal healthcare. It shows that even women with pregnancies they wish to carry still can’t easily find care simply because of our society’s suspicions and judgment that get in the way of what really matters. It encourages open dialogue to challenge preconceived notions of what care means and consider how much we need to do better for our female citizens.
support systems
The narrative explores the significance of supportive networks, emphasizing the role of friends, family, and healthcare professionals. And there’s also an examination of what our structures of care look like from the exam room to the insurance boardroom.
Engagement, dialogue & community
After each performance, there will be a moderated discussion session where the audience is encouraged to share their thoughts and engage in a constructive dialogue with invited experts in the various fields of healthcare, activism and government. This post-show interaction aims to move the needle in improving healthcare for women in America. The more conversations we have, the more hope there is for movement in a positive direction.
To extend the impact beyond the stage, we are looking to collaborate with local healthcare organizations, advocacy groups, and educational institutions to participate in these post-show panel discussions. If you or an organization you work with is interested in further exploring the themes presented in the show within our local communities, please contact us.
"In America, we make policies based on judging women and deciding merit of care.
It's the wrong basis to use."
-Lena Gilbert, The Appointment