Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Did you really witness a murder?
A: Yes. This is a true story as I remember it.

Q: What happened to the person who committed the crime?
A: He was killed by police several hours after he committed the murder.

Q: How long ago did this happen?
A: More than a decade ago.

Q: Are you in contact with the victim's family?
A: No. This crime changed the lives of so many people. I do not identify anyone in the play because I want to protect other people's privacy and stories. At the same time, I believe that telling my part of the story holds power and has the potential for bringing some healing to our community.

Q: Do these performances help you heal from trauma?
A: It does not feel that way to me, but I suppose it is possible. I did a lot of healing before I wrote the show.

Q: Why are you doing the show?
A: I believe it is a ministry. Doing this show does not feel like doing theater, which was a surprise for me. Instead, it feels like doing spiritual work. It takes a tremendous amount of energy and leaves me feeling very humble. I know that we are all supposed to try to be humble, but when I am actually feeling that way, I usually don't feel very comfortable.

Q: What about those people who sit silently on stage during the performance?
A: They are members of my Quaker community, and I asked them to hold me and the whole situation in the Light. (Holding someone in the Light can be comparable to holding someone in prayer.) Having "elders" who hold you in the Light is common among Quakers who are carrying out a ministry, but it is not common for them to be as visible as they are in my show. Their work is vitally important. I could not perform this play without their help.

Q: Your mom is directing the show? How has that been?
A: I am so proud of my mom, who has been part of the Twin Cities theater scene for four decades. We really respect each other as artists, and our relationship is important to both of us, so when we have conflicts or misunderstanding, we work our way through them.