Questions and Answers about the Show

A personal note from Terrylene

Q: I heard that your show is about sexual abuse, how do you deal with the experience of abuse in your performance piece?
A: "In The Now" is NOT about sexual abuse. It is about the healing power of Love. However, it does include the trauma related to incestual abuse. As an artist, I challenge myself to tell my story in an artistic and crafted manner. I would never victimize the audience or myself again by being graphic about what happened to me. I do share my experience in regards to how and what it was like mentally and emotionally; the roller coaster of my journey through the healing time. When I do touch upon the physical part, I use ASL poetry and metaphor to show what it was like being in the situation but I’m never graphic.

Q: Is this show good for hearing students in an ASL program?
A: This performance piece is considered experimental ASL (American Sign Language) art. The piece is told completely in ASL through the formats of storytelling, ASL poetry and monologue. Not only is this an ASL performance at its best but, "In The Now" invites the audience to experience the deaf culture and deaf experience through the life of a little girl within a young woman. I am from a four generation Deaf family! The audience experiences a deaf house; deaf school; deaf belief; deaf opinion and a deaf view on life. Additionally, I portray different characters: a deaf girl, deaf mother, deaf grandma, deaf best friend and so forth. This is an excellent example for anyone hearing or deaf to understand how powerful the deaf experience is and how a "secret " can go on almost forever. Each local organization has a choice of whether they want the show voice interpreted or not. A script and rehearsal period may be provided for the interpreters so the show is accurately interpreted and accessible to all.

Q: Why do you tell your story?
A: Because when I first told this story to heal, to break the "secret" that I was living with, I was overwhelmed by countless positive responses from the audience who were moved by my story. By telling my story, I let the audience experience their own stories. Somehow, "In The Now," helps others heal their own pain in their own way.

Q: Is your show entertaining?
A: Yes, otherwise I would not be doing it! "In The Now" is a dramatic approach, a thought provoking, and sincere sharing performance piece. There is some humor, and joy along the story to balance with the drama. I think this is an excellent and unique piece of artistic expression in ASL. It is also personal and intimate to the Deaf experience.

Q: Is this show appropriate for children?
A: Yes, I recommend ages of 12 and above, not because of the subject matter, but because of the performance style and the sophistication of the artistic expression. At times, the story is told in a fast pace, in slow motion or in abstraction and can be difficult for young children to follow. I also recommend that a parent or an adult go with the children so that the adult is available for them to discuss openly and frankly about what their thoughts and feelings are.