Breaking barriers, the 1st playwright with the rare genetic condition PKU is at The Tank theatre for the premier NYC production of their new play, Primordial. She’s also my daughter. Get tickets for the play here now.
New York’s The Tank theater will premiere it’s co-production of my daughter playwright Lillian Isabella’s verbatim documentary play, “Primordial” February 1, 2024. I’m proud to join 50+ birth parents in sharing my story for their upcoming play and hope you’ll join me in seeing the production.
One of the 1st Documentary Theatre Plays about Pregnancy and Childbirth
Assembled from an array of Lily’s interviews with birthing people across the country, the play spans a diverse range of race, gender and age groups. Primordial is one of only a small handful of productions entirely focused on pregnancy and childbirth to be staged in New York City. The story weaves the narratives of many birthing people’s experiences into overlapping stories that amplify one another. She’s included my own experiences as a single mother without health insurance into the work.
The play deals directly with pregnancy, childbirth, patient advocacy, birth without violence, and birth equity.
My Daughter, The Playwright
Lillian is a Cuban-American playwright and actor, and the first known playwright who has Phenylketonuria (PKU). PKU is an extremely rare genetic metabolic condition, diagnosed one to two days after birth, that affects 1 in 10,000 to 15,000 children in the USA – including both of mine. It can lead to irreversible brain damage if not treated and requires life-long management. Yet, Lillian has a BFA in Theatre from NYU, Tisch School of the Arts.
Lillian’s prior plays have been produced and developed in NYC at The Tank, Cherry Lane Theatre, Metropolitan Playhouse, NYC Fringe Fest, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, and the United Nations. They include THAT’S HOW ANGELS ARRANGED, HOW WE LOVE/F*CK (Finalist, Screencraft Film Fund) and CONVO-GENEOLOGY. Lillian is a member of the Dramatists Guild, acted in numerous independent films and NYC Theatre productions, and is a proud member of the acting unions: SAG-AFTRA and AEA. Find more about her body of work and her blog, Facing Fear, at lillianisabella.com
I grew up in a single parent household and this play is a love letter to my mom and all birthing people without whom all of us would literally not exist.
– Lillian Isabella, Playwright
She talks about pregnancy and birth as the most magical thing the human body is capable of doing. A line from one of the birthing heros in the play captures it perfectly, ‘How the f*ck are we not talking about this all of the time?’”
About the Theatre and Director at The Tank
The Tank’s Artistic Director Meghan Finn will direct the 80-minute performance of Primordial, in collaboration with director and choreographer Leslie Galán Guyton.
This play hits on a deep physical level. As someone who has given birth twice, it evoked visceral memories of the experience for me. The production gets at the rarely heard stories, that we only see in passing headlines, but virtually never see on stage.
– Meghan Finn, Artistic Director, The Tank
Finn explains that the funds raised by the campaign for Primordial will go directly towards locking in a top-notch creative team and amplifying the production value. The Tank will present Primordial as one of their first Core Productions in 2024.
I’m a big fan of The Tank. Past Tank Presents work includes Drama Desk-nominated productions as well as New York Times Critics’ Picks. Artists who have come through there include Alex Timbers, Amy Herzog, Lucy Alibar, Reggie Watts, Kyle Abraham, Andrew Bujalski, We Are Scientists, and tens of thousands of others.
How to Add Your Support to Primordial
As an independent theater production, The Tank’s Primordial run will rely on the support of their community to reach a wider audience and I hope, also start important conversations about the transformative experience of pregnancy and giving birth.
The play will inspire empathy, understanding, and compassion for everyone who has gone through this journey, and shed light on the challenges and joys of pregnancy and birth.
Please join me in supporting this important and meaningful production. You will make a significant impact and help bring Primordial to life.
Read more about Primordial here.
J.J.Brown Author 
Thank you so much for sharing about the play and fundraising campaign!! I love you!!
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