Have you ever lived in someone’s shadow? My story is one of exactly that, except it wasn’t just anybody’s shadow, it was the touring shadow of my father,  a Pittsburgh legend. Through growth, prayer and transparency, I’m finally finding my own voice, but I will never forget where I’ve come from. Where I came from was tough and challenging.  Through it all, daddy has been my guide.  I can’t wait to tell you the story of finally stepping out from behind daddy and into my own journey.

Shameless is the perfect word to describe the telling depiction of my journey through shame and sorrow to healing. My world comes to an unexpected halt when I find myself pregnant during my senior year of college. What should have been a joyful experience of bringing life forth into this world, turns on its head the moment I step into the welfare office. I can’t wait to share my story with you.

My monologues is one of joy at the end of a dark rainbow. After experiencing abuse, grief, and chronic illness, I made the decision to shift my mindset. I was determined to take back my heart, my health, and my healing to make a better life for myself and my daughter. My monologue shares my journey from simply surfing through life to riding the wave and thriving.

An open letter to my abuser, “A Girl Wrapped Up in Fantasy” challenges my audience to answer the questions; What is abuse? Who are the real victims of abuse? Although most tales of violence give a simplistic definition to victim and victor, my monologue will challenge those long-held beliefs and give room for a more complex perspective on domestic violence.