An Autobiographical Play in Support of Gender Equality
– World Premiere –New Dates and Venue: November 13, 20, and 27, 2022. Doors open 2:45pm. Performance 3-5pm.at Happier Valley Comedy, 1 Mill Valley Rd, Suite B, Hadley, MA
What does it take for a man to become a feminist—and why does it matter? In seven diverse and poignant vignettes from his own life, Peter Pruyn (“prine”), a trauma therapist who works with female survivors, takes us on his journey, including the experiences of attending an all-boys primary school, being the only man in a Women’s Studies class, flying as a pilot in Alaska, interviewing at the trauma unit of a psych hospital, and working in a methadone clinic—culminating in a personal reflection on male privilege as a fundamental barrier to social change. Along the way, Peter accompanies himself with improvised piano. Each performance is followed by a period of reflections from the audience.
“I felt seen.” — Noel, age 29, New York
“ ‘Up’ helped me be a better father as well as validated what I'd done right.” — Henry, age 66, father of Noel
“I saw a performance of Peter's play in December, 2021 and I have been reflecting on some of its themes/concepts ever since. I left the experience thinking a lot about my own sense of privilege in an expanded way. The play's messages are thought-provoking and quite profound ... perhaps, you will laugh and cry as I did. One way or the other, I trust that you will be deeply moved.” — Deborah Korn, Psy.D., co-author of Every Memory Deserves Respect
"An invitation to open a bigger dialogue.” — Lenore, Massachusetts
To learn more about the play, here are Frequently Asked Questions about the play.
To read what others have said about the play, here is a collection of audience testimonials.
A portion of all proceeds will be donated to I Have the Right To, a non-profit that supports assault survivors and families in their recovery as well as works with schools and organizations in trauma prevention, including consent education workshops.
Doors open 2:45pm. Due to the contemplative nature of the performance, we ask that audience members be seated by 2:55. Performance 3-5pm.
Content Warning: Contains descriptions of physical and emotional violence. Recommended for ages 15 and over.
Covid Information: Per Northampton Board of Health, masks are recommended for audience members during the performance. Performers will have been tested for COVID-19 and will be unmasked during the performance. Seating will be socially-distanced, and the theater does feature a high-volume air-filtration system. Audience members must be fully vaccinated and are asked not to attend if they experience cold or flu-like symptoms.
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