CHRYSALIS THEATRE COMPANY Proudly Presents the World Premiere of SHE TAKES FLIGHT

Written and Performed by SORA BAEK, CINDY KEITER, GABRIELA KOHEN, ADINA TAUBMAN, SUSAN WARD

Directed by KELLY O’DONNELL

LIMITED ENGAGEMENT
​MAY 15 –JUNE 8, 2025 AT THE CHAIN THEATRE

OPENING NIGHT IS SATURDAY, MAY 17 AT 7 P.M.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT CHRYSALISTHEATRECOMPANY.COM

New York, NY: April 9, 2025 – Chrysalis Theatre Company proudly presents the world premiere of SHE TAKES FLIGHT, a bold, devised new play created and performed by an ensemble of five women, each sharing their own personal stories in a searing, funny, and poignant theatrical journey through midlife in 2025. Previews begin Thursday, May 15 at 7 PM, with Opening Night on Saturday, May 17 at 7 PM at the Chain Theatre (312 W 36th St, 4th Fl, New York, NY, 10018) as part of The Factory Series @Chain Theatre, which provides renters with production support that may include subsidized space, rehearsal studios, and equipment and the overarching marketing, publicity, and technology enhancements for the theater. Tickets are $25 and available at chrysalistheatrecompany.com.

Directed by Kelly O’Donnell (Connecticut Critics Circle Award-winner, Flux Theatre Ensemble), SHE TAKES FLIGHT is a deeply personal exploration of aging, body image, motherhood, loss, rage, identity, resilience—and joy. Drawing from their lived experiences, performers Sora Baek, Cindy Keiter*, Gabriela Kohen*, Adina Taubman*, and Susan Ward* shine a spotlight on stories rarely told with such unflinching honesty and unapologetic humor.

SHE TAKES FLIGHT is a newly devised theatrical production that delves into the personal experiences of five women, aged from their late 40s to late 60s, navigating the complexities of mid-life in New York City in 2025. The play explores themes of womanhood, aging, empowerment, and identity through a series of poignant monologues and ensemble scenes. It candidly addresses challenges such as coping with aging and body image, caring for aging parents, and evolving relationships with motherhood. Balancing humor and heartbreak, SHE TAKES FLIGHT offers narratives that reflect the diverse experiences of women at different life stages. Its multi-generational appeal resonates with both emerging young women and those from preceding generations, fostering a collective reflection on the evolving journey of womanhood.

The play is ultimately a celebration of survival, connection, truth-telling, and sisterhood. It’s about taking flight—not despite our burdens, but because of them.

“We’re a group of women in our late 40s to late 60s who have come together to create something healing, hilarious, and fiercely human,” says Adina Taubman, artistic director of Chrysalis Theatre Company. “The play builds sisterhood from our shared truths—heartbreak, absurdity, and all.”

From singing camp songs about “titty balls” to confronting generational trauma, from embracing menopause to navigating abortion bans, SHE TAKES FLIGHT is as timely as it is timeless. It offers a rare, full-bodied narrative arc to women often overlooked in mainstream media—reminding us all of the urgency and beauty of telling your story before it’s too late.

The production team for SHE TAKES FLIGHT includes scenic design by Ant Ma, costume consultation by Izzy Fields, and lighting design by Kia Rogers. Jeffrey Salerno serves as the sound designer, with Fiona Hansen as the stage manager. Additional creative support comes from Joanne Chuang (prop master), Michelle Dimuzio (graphic designer), and Charles Chessler (photographer). The production is co-produced by Xandra Abney with Rachel Saruski as associate producer. Publicity is handled by Katie Rosin of Kampfire PR. SHE TAKES FLIGHT is an Actors’ Equity Approved Showcase, and the performers are appearing courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association.

Tickets are $25 and available through chrysalistheatrecompany.com, or at the theater a half hour before the show.

Running Time: 90 minutes

Website: chrysalistheatrecompany.com

https://www.facebook.com/ChrysalisTheatreCompany
​@chrysalistheatrecompany.nyc

Media Kit with Photos

BIOGRAPHIES

Gabriela Kohen received her MFA from The American Conservatory Theater. She has toured her critically acclaimed, autobiographical one-woman-show, “Decoding the Tablecloth,” nationally, and won the award for “Outstanding Solo Show” at the NY International Fringe Festival. She most recently played the role of Karina in the series GROUP, on PBS Arts. Gaby is a psychoanalyst in private practice, and faculty at the Center for Modern Psychoanalytic Studies. She specializes in working with artists of all kinds. She is currently an advanced doctoral candidate at the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis, and is working on her dissertation about the healing power of autobiographical performance. gabrielakohen.com

Sora Baek is an award-winning actor and playwright based in New York. Her solo show SELL ME: I Am from North Korea had a sold-out run at the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Selected acting theatre credits include: SELL ME: I am from North Korea (the U.S. Capitol Center), The Storm, A Christmas Carol, and Sworn Virgin (NYC and International Tour) with Blessed Unrest. She received a Best Actress Award at the Epidemic Film Festival and was nominated for Best Female Performer at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024. Sora has been working with Only Make Believe (NYC) for over 15 years, an organization that brings interactive theatre to children with disabilities. sorabaek.com

Susan Ward is an actor, writer and teacher of the theater arts. She has been working professionally since she was a teenager touring South Florida with the Coca Cola Sunshine Singers. In 2019 her solo show “Wasbian” directed by Austin Pendelton received “Best Autobiographical One Woman Show” in the United Solo Festival, NYC. She recently worked with Adina Taubman in Adina's short film “Sizzle.” What fun! She is deeply honored and thrilled to be a part of this beautiful devised piece with these amazingly talented women. susanwardactress.com

Cindy Keiter was born in NYC and raised in Philadelphia, Hawaii, transferring from the University of Hawaii to NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Drama. Favorite stage roles include: Meg in "A LIe of the MInd", Madame Ranevskaya in "The Cherry Orchard", Juror #6 in "12 Angry Women". Solo work includes 3 shows she wrote and performed,"Whatever Happened to Cat Stevens?", "Haole", "Recreating Keiter.” Film and TV include "Law and Order", "Born Again Reject", "I Was a Teenage Zombie". Commercials include the FX Channel and MTV where she danced badly on purpose! Cindy Is thrilled to be involved in the project with this cast and thanks Adina for the invitation! cindykeiter.com

Adina Taubman is an actor, playwright, and the artistic director of Chrysalis Theatre Company. Most recently: The Road Back, her critically acclaimed solo show (United Solo), Reel Mind Festival (Rochester,NY), Nazareth College, Rochester General Hospital, and Greenfield Hill Congregational Church (CT), following its world premiere at The Chain Theatre (Director: Padraic Lillis, The Farm Theater). Other solo shows: A Line in the Sand, a docudrama about the Columbine High School massacre (9 theater festivals), including Planet Connections Theatre Festivity and The Midtown International Theatre Festival (Outstanding Production of a Solo Show Award at both/Director: Padraic Lillis), and in high schools across the U.S. chrysalistheatrecompany.com

Kelly O’Donnell (Director). Kelly is a co-founder of Flux Theatre Ensemble where she directed 13 productions including HEARTS LIKE FISTS, and MARIAN, OR THE TRUE TALE OF ROBIN HOOD by Adam Szymkowicz, DOG ACT by Liz Duffy Adams, WORLD BUILDERS by Johnna Adams, and JANE THE PLAIN by Corinna Schulenburg. Regional: WOLF PLAY (Portland Theatre Festival), INDECENT (Best Director Connecticut Critics Circle Awards), THE AGITATORS, and MS. HOLMES & MS. WATSON - APT 2B at Playhouse on Park. She has developed new work at Working Theatre, New Dramatists, Portland Center Stage, The Flea, NJ Rep, and JRJ Productions. She has also directed at schools such as NYU Tisch, Temple University, Lafayette College, The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, and with high school students at Shakespeare & Company in Massachusetts. Kelly serves on the Board of Directors at Flux and Stages on the Sound, a theatre education company where she works as a teaching artist. MFA in Directing from Columbia University. kellyod.com

Chrysalis Theatre Company is dedicated to the development of new plays about important social issues that entertain and spark a dialogue, which hopefully leads to action. We strive to create theater that is a transformative experience for our audiences. Past Shows: "The Road Back: One Woman's Journey From Depression To Recovery", "Beauty in My Brokenness", "The Stop Gun Violence NOW Theater Festival", "Barking Girl" (by Susan Bernfield). Awards include "The Road Back": Best Director--Padraic Lillis (United Solo Festival).

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