Free Virtual Survivor Play 5/21/2023

Image of playwright Michael Broussard as a child.

There will be a free performance of the interactive play Ask A Sex Abuse Survivor on Sunday, May 21st at 3pm EDT on Zoom. Free tickets are available at https://askasurvivor.eventbrite.com.

In the show, survivor Michael Broussard tells the story of the abuse he experienced as a child and of his path to healing. He does this in a series of vignettes, pausing after each vignette for attendee questions and comments.

“The brilliance of Michael’s approach comes down to this Q&A—without realizing it, we have been empowered to have a conversation that is still so taboo in our society. We leave the performance feeling compelled to pay greater attention to victims and survivors, to feel their pain more deeply, and to act more decisively to protect children from abuse.” -Children’s Advocacy Centers of Pennsylvania

While the show is fairly intense and sometimes dark in nature, it also includes a healthy amount of humor and, ultimately, a very positive, empowering and triumphant message of hope and healing.

“This production is an excellent illustration of the healing power of art and community.” – Psychologist Margaret D. Sayers

“I came away from the performance uplifted, braver, and will always remember Michael’s courage and draw strength from it when needed in my own life.”Survivor and New England Director of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) Dave O’Regan

“As a psychologist who treats survivors of childhood sexual abuse, I would highly recommend this show to anyone who struggles with the emotional aftermath of these traumas.” – Clinical Psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Dale Blair

“I walked away with an understanding of the survivor experience that no book, training, or even my years of work as a therapist ever could have given me.” – Clinician Maureen O’Regan, Orleans Psychotherapy Associates

Free Virtual Play 11/6/22 on Zoom

In the virtual play Ask A Sex Abuse Survivor, Michael Broussard talks about being healed by Doctor Who.

Get your tickets for a virtual performance of the interactive play Ask A Sex Abuse Survivor on Sunday Nov 6th, 2022. Details below.

Ask A Survivor play reading + Q&A on Zoom
Sun, Nov 6th, 2022 at 3:00 PM EDT
Tickets at http://askasurvivorplay.eventbrite.com

From Meg Lenherr, NCC, Counselor for Women’s Services, Inc. – “As a counselor who works with survivors of sexual trauma every day, I was amazed at the healing power of Michael’s honesty and courage while standing in front of an audience to perform his story in such a raw way. With splashes of colorful humor throughout the performance, Michael authentically and daringly painted the picture of the torment and abuse he experienced in a way that became tangible and relatable to everyone in the room. Before his performance was over I witnessed true healing in some survivors in the audience, who were able to discover, through Michael’s brave retelling of his story and the opportunity to ask questions, that they were not alone. Michael showed us that no one has to be alone as a survivor, and that everyone can heal. Whether you are a survivor or simply a supporter you will not be able to walk away without being deeply affected.”

Questions? Email askasurvivor@gmail.com

Call for Survivor Artists and Performers for Survivor Knights Philadelphia 2019

Survivor Knights

We are seeking visual artists, speakers, storytellers, musicians, and other performing artists for a free event in Philadelphia co-sponsored by the North Carolina based arts community Survivor Knights and Ask A Sex Abuse Survivor.

Survivors of any kind of trauma, abuse, medical condition, or any other life challenge, are invited to display their visual art and/or to perform at Survivor Knights Philadelphia, Sunday afternoon, March 24th, 2019 at the Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street in Philadelphia. For driving and public transit directions to the Rotunda visit sexabusesurvivor.com/rotunda.

To participate, send photos of your visual art or audio/video of your story, poetry, music, performance piece, etc to askasurvivor@gmail.com. We will be accepting submissions until February 28th, 2019. Audio and video does not need to be professional quality. We just want to see/hear your work.

The Survivor Knights community is the brainchild of survivor and advocate Brian Cardoza, who is also the founder of the Broken Knee Club, a support and advocacy organization working to raise awareness about childhood sexual abuse.

We look forward to showcasing your visual and performance art. Only together can we survive. Your darkest moments may be the light to another.

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Call for Survivor Artists and Performers for Survivor Knights Philadelphia

Survivor Knights

We are seeking visual artists, speakers, storytellers, musicians, and other performing artists for a free event in Philadelphia co-sponsored by the North Carolina based arts community Survivor Knights and Ask A Sex Abuse Survivor.

Survivors of any kind of trauma, abuse, medical condition, or any other life challenge, are invited to display their visual art and/or to perform at Survivor Knights Philadelphia, Sunday afternoon, March 25th, 2018 at the Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street in Philadelphia. For driving and public transit directions to the Rotunda visit sexabusesurvivor.com/rotunda.

To participate, send photos of your visual art or audio/video of your story, poetry, music, performance piece, etc to askasurvivor@gmail.com. We will be accepting submissions until February 28th, 2018. Audio and video does not need to be professional quality. We just want to see/hear your work.

The Survivor Knights community is the brainchild of survivor and advocate Brian Cardoza, who is also the founder of the Broken Knee Club, a support and advocacy organization working to raise awareness about childhood sexual abuse.

We look forward to showcasing your visual and performance art. Only together can we survive. Your darkest moments may be the light to another.

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Our Free Performance of “Ask A Sex Abuse Survivor” in Philly in May is now Fully Funded!

Ask A Sex Abuse Survivor - Teddy

On February 22nd, 2017 we launched a crowdfunding campaign to support a free public performance of “Ask A Sex Abuse Survivor” in Philadelphia this May. Just 12 days later it was fully funded.

We would like to express our deepest appreciation to all of our generous donors: Kathleen Mosher, Denise Gollmer Weinstein , Elizabeth Evans, Jean Brooks, Kristie Kozenewski, Jason B. Schmidt, Kimberlie Cruse, Georgina Bard, Daniel J. Reynolds, Alexis Calhoun, Julia Calhoun, Kristen Schier, Tamara Anderson, Julie Chapin, John Yorio, Tina Thompson, Susan Seeton, Marlane Stempko, Frances M. Doyle, Sarah Bloom, Jenny Hill, Janice McDuffy, Ryan Lawrence, Jeremy Rodden, Rivka Edery LCSW, Pam Sterner Boyer, Alicia Williams, Dr. Garrett Marie Deckel, and of course our many kind anonymous donors.

The show is on! We hope to see many of you at the Adrienne Theater on Saturday afternoon May 27th, 2017 for a completely free performance of “Ask A Sex Abuse Survivor”. Full details are below.

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Survivor Knights Philadelphia was a Powerful Community Event

Survivor Knights Philadelphia

Artwork by Tiffani Dean – Photo by Jody Austin

The mutual support and love demonstrated by survivors of all kinds at the free event Survivor Knights Philadelphia on Saturday, January 21st was truly beautiful. Artists, speakers and poets gathered at the Rotunda on Walnut Street in University City to share their experiences on canvas and onstage.

As people walked around the space taking in the powerful imagery from artists Charlene Lutz (Muse Gallery), Brian Cardoza (The Broken Knee Club and Survivor Knights), Kathleen Mosher (MsMoArt), Mariellen Cressman, Jody Austin aka TruStory (CEO/President The Collective Mic, LLC), and Tiffani Dean aka La Diva Noire (COO/vice-President The Collective Mic, LLC), deep conversations could be heard in every corner about what it means to survive and how survivors can care for one another.

Later in the afternoon the speakers took the stage and filled the room with a hopeful cry for understanding. Inspiring words from Zahra Diallo, Michael Broussard (author and performer of the one man interactive play Ask A Sex Abuse Survivor), Bonnell Williams, Kellie Springer (author of Relentless: A Journey of Forgiveness), Brian Cardoza (author of The Unexpected Victim), Edna J. White (author of Stuff!: Giving the Secret a Voice), Jody Austin, and Tiffani Dean elicited frequent and enthusiastic applause.

As the event wound down people could be heard making plans for the next one, and the next one after that.

Ask A Sex Abuse Survivor would like to thank Survivor Knights founder Brian Cardoza for giving us the opportunity to host this amazing event.

Thanks also go out to the following, for their invaluable assistance: Rotunda Director Gina Renzi, Rotunda Intern Andrew Simpson, audio tech Styx Latte, and volunteer Jennifer Cutler.

If you are interested in hosting a Survivor Knights event in your area, please contact Brian Cardoza at briancardoza198@hotmail.com or visit www.brokenkneeclub.org or www.facebook.com/SurvivorKnights.

The next Survivor Knights event will be Chasing Immortality on Saturday, January 28th at the New Bern Civic Theatre in New Bern, North Carolina.