Deonna’s not-thin body — seeped five generations deep in rural North Florida — has always been a metaphysical problem, an existential riddle she couldn’t solve.
Kind of like America.
In American Body, Deonna explores the relationship with her body with American identity as a backdrop. She reveals a Southern childhood full of dieting, the impact of the Standard American Diet, how she used the hijab (and a marriage) to hide from herself, and the resilience of her indigenous (Catawba) ancestors. Deonna’s personal story offers one way to explore what it means to be an American with body politics at the center.
The public is invited to this developmental reading (this is not a performance!). Donations are accepted.
This reading is a part of the Revealed Virtual Reading Series, a program of and hosted by Soaring Solo Studios.
Note: adult themes, language, and references to sexual assault.
The Zoom link will be sent in a different email 24 hours prior to the reading.
Donations are accepted (optional) and will help go towards the cost of production in October.
American Body will premier during a Hyers Theatre residency with Creative Greensboro with pre-production support from ArtsGreensboro.