Erika MacDonald
Solo Performer | Theater Artist
SOLO WORK
The Barn Identity
a solo show by Erika MacDonald
musical underscoring by Paul Strickland
Erika MacDonald went to the Emergency Room because of a movie she saw. Now she's obsessed with Falling-Down Barns.
Through storytelling, music, and inventive design, this theatrical essay explores the usefulness of beauty in one's life as the performer looks back at her first recognized encounter with her own mental illness.
See this page for more info.
Evacuated!
2016
Tap Me on the Shoulder
2012
FLUID
2007
DIRECTING
90 Lies an Hour: Paul Strickland
Written & Performed by Paul Strickland
Erika has directed Paul Strickland's theatrical solo work since 2014, including award-winning shows Balls of Yarns (2017), 90 Lies an Hour (2019), UnTrueBadour (2022) and more.
90 Lies an Hour premiered at the 2019 Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival
Stow Your Baggage
Written & Performed by Alexx Rouse
Erika has directed many solo Fringe performers, including Alexx Rouse (Busted Bumpers, 2017; Stow Your Baggage, 2019) and Kate Mock Elliott (seXmas Cards, 2019).
Stow Your Baggage premiered at the 2019 Cincinnati Fringe Festival
All-One! The Dr. Bronner's Play
Written by Beth Hyland
Cast:
L. Lucía Duque
Ian Timothy Forsgren
Erin McCamley
Elizabeth Chinn Molloy
Willemien Patterson
R. Deandre Smith
Premiered in 2023 at Know Theatre of Cincinnati
PUPPET DESIGN
AWAY, NOW: The World's Most Desired Destination
"Shopping in Away, Now," paper bag mask scene (pictured above), suitcase toy theater scenes with paper puppets, suitcase toy theater with shadow puppets, designed and built by Erika, written and performed together with Paul Strickland
A Theatre Mobile original production
Premiered at 2021 Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival
SuperTrue
"Dulce" puppets (as pictured above) and "Deer" puppets, made from cardboard, string and brown paper, designed and built by Erika, in consultation with set designer Sarah Beth Hall
Puppeteered by Elizabeth Molloy
Script by Karen Hartman
Directed by Holly Derr
Premiered in 2018 at Know Theatre of Cincinnati
13 Dead Dreams of "Eugene"
Shadow puppet play with moving handheld light sources, conceived, designed, written and performed together with Paul Strickland
A Theatre Mobile original production
Premiered at 2016 Twin Cities Horror Festival
BIO
Erika MacDonald
Erika MacDonald is an internationally-touring theater-maker whose original works have been featured Off-Broadway and have won "Best of Fest" honors on over 10 different occasions at Fringe Theater Festivals across the U.S. and Canada.
Erika is known for her award-winning original solo shows The Barn Identity, Evacuated!, Tap Me on the Shoulder, and Fluid, as well as her thoughtful and meticulous solo show directing and innovative puppet designs. Her shadow puppet adaptation of Carnival of the Animals was commissioned by Madcap Puppets and featured at the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra.
Erika is also known for the entertaining and unique two-person shows she creates and performs together with her partner in art and life Paul Strickland. Their shadow puppet horror play 13 Dead Dreams of "Eugene" was an official selection at the Twin Cities Horror Fest and was presented Off Broadway at the historic Soho Playhouse.
For more on Erika and Paul’s collaborations visit theatremobile.org .
When she is not on the road or on the stage, Erika currently makes her home just off the coast of Cincinnati, in Covington, Kentucky.
Contact Erika via email
erikakatemacdonald at gmail.com
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