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We've all got baggage...
         hers is trying to
ruin her.

promo photo for Baggage at the Door new musical Off-Broadway with redhead in white dress with blue flowers sitting amongst a pile of blue and purple luggage., a creepy animation-style green pig near her ankle peers out, with text that reads: "Off Bway BAGGAGE AT THE DOOR" "Created by & Starring Dana Aber, Direction & Dramaturgy by Joe Langworth" "when falling in love triggers her lurking PTSD, she might be f*&#ed.

Baggage at the Door is an original one-woman musical addressing the critical moment a (seemingly well-adjusted trauma-queen) survivor realizes she may no longer be able to simply cope; when falling in love triggers her lurking PTSD, she might be  f*#&ed.

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Four consecutive Januarys with four near-death experiences...um, Happy New Year?
This particular January, the scorched survivor’s barricades are breached and protective layers peeled away as she navigates the precarious terrors of falling in love. In Baggage at the Door, this bright-eyed city girl is unmasked as a poster child for high-functioning PTSD. If she can’t connect, she may miss out on a future she longs for.

Struggling with internal dumpster fires on a spare stage richly textured with immersive sound and animated projections, she tap-dances eating cheese, sings her conflicted identifies, swaddles herself with protective rhinestones, and enlists the audience’s guidance on a witty, honest, and gripping journey to break the trauma cycle and find the courage to finally unpack.

                     Baggage at the Door is a fiscally-sponsored project under Fractured Atlas. Click here to donate
                 Baggage at the Door
is a recipient of a 2024 NYSCA grant from the New York State Council of the Arts.
          This grant will allow a Spanish-language translation to be presented as a workshop reading in December 2024. 

When falling in love triggers her lurking PTSD,
she might be
f*#&ed.

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Cast & Creatives

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Creator & Performer
Dana Aber

Promo picture for Baggage at the Door musical Off-Broadway,  of director and dramaturg Joe Langworth

Director & Dramaturg
Joe Langworth

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Production Manager
Brent Michael Jones

Production Management - Brent Michael Jones

Lighting Design - Aiden Bezark

Orchestrations - Josh Freilich

Add'l Orchestrations - Andrew Morrissey

Add'l Arrangements & Music Preparation - Jacob Stebly

Promo picture for Baggage at the Door musical Off-Broadway,  of an illustrated green pig, peering with an evil expression

Scenic Design - Mark Halpin

Projection Design - Dana Aber

Music Director - Jacob Stebly

Bassist - Magda Kress

Percussionist - Chris McWilliams

Original art created for the show by: Jamie Gaul, Josh Haplea, Chelsey Hill, Nichola Latzgo, Annie Moor, Bee Michael, Dr. Natalie J. Russ, and Dana Aber.

Producers 2023 Off-Bway Production - Big Thunder Productions in association with AMT Theater.

Press Representative - Richard Hillman, PR.

Social Media Management - Kate Noonan

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 Baggage at the Door Spanish-language workshop 2024

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Recent Buzz for Baggage at the Door

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"Dana Aber is what's known in the theater as a triple threat.

—Paulanne Simmons,

            Theater Life

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"Ms. Aber is a woman of singular vocal talent.  

Her voice is silk and right up there with any number of folks working on Broadway."

—Tulis McCall,

      The Front Row Center

Promo picture for Baggage at the Door musical Off-Broadway, with The Girl jumping midair in a blue flowered blouse and excited expression
Promo picture for Baggage at the Door musical Off-Broadway, with The Girl  dancing in a red bird onesie
Promo picture for Baggage at the Door musical Off-Broadway, with The Girl jumping midair in a blue flowered blouse and flying a blanket over her head like a cape
Promo picture for Baggage at the Door musical Off-Broadway, with The Girl tap dancing with a parcel of deli cheese  in a blue flowered blouse and cream colored shoes
Promo picture for Baggage at the Door musical Off-Broadway, with The Girl singing a big song in a blue flowered blouse with a projection of 'see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil' pigs stacked on top of each other
Promo picture for Baggage at the Door musical Off-Broadway, with The Girl dancing a 90s style dance mid-jump.  in a blue flowered blouse and serious expression
Promo picture for Baggage at the Door musical Off-Broadway, with The Girl doing a Vegas showgirl walk  in a blue flowered blouse and sultry expression
Promo picture for Baggage at the Door musical Off-Broadway, with The Girl mirroring a projection of a woman watching lava explode, in a blue flowered blouse and scared expression
Promo picture for Baggage at the Door musical Off-Broadway, with The Girl's hand up, firmly stopping the action,  in a blue flowered blouse and mouth pressed into a firm line with a multicolored lips projection behind her
Promo picture for Baggage at the Door musical Off-Broadway, with The Girl standing still laden with a variety of luggage in a blue flowered blouse and joyful expression
Promo picture for Baggage at the Door musical Off-Broadway,  of an illustrated green pig, peering with an evil expression
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Limited engagement Off-Broadway at AMT Theater 
November 2-16, 2023

Location: AMT Theater

354 W 45th St

btw 8th & 9th Aves

New York, NY 10036

(Get Directions)

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            Show performance dates:

​Previews: Oct 31 (7pm) & Nov 1 (3pm & 7pm) 

Production Run: Nov 2 - 16, 2023

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays at 7pm

Wednesday matinees at 3pm 

Promo picture for Baggage at the Door musical Off-Broadway,  of an illustrated green pig, peering with an evil expression

Up Next, Baggage at the Door in Spanish! 

EQUIPAJE EN LA PUERTA

December 18, 2024 at 7pm

featuring Paulina de la Parra

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cuando se enamora, se desencadena su trastorno de estrés postraumático latente, 
y puede que este este j#d*d@.

Chain Studio Theatre

3rd Floor

312 W. 36th St. 

New York, NY 10036

(Get Directions)

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Promo picture for Baggage at the Door musical Off-Broadway,  of an illustrated green pig, peering with an evil expression

RSVP Required

Free admission

Limited Seating

Send email with # of seats requested to

  BigThunderNYC@gmail.com

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