We've all got baggage...
hers is trying to ruin her.
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.
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.
Cast & Creatives
Creator & Performer
Dana Aber
Director & Dramaturg
Joe Langworth
Production Manager
Brent Michael Jones
Songs created in collaboration with:
James Ballard, Christie Baugher, Alanya Bridge, Amy Burgess & Sara Cooper, Rachel Dean,
Mika Kauffman, Teresa Lotz, Martha Miller, Thomas Jacobsen, and Joseph Trefler
Production Management - Brent Michael Jones
Lighting Design - Aiden Bezark
Orchestrations - Josh Freilich
Add'l Orchestrations - Andrew Morrissey
Add'l Arrangements & Music Preparation - Jacob Stebly
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
Recent Buzz for Baggage at the Door
"Dana Aber is what's known in the theater as a triple threat.
—Paulanne Simmons,
Theater Life
"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
Limited engagement Off-Broadway at AMT Theater
November 2-16, 2023
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
Up Next, Baggage at the Door in Spanish!
EQUIPAJE EN LA PUERTA
December 18, 2024 at 7pm
featuring Paulina de la Parra
cuando se enamora, se desencadena su trastorno de estrés postraumático latente,
y puede que este este j#d*d@.
RSVP Required
Free admission
Limited Seating
Send email with # of seats requested to