Blog # 172: EPILEPSY AWARENESS IS RAISED AT A LOS ANGELES THEATER

 

 

Everyone in the epilepsy world, i.e. patients and the millions who are touched by their epilepsy and those who support these people, should salute a new epilepsy-themed musical produced in a small Los Angeles theater.

 

Any attempt to raise epilepsy awareness in the public is so welcome. The Hudson Backstage Theatre on Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA is staging the world premiere of It’s All Your Fault, Tyler Price. Ashley Lee reviewed this musical in the November 20, 2024, Los Angeles Times. With actors, the musical tells of a family’s experience supporting their daughter and her epilepsy. Lee describes the work as entertaining, empathetic and educational. This ubiquitous condition affects one out of every hundred people in America. Leaders in all fields are counted among them, notably Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts.

 

The musical was created by the girl’s father, Ben Decter, an Emmy-winning composer of several TV shows. Ben shares that he couldn’t discuss his daughter’s seizures due to anger, sadness and isolation—a familiar story in the epilepsy community upon learning the diagnosis in one’s child. Decter found personal relief when he began to compose songs on his piano. He and his wife appreciated that he could put things into songs that he couldn’t say out loud. Unburdening oneself from painful feelings and thoughts, such as the topic in this play, can be accomplished by sharing them with loved ones and close friends. All people touched in some way by epilepsy appreciate how hard it is to accept the diagnosis of epilepsy. Divorce and separation are quite common.

 

A friend overheard his songs and put him in touch with the director, Kristin Hanggi, who took to this material. They developed it together. A school bully mocks the protagonist’s epilepsy. In part such an incident pushed the creators to educate the public about epilepsy via this musical play. The actors teach the audience how to reassure and to keep patients safe during a seizure by the actors leading audience members to call-and-respond gospel-like to safety tips.

 

Reporter Lee empathizes that Addie, the real-life daughter with epilepsy who inspired the show, celebrates how people with epilepsy are seen and to know that they’re not alone. The musical play exposes how the diagnosis affects all family members; open communication is stressed.

 

UCB, a global pharmaceutical company involved in developing epilepsy medicines, learned of this play. UCB is a major financial sponsor in producing It’s All Your Fault, Tyler Price.

 

Lance Fogan, M.D. is Clinical Professor of Neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. His hard-hitting emotional family medical drama, “DINGS, is told from a mother’s point of view. “DINGS” is his first novel. Aside from acclamation on internet bookstore sites, U.S. Report of Books, and the Hollywood Book Review, DINGS has been advertised in New York Times Book Reviews, the Los Angeles Times Calendar section and Publishers Weekly. DINGS teaches epilepsy and is now available in eBook, audiobook, soft and hard cover editions.