Hystericalfest: women+ ACT out

Short comedies on Women+ & Invisible Disabilities

Streaming through November 28, 2026

CLICK HERE FOR VIRTUAL TICKETS

With ASL and closed captioning options

Suggested donation of $10

Produced by Violet Surprise Theatre, Terri Lynne Hudson (consulting), & Hysterical Productions/Paula Kamen

Recording of live performance that ran Friday, August 28, 2026

MEDIA:

• RADIO show appearance 8/23/26 on HystericalFest on Out Chicago.

• Chicago Reader interview by Kerry Reid

• Evanston Roundtable feature

RADICAL ACCESSIBILITY AS A PRIORITY

• For the AUDIENCE, live and virtual: We offer asynchronous streaming on a national level, to watch the show from home at one's convenience. Most of the live performances offer different accessibility features..

• For ARTISTS: HystericalFest offers unique opportunities to actors, directors, and playwrights with invisible disabilities. That includes immunocompromised actors and directors working from home to pre=record three monologues for the show.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

• For centuries, a way to diagnose a woman (or person of a historically marginalized gender) for hysteria is if they were dramatic and seeking attention about their otherwise invisible disability. With HystericalFest, we are turning the tables, embracing the forbidden, literally "acting out." Comedy reflects the absurdity of our experiences, and theater provides a way to literally relieve isolation, build community, and confront stigma.

• We are going a step beyond the canon of the ‘70s Women's Health Movement -- such as the Yellow Wallpaper, the Madwoman in the Attic, and For Her Own Good -- important writings that challenge traditional views of all women as biologically weak and inferior, historically society’s justification for restricting them from public life. Today, fifty years later, we are long overdue to recognize and validate the most stigmatized disabilities, those rooted in real biology, especially those suffered disproportionately by women, such as chronic pain and auto-immune disorders. Like men, we demand the right to be imperfect yet still deserve equal rights, and for each person to be considered individually according to their own merits.

Our LINE-UP of short plays: (the same at each of the four performances)

“1900s Women Bonding” by Catherine Weingarten, directed by Carrie Lee Patterson

With Blaire Prince and Allison Fradkin

In this short comedy inspired by “The Yellow Wallpaper,” two housewives in the 1900s bond over having hysteria and wonder if they have any control over their fates.

“Heard Mentality” by Allison Fradkin, directed by Alicia Hall

With Allison Fradkin, Nat Kier, and Kristin Schmitz

This play takes a universal experience, in this case a first date, and allows the audience to experience it through the eyes (and ears) of someone who is hearing-impaired, showing how pre-date jitters and insecurities about making a good first impression, which everyone relates to, can be amplified if a person has a disability.

“Proud of My Name” by Bruce Karp, directed by Destiny Whitaker (remote)

With Yiidum Charles-Wiwa (remote)

With an unusual name, Beneatha is already subjected to rude comments by her contemporaries. During a police incident, because a woman of color is involved, she is treated badly, roughed up, and ultimately dismissed, with no apology once the truth of her disability is made known. A kind older black man comes to her rescue and helps her feel seen.

“My Friend Endo” by Emily Golden, directed by Kayla White

With Sarah Silva-James and Aly Mackenzie

This is the story of a woman trying to establish care with a doctor. She’s been assured many times that her stomach pain is nothing to worry about -- just an ordinary part of being a woman. But...finally...this doctor notices something that might explain her pain.

TWO excerpts from The Body Play by Madison Wetzell, directed by Iris Sowlat

With Lili Daskais, Morgan Braithwaite, and Kathryn Henzler (remote)

Something is very wrong with Amy’s Body. One protagonist is played by two actors: a detached, neurotic Mind and her chaotic, screaming Body. A meditation on the absurdity of chronic illness and being alive. We include two scenes excerpted from Madison’s full-length play, The Body Play, which had its world premiere last year at the Cleveland Public Theatre.

“The Side Effect” by Paula Kamen, directed by Fay Florence-Steddum

With Lili Daskais and Nat Kier

An absurd look at the desperation and isolation of invisible illness. A woman realizes her boyfriend, whom she was just about to dump, can relieve her Crohn’s symptoms with pills made from his unusually rich and premium-grade poop. All is well until she realizes one unfortunate -- and ridiculous -- side effect.

“Task Paralysis” by Pearlie Blue Leaf, directed by Melody DeRogatis

With Morgan Braithwaite and Kristin Schmitz

Sadie has always struggled with executive dysfunction, chalking it up to her just not trying hard enough, until an unexpected visitor appears and enlightens her.

“A Blind Lesbian Walks Into a Bar” by Iris Sowlat, directed by Angeli Primlani

With Iris Sowlat

Iris Sowlat’s true story about the intersection of her visual impairment (achromatopsia) and being a lesbian.

“Live a Little” by Allie Costa, directed by Myesha-Tiara McGarner

With Aly Mackenzie and Blaire Prince 

In this heartfelt examination of the way we judge others and ourselves, a hospital administrator trying to hide her chronic illness has an unexpected conversation with a bubbly young nurse that leaves a lasting impression on them both.

ABOUT:

Hysterical Productions is the production company of playwright Paula Kamen, author of the comedic memoir All In My Head: An Epic Quest to Cure an Unrelenting, Totally Unreasonable, and Only Slightly Enlightening Headache, basically the manifesto for the festival. She is the founder of HystericalFest, producing it with Violet Surprise Theatre (which includes 3 principals who have invisible disabilities) and accessibility activist Terri Lynn Hudson.