Writer/Performer/Producer, Susan Damante
Notes
In 2002, I was in New York City in the basement apartment of my new friend and fellow artist, Kalimi’s, Harlem brownstone. After I told her my story, she said, “You have got to write a book or do a show!” I spent the next 5 or so years creating various frameworks by which I felt I could convey what I wanted to say …the theme being “true joy and fulfillment comes from overcoming great adversity and living with purpose.” I worked with various people to help me along the way, but always put it aside when the “evil twin” in my head would say, “Who the heck is gonna want to sit for over an hour and listen to you whine? What kind of an ego do you have?? Just share it one on one as you have and THAT’S ENOUGH!” Then my vocal coach, Gerald White, my acting mentor, Jeffrey Tambor and finally my director Sue Hamilton, came along and basically put me on a creative railroad track going full speed ahead and there was no turning back! My new company, OUT OUR WAY PRODUCTIONS, was born in July 2007. The name comes from a 1920’s comic strip; a favorite of my Mother’s when she was a child, which had themes about family life and the ne'er–do–well adventures of small town boys. One character was the famous, “Worry Wart,” a name my Mother used to call us siblings constantly! Out Our Way Productions' goal is to enlighten, entertain, and inform the greater Los Angeles area. Our mission is to develop works that are socially minded, serving the diverse and multicultural community. Our future is to grow worldwide, with projects not only in theatre, but in film, television, and digital art. The last time I almost died of internal bleeding the “voice within” told me all of my life experiences are for the sake of encouraging and serving others… well, I’m not Mother Teresa, but I wake up every day with thoughts about helping others and with tremendous vitality, energy, hope and health. Hey… I’m going backwards… I think I’ll be a baby soon…