Emersonians Team Up for Benefit Showcase to Battle Alzheimer’s
A host of Broadway Emerson alumni are leading a showcase this weekend to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.
Memories: The Moments That Make Us, is being produced by the Arts for Alz, and was created by Taylor McMahon ’16 with Adam Wedesky, in memory of their grandparents who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. The organization has curated two other live showcases in the last three years, and raised more than $4,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association. Rebecca Kritzer joined the team in 2020.
“Our third annual showcase features 26 contributing artists representing different backgrounds, ages, cultures, and even countries,” said McMahon, a Communication Sciences & Disorders major. “The showcase weaves authentic storytelling through various styles of dance, song, and interview testimonials – some of whom have their own personal connections to Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.”
McMahon said some performers created all new works for the showcase. And like many things these days, the showcase is being put on virtually. She said the experienced team knows what goes into making live theatre, but the virtual world is another beast.
“The learning curve was steep, but as Emerson teaches its students: if there’s a will, there’s a way, especially when you have a great team,” said McMahon.
McMahon has enlisted a number of Emersonians to participate in the showcase:
- Kaitlyn Frank ’14 and McMahon danced together in the former’s X-Dance piece. Frank created a new work for the showcase.
- Rachel “Sink” Lindsay ’13 and McMahon knew each other from Emerson, and Lindsay teamed up with Frank as a videographer and editor.
- Videographer Aya Faham ’20 was recruited via the Emerson Mafia Facebook page.
- Isa Braun ’16 and McMahon danced together in many student productions, and assisted Faham to record McMahon’s performance.
- Phil Rosenberg ’14 has lots of experience in producing virtual shows – and he met McMahon on a dating app in 2020.
Memories: The Moments That Make Us is being streamed on Friday, February 26, at 8 :oo pm, and Saturday, February 27, at 8:00 pm. The same show will be streamed both nights live via Zoom. Tickets need to be purchased via Brown Paper Tickets, and are $15.
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