Our Mission
Documentary theater brings stories of the hidden, marginalized, and suffering out of the shadows and into the lives of people who might never have considered their stories deeply.
IV: Our Lives takes as its subject women and men living with Stage IV, terminal metastatic breast cancer. 116 women and men die every day in America of metastatic breast cancer. In memory of every woman and man who dies of metastatic breast cancer every day, we’re interviewing 116 “metsters” or “metavivors”—metastatic breast cancer patients, spouses, caretakers, and children—and weaving their stories together in a play which educates and inspires audiences to act.
The play explores every aspect of life with metastatic breast cancer, from diagnosis to death, but it will also explore the pioneering beginning of a metastatic breast cancer advocacy movement that modeled itself after early AIDS activists in ACT-UP, telling the story of the birth of a world-wide movement to empower and activate people with metastatic cancer.
What People Are Saying
“It felt like my own words + experiences!”
— Ann Camden, MBC thriver
“This will help inform and help people heal emotionally. So powerful. Put it on everywhere!
— Anonymous audience member
“The combination of stories, music, and visuals, and the different voices and stories represented were really powerful and moving. Thank you!”
— Huiwen Leo, MBC thriver
“The play reflected how I feel: the lack of understanding and distancing of friends/family. It was all powerful. Amazing! Thank you for using your tragedy to help others.”
— Tracey Miller
“Very informative for novice learners—the play was fantastic, and I hope it will be available for larger audiences to view online and in-person. Kudos to the writer, director, cast, and survivors!”
— Terry Morris, social worker
