Diane Barnes’
My Stroke of Luck
In Person at The Marsh San Francisco Studio Theater
Written & Performed by Diane Barnes
Directed by Rebecca Fisher
Developed with David Ford
Online ticket sales close 2 hours before each performance,
and additional tickets may be available for purchase at the door.
May 2 – June 1, 2019
Thursdays at 8pm | Saturdays at 5pm
Ticket Information
Tickets: $20 – $35 General Seating sliding scale | $50 & $100 Reserved Seating
Online ticket sales close 2 hours before each performance,
and additional tickets may be available for purchase at the door.
75 minutes | no intermission | Ages 15+
Please do not bring infants to the show
Show Description
Who are you when the “you” you know is gone?
Did you know the average person loses 1.9 million brain cells every minute a stroke goes untreated? Barnes knew; she’s a doctor, a radiologist who diagnoses strokes! But she did not deal with having a stroke very well; it was 20 hours before she went to the hospital! In My Stroke of Luck, Barnes recounts her experience of having a stroke, her path to recovery, and more. In a spellbinding and funny look at love, family, and seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Barnes shares her story: a single adoptive mother of special needs and gifted tween sons, who forges a new identity after a debilitating stroke.
Artist Biography
After surviving the catastrophe that inspired this show, Diane discovered improvisation (Patricia Marsden Ryan and BATS)! “Yes, and…” the mantra of improv, opened an alternate universe for this “Humm…show me the evidence,” skeptic scientist. Diane’s first solo performance (W. Allen Taylor) shared her experience negotiating the hurdles to single parent adoption. Audience response galvanized her with the power of storytelling and launched her new career.
Diane left the practice of medicine in 2010. Now a Meisner trained actor, Diane completed The American Conservatory Theater’s Summer Training Congress (modern and classic), studied with Anna Deveare Smith, Ann Randolph, Keith Johnstone, and The D’ell Arte School of Physical Drama. Diane has appeared at The Marsh, Ross Valley Players, College of Marin, Studio One, BATS, and Pan Theater.
My Stroke of Luck has a sold out run at the United Theater Festival in NYC, and played at the Atlanta Black Theater Festival, the LA Women’s Theater Festival, and various Canadian and U.S. Fringe Festivals.
Diane, a NYC transplant, 3rd generation physician is a graduate of Stanford University and Yale University School of Medicine, board certified in Diagnostic Radiology.
Special Events
Saturday, May 11, 5 PM – Post-show guest speaker Richard L. Delmonic, PhD, Director of Neuropsychology and NCAL Regional Lead for Neuropsychology services at the Kaiser Foundation Rehabilitation Center in Vallejo.
Saturday May 18th, 5 PM – Post-show guest speaker, Roberta J. Elman, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is the President & Founder of the Aphasia Center of California. The Aphasia Center provides high-quality, cutting-edge services that enhance communication skills, quality of life, and overall well-being for those affected by aphasia. Click here for The ACC’s website.
Saturday May 25, 5 PM: Josh Kornbluth has been creating and performing autobiographical monologues — including several at The Marsh — since 1989. He is currently working on a solo show based on his experiences as an artist-in-residence and volunteer at the Zen Hospice Project in San Francisco. For two years he hosted an interview program on KQED-TV, conveniently titled The Josh Kornbluth Show. His latest feature film is Love & Taxes, a collaboration with his brother Jacob. For all of this year, Josh is in residence as a Scholar at the Global Brain Health Institute at UCSF.
Saturday June 1, 5 PM: Post-show guest speaker, Patricia Gill, MS, MFT, is the executive Director of the Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery. Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery offers an array of affordable rehabilitative and supportive services designed to help survivors and their families rebuild their lives after a brain injury.