A note from the playwright, adina taubman

We need to tell our stories. Now more than ever. The last two years have clearly been a very challenging time for all of us. Before the pandemic, some of us had never experienced anxiety or depression. 

Personally, I am deeply inspired by the shift that seems to be taking place in dialogues about mental health. From famous athletes, to zoomed out parents and kids, to teens and young adults coming forward with their own mental health struggles - it does feel that perhaps we are at a turning point in our collective journey towards de-stigmatization. 

Certainly, not everyone wants to tell their story publicly, like I am here tonight - but as a writer and actor, this is the language I speak. If you leave the theater and feel motivated to reach out to a  friend or loved one, either to share your struggle with them, or to more directly ask them how they're doing - then this play will have made a difference.

Whether on stage in front of an audience, or over the phone to a friend - we need to tell our stories. When we tell our stories, we give others permission to do the same. This is how we break the stigma.

It means the world to me to have you here.

With Gratitude,

Adina 

The Road Back Trailer

The Road Back’s Journey

This deeply personal story, devised and grown in NYC, has had the honor of performing and traveling to:

  • The Chain Theatre (New York City, NY)

  • The Reel Mind Festival (Rochester, NY)

  • Rochester General Hospital (Rochester, NY)

  • Nazareth University

  • St. John’s University

  • The United Solo Festival (New York City, NY)

  • Greenfield Hill Church (Fairfield, CT)

The impact of touring The Road Back to mental health organizations, Psychiatry residency programs, churches, Psychology departments at universities, is that it’s live theater that brings an audience together in an intimate way. They experience Adina’s journey from depression to recovery with their hearts and minds, which creates empathy and breaks stigma. It gives them a chance to see a powerful piece of theater to which they might not normally have access and inspires them. It gets them to ask questions—as students, teachers, mental health practitioners, people struggling with mood disorders—to gain a new perspective. The show is currently available for bookings.

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Reviews

"The Road Back is a truly extraordinary show. In it, Adina does so much to reinforce the human dimension of mental health struggles. The show, and the talkback afterward, stimulate very rich and important discussions about mental health that are needed now more than ever. All audiences – but especially college student audiences – learn so very much about mental health struggles and, more importantly, they learn that recovery is possible!"

Ryan Thibodeau, PhD, Professor of Psychology, St. John Fisher University, Licensed (Clinical) Psychologist, New York State

"The Road Back is an informative and inspirational show that speaks directly to anyone struggling with depression. I highly recommend it to college and university audiences." 

Grant Gutheil, PhD, Chair of Psychology, Nazareth University

"For Psychiatry residents this performance was moving and raised questions like “Do we only push pills?” “Is that how our patients’ see us?” “What if our patients do not have the means to seek varying levels of care?”. Besides the talkback, this performance triggered a number of discussions between trainees and faculty. I would highly recommend this performance to all health care professionals."

Ann Griepp, MD, Program Director, Psychiatry Residency Program, Rochester Regional Health

“At Greenfield Hill Church, we began our mental health ministry, 'Shalom' as the mental health crises around us were multiplying frighteningly. In addition to bringing in speakers, we wanted to use the arts as a way to explore mental health in new and deeper ways. Finding Adina Taubman, and bringing her extraordinary play "The Road Back" to our community was the perfect giant step forward. Powerful, intimate, evocative, and inspiring, "The Road Back" gave our community an extraordinary evening. Adina's work is a gift on so many levels, and we count ourselves fortunate indeed to have experienced it for ourselves.”

Alida Ward, Co-Pastor at Greenfield Hill Church, Fairfield, CT

​"Adina Taubman courageously tells us about her struggles in a candid and informative one-woman show, The Road Back. … She is a talented mimic, so good that it provides some levity. … At the performance I attended, the audience seemed riveted all the way."

Bob Criso, Hi! Drama

“… a valuable, eye-opening piece of theatre. The reality of Taubman's struggle comes through in her bold, unashamed recounting of it. More amazing than the story itself is her willingness to share it, and in so doing, to relive experiences many of us would prefer to forget. … She even embodies her own depression and anxiety, and in doing so, delicately balances humor and honesty. It's that blend of entertainment and authenticity that, more than anything else, allows this piece to succeed”

Erin Kahn, StageBuddy

"Extraordinary" "A beautifully crafted story."

Dan Hess, MOODS Newsletter

Behind the Scenes

Check out the videos and links below to get to know this powerful, intimate show and the message of mental health awareness it spreads.

Playwright/Performer Adina Taubman and Director Padraic Lillis on radio station WXXI in Rochester, NY.

Past and present collaborators

  • Adina Taubman (Writer/Performer)

    is an actor, a playwright, and a teaching artist. In 2019, Adina performed The Road Back in a workshop production, directed by Padraic Lillis (The Farm Theater) at TADA and The Tank. She has performed her solo docudrama, A Line in the Sand, about the Columbine High School massacre, in nine theater festivals, including the Planet Connections Theatre Festival in NYC (Outstanding Production of a Solo Show Award), the Midtown International Theatre Festival (Outstanding Production of a Solo Show), United Solo Festival, the New York International  Fringe Festival, the Edinburgh Fringe, PortFringe in Portland, Maine, and in many high schools across the U.S. and in Tangier, Morocco. Adina is the Artistic Director of Chrysalis Theatre Company. For their inaugural production, Barking Girl by Susan Bernfield, Adina played the main character, Rae. She has worked at a number of theaters in New York, including Ensemble Studio Theatre, Manhattan Theater Source, and The Gallery Players. https://adinataubman.com/

  • Padraic Lillis (Director)

    is the Founding Artistic Director of The Farm Theater. He is a director, playwright, and educator. Padraic was The Humana Visiting Scholar and Artist in Residence at Centre College. As a director Padraic has been awarded: New York Innovative Theatre Outstanding Director, NY International Fringe Festival’s Overall Excellence in directing, and Best Short film at the Milan International Film Festival for his film Hand Over Hand which he wrote and directed. He has directed over twenty solo shows, including Adina Taubman’s A Line In The Sand, which was awarded best solo show at Planet Connections Theatre Festival, and Douglas Taurel’s The American Soldier, which played at The Kennedy Center. His plays are published with Dramatists Play Services. Padraic is the host of The Farm Theater’s Bullpen Sessions podcast. He is a member of the LAByrinth Theater Company and a lifelong Yankee fan. thefarmtheater.org

  • Kimberly Dillon (Co-Producer)

    is a New York City-based actress, producer, and writer originally from Ohio. Recent Producing: Associate Producer “Between the Threads-Jewish Women Project” at HERE Arts Center, Co-Producer “Warriors of Education” short film documentary (Official selection, Block Island Film Festival/Best short doc, Indiedance) Recent Acting: Terry in the short film “Hair Trigger” (Best Supporting Actress, New Visions and Voices Festival). Writing: The Sensitive Flower Blog on Substack. Proud member of AEA and SAG/AFTRA. More at: www.kimberlydillon.net

  • Katy Atwell (Lighting and Set Design)

    is a Lighting Designer and Technical Theater Consultant based out of New York City. She has spent the last 6 years on staff with New York City Ballet as the Assistant Lighting Director and is the Assistant Lighting Designer for Moulin Rouge! on Broadway (and the National Tour). Other NYC credits include: MTC's The Perplexed (ALD), City Center Encore's Evita! (ALD), Wild Parrots of Campbell (LD), and various projects with Titan Theater Company. BFA: Millikin University, MFA: Boston University. To learn more, visit KatwellDesign.com

  • Natalie Loveland (Costume Designer)

    is pleased to join this production of The Road Back. In New York, her designs have been seen at The New Amsterdam Theatre, Classic Stage Company, Lincoln Center Education, Park Avenue Armory, Theatre Row, and NYTW’s Fourth Street Theatre, among many others. Outside the city, Natalie has designed at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Hoboken’s Mile Square Theatre, Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre and has served as a guest artist and designer at multiple universities across the country. She has also served as an assistant on the Broadway tours of Elf The Musical, Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage, and most recently, Waitress. Natalie is a proud member of USA Local 829. In addition to her work as an artist, Natalie explores the human experience on foot as a backpacker with her husband, Jess Prichard.  www.nataliemarieloveland.com

  • Nina Field (Sound Designer)

    Recent Productions: Regional: Our Town, (Dallas Theater Center; Dallas, TX), Beyond the Fourth Wall (WMPAC; Big Sky, MT), Ms. Bennet, Christmas at Pemberley (Playhouse On Park; West Hartford, CT). New York: Motel Andromeda (Waterwell), House of American Activities (The After-Image), The View (Columbia U. School of the Arts). Virtual: Murder, We Spoke (Tantrum East). Associate Design: Twelfth Night (Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Designer: Lindsay Jones), Hamlet on the Radio (The Old Globe, Designer: Lindsay Jones). 

  • Leala Grindstaff (Production Stage Manager)

    is an actor, stage manager, and director originally from Gaffney, SC. She was trained at the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC, and the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York. Her most recent work includes Fluffy the Pine (SUPA Entertainment, “Dr. Birch”), The Murder Play with Jack & Melissa (NOW Collective, Stage Manager), and Dying Awake (Vainglorious Media Co., Asst. Director/Producer.)

  • Joana Tsuhlares (Associate Producer)

    is an Actor/Director based in NYC but originally from Wheeling, West Virginia.  She has a BFA in Acting from Shenandoah Conservatory, and most recently helped develop and acted in the new work Rift by Rita Welch at The Tank and held an Directorial Observership with Eric Tucker for Bedlam’s Persuasion.  She is very excited to be working on The Road Back and she hopes you enjoy the show! 

  • Lucas Pasquier (Box Office Assistant)

    is an Actor living in NYC that is originally from Tampa, Florida. He most recently graduated with a BFA in Acting from Shenandoah Conservatory, and is excited to be joining the Chain Theatre for this production of The Road Back!

  • ​Emily Owens (PR)

    is a press agent specializing in new work premiering Off and Off-Off Broadway. EOPR's clients include performing arts venues, theatre festivals, indie theatre companies, self-producing artists, and early career playwrights. www.emilyowenspr.com