Diagnosed
Lydia is an African American woman who inherits a family-owned boutique. While searching for her own inner peace, she creates a safe space for women to share their stories of hurt, trauma and healing. Guided by the spirit of her ancestors, Lydia and the women are able to come face to face with their childhood and present-day demons. They will soon see that a boutique filled with women’s fashion, standout accessories and envy-inducing handbags isn’t the only common ground the women share. Will they heal? Written by Helen Hayes Award winning actress and writer of last season’s critically acclaimed Girls of Madison Street.
“Mental health awareness requires the bravery to find the inner strength to deal with your demons.” Iyona Blake
“It’s taken Iyona Blake seven turbulent years to transform Diagnosed from a one-woman play about a broken woman in a psych ward to a full vibrant village experience, and the investment of time and texture was well worth the wait.” DC Theater Arts
“Who needs this? You may wonder. But there’s a purpose to this madness. The drama draws on our sympathies to make us more aware of those around us who may be suffering far more than we know or suspect.” Falls Church News Press
“Blake’s goal with the production is to promote wellness, provide a safe space and break the stigma of mental health.”
Fairfax County Times
Girls of Madison Street
A tight-knit family of African American sisters confront hidden truths and well-kept secrets as they come together for their mother's funeral. Conflicts emerge, tensions flare, but they soon learn that the bonds of sisterhood know no bounds. A "Bold New Works for Intimate Stages" premiere from Helen Hayes Award Winner Iyona Blake.
“Helen Hayes Award-winner, Iyona Blake, has given us a love letter to sisters, family, and staying the course. One of the DMV’s most talented actors, singer sand playwrights, Blake has written a play that rings true—it is funny, heartbreaking, and offers hope for tomorrow. That’s quite a gift from this “Bold New Works” premiere from Creative Cauldron.” - MD Theatre Guide
“Blake creates a play that feels both dramatic and real, as it welcomes the humor, growth, or solace loved ones can often lend to the most challenging situations. Her writing truly excels in these moments, as she builds a foundation of sisterhood that comforts the sisters’ sorrows and revels in their triumphs.” - DC Metro Theater Arts
“The play, above all else, engages with the idea of family bond vs. personal identity, giving each sister her own emotional arc — underscored by change, growth, and self-knowledge over the course of two acts, often pivoting on painful or difficult memories or events.” - Falls Church News-Press
Blight Flight
Erica is a single, African American mother of four and lives in an urban community. After renting her row house for a few years, she is suddenly being displaced. Samantha, a Caucasian woman recently purchased the row houses next door with her family. As the two worlds come face to face, we will see how displacement, gentrification and racism impacts both families.
