GRIEF BABY'S FIRST ROAD TRIP Makes Its NYC Debut At United Solo Festival This November
“How far would you go to feel those you've lost?” This is the central question of Maryland-based performer Adedana Ashebir's 70-minute monologue “Grief Baby's First Road
By: A.A. Cristi Oct. 30, 2024
“How far would you go to feel those you've lost?” This is the central question of Maryland-based performer Adedana Ashebir's 70-minute monologue “Grief Baby's First Road Trip.”
When Adedana loses her father on New Year's Day 2021, everyone tells her that he'll always be with her. But she doesn't feel him, at all. In search of him, she sets off on a road trip through the Southwest, where she finds someone else entirely.
“Grief Baby's First Road Trip” is about the good, the bad, the funny, and the unbelievable of Adedana Ashebir's first year (and first experience) of grief. The standup dramedy touches on comforting (and discomforting) grief advice, African dad parenting, and unexpected grief side effects (like becoming more attractive), all while centering her earnest question, “how do you still feel your loved ones after they're gone?”
“Losing my dad was my first experience losing someone I loved, and as I was moving through it, I felt shortchanged by how I saw grief portrayed in the media” says Ashebir. “My show highlights the deep yearning of grief, and also some of the truly unexpected funnier moments as well. The latter are my favorite parts of the show.”
“Grief Baby's First Road Trip” world premiered last July at the Capital Fringe Festival in Washington, D.C. The show earned a 4.5-star review from DC Theater Arts and now makes its New York debut. This is Ashebir's first one-woman show and she hopes her words helps and entertains those who've lost loved ones - and provides insight to those supporting loved ones in bereavement. Adedana continues, “I'm excited to perform ‘Grief Baby's First Road Trip' again, this time off-Broadway at the United Solo Festival! I hope the NYC and tri-state audience will appreciate the show.”
“Grief Baby's First Road Trip” is co-directed by Adedana Ashebir and Kia Davis, Adedana's former high school drama club teacher. Performances will be held at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street) at the following dates and times:
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Wednesday, November 13, 7:00pm
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Thursday, November 14, 8:30pm
Tickets can be purchased online for $52.50 (including fees). Updates on ASL interpretation will be posted to the show page.
About Adedana Ashebir
Adedana Ashebir is a writer, producer, and performer based in the great state/cult of Maryland.
In 2023, Adedana wrote, produced, performed, and world premiered her first one woman show “Grief Baby's First Road Trip” at the Capital Fringe Festival in Washington, D.C. The opening night performance received a 4.5-star review and a "Best of Fringe" designation from DC Theater Arts. She has performed at stand up and storytelling events in London (virtually), Nairobi, New Haven, New York, New Orleans, and Washington, D.C.
Adedana co-hosted the comedy/current events podcast “Afracanah” from 2016 through 2020. “Afracanah” received local and global acclaim, cited often on many “best-podcasts-in Africa/Kenya” lists. “Afracanah” had a listener reach of 50+ countries across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. Adedana participated alongside her co-host in three live shows (two in Nairobi and one in Lagos) and a TED Talk in Nairobi on diaspora storytelling.
Adedana would love to be the Ethiopian-American hybrid of all her tv/film/writing heroes but in the meantime she is focusing on slightly easier to attain goals like drinking enough water, cooking again, and getting back to daily morning yoga.
Adedana is a Helen Hayes Awards New Play Judge and recently served as a 2024 Theatre Washington mentor. Adedana is a graduate of Yale University and the Yale School of the Environment and is currently using neither of her environmental degrees - sorry Mom and Dad.
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