Lyena Strelkoff
22 years ago, lifelong dancer Lyena Strelkoff experienced a life-changing spinal cord injury. At first, the idea of telling her story to others sounded far-fetched to her – Lyena was still learning a new life with paralysis and all the complications it entailed, physically and emotionally.
In 2004, she turned her experiences into a full-length one-woman play: Caterpillar Soup. Over the past two decades, the show has moved and impacted audiences across America.
“During the original run, the audiences responses were a kind of medicine. The audience experiencing the transformation made what I was going through worth it.”
The metamorphosis – pain, transformation, and hope – that is at the core of Caterpillar Soup will continue to impact audiences this month as the play comes home to Santa Monica for 20th anniversary performances that will benefit Help Hope Live in Lyena’s honor.
“Help Hope Live has been my fundraising partner since 2003.”
Aging with paralysis means taking on both anticipated and unexpected out-of-pocket medical costs, from pain management to a power chair to home modifications. Fundraising efforts throughout the year, including these benefit performances, will contribute to Lyena’s ability to continue living independently and impacting the lives of others.
“Adverse circumstances of any kind carry this transformative potential. How do we say yes to that potential?”
