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Who am I?

I grew up in Kalamazoo, MI and Chicago, IL then received my BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of The Arts. I performed on stages such as The Goodman Theatre, The Sundance Theatre Lab in Utah, The LA Fringe Fest, The Chicago Lyric Opera, and more. As a playwright, my first play was a one-woman show performed in Los Angeles, called Constantly Distracted featuring 10 different characters. I wrote a 2-person play called Confetti Bayou: The Last Interview with Janis Joplin, playing Janis Joplin. This play, 1225 Shelby Road, is my third play, and a return to the solo play format. Throughout my stage career, I also became an accomplished Voice-Over actress, whose work includes commercials, games, & animation. The highlight of my VO career has been voicing "Mai" in Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender, and I travel to comic-cons all year round to meet fans of the show. In 2016, I expanded my passion for helping others tell their own stories by getting my master’s in social work (LMSW) and am currently a practicing therapist in Kalamazoo, MI. www.cricketleigh.com

What am I planning to make?

Set in the small, rural town of “Shelby”, this 60-minute solo show begins after a recent school shooting that took place at the high school at 1225 Shelby Road. This project will explore the internal world of the shooter, delving into the psychological, social, and environmental factors that can lead to such acts of violence. It challenges the audience to confront uncomfortable truths and consider the multifaceted reasons behind these actions, asking themselves if it could be their child? I will equally explore how the people affected by this type of tragedy, including the parents, and people in the town of Shelby to thoughtfully highlight the desperation and pain from within their community after such violence occurs. The approach to this piece is community-oriented, calling on a community of artists and mental health advocates to engage with the questions posed in the piece and discuss solutions together. School shootings represent a tragic and pervasive problem that affects communities across the United States. This project directly tackles this issue by using the medium of theatre to provoke thought, empathy, and action. It leverages storytelling and emotional engagement to challenge existing beliefs and spark discussions that could lead to change. For me, it is imperative that this play not only highlight the urgency of the issues of school safety, mental health and gun violence but also offer a glimmer of hope and pathways to change.

Below are some images, card deck slides and a writing “tension building” timeline to show what assisted me as I put this piece together:

(partial) Character Tension timeline

Where did this project come from? What is the history of the Project?

I literally dreamt this idea. And then I ignored it. And then I kept dreaming about it, it tugged at me, so I felt like I had to listen. I finally just ordered every book I could about school shootings, by authors from all different backgrounds. I took notes, let the details sink in, then I homed in on books by parents or families of the victims and perpetrators, and I researched scholarly articles about the subject. After some time, I had only one thing I KNEW I wanted to understand: Could the shooter also be seen as a victim? As a clinically trained social worker, it was vital for me to give the character of the shooter a voice in the play so I could try to understand how this tragedy can happen, and so maybe the world could too. My main topics surrounding this play are adolescence, gun violence and mental health and these are all things I work with in my field. I am able to bring both my acting and social work skills to the table in this piece, which is why I decided to write it.

In Summer, 2025 I was awarded the (KADI) Kalamazoo Artistic Development Initiative Grant for $5,000 to produce this play in Kalamazoo, MI and I am excited to mount the premiere this fall, 2026! This grant is a matching grant, so I must match the grant by raising $5,000 of my own funds.

Here is my progress with the show as of today:

Financial (Grant-Matching) progress:
- Kickstarter launches Mid-April 2026
- Private donations: $500 raised so far
- In Kind donations: N/A
- Can deduct $2500 from budget if I forgo the Projection System wanted for the show
Creative progress:
- I read the play as a staged reading at Piven Theatre workshop in Chicago this past November to a wonderful audience of actors, directors and dramaturgs. A feedback session was held afterward where notes for my next draft were acquired and the feedback was extremely positive, stating the play will be a “must-see”, full of “timely” themes, a “beautiful” performance and stating the writing is full of “amazing characters”.
- After those notes and working with a local WMU Dramaturg, I just finished my 3rd draft of the play and feel I am ready to begin the production phase. The run time is at 60 minutes, which was my goal.

What’s my plan or schedule?

My Production Schedule is below:

May 2026-

Secure Funding and Resources: Apply for grants from arts and cultural organizations. Seek sponsorships from local businesses, mental health organizations and gun safety organizations. Hire the director.
Hire the light/sound technician.
Look at rental estimates from the small theatres (75-150 seats) in Kalamazoo, MI where the play will run. Secure the performance venue and show dates.

July-Aug. 2026-

Develop marketing materials related to the show on Canva. Begin social media phase part 1: (Posting about the show, production team or theatre space on my Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, & YouTube.)
Get printing estimates for postcards to mail and programs for show. (Programs will include a note from me, educational/mental health resources, and a trigger warning for the audience, due to the nature of the story.)
Curate a “post-show talk”, held after a few of the performances, where I will share insights with the community about the creative process, the thematic elements of the play, and engage in discussions about the mental health topics addressed in the play.
Choose ticket platform to utilize for show.

Aug-Sept. 2026-

Begin social media phase part 2 of social media marketing campaign. Share behind-the-scenes footage and sneak peeks of the rehearsal process to generate buzz and excitement.
Engage with local media and community organizations to promote the show.

September 2026-

Begin rehearsals with director, focusing on blocking, character development, and delivery.
Finalize all production elements, including confirming theatre rental dates, set construction and technical rehearsals. Ensure costumes and props are ready, and the production team is fully briefed and prepared for the show.

October 2026- (specific dates TBA)

Conduct technical rehearsals to fine-tune lighting, sound, and any multimedia elements.
Open the show at venue in Kalamazoo. Run is dependent on theatre rentals but potentially either 1) One weeknight for 4 consecutive weeks, or 2) One weekend for 2-4 consecutive weekends.
Ensure the presence of mental health professionals for post-show discussions and audience support.

November 2026-

Collect audience feedback and reviews.
Analyze the impact of the show and identify areas for improvement.

What’s my budget?

Below is the budget, subject to small changes. The grant award is 5K, and I am raising 5K to match a total budget of 10K to produce the play.

Why do I care and why should you?

I believe in the underdog. I root for them and I write for them because I feel like one myself. I may appear to fit in, but I will always feel like a “weirdo” or “different”. So, exploring this piece has been illuminating and taught me a lot about myself and about young people and their current struggles.

I care about this piece because theatre like this can save lives. Watching it with an open mind and heart, speaking to your own kids differently and advocating for them with others can potentially protect them from themselves and from hurting others. It is rebellious to make this work; it is necessary; it is raw & it is terrifying. So, I am committed to making it happen. That is why the Arts Council Grant of Kalamazoo (ACGK) saw fit to award it a grant to see it happen.

Will you please join us in funding the rest of this project so the world can see this piece and witness the honest storytelling, communal failures, and the truths about connection, alienation, redemption and HOPE?

Thank you,

Cricket

1225 SHELBY ROAD

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