Photos by Jason Ferenczy
Our Mission
Normalize helpful responses to sexual maltreatment survivors.
Our Method
Model those helpful responses through musical theater.
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The Isabel community teaches people how to support survivors of sexual maltreatment in daily life.
Isabel and the Runaway Train is a musical theater production that can come to life in your community through partnership with your local theatre.
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The Isabel script and score were written BY a survivor of sexual maltreatment FOR supporters of survivors of sexual maltreatment. Because we know that it’s hard to be helpful.
The creator of Isabel imagined the show in 2012 after being diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. She founded the Isabel community in 2018 in Austin, TX. Since then, Isabel has been produced twice in Austin, TX and once in San Angelo, TX. The show is available for license to community theaters.
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You can bring an Isabel production to your community virtually or in person. You can license our official Isabel footage and show it to your community, or you can connect us to your local theater to discuss licensing the script and score for an in - person production.
About Isabel
TESTIMONIALS
from isabel passengers (aka audience members)
“The opportunity to walk in [Isabel’s] shoes through this immersive theater experience was life-changing.”
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“I feel more comfortable discussing sexual [maltreatment] because I feel I can do so in a way that is more appropriate and respectful of survivors.” - Isabel Passenger
“I am already invested in improving and working on my mental health, and this was such a great boost and so validating to those with PTSD.” - Isabel Passenger
“It made a big and positive impression on my husband who’s been struggling with understanding the #MeToo movement for months now.” - Isabel Passenger
“The story and family dynamics in the show were virtually identical to the most difficult family [therapy] case I ever worked on.” - Isabel Passenger
“I felt like I better understood how a sexual [maltreatment] victim actually feels and goes through the steps of healing; not some overly dramatized tv version of a person, but how a real person would react and handle situations.” - Isabel Passenger
PLOT SUMMARY
ISABEL AND THE RUNAWAY TRAIN
This 10 - cast member show tells the story of a 16-year-old girl named Isabel who runs away from home and finds herself trapped on a magical train full of people who won't stop running - aka “The Runaway Train.”
Throughout the 2 - hour jazz / folk dramedy, we learn that Isabel is the only person on board who remembers her own name. It is up to her to stop the train and save the other passengers (including a Porter, several Choir Members, and a mysterious Writer who may or may not be dead).
However, the relationships between Isabel, the passengers and the evil Conductor turn out to be much more complicated than she originally thought. She soon discovers that in order to get off the train, she will have to take a hard look in the mirror and lean on her family to process an unaddressed history of trauma.
Learn to discuss sexual maltreatment, invest in your own mental health, and support sexual maltreatment survivors by bringing this show to life in your local theater.
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Production Support:
Official Isabel Script
Isabel Lead Sheets / Score (for live musicians)
Performance Backing Tracks / Sound Effect Tracks (for recorded music)
Practice Tracks (Original Cast Recordings, access for cast / leadership)
2022 ATX Premiere Footage (opportunity to screen this privately as a sponsor fundraiser)
Supplemental Support:
Two Virtual Visits from Composer/Playwright
Front of House Programming Guide
Official Branding, Marketing and Sales Materials, including sponsorship pitch deck templates.
Filming Rights can be negotiated for an additional fee.
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License our official Isabel footage and stream it for your community. This package includes access to the footage, a facilitator’s guide, and a marketing guide.