If you ask us to describe the new off-Broadway play ‘She Takes Flight’, we’d say it’s like coming home after a long day, finally taking off your bra, getting into those comfy sweats/pajamas to sit on the couch and binge-watch your fave series on-demand with a glass of wine in one hand while sticking your middle finger up in the air to the fascism that rages on outside. Now that you’re acquainted with the vibe, let’s get familiar with this play!
Directed by Kelly O’Donnell (Connecticut Critics Circle Award-winner, Flux Theatre Ensemble), ‘She Takes Flight’ is a deeply personal exploration of aging, body image, motherhood, loss, rage, identity, resilience—and joy. Drawing from their lived experiences, performers Sora Baek, Cindy Keiter, Gabriela Kohen, Adina Taubman, and Susan Ward shine a spotlight on stories rarely told with such unflinching honesty and unapologetic humor.
Presented by the Chrysalis Theatre Company, and performed on stage at the Chain Theatre in NYC from May 15 – June 8, 2025, the play candidly addresses challenges such as coping with aging and body image, caring for aging parents, and evolving relationships with motherhood. Balancing humor and heartbreak, ‘She Takes Flight’ offers narratives that reflect the diverse experiences of women at different life stages. Its multi-generational appeal resonates with both emerging young women and those from preceding generations, fostering a collective reflection on the evolving journey of womanhood.
From singing camp songs about “titty balls” to confronting generational trauma, from embracing menopause to navigating abortion bans, ‘She Takes Flight’ is as timely as it is timeless. It offers a rare, full-bodied narrative arc to women often overlooked in mainstream media—reminding us all of the urgency and beauty of telling your story before it’s too late.
The play is ultimately a celebration of survival, connection, truth-telling, and sisterhood. It’s about taking flight—not despite our burdens, but because of them. As the ensemble were preparing to take flight for their performance run, we had the opportunity to find out from each of them the importance of a play like this right now, and what they hope especially other women in middle age
How did the idea for this play come about, and can you share any specific stories or anecdotes that became the catalyst for it all coming together?
Adina Taubman: After the isolation of the pandemic, working on my solo show and making audition self-tapes in my apartment for several years, I found myself longing for a community, a place to create theater with other like-minded artists, and I felt a particularly strong need to do this with a group of women.
In the fall of 2023, I asked Sora Baek, Cindy Keiter, Gabriela Kohen, and Susan Ward, all of whom have created and performed their own solo shows, if they’d like to join me to devise an ensemble play about the challenges we face as women in the middle of our lives.
Each week, we brought in writing to share with the group. We listened. We held space for each other. We gave constructive feedback and encouragement. And we built trust and connection. It’s been a total joy and an honor to work with them. They shared their experiences, their challenges, and their triumphs bravely and without hesitation. I’m so grateful to each of them. Their talent and generosity has inspired me. They give me hope.
What do you want women between the ages of 40-60 to take to heart after watching a performance? What message do you hope will stay in their mind?
Adina Taubman: I want women in midlife who see this show and gain greater empathy for their own struggles, greater self acceptance, to appreciate how far they’ve come, and to know that there’s still time to do all they’ve been wanting to do in their lives. I’d like them to feel inspired and empowered to speak their own truths. Whether it’s to a friend, a family member, in a journal, join a grassroots movement—any way they feel most comfortable expressing. I hope they feel encouraged to use their voices. This is no time to be silent.
We don’t often see such a variety of female experiences on screen or on stage, leading to a cultural “erasure”, if you will, of women over a certain age. Why was it important to you to explore this issue in such a bold and engaging way?
Susan Ward: I was born bold and engaging. I don’t know any other way to be. Society has not dimmed my light. I have been lucky enough by hook or by crook to live the life that was right for me. It may not have turned out the way I imagined as a child but I’m glad I’ve had every single wild and crazy experience that I’ve had. And lots of therapy.
In this show, I share myself as I am. My writing is for me. If hearing it touches or helps other women/people, all the better. Co-creating ‘She Takes Flight’ has been an arduous and healing experience and one I will never forget.
How do you all know each other, and what did you bond over in terms of the play’s themes?
Gabriela Kohen: I met Adina in the early 90s when we were at the American Conservatory Theater, MFA program in San Francisco. We were both in our 20s. I remember we had lunch together that first day, and we have been friends every since. It has been remarkable to have had her as a friend for 30-plus years. We witnessed each other grow up, have children, and become who we are now, as people and as artists.
We got to accompany each other through motherhood, and all of the various life changes. I met the other cast members through Adina. What has been incredible is the way in which we have created such a safe space to share our stories. We really influenced each other in terms of the themes that emerged. Somebody would write about a particular experience, and it was almost like a free association.
It would spark a memory in someone else who would then write about that theme. Many of our stories were very personal, raw…sometimes based on a traumatic experience. There was so much support and care…a place of true healing and containment. We also laughed a bunch too. A very special and unique experience.
Motherhood, menopause, aging, loss, and changing bodies are still such taboo topics in so many ways. Why is it important for young women especially to see empowering stories about older women?
Gabriela Kohen: Younger women could take comfort and courage from witnessing stories from older women. There is a freedom and ease that comes with age. So much of my youth was spent trying to please people, to get external validation. I think growing up is hard. Figuring out who you are, and who to love, and what to do…is all hard.
There is a wisdom and strength that comes from having grappled with life’s big decisions. There aren’t many spaces where young women can hear such stories, and learn from them. Ultimately this play is about self-acceptance–and you can see how each one of us goes through an often difficult, sometimes hilarious journey to get there.
Humor is also a key tool in sharing these experiences in the play. How can laughter become a way to engage audiences about a serious topic? AND The concept of women over 40 “not giving a f***” feels very relevant, not only in our political times, but also on a larger socio-cultural level. Can you share a bit more about how ‘She Takes Flight’ incorporates this idea on stage and in the story?
Cindy Keiter: Humor has always been a part of me writing materials in my solo work and in this piece for sure. I do get serious and even heavy at moments but I’m generally a kooky personality anyway and I try to use it to my advantage with this ensemble.
Humor helps lighten the load of some really serious emotions being expressed and is universal to all humanity regardless of race, creed, color, sexual identity or language that is spoken. It is, I think, one of the cool things about being human.
‘She Takes Flight’ incorporates the relevancy of women of all ages. I am hoping we have a good response from the 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s. 60’s, 70’s and 80’s on up. Whoever comes to this play should be able to relate to what we are putting up on stage.
Adina first asking us to join her in this journey is really hitting a universal theme that is so prominent in this divisive and quite frankly authoritarian world in which I never thought I would experience as a middle aged (now senior citizen-I’m the oldest, 67) in America today.
This administration and the threat to our democracy is unconscionable. I’m very happy to get up and let my voice be heard, whether people agree with me or not. Being the older, gay, female actor in the bunch, here I am!
What were the most challenging aspects of putting this performance together?
Sora Baek: The play explored deeply personal and emotional themes like body image, aging, motherhood, and identity. When we first got together, most of us were total strangers, which made opening up about these topics pretty intimidating. But what made it work was the trust we built almost immediately. Everyone brought so much care, respect, and openness to the process, which made opening up much easier and even enjoyable. I’m incredibly proud of this beautiful show we created together.
The female gaze vs the male gaze has become something audiences are much more aware of. Can you talk about the importance of the female gaze on stage and how this was incorporated into ‘She Takes Flight’?
Sora Baek: What first drew me to ‘She Takes Flight’ was the fact that it brought together an incredible group of female-identifying writer/performers over 40—all in one room. That alone felt rare and powerful. It isn’t just a story about women; it’s a raw, unfiltered look at the world through the eyes of brutally honest women- placing the female gaze front and center. That perspective has been at the heart of creating this incredibly courageous show, which makes ‘She Takes Flight’ so much more unique and powerful.
What do you want women between the ages of 40-60 to take to heart after watching a performance? What message do you hope will stay in their mind?
Adina Taubman: I want women in midlife who see this show gain greater empathy for their own struggles, greater self acceptance to appreciate how far they’ve come, and to know that there’s still time to do all they’ve been wanting to do in their lives. I’d like them to feel inspired and empowered to speak their own truths.
Whether it’s to a friend, a family member, in a journal, join a grassroots movement—any way they feel most comfortable expressing. I hope they feel encouraged to use their voices. This is no time to be silent.
If you are in NYC in May and June, buy a ticket to go and see ‘She Takes Flight’ at the Chain Theatre. Go behind-the-scenes of the play by follow Chrysalis Theatre on Facebook and Instagram.
