I’m really buzzed at the news that I’ll get to perform our one-woman-musical, Footsteps of a Nobody, in the US in Jan 2010.  With musical support from a wonderful accomplished pianist, David Moscoe, it looks like I’ll be able to bring the show to Long Beach, LA and then I’ll fly on to New Jersey to perform it with the support of a second pianist.

“FOOTSTEPS OF A NOBODY is a powerful one woman rock-musical both written and performed by Donna Williams, author of the international best seller, Nobody Nowhere; Autobiography of an Autistic Girl . This is a unique opportunity to witness the author herself perform a story that has changed the lives of millions. Through vibrant song, characterisations, gestural signing, evocative spoken word, Donna takes us on a journey from a seemingly deaf, psychotic, ’feral’ child to life on the streets and ultimately on to her fight for equality among others”.

REVIEWS OF DONNA WILLIAMS’ WRITING:

She allows us to understand our own perceptions as never before. NEW YORK TIMES
Evocative, poetic, compelling, shocking, gut wrenchingly moving. WEEKEND REVIEW
Deserves every superlative a reviewer can muster. THE GLOBE AND MAIL
Powerful enough to make one reassess what it means to be human. MODE
By turns fascinating and harrowing. PEOPLE MAGAZINE.

UPDATE 7th Dec 2009.

It’s 4 weeks to the flight, a 16 hr flight to LA where I had autism lectures and two performances of Footsteps of a Nobody and a performance of Baloombawop.  Then I was to be flying on to New Jersey to do another performance of Footsteps of a Nobody before a 25 hr flight back to Melbourne.

But it’s 7th Dec and after 3 months of Bronchitis, I’m still coughing yellow muck.  I have only today and tomorrow before antibiotic course number 3 (this time for antibiotic resistant infections so its an end of the line antibiotic) runs out.   The infections are presently all low level but the problem is that on a plane I’ll get more run down than 3 months with bronchitis has already made me, and be simultaneously exposed to 16 hrs of other passenger’s bugs going out and 25 hours of passenger’s bugs coming back.  Plus I couldn’t get Swine Flu vaccination because I’ve been ill.  I’ve been waiting to get better enough to get it.  This Wednesday my blood tests will come back its fairly possible the blood tests will say I’m back in the lap of primary immune deficiencies again after an 8 year reprieve from the immune deficiencies I likely had since 6 months old.

I had to decide that I can’t fly.  I feel I’d be risking further antibiotic resistant infections, possible pnuemonia and I’d be in a seriously at risk category for Swine Flu.  Immune deficiency but essentially it makes the body a walk in for infections.  Until it is again under control I’m meant to stay away from crowds, including off planes.  It’s been really hard for me to accept.  It’s been really bad news for me and I’m trying not to be too scared, just live a ‘normal’ life in between taking medication, coughing and sleeping and remember I’m still me, I’ll always still be me.

Sorry to let any of you down.  I’ll still be making a wonderful video presentation of the talks I’d have given which I hope will air at the events and there’ll be DVD of a performance of Footsteps of a Nobody for the audiences to see.

You can see pics from the show here.

Donna Williams, Dip Ed, BA Hons.
Author, artist, singer-songwriter, screenwriter.
Autism consultant and public speaker.

http://www.myspace.com/nobodynowherethefilm
http://www.donnawilliams.net
http://www.aspinauts.com