Donna Williams’ Blog

Ever the arty Autie

From Northcote to Burbank; a Dr Seuss style kid’s rock musical – Baloombawop!

November5

whirly twirl sml We have a small community show of our kids rock musical, Baloombawop this Saturday, 7th November 6pm at Jika Jika Community Hall, cnr Plant and Union Streets, in Northcote here in Melbourne, Australia.  Then a big leap with the next public performance of the show at the Missing Piece Theatre, Burbank, California (4:00 PM @ The Missing Piece Theatre 2811 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA, 91505, Burbank, California 91505) in January 2010.  Read the rest of this entry »

Footsteps of A Nobody on Halloween.

October31

We had an awesome Halloween night performing FOOTSTEPS OF A NOBODY at The Guild Theatre last night.  It was a good turnout, great ambiance and my heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed so much to the show – fellow producer, Harry Paternoster, of Walking Into Bars who co-produced the show with Aspinauts Players, Paul Spears who is both The Aspinauts drummer and technical manager doing the audio, arranging the stage, driving the trolley, Stuart Moore and Chris Samuel who are absolute gems and attended the shop and were the most wonderful ushers for the night, Anthony Julian who really rose to the occasion on the keyboards and provided us the seamless yet theatrical transitions from prose to song throughout the show, all the members of the band on the night for their musical and personal professionalism and being so damned fab to work with, the venues technition and supervisor who made it a great venue to work from, and to the wonderful audience who got so into the show, Rosemary Crossley, Chris Borthwick and Anne Mc Donald for the fab after show Halloween supper back in Brunswick.  THANK YOU.

Next, we take the show to Geelong West’s Woodbin Theatre on Jan 23rd 2010.

All future Aspinauts shows can be found at http://www.aspinauts.com

Warmly,
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

One-Woman Rock Musical; Footsteps of a Nobody, goes to the USA in 2010

September23

band wodonga best 4 sml 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

Photos of Donna Williams and The Aspinauts from Footsteps of a Nobody

September22

band wodonga best 6 sml I’ve made a slideshow from the photos from the shows of Footsteps of a Nobody.  Hope you enjoy it.

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

Inter-arts, Wodonga, Wonderland and The Aspinauts

September13

footsteps spencers 11 sml Just got back from doing the Footsteps of a Nobody show in Wodonga at the Wodonga Civic Centre.  It was hosted by Cooinda who did an incredible job flying 5 musos from Melbourne to Wodonga, sorting out all the equipment, theatre, ticketing, accommodation, transport, food, hospitality.  And the show was really well received with a good turnout.  Read the rest of this entry »

Events in Albury – Wodonga ; Rock musical Footsteps of a Nobody from the author of Nobody Nowhere

September2

FOOTSTEPS OF A NOBODY Sat 12th Sept, Wodonga Civic Centre, 106 Hovell St Wodonga,

Footsteps of a Nobody is a powerful one woman rock-musical from Donna Williams, author of the international bestseller, Nobody Nowhere; Autobiography of an Autistic Girl.  Musically supported by The Aspinauts and told through characterisations, gestural signing, evocative spoken word and song it traces Donna’s pivotal experiences from a meaning deaf, meaning blind feral child to life on the streets and on to her ultimate fight to claim a place of equality among others.

REVIEWS OF DONNA WILLIAMS’ WRITING:
THE NEW YORK TIMES: She allows us to understand our own perceptions as never before. PEOPLE MAGAZINE: By turns fascinating and harrowing.
WEEKEND REVIEW: Evocative, poetic, compelling, shocking, gut-wrenchingly moving.
DAILY TELEGRAPH: Powerful and unique.
MODE: Powerful enough to make one reassess what it means to be human.
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING: Extraordinarily gripping.
THE GLOBE AND MAIL: Deserves every superlative a reviewer can muster.

BOOKINGS: Ph: (02) 60564844 or EMAIL: cooindawodonga@optusnet.com.au COST: $15 concession $25 others.

TIME: 7.30pm for 8pm start (show runs 8-9pm and after the show there will be a discussion forum with Donna).

Event sponsored by Cooinda.

Disabled access available

Suitable for teens and adults

Instruments kindly supplied by Custom Music of Albury

To learn of all future shows please visit http://www.aspinauts.com

At The Guild Theatre; rock musical Footsteps of a Nobody from the author of Nobody Nowhere

August26

FOOTSTEPS OF A NOBODY Sat 31st Oct, The Guild Theatre, first floor, Union House, Melbourne University, Carlton, Victoria 3010

Footsteps of a Nobody is a powerful one woman rock-musical from Donna Williams, author of the international bestseller, Nobody Nowhere; Autobiography of an Autistic Girl. Through characterisations, gestural signing, evocative spoken word and song it traces Donna’s pivotal experiences from a meaning deaf, meaning blind feral child to life on the streets and on to her ultimate fight to claim a place of equality among others.

footsteps spencers band bw sml

REVIEWS OF DONNA WILLIAMS’ WRITING:
THE NEW YORK TIMES: She allows us to understand our own perceptions as never before. PEOPLE MAGAZINE: By turns fascinating and harrowing.
WEEKEND REVIEW: Evocative, poetic, compelling, shocking, gut-wrenchingly moving.
DAILY TELEGRAPH: Powerful and unique.
MODE: Powerful enough to make one reassess what it means to be human.
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING: Extraordinarily gripping.
THE GLOBE AND MAIL: Deserves every superlative a reviewer can muster.

BOOK ONLINE:  http://union.unimelb.edu.au/theatre
INQUIRIES: bookings@donnawilliams.net
Disabled access is available.
Show is suitable for teens and adults
Show runs 8-9pm.

For information on future shows visit http://www.aspinauts.com

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