Abortion Road Trip: Protester Coverage

Rachel Messbauer
Aug 2, 2017
5 min read

On July 7th, the opening night of Theatre Prometheus' Capital Fringe Festival production, Abortion Road Trip, anti-choice protesters gathered outside of the Logan Fringe Arts Space. Their megaphone-amplified shouting could be clearly heard in the small theatre, but nevertheless, the show went on.

Then, the protesters threatened to return for every subsequent performance, and the DC community leaped into action. Curated below are highlights from the DC community's response of support and solidarity towards Theatre Prometheus and the cast and crew of Abortion Road Trip.

Theatre Prometheus' original statement, 7/7/17:

"Hello friends. As some of you have heard, our 2017 Capital Fringe show “Abortion Road Trip” has attracted some pretty nasty, sometimes aggressive anti-choice protesters.

They are not allowed into the Logan Fringe Arts Space, but they are stationed directly outside with megaphones and signs and have been aggressive towards audiences making their way to and from the space.

Here’s where we’re at right now:

1. Starting with the 11am performance on Saturday the 8th, Prometheus staff will be on site to escort people in and out of the Logan Fringe Arts Space before and after every show. At our Saturday show, you’ll recognize us by the red sashes across our shirts. We’re ordering vests now that we’ll wear at the later shows. We will post pictures of these soon so that you’ll know what to look for.

2. A few people have already volunteered to help escort audiences and visitors. Thank you so much for your quick response. Please email us at prometheusvolunteers@gmail.com and we can organize these efforts together.

3. Prometheus and Fringe both request that we all keep things civil and de-escalated. Please don’t engage with the protesters, even (especially) if they single you out. Ignoring them takes the wind out of their sails, and keeps things less disruptive for all of us.

We’ll be providing updates as the situation develops and as we get better organized. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email theatreprometheus@gmail.com or prometheusvolunteers@gmail.com and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

We are so proud of “Abortion Road Trip.” We think its message is urgent, relevant, and needed – and the presence of these protesters only affirms our belief.

We chose this play because it’s time for a new narrative about abortion – a narrative that these protesters reject. Abortion is not shameful. It doesn’t have to be tragic. It doesn’t have to be “the most difficult choice a person can make.”

Sometimes it can be funny.

Sometimes it can be serious.

Sometimes the choice is easy, or nuanced, or exactly right.

Our power as artists lies in the choices we make about the stories we want to tell. We’re proud to be telling this one."

As mentioned in the press:

DC Theatre Scene Interview with Director Tracey Erbacher: "We had not even gotten home from opening night when we were inundated with responses from the community asking 'how can we help?' It has just been incredible. We are really fortunate to be a part of such an amazing community. We’ve had volunteer escorts forming a peaceful barrier between the protesters and anybody who is trying to get into Fringe or just pass on the sidewalk without getting shouted at by these people with megaphones. The escorts sign an agreement that they won’t in any way interact with the protesters. That’s not what we’re here for. It’s just to be a peaceful barrier to make it easier for people to access Fringe."

MD Theatre Guide review: "We drove up in our car and were faced with huge blown up signs of fetuses, babies, and a man on a megaphone screaming things at a couple of peaceful women in simple red sashes who blocked them. This isn’t an account of the March for Life protests, this was outside a Capital Fringe production. The production was Theatre Prometheus’ 'Abortion Road Trip.' [...] The protests did little to quell theatregoers, in fact the house was nearly three-quarters full on a Saturday morning. No small feat. [Director Tracey] Erbacher described her decision to produce this play for the Capital Fringe Festival occurred after the recent election and determined to do something that would help. 'This play isn’t about me or Theatre Prometheus. This play is about the people who are pregnant and who don’t want to be… We chose this play because it’s time for a new narrative about abortion.'"

DC Theatre Scene review: "As an extra mention, when a piece of art brings two pro-life protesters to the gates of DC’s Capital Fringe, I hope it is worn as a badge of honor. Special props to all the artists involved for carrying on despite the occasional overlap of the protesters’ megaphones. While distracting, this reviewer felt the need to specially thank the brave women who pushed forward with their performance despite the ever-present vitriol outside. It is difficult to perform with hecklers; it is even more difficult when those hecklers spout their hatred at every woman involved in the production, on stage and off. This is, ultimately, the kind of show that we wish the protesting duo would watch, and in turn perhaps open a meaningful dialogue by humanizing the living, breathing people."

The Washington Post review: "'Abortion Road Trip' is a rare thing: It’s a zippy, feel-good comedy that has managed to attract protesters before every performance... [T]he show’s cast [...] infuse their characters with warmth and empathy. As the antiabortion activists yelling “You suck,” and “You’re amoral” into a megaphone remind us, those qualities are often in short supply when it comes to this issue."

DCist review: "After my showing ended, a Fringe staffer told the audience that anti-abortion protesters outside Logan Fringe Arts Space had been yelling at attendees as they walked in. It appears the protesters plan to continue throughout the festival. Regardless of your stance on abortion, though, the show is very much worth seeing."

Washington City Paper review, with subheadline Anti-choice protesters showed up to performances of this Fringe play, but that didn't stop people from showing up to see it: "Of course, whenever women talk openly about abortion, controversy follows close behind. On July 7, the play’s opening night, at least two anti-choice protesters showed up at the venue’s entrance to harass theater-goers as they filed in to see the show. After the play ended, Capitol Fringe Festival CEO and founder Julianne Brienza told the audience that the protesters had claimed they would show up every day during the show’s run. It’s a shame that protesters tried to disrupt the show that evening, and that they apparently plan to do so again. But it would be an even bigger shame if their presence dissuaded anyone from seeing this play. It’s well-paced, well-written, and worth it."