Here is a very short (and by no means exhaustive*) list of things that make me anxious:
Forced audience participation
Confrontation
Violence
Being brought on stage
Gore
Facing my own mortality and that of my loved ones
Being touched by strangers
Uncomfortable silences
Being unable to see
I list these not just because (un)afraid is about fear and what causes it, but because I had to confront all of these personal demons during the performance. And if you share any of these particular phobias, you may have to face them, too.

That's why it's always worthwhile to see a Neo-Futurist show more than once.
Each of the short plays is drawn from the performer's own life. In the performance I attended, the most affecting was Daniel McCoy's piece on homophobia and bullying. Couched in terms of a boxing match, McCoy attempted to repent for the times as a teen when he stood by and let other kids get bullied for their sexuality. While primarily wrapped up in a fear of physical confrontation, McCoy also deals with the fear of being different, the desperate need to be "us," rather than "them," and ultimately, the fear of a part of oneself that is too painful to admit. Powerful and disturbing stuff.
That was just one of four well-performed pieces.
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If you are the kind of person who is really uncomfortable being forced to go from audience member to participant, I encourage you to push through the discomfort and join the show. It is an amazing and challenging experience.
(un)afraid
Written and Performed by Jill Beckman, Cara Francis, Ricardo Gamboa, and Daniel McCoy
Directed by Rob Neill
Set and Prop Design: Liz Jenetopulos
Costume Design: Hunter Kaczorowski
Lighting Design/Technical direction: Lauren Parrish
Sound Design: Christopher Loar
Video Design: Adam Smith
Stage Manager: Laura Schlactmeyer
Producer: Jennie Miller
Minions: Jonathan Herzog, Mike Puckett, and Nicole Strawbridge
The Living Theatre
21 Clinton Street
Through November 6th
*An exhaustive list would have to include being buried or trapped, drowning, snakes, and zombies. Being trapped in a small space with snakes and zombies while it fills with water would probably cause my head to explode.
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