Ashland Fringe Presents: Aaand…BLACKOUT!

After a lifetime of ”Neurotypical Drag,” comedic actress Kerri Van Auken is dropping the act. Following a late-in-life AuDHD diagnosis, she is attempting her first performance without her autistic masks. But unmasking isn’t just a costume change—it’s a high-stakes negotiation with a nervous system that has spent years shutting down to stay safe.

In this visceral, multi-media comedy, Kerri deconstructs the survival layers she built to navigate a world not designed for her. From high-energy live characters to the heavy-duty ”masks” of alcohol, fantasy, and deep escapism, the show explores the internal feeling-suppressors and the jarring reality of syncope (fainting) and blackouts.

This is a journey into the sanctuary of the mind. It’s for anyone who finds eye contact impossible and is ready to prioritize the quiet power of being comfortable in their own brain over the room’s expectations.

This show is 18+ only.