(Iowa City, IA) In an era in which matters of reproductive health can be highly political and polarizing, Chalk — a dance theater performance weaving stories of pregnancy loss and infertility premiering at The James Theater in Iowa City March 20-23, 2026 — focuses on commonality and shared humanity.
Created and performed by dancer/choreographer Kristin Marrs (Associate Professor of Instruction, University of Iowa) and theater artist Anne Marie Nest, Chalk lays bare the intensity, complexity and absurdity of the artists’ struggles through miscarriages and extreme medical interventions, transforming private grief into collective understanding.
As part of the performance, a public call was made for audio recordings of people’s experience with infertility. Chalk’s producers were flooded with responses, with a common theme of feeling isolated in what is actually a very common experience. As interviewee Jessie Cole Santala said, “I felt SO alone after my first miscarriage. I didn’t know anyone who had one. Turns out I knew a lot of people who had, but it’s just not something people talk about.” Says Chalk co-creator Marrs, "While I knew the statistics for rates of miscarriage, it wasn't until I had my own repeated losses that I comprehended the depth of the devastation.”
“My hope is that Chalk will provide women and their partners with a space to tell their own stories,” says Marrs. “And that it will provide their communities with a willingness to hear them."
FREE post-performance events:
Saturday, March 21- Director Mare Trevathan in conversation with the performers about the creation of Chalk
Sunday, March 22 - Grief Circle geared toward those who have experienced pregnancy or child loss, led by death doula kimberly yaeger-arjes. **Please RSVP for the free Sunday 4pm session if you plan to attend**
Monday, March 23 - Panel discussion with Sociologist Dr. Mary Noonan,visual artist and former midwife Monica Basile, and No Foot Too Small Director of Family Support Ali Maahs
Tuesday, March 24 - Infertility and miscarriage specialists Dr. Abey Eapen and Dr. Stacey Pawlak
Production Team
Co-creators and performers: Kristin Marrs, Anne Marie Nest
Director: Mare Trevathan
Lighting Designer: Peggy Mead-Finizio
Props Design/Stage Manager: Mariana Tejada
Sound Designer: Ramin Roshandel
Producer: Anne Marie Nest
Marketing Research Assistants: Avery Provorse and Tyler Phi
The James Theater
213 N Gilbert St, Iowa City, IA
March 21 - 24, 2026 | 7:30pm Sat, Mon, Tue | 2pm Sunday
$10 Student | $25 General Admission