Media Content:
Press Release
From Near Death Experience to Celtic Irish Cabaret: a true story of survival far from home beating all odds.
Ascending Aortic Dissection Survivor tells story of survival and hope with musical audio drama featuring Celtic music after emergency open heart surgery alone in Ireland, 5000 miles from home in 2019.
SEATTLE, WA – January 18, 2024 – Broken Wide Open, having premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023, is coming to the West of Lenin theatre venue in Seattle, telling the true story of Shana Pennington-Baird who survived a life-threatening ascending aortic aneurysm rupture while traveling alone in Ireland in 2019. Surviving a “triple A” is rare. Her surgeon did not expect her to survive the ambulance ride to the hospital or the 12-hour emergency open heart surgery to implant a mechanical valve.
This is a highly dangerous condition and incredibly life threatening. Recently the Netflix movie Tik, Tik Boom brought some attention to Jonathan Larson (the composer of the musical RENT) who died of aortic dissection. John Ritter, the actor from Three’s Company, died of aortic dissection. And rarely known, Lucile Ball also died of an aortic dissection following surgery to repair her first dissection. Aortic dissection is often fatal and happy stories are few and far between. The main cause for fatalities is misdiagnosis. In Broken Wide Open, the quick diagnosis of this rare condition 5,000 miles from home saved Shana’s life.
“I felt fine the day before it happened,” said Pennington-Baird. “I hiked 5 miles at Giant’s Causeway. There had been a tiny popping sensation in my chest almost three weeks before. That was followed by some heart burn-like symptoms. When I got to my Air BnB in Dingle in 2019, all the color leached out of the world and I knew something was very, very wrong.”
Upon returning to Seattle, Shana was asked by surgeons, doctors, nurses and med techs about her Ireland health adventure. For the next three months, Shana was asked repeatedly by medical professionals if she was writing down these stories to share. They were funny, informative and potentially lifesaving for others in the midst of an aortic health event.
“The hospital in Cork, Ireland was different than the US, but really great,” says Pennington-Baird when asked about the difference between Ireland the US hospitals, “We were served tea four times a day by tea cart. It was not do you want tea… it was ‘Here’s your tea. Do you want milk and wouldja be having one or two sugars?’”
This hour-long musical story includes ten songs and forty minutes of comedic and dramatic narrative including a 3-person Celtic band. This poignant and hysterical show takes the listener through the harrowing and terrifying experience of almost dying alone and what it took to get back home to Seattle.
This is the first solo work for Shana Pennington-Baird (performer/vocals/bodhrán), who has over 30 years of professional theatre experience, including the Bathhouse Theatre under Arne Zaslove, the 5th Ave Musical Theatre, Cabaret Productions, Seattle Shakespeare Festival, Oregon Cabaret. In addition, the creative team has extensive experience in theatre: David Koch (director) has produced shows in the Seattle-area for thirty years, including running the Crepe de Paris and Cabaret Productions. Robertson Witmer (sound design, music composition, concertina, accordion) has sound designed productions for the Seattle Opera, Seattle Shakespeare Festival, ACT Theatre in addition to performing with the local Seattle music group Awesome. Dave Pascal (bass, mastering, music sound design) currently plays electric and acoustic basses with Red Fish Blue Fish, The Jazz Police, and the Scott Lindenmuth Group. Other musicians include Greg Fulton, guitar.
Broken Wide Open will open on Thursday, March 7 running through Sunday, March 10, 2024 at West of Lenin in Seattle, WA.
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Press Release (2023)
Project Overview
In August of 2019, Shana Pennington-Baird found herself in Dingle, Ireland, traveling alone, when she had a major health emergency. During the course of this one-hour musical show, Shana will take you on a journey of aortic dissection diagnosis, emergency open-heart surgery, recovery and recuperation 5,000 miles from home. Broken Wide Open is a story about survival and resilience. A type-A aortic dissection, which is what Shana suffered, is where the aorta tears, causing immediate internal bleeding. This is a highly dangerous condition and incredibly life threatening. Recently the Netflix movie Tik, Tik Boom highlighted the aortic dissection death of Jonathan Larson. John Ritter, the actor from Three’s Company, died of aortic dissection. Rarely known, Lucile Ball also died of an aortic dissection following surgery to repair her first dissection. While rare, aortic dissection is often fatal and happy stories are few and far between. The main cause for fatalities is misdiagnosis. In Broken Wide Open, the quick diagnosis of this rare condition 5,000 miles from home saved Shana’s life.
Due to the pandemic, Broken Wide Open’s plans to produce a stage show were cut short and the idea to create an audio drama offered the artistic team the amazing ability to get this story in the physical homes of those who need it most – heart dissection survivors, those waiting for surgery and those in hospitals.
The stage show of Broken Wide Open in Seattle in a small venue will bring the joy of live music, the visuals of the Irish countryside and professional vocals of Shana Pennington-Baird performing the music of Cathie Ryan, Stephen Sondheim and Bill Radke (KUOW, Seattle). The first half of the show is the story, with ten songs sung by Shana Pennington-Baird. Following intermission, the live Irish band will perform a full 45-minute set of Irish Celtic tunes while Shana joins them on the traditional Irish drum, a bodhrán. The dates are not set at this point for the co- production.
The tour of Broken Wide Open in Edinburgh (as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Fest 2023) and then to Cork, Ireland for one weekend is a beautiful way to complete the circle and let the story come back to the place where it all happened. The Edinburgh Fringe Fest has a large attendance and will serve to continue the hopeful message that it is possible to thrive after a life- threatening emergency far from home.
Collaborations:
Broken Wide Open will collaborate with Aortic Hope, Mended Hearts, Adam Pick (HeartValveSurgery.com) and the John Ritter Foundation. In addition to working with these non- profit groups to reach heart patients, we will also reach out directly to HR/cardiology departments in major cities for all fifty states, the UK and Ireland to distribute free copies of the audio drama. Our methods for contacting the hospitals will be calling directly to their human resources departments to ask in advance. Then, once we have acceptance from the hospitals, we will mail out cards with physical codes, so that they can easily give them to patients. Patients can then go online and enter the codes to access the free audio drama. For our non-profit partners, we will email codes they can distribute to their members and donors.
This show serves to remind all of us to go to the doctor if we feel something is off. It helps to remind medical professionals to perform a CAT scan of the aorta when there is fluid around the heart. Awareness saves lives. In addition, when there are survivors, often they are disabled and feel apart from society. Broken Wide Open, written and performed by a dissection survivor, shares hope to all survivors after major heart surgery. It adds humor and provides deep empathy to anyone facing a life-changing diagnosis. It tells the story from her point of view and from her family’s point of view, including her eight-year-old daughter who was 5,000 miles away from her mom while all of this was happening.
Who:
Key Artistic Personnel:
Shana Pennington-Baird – playwright/narrator/vocals/bodhrán/development/marketing
David Koch – director/back-up vocals
Rob Witmer – sound design/music coordination/concertina/accordion/penny whistle
Dave Pascal – bass/mastering
Greg Fulton – guitar
Jeff Caldwell- music director/piano
Brandon Vance – fiddle
Chris Monroe – drums
Shana Pennington-Baird (performer/playwright/bodhrán) has been working in the Pacific Northwest theatre scene for twenty-seven years. Shana is the director/founder of the Seattle Voice Academy and has narrated over 40 audiobook titles (under various names), national ad campaigns and countless voiceover gigs for corporate clients. Shana’s voiceover clients include Microsoft, Verizon, JP Morgan Wealth Management, Chase Bank, Keen, Tonie Box, the Seattle Channel, South Lake Union Chamber, Audible.com, Mountain Credit Union, Impossible Acoustic, and more. Shana’s performance credits include work at the Bathhouse Theatre under Arne Zaslove, 10-years with Cabaret Productions, the 5th Ave Musical Theatre, Oregon Cabaret, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Civic Light Opera, Okoboji Summer Theatre, and Book-It Repertory.
David Hunter Koch (director) began his performing career as a singer, musician and bandleader, performing in various ensembles throughout the West coast and Canada and as an opening act for comedian Steve Martin, the Dave Brubeck Quartet and jazz legend, Jon Hendricks. Since 1979, he’s been performing and directing for leading US regional theatres including: Seattle Repertory Theatre, Empty Space, ACT Theatre, The Group Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre,5th Ave. Theatre, Anchorage Performing Arts Center, and Metro Stage in Alexandria, VA. In 1989 he created the Cabaret de Paris, Seattle’s preeminent Cabaret theatre, where he produced and directed over 60 musical productions, which garnered two-dozen critics’ awards. In 1993 he founded Cabaret Productions, an event production company that created live entertainment, film and video for Fortune 500 companies. Since 2004, David has been a free-lance director and producer as well as a corporate event consultant and emcee with his new company, Hunter Koch Productions, based in Seattle.
Robertson Witmer (sound design, music composition, concertina, accordion) is a musician, composer, and sound designer from Seattle, Washington. Theatrical credits include Dracula, Romeo + Juliet (ACT); Black Beauty, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, (Seattle Children’s Theatre); Tosca (filmed production, Seattle Opera); Comedy of Errors, Bring Down the House (Seattle Shakespeare Company); The Ghost of Splinter Cove (Children’s Theatre of Charlotte); and Greenwood (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater). His sound designs have also been heard at Seattle Rep, Village Theatre, Spectrum Dance Theatre, and Teatro ZinZanni. Rob also plays accordion with several bands, including The Love Markets, “Awesome” and Carrie Clark and the Lonesome Lovers. Rob is a lecturer in sound design at University of Washington School of Drama, and a member of United Scenic Artists, Local USA-829.
Dave Pascal (bass, audio drama mastering) plays bass with The Love Markets, Carrie Clark and the Lonesome Lovers, Show Brazil, and The Jazz Police. He performs regularly at The Fifth Avenue Theatre, ACT and other theaters, and in nightclubs, recording studios, and as backing for national touring acts. Dave has many album credits as a producer and engineer, and his work as a composer, producer, sound designer, and music director includes Emmy-winning TV projects, award-winning educational multimedia, and theatrical productions in Seattle and around the country.
Executive Profile
Shana Pennington-Baird (performer/playwright/bodhrán) has been working in the Pacific Northwest theatre scene for thirty years. Shana is the director/founder of the Seattle Voice Academy and has narrated over 40 audiobook titles (under various names), national ad campaigns and countless voiceover gigs for corporate clients. Shana’s voiceover works include: “Raynah” on Magic Mixies, Fabledom, and the kickboxing owner in the upcoming Playstation VR2 Bare Knuckle Fighting Game. Other clients include: Voice of God for the Consumer Electric Show in Las Vegas, Microsoft, Verizon, JP Morgan Wealth Management, Chase Bank, Keen, Tonie Box, the Seattle Channel, South Lake Union Chamber, Audible.com, Mountain Credit Union, Impossible Acoustic, and more. Shana’s performance credits include work at the Bathhouse Theatre under Arne Zaslove, 10-years with Cabaret Productions, the 5th Ave Musical Theatre, Oregon Cabaret, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Civic Light Opera, Okoboji Summer Theatre, and Book-It Repertory.
Shana started her work in the professional theatre scene in Seattle in 1996, following an international tour with the Missoula Children’s Theatre. Prior to that she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA in theatre from Stephens College.
In her first years in Seattle, Ms. Pennington-Baird was a company member of the Bathhouse Theatre headed by Arne Zazlove performing in the Fantasticks and Irving Berlin musical reviews. From 1998 – 2008, she spent 10 years as a company member of Cabaret Productions, singing at hundreds of corporate events. Other theatre companies include the 5th Ave Musical Theatre, Oregon Cabaret, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Civic Light Opera, Okoboji Summer Theatre, and Book-It Repertory.
Ms. Pennington-Baird entered the voiceover world and immediately found herself narrating audiobooks, performing voice work for corporations including Microsoft, Verizon, JP Morgan Chase, the Seattle Channel, South Lake Union Chamber, Audible.com, Mountain Credit Union, Impossible Acoustic and voicing characters for independent video games all over the world including Illustrum Games. She is currently in the cast of the animated kid’s show “Magic Mixies” on Netflix.
During her theatre work in the mid-1990’s, the founder was diagnosed with vocal nodes at 24 years of age, while performing at the Village Theatre in Issaquah, Washington. Her vocal condition, “vocal nodules,” was diagnosed by Dr. Dan Seeley, an otolaryngologist at Overlake Medical Center. Ms. Pennington-Baird immediately left the show at Village Theatre, began months of speech therapy and has full use of her voice today. Without treatment, the vocal “bumps” on her cords would have permanently damaged her voice. Working with a team of professionals including her doctor, speech therapists and singing coaches, she was able to continue performing after nine months of therapy.
After 2009, Ms. Pennington-Baird continued exploration into the human voice training with the Tuscany Project in Prague and then the ROY HART CENTRE at Malérargues in the Cévennes hills of southern France. The work at the Centre is based on a history of more than 80 years of research, study and practice of the human voice without boundaries. At the ROY HART CENTRE, her training has been dedicated to exploring unusual vocal flexibility and expressiveness, and to the human voice’s application in life and art.
In addition to acting and voice work, Ms. Pennington-Baird produced four years of concerts and theatre arts while managing the Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center. Ms. Pennington-Baird also worked in the HR department at Western Wireless and planned events ranging from 50- 500 employees. In addition, she also planned and managed play reading festivals and summer camps for the Icicle Creek Theatre Festival. And through her work in fundraising with ACT Theatre and Puget Soundkeeper, she raised millions of dollars through grants, major donor campaigns, corporate relationships and galas. This insight into the corporate world, especially human resources and non-profit work, has been incredibly helpful when teaching public speaking or vocal health in the corporate setting.
Quotes from Shana Pennington-Baird
Aortic Dissection 5000 miles from home
“I felt fine the day before it happened. I hiked 5 miles at Giant’s Causeway. There had been a tiny popping sensation in my chest almost three weeks before. That was followed by four days over that three week period of heart burn-like symptoms. But they were always better the next day. It was not until a major coughing attack right before I got to my Air BnB in Dingle in 2019 that all the color leached out of the world and I knew something was very, very wrong.”
“The hospital in Cork, Ireland was different than the US, but really great. The surgery was very successful. I spent 8 days in Cork University Hospital. They put my husband up in housing for free just down the street, once he was able to fly back to me. The main differences between Ireland and the states? We were served tea four times a day by tea cart. It was not do you want tea… it was ‘Here’s your tea. Do you want milk and two sugars?”
Other Health Issues that followed the Heart Issues
“So the story of my heart trying to explode is pretty amazing and incredible. What most people don’t know is that I had a lot of other health issues when I got back. That’s another story unto itself. I had two infections in my chest that needed two more surgeries. Then, I had double vision a few times so a CAT scan identified that I had suffered two full strokes. No, we don’t know when they happened. And… I can still move my body. I actually had a brain surgeon walk into my hospital room and say, ‘We don’t’ know why you can move your left side.’ So, they sent me home. Then, due to some minor chest pains and leftover EKG stickiness on my breast, I noticed a tiny, tiny lump on my right breast. I told my doctor it itched. So, we checked it out. Turns out we found early detection Stage 1B Intraductal breast cancer. Lumpectomy and radiation. And we found the breast cancer because of the heart issues. So… I am grateful for the heart stuff. I am now monitored annually for all three of my ‘ologies’. And I have 16 doctors. Oooof.”
Target Market(s) Primary:
Target Market
18-65
60% male / 30% female / 10% transgender $45K-$200K
75% married / 25% single
Majority of clients have college degrees or will be pursuing degrees.
● Greater Seattle metropolitan area (and up to 50 miles away) for in-person workshops and coaching
● Edinburgh Festival Attendees ● International – audio drama distributed through Audible.com, iTunes and other audiobook retailers
Interests/Activities
● Audiobook listeners
● Celtic music fans
● Anyone who has suffered from an aortic aneurysm
● Anyone with aortic disease
● Solo travel
Industry Fact Sheet
Aortic Health
The aorta is the main vessel that sends blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. It is shaped like a candy cane and is typically about as wide as a garden hose (2.5-3.5 cm). When blood is pumped by the heart, it first travels through the aorta. An aortic aneurysm is a widening, bulge, or ballooning out of a portion of the aorta. Aneurysms usually occur where there is a weak spot in the aortic wall. Aortic aneurysms are the 13th leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for an estimated 15,000-20,000 deaths annually.https://www.johnritterfoundation.org/your-aortic-health
Once an aortic aneurysm develops, it is at risk of growing bigger. If you are diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm, your physician will want to see you regularly for imaging tests to ensure that the aneurysm is not growing too fast. It is very important for you to keep up with these health visits. You can help slow the growth of the aneurysm and prevent complications by paying close attention to other health problems you may have and living a healthy lifestyle.https://www.cardiosmart.org/topics/aortic-aneurysm/living-with-Aortic-Aneurysm
Solo Travel and Medical Emergencies
● Travel insurance is worth it. Shana was paid $14,000 which covered the entire cost of her surgery, plus living expenses during the two weeks she had to stay in Ireland. Allianz Insurance also paid to fly her husband back to her bedside. https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/is-travel-insurance-worth-getting
● Your trip of a lifetime is drawing closer and the excitement is brewing in the pit of your stomach. Bags are packed, travel insurance is confirmed, you have all the required vaccinations and your itinerary is all planned out. The last thought in your head is of dealing with an emergency while overseas.
https://iconicsantorini.com/blog/how-to-handle-top-3-emergencies-travelling-abroad
Story Ideas for the Media
How to balance PTSD after major medical emergencies
● Your heart has betrayed you. And you had no warning? How do you now move forward when every little pain, every little “pop” could be life threatening?
● Is it possible to travel alone again after a major medical emergency where you were trapped away from home for weeks?
Aortic Disease Emergencies
● What is aortic disease?
● Ways to recover from aortic disease surgery.
● How can a completely healthy woman in her mid-forties suddenly have an emergency? Solo Travel
● What should you do if you are alone and start to have chest pains, the room spins or all the color leaches out of the world?
● Does travel insurance make sense? Does it really pay out?
● What is it like to be a US citizen after a life-saving surgery in another country?
Interview Questions and Answers Aortic Disease
Did you have any idea that anything was wrong?
No. Not really. I was 45-years old. I was the mom of an 8-year old. I exercised 4-5 times per week. I had a tough pregnancy and delivery, but other than that, I had a completely clean health record. I needed to lose 15-20 lbs., but that was it. The incident was a shock and a surprise.
Can you live a normal life after aortic dissection?
Yea, sort of. I am on medication for life. I take a blood thinner called Warfarin and I have to take it no matter what. Due to the mechanical heart valve that they gave me to save my life, I have the risk of blood clots and strokes. This medication is very sensitive, and it has to be carefully managed with weekly or monthly testing. I have to watch how many greens (vitamin K) I eat, and I have to closely monitor any alcohol. That said, I exercise almost daily on a Peloton bike, which has created an incredible amount of mental strength for me. I had the bike before all this happened. I can honestly say that my cycling, and the cycling coaches I hired right after the incident, have had a huge impact on my ability to live normally and feel normal. Without their help, I would have been terrified to get back on the bike. I still cycle 4-5 times per week.
I do have anxiety and some PTSD. There are triggers that will send my heart rate up. Sometimes it’s someone talking about death. Sometimes it’s something totally unrelated. I learned after a year that taking my betablocker medication was MUCH better at nighttime. When I took it in the morning, I was having almost daily anxiety attacks about two hours after taking it.
Can you dissect again?
Yes. And people do. I have a thoracic surgeon who takes a look at my annual scans. I live under surveillance now. And I am okay with that. I am grateful for every minute I have had since that 12-hour surgery in Ireland. I hope for the best in the future, and I am grateful for a team of specialists who will look and see how I am doing from time to time.
What is Health Care like overseas for a US citizen?
How are you treated in Irish hospitals?
For starters, you get tea served to you by tea cart four times per day. It’s amazing. We were four to a room, but I had exceptional care while I was there. I did have more freedom than US hospitals. I was allowed walks outside and freedom to move about the hospital. I felt locked up in the US hospitals when I got home.
How much did the 12-hour surgery cost?
$10,000 total, including 8 days in the hospital. Travel insurance covered the entire cost of the surgery. I was in a room with four other people – but that was really helpful. I was very grateful to not be alone in a room far from everyone I love. My US hospital bedrooms have been very lonely.
Shana Pennington-Baird Background
Did you know that you had heart issues?
No. I hiked 5 miles the day before I dissected. I had no idea. There was talk that my father’s family had heart issues, but it was never discussed. Both my father’s parents died young of heart issues after the Great Depression. I also had a half-brother who died at three years old from “SIDS”. In other words, they don’t know why he died. It could have been heart-related. My father died in 2010 from complications following a surgery to have a heart valve replacement. So, looking back, after my issues, there does seem to be a clear pattern.
You also run a company called the Seattle Voice Academy. What is the value system your company is based on?
We are based in ethics. We teach acting. We teach freelance business. And we do not make promises that anyone is going to succeed. We stand in our integrity. Instead we teach our students to look out for themselves, find ongoing training and treat voiceover like an Olympic sport. You need great coaches, great training and a huge amount of commitment.
What is your vocal training?
I started off in choir throughout high school and then I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theatre from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. Following that, I studied voice with the Roy Hart Theatre in France, the Tuscany Project in Prague and then studied privately with soprano Jackie Boreson in Seattle, Washington. Currently, I study with Dr. Stacey Mastrian. I will always have a coach. Singing is the equivalent of an Olympic sport. I am always striving to improve.
Praise for Shana Pennington-Baird
Reviews from premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023
“There’s not enough words to describe the complexity and the depth a show like this brings. I felt privileged to be in the audience. I feel grateful to Shana for sharing her story. And I feel blessed to have been witness to the amazing talents of the musicians in the show. This brilliant little piece of theatre is a slice of heaven, with a whole lot of soul. I truly hope Shana has the opportunity to share her story in this medium again and again and again. Thank you Shana for your joy, hope and courage. If you see Broken Wide Open playing anywhere near you, I encourage you to run to buy a ticket. This is a show I would have seen twice, if not 3 times had I had the chance.”
“It’s appropriate to say that BROKEN WIDE OPEN is full of heart, from the joyful storytelling and song on stage to the live band supporting Shana’s tale. I laughed and cried a bunch, and left feeling like I wanted some quality pub time with the group.”
“Beautiful and moving story! A life or death journey told through beautiful live music. The live band on stage was such a treat and a powerful way to support the main character!”
Reviews from the audiobook:
“This is a true story of someone that went to Ireland to enjoy the country only to experience an epic adventure – of a different and very harrowing kind, culminating in the need of open heart surgery. In a foreign country, alone, family being thousands of miles away.
It also talks about people who don’t hesitate to care about and for a total stranger when the unexpected happens. It’s a story mixed with moments of laughter and of kindness, and with lots of wonderful music.
Prepare to shed some tears and chuckles alike.
I highly recommend this listen.”
“A must-listen!
A gripping and deeply touching story told with joy, grace, and humor. The affirmation of life and love far outlasts the hour or so of listening time. Highly recommended!”
Reviews from past audiobooks:
“I am a fan of your performance on First Impressions: Last Intentions; Book 1… Your performance of Claire in the first book provided me one of the most enjoyable listens I’ve ever had with an audiobook…thank you for bringing that awesome character to life!”
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For “Dark Crossings” by RM Alexander:
“Shana Pennington-Baird as the narrator is wonderful she brings so much life to each character. It is easy to tell her males from her females as she creates and gives life to all that is around them. Her voices has even tones with just the right about of emotion for each that you know what they are feeling and where their thoughts are. There is no background noise and no breaks that you can tell. Here tones are even as if she read the book all at one setting. I have listened to a few from this narrator and have enjoyed every book she has narrated.”
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For Veil of Secrecy by RM Alexander on Audible.com:
“The narrator Shana Pennington-Baird…did a great job of narrating. Her different voices added a lot to the audio… Would I listen to more by this narrator you can bet the bank I would. She really does have a smooth voice that pulls you in and holds you there, at times with your heart in your throat.”
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“I don’t usually like being a baked potato, but when a talent like Shana Pennington-Baird has a session where she just kinda does everything perfectly, I’m content to sit there like an animated spud and nod approvingly. GREAT job!”