What is BEYOND, and how did it come to be?
BEYOND is a play about a woman who is living with Alzheimer’s disease and receives an unexpected visitor: a mysterious, alien-like Creature who slowly helps her remember—and re-examine—the fraught relationship she once had with her daughter.
The idea for the play emerged after my mother, Mary Droxler, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease more than 15 years ago. With that diagnosis came an awareness of how memory loss can alter family bonds in profound ways. I found myself thinking less about my own story and more about a universal fear: What happens when time runs out before healing can occur? What might it feel like to lose the chance to repair a relationship—not because love isn’t there, but because memory itself disappears?
I began imagining: What if someone, or something, arrived to offer a second chance? What if that presence felt like a mysterious visitor from a classic 1980s film—both strange and compassionate?
The project initially began as a graphic novel, but I soon realized it needed to live in the theater. Onstage, I could blur time, memory, and reality, allowing the audience to experience the same disorientation and revelations as the protagonist. Through the use of puppetry, the Creature takes on an otherworldly quality while remaining deeply human.
At its heart, BEYOND encourages audiences to use the time they have to heal relationships before it is too late.
Who initially inspired you to grapple with dementia?
The first major sign of my mom’s diagnosis happened on our way to a bus from New York City to Philadelphia after visiting me. She commented on how crowded downtown was; she did not remember it being like this when she was little. The comment stopped me, as she hadn’t come to New York as a child. Then it dawned on me that she thought we were in Philadelphia. When I mentioned that we were still in New York, her eyes widened and she laughed. But in that moment, we both quietly understood something deeper was happening.
Her mother, Barbara Cresta, had lived with Alzheimer’s disease, so the possibility of what lay ahead was not unfamiliar to either of us. At first I tried to correct and hold onto every slipping detail. Eventually, I realized the only place we could truly meet was in the present moment; an idea that later became the emotional foundation for my play BEYOND.
How has working on dementia-related art changed you?
Watching the loss of my mother’s memory over the years forced me to recognize the many layers of mental health and family dynamics that exist. With my mom, it felt like layers of an onion being peeled away, never knowing which version of her I’d encounter the next time I saw her.
Having young children myself, it’s impossible not to imagine what it’d be like to forget them. Or for them to experience the hardship of watching my memory fade, too. The experience has made me more grateful for the clarity of the present moment.
As a writer, I’m drawn to exploring themes of generational trauma, mental health, and how it shapes relationships. In my work, I focus on telling these intense human stories through unexpected theatrical devices, such as heightened worlds, humor, puppetry, or surprising twists, that invite audiences into difficult subjects while still allowing space for empathy and reflection.
How has BEYOND been received?
BEYOND has received several professionally presented staged readings over the past few years, including a Zoom Actors’ Equity reading during the height of the pandemic, a presentation with New Feathers Productions at the Zlock Performing Arts Center in Bucks County, Pa, and, most recently, a staged reading at Point Park University, Pittsburgh, Pa.
The responses from audiences have been deeply moving. Caregivers of loved ones with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease have shared that the play felt cathartic and reflected similar emotional experiences they’ve experienced. For audience members without a personal connection to the disease, the story has offered them a glimpse into both the disorientation of memory loss and the challenges faced by caregivers. During some of the play’s more revealing moments there have been audible gasps and tears.
Most meaningful to me is hearing how the story prompts audiences to reflect on their own relationships with their parents and family members.
This work is dedicated to: My mom, Mary Droxler, who is still with us, if not always in mind then certainly in body and spirit. She has always been someone who taught me the importance of compassion for others. She also never batted an eye when I told her I wanted to pursue theater. In fact, she once said she hoped I might go to school for my artwork, which I always found funny since it was simply another form of the arts rather than something like becoming a lawyer or accountant. I thank her endlessly for instilling the confidence to pursue a career in the arts. Writing a piece that encourages compassion and empathy feels like the best way I can honor her.
Find more from Dave Droxler and BEYOND on the website, Facebook, and Instagram.
