Sarah Ruhl has written an incredible memoir, titled Smile, that deeply explores her decade-long journey with Bell’s Palsy (a form of facial muscular paralysis) following the birth of her twins. As a woman working in the theater, where emotion and expression are paramount, she was forced to grapple with a reality where all she had were her words.
I had the honor of speaking with Ms. Ruhl about her internal evolution over the last decade, changes she hopes will come to the American theatre industry, and how writing Smile helped her grapple with her own experiences.