Somber subject
takes to the stage

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Lisa Regina’s life changed on April 2, 2005.
That’s the day she was assaulted by her then-fiance.
"I could have rolled up in a ball or done something positive to help other people," she said.
Regina chose the latter.
The 46-year-old South Philadelphia native, a lifelong writer, decided to express her thoughts on paper.
"It only made sense in a traumatic period of time to write to alleviate and articulate the pain," she said.
Many women who are victims of domestic assault, Regina said, feel a range of emotions that include shame, helplessness, fear and guilt.
Regina sought group and individual counseling after her ordeal and recommends the same treatment for other victims.
At the same time, she thinks writing offers an alternate way of healing. So, she created A Write to Heal, a non-profit organization that enables women to express their trapped emotions in the written word.
The victims write down their thoughts in a notepad, read them aloud in a group setting and have the chance to submit them anonymously for a stage show.
Regina wrote, directed and produced the first A Write to Heal show last July at Center Stage in New York. The second show is scheduled for March 16 at Sterling High School in Somerdale, N.J.
In Regina’s opinion, a stage show is a great way to educate the public about the problem of domestic abuse.
"Performance is the most powerful way," she said. "There’s power in words."
On March 15, the night before the show, the cast will gather for dinner at Philomena’s, a restaurant in Deptford, N.J., where they’ll mingle with South Jersey VIPs and try to win community support for the cause.
The 75-minute show includes professional actresses performing monologues of real-life victims.
In addition, there’s poetry, along with a gospel choir and singer Alyssa Brancazio. Comedienne Fran Capo is new to the cast.
"She’s funny. She has everyone laughing at rehearsals," Regina said.
Capo, a New Yorker, is a standup comic who has often appeared in Philadelphia. She’s perhaps best known as the person recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest-talking female.
Her last appearance in Philadelphia was in the summer at the Gallery, where she judged a contest sponsored by Auntie Anne’s pretzels that had kids trying to say the tongue-twister, "Picky pretzel people pick pretzel-perfect pretzels."
She’s also climbed Kilimanjaro mountain, dove down to the wreck site of the Titanic and been involved in lots of things in between.
The all-around entertainer also works as an actress, motivational speaker, voiceover artist and author. She writes a blog for the WB television network, recently released a book on tape and appears on an Internet reality show about the life of fitness guru John Basedow.
The so-called "Tsunami of Talk" is making her dramatic debut in A Write to Heal. She plays Allie, who tries to convince a friend to leave her abusive boyfriend. The friend thinks her lover can change, but Allie isn’t so sure.
"There’s more of a chance of you growing a mustache," Capo’s character tells her friend, "but I realize you’re half Italian, so it’s possible."
Regina wanted to bring a light touch to such a heavy subject. She thought Capo was perfect for the role, a much better fit than an actress without professional comedic training.
Capo is used to interacting with audiences and dealing exclusively with fun subject matter.
"This is a totally different thing for me," she said. "But, humor can hit home."
Capo, who’s been given the go-ahead by Regina to improvise, said she’s glad to bring some comic relief to the show.
"It’s a very serious topic," she said. "It can affect anyone. At the end, you are left with the feeling there is a way to heal. It’s a really hard-hitting message."
Capo, Regina and the rest of the cast and crew hope to take the show national. For now, they hope to pack the high school auditorium with people of all ages and backgrounds.
Brancazio, the singer, called the show "eye opening," adding that the audience will get to ask questions to domestic violence specialists at a post-performance discussion.
"It’ll definitely raise awareness and educate the community about domestic violence," Brancazio said. ••
‘A Write to Heal’ will come to the auditorium of Sterling High School in Somerdale, N.J., on Friday March 16, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10 and are available at the door. For more information, call 1-856-784-1333 or visit www.awritetoheal.com
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com