“I know this time is especially hard on everyone and on all the artists I work with, so please only help just a little if it feels ok to you, because I sure understand everyone is scared and trying to forge something new. I love you all.”
This past May, Brava's beloved Lighting Director, the Bay Area's Lighting Guru, and one of the most generous, kind, joyful and patient people, Cathie Anderson, found she suddenly had great difficulty walking. After a series of tests and a biopsy, Cathie was diagnosed with a very treatable b-cell lymphoma on her lower spine. Unfortunately, the location of it has made it near impossible for Cathie to get up. She is currently in the hospital and last week underwent her first chemotherapy treatment. Her treatments will continue over the next few months and most likely be followed up with radiation and possibly surgery. In the next week or so she will be moved to a care facility to help manage her pain and for rehabilitation so she can build up her muscles to walk again.
When we think of Cathie, we think of her as bounding up and down the steps in the theater, lobby and cabaret as well as climbing ladders, ascending in the lift, and going up into the catwalk to hang and focus lights. Since 2006, at Brava alone, her fascination and artistry with lights, color, and gobos has illuminated thousands of performers, and thousands of shows and events. Whether an actor, singer, director, musician, set designer, aerial artist, speaker, producer, dancer, visual artist, filmmaker or an MC, Cathie makes everyone look their best and their work radiate. She does this all-the-while making everyone welcome, heard, understood and valued.
Cathie has generously given her time to so many causes and has always made the extra effort to make the special moments shine. Now she needs our help to ensure she can come out of this without the worry of high medical bills and debt. We are asking you to please make a contribution of any size to Cathie's cause. In her notes regarding this fundraising campaign she shared...
"I know this time is especially hard on everyone and on all the artists I work with, so please only help just a little if it feels ok to you, because I sure understand everyone is scared and trying to forge something new. I love you all." - Cathie
Luckily, she does have insurance to help cover the treatments and some of the hospital costs and has very supportive family members, friends and cat. But, the not so good news is at this moment Cathie can not stand at all and she very much needs to stay in a care facility for a few months to manage her pain and provide physical therapy. Her insurance does not cover all the cost of the care facility and she needs support paying her monthly bills over the next year of her recovery.
Cathie lost all her gigs back in March like so many technicians and theater artists. At that time we all thought we would be back at work by now. Since then, she has been collecting unemployment while we all wait for this strange time to pass. We want to make sure when Brava and all the venues reopen in 2021 Cathie is ready to bound back up the steps to our tech booth as well as light up the next Day of the Dead show at SOMArts and the many stages she has graced with her artistry.
Cathie and all of us at Brava Theater Center would be grateful for a contribution of any amount to help her cover additional medical, transportation, rehabilitation, and other living expenses at this time. Donate to her GoFundMe campaign here.
Grateful for your support,
Anastacia Powers Cuellar
Executive Director
Brava! for Women in the Arts