Oscar Wilde would never have said, “Life imitates art far more than art imitates life” had he seen the moving and emotional performance of Demolition Derby: when a mind loses its license to drive, performed on November 2, 2007 at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College to a sellout crowd.

Hosted by the NYC Chapter and supported by Myriad Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Demolition Derby is the second in a series of “Art & Alzheimer’s” programming that uses the performing arts as a new medium to garner greater public awareness of Alzheimer’s disease. This powerful multimedia dance-theater performance, based on the life of Demolition Derby choreographer and performer, Erik Stern, portrays his personal journey as caregiver for his parents. The performanc gave the audience a unique perspective on the caregiving experience, from deeply personal and distressing moments to lighter moments not often associated with the disease.

The piece chronicles his story as witness and participant in his mother’s Alzheimer’s disease and late father’s dementia. Stern, Artistic Director of SternWorks, who also teaches at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah,was the primary caregiver for his parents. After donating his old car to a local demolition derby, Stern found the derby an apt metaphor for the multitude of emotions he experienced. The scrapes, near misses and collisions of the derby perfectly paralleled the pain and the overall damage that dementia can impart on all those involved.

Throughout the dramatic performance, Stern portrayed the disease from multiple perspectives—the person with the disease, family, caregivers and medical professionals. It focused on touch and the physical presence that he experienced while caring for his parents long after memory, words and logical thought failed them.

The performance was followed by a lively panel discussion and Q & A period with Stern; Lou-Ellen Barkan, President & CEO; and Gisele Wolf-Klein,MD, Professor of Clinical Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Geriatric Medicine at Long Island Jewish Medical Center.

“Demolition Derby communicates in ways that words could never do,” said Ms. Barkan, who presented Stern with the Chapter’s 2007 “Creative Leadership” Award, and noted, “It’s easy to see why he’s earned the award today and everyday.”

For those who were not able to attend the performance, we have a limited number of DVDs available.Please call Yvette Bynoe at 646-744-2933 to request a copy.

Visit our Photo Gallery to view the complete
“Demolition Derby” album.

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