"There is never a reference point, only feelings of genuine hurt. This pain always comes from my throat like a thousand tears that stack up
like a pack of cigarettes. I hate cigarettes, but a lot of me do not." – Jamie Dakis

"How can I ever want to live through these things over and over and over again? Doctors have sought to help me. They gave us colored pills that looked like candy. We scream we and I think I must keep telling this over again until the right ears have heard enough to know that it is OK to live. " – Jamie Dakis

There is Never a Reference Point is performance installation inspired by the journal writings and watercolors of Jamie Dakis, a woman diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, commonly known as multiple personality disorder. The event will take the form of an immersive, interactive “walk-through” presentation where “visitors” explore and experience each of Jamie’s ten personalities.

Using live and media performance, Jamie’s personalities will present themselves, interacting, sharing histories, artifacts, visions, and inspirations, to portray the complexity of her overlapping and multiple realities. Each visitor must put together their own understanding of a Jamie’s world, and in turn, their own.

Each personality will be performed by an actor; the personalities include: 1) Jamie, the host, 2) Patricia, the abused young girl, 3) Patty, the conflicted teenager, 4) Misty, the young stripper, 5) James, the cowboy protector, 6) Rita, the rational student, 7) Marta, the angry, judgmental mother, 8) Magick, the fun loving sexy goddess, 9) Chica, the innocent dancer and artist, and 10) Cleopatra, the reassuring and wise archetype.

This event also marks a unique collaboration between the performance and visual arts communities of Dallas. Each personality will have an environment, which will be designed by some of the hottest young artists in Dallas. The artist roster includes, Ludwig Schwartz, Kyle Wadsworth, Scott Trent, Titus O’Brien, and OH6 artists, Tim Stokes, Shelby Cunningham, Polly Perez, and Kristen Macy. Elicia Brandon will design video and media environments with assistance from Greta Poulsen. Additional settings and lighting will be designed by award winning Jeff Stover in collaboration with Matt Unkenholz.

The event is conceived and directed by Thomas Riccio, professor of Performance Studies and Artistic Director of Story Lab, UTD’s initiative to research and develop new performance expressions. Riccio has directed experimental works nationally and internationally and has worked extensively in the area of ritual and indigenous performance in Alaska, Africa, Asia, and Siberia (www.thomas-riccio.net).

The There is Never a Reference Point immersion event will be an intense and stimulating thirty-five minute long journey. There will be four performances daily with a forty-five visitors per performance limit as to maximize the immersion experience and interaction. Donations will be accepted for various Dallas-area mental health organizations represented at the theater.