​Michelle Pauls
Stage, Film & web Actor
Grief Activist
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My work as a Grief Activist:
Did you ever talk about grief in your family? Were you given tools to express your grief—when a friend stopped talking to you, when a pet died, when your family had to move—so that you could catalyze the big, dark feelings into something else and feel like “I got this?” Our grief stories need to be told and re-told. This is where the shifts and transitions happen, where we start to carry our grief differently over time.
With simple ritual, gentle movement, integrated drawing and writing, we create a brave space where we all are welcome to witness and be witnessed in whatever grief we may be holding--individual and collective. It all belongs. We all belong.
Coming up: CERTIFIABLE Season 2!
Certifiable is onto Season 2!
Join Gabby, Lex and the gang - including me as Dr Poostein - for more hijinks at the asylum!
Principle shooting finished. All in post-production now!
We should see episodes soon--check @certifiable_series
Playing Lucretia Mott
I have performed as the suffragist and abolitionist, Lucretia Mott at the Betsy Ross House and the Constitution Center in Philadelphia. It is so important to bring this incredible woman to new audiences! I am always looking for new opportunities to have Lucretia Mott's words fill the air. Let me know if you want her to visit your school or organization.
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Narrative Conversation!
On June 28, I joined The Simulationists by reading a poem by my late husband, Stan Heleva. The poem, When We Were Whales was one of the last poems Stan wrote before he died in September 2020. I was honored to share this work with the Narrative Medicine audience as a Philadelphia theatre artist, educator, musician, writer (and former SP) .
I included When We Were Whales in my new play It's Complicated...This Gift of Life, which I performed during the 2023 Philly Fringe Festival.
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I encourage you to check out The Simulationists and join them on their online deep examination of art, narrative and what it means to be human.
I was honored to bring my new song, I Used to Know
to the inaugural Grief Salon,
Wednesday, June 21, 7-9pm
A big THANK YOU to guitarist and friend, Dave Rogers for accompanying me!
Sponsored by the Threshold Collective
1320 N 5th Street, The Maas Building
Philadelphia, PA
Speaking of Family...
The new mini-web series I created with help from my friends! Shot entirely on Zoom with our phones, iPads and laptops.
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A family comedy about dysfunction in the time of virus and how one family tries to cope.
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Carol Ann Graham as GRETA
Val Uff as KENT
Trent Rozycki as TROY
Michelle Pauls as JULIA
and editor exemplar, Mariel Ferry
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Written & Directed by Michelle Pauls
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Published story!
I am honored and very grateful to be a published author in the GriefDialogues online magazine. I would be honored if you read my story, Shorty here. Just click on the picture of Shorty!
