Bellyful

BELLYFUL brings Vivia E. Armstrong’s world premiere solo show to the stage with a powerful mix of humor, honesty, and emotional release. Written and performed by Armstrong, the piece follows a young Black girl from South Chicago as she moves through body image struggles, bullying, abuse, trauma, addiction, grief, and the long journey toward self-love. The show is described as “edutainment,” blending personal storytelling with vivid characters and moments of hard-won comedy. Rather than presenting healing as simple or polished, BELLYFUL invites audiences into a deeply human story about the body, memory, family, food, survival, and the courage it takes to transform pain into love, laughter, and joy. With direction by Heather Dowling and producing support from Jessica Lynn Johnson, the performance promises an intimate, raw, and uplifting evening for audiences drawn to solo theatre that is both vulnerable and alive.