We all have baggage. Most of us just try to keep it out of sight. That's the central premise of Lifeline Productions' newest signature stage work, Baggage Claim, a one-woman solo show that brings the mess into the open with dark humor, sharp storytelling, and the painfully relatable experience of trying to keep it all together while carrying way too much.

The world premiere of Baggage Claim will run from October 9 through October 18 at the Cook Theatre in Sarasota (on the FSU Center for the Performing Arts campus). Performed by Danielle Jacobs and directed by Meg Gilbert, the show is set in an airport terminal and uses everyday travel mishaps like delays, missed connections, and lost luggage to ask a central question: What happens when we are forced to sit with everything we have been running from? What starts as a travel delay rapidly transforms into a candid reckoning with trauma, mental health stigma, and the courage required to forge a path toward healing.

"When I first encountered Danielle Jacobs’ script, I was immediately struck by its honesty," notes Will Luera, Producing Artistic Director. "We live in a world where so many of us quietly carry unseen weight, including past hurts, unspoken anxieties, and personal mental health journeys, while pretending everything is packed neatly away. Baggage Claim breaks that silence. It uses the magic of live theater to remind us that our stories deserve to be unpacked, and that healing is something we can experience together as a community. This show is brave, deeply human, and a reminder that none of us are traveling alone."

For Lifeline Productions, staging this performance extends beyond standard entertainment; it serves as a powerful catalyst for honest dialogue about mental health. Every performance will be followed by a talkback session, inviting audiences to join conversations designed to challenge stigma and process the show's themes. Early audience members have praised the show's dynamic balance, with one viewer sharing, "Danielle Jacobs delights you with her charming, lighthearted delivery one minute and breaks your heart with raw vulnerability the next."

Production & Performance Schedule

• Ticket Price: $35
• Run Dates: October 9-18 (Matinee & Evening Shows Available)
• Venue: Cook Theatre at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts - 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34243

About Lifeline Productions

Lifeline Productions is a nonprofit arts organization that uses theater and storytelling to amplify personal narratives, challenge stigma, and spark critical conversations about mental health. Founded on the belief that live performance has unique therapeutic and connective power, the company brings real-life stories of human resilience to the stage to foster deeper empathy and community well-being. Learn more at lifelineproductionsinc.org.