Miami native Dahéli Hall brings her film premiere of “SPADURA” to the American Black Film Festival, offering a courageous and brilliant portrayal of resilience sharing her journey with IVF. Hall’s heartfelt storytelling seamlessly blends humor with raw vulnerability, sharing valuable insights in a way that makes you both laugh and cry with her. Hall masterfully combines stand-up with versatile storytelling methods, engaging the audience with props, dramatic lighting moments for emphasis, and personal anecdotes infused with culture. “SPADURA” is more than a film, it is a movement-debunking stigmas to unite us through laughter and shared experiences surrounding the complexities of identity and modern parenthood.

“SPADURA” is a unique name-what’s the story behind the title?

 It’s meant to be a bit of a reveal because “SPADURA” is about discovery.

Much like my fertility journey, the audience doesn’t get all the answers upfront. Trying to get pregnant, I felt like I entered a mysterious rollercoaster world of the “baby industrial complex” where the passwords are in medical jargon, the societal pressure is intense, and your ovaries are on a countdown.

I invite the audience to go on that emotional (and comedic) ride with me. Ultimately, when the meaning of the title is revealed, it’s a moment that reflects the unraveling of everything I thought I knew about womanhood, motherhood, and what it takes to create life—or not.

Tell us more about the process of making “SPADURA” as director of the film.

Whew — conceiving “SPADURA” while also living “SPADURA” was… let’s call it “an immersive experience.” I was literally going through IVF while performing the show. That’s not method acting — that’s just my life.

At first, I struggled with the idea of bringing on a director because the material was so personal, and I was still in the thick of it emotionally and physically. During a dinner conversation with my dear friend, Elizabeth Yng-Wong, I vented about IVF, burnout, and writer’s block. Since we both feel called to bring stories to life that address difficult topics, we started making plans for my formal solo show about an issue I didn’t want to say out loud…infertility. She helped me protect my well-being while I pulled out my truth into shareable art. She’s not just a producer — she’s a creative midwife. (No pun intended… okay, maybe a little pun intended.)

When it came time to film “SPADURA,” I knew I needed a strong director to bring the live experience to the screen. Enter Allison Caviness. She saw one of the very first workshops (before the show even had a title!) and was deeply moved by it. Her eye as a director and her sensitivity to the material made her the perfect choice.

Together, we captured the rawness, the laughs, and the spirit of “SPADURA” — and I couldn’t be more proud of what we made.

How do you approach making people laugh about something that can also be difficult emotionally for many?

Very carefully… and with strawberry licorice.

Honestly, I think humor is one of the most powerful tools we have to deal with pain — especially the kind we’re not “supposed” to talk about in polite company. Things like infertility, aging, the IVF money pit, and the stark disparities around the maternal health of Black women. There’s this pressure to either suffer in silence or power through it with a smile. In my Buddhist practice, we go by the motto of changing poison (pain) into medicine (something that can heal).

So, my approach was to be real first. If the truth happens to be ridiculous or uncomfortable (and it often is), then great — that’s where the comedy lives. I shine a light on the absurdity around the pain — the awkward doctor visits, the well-meaning but wildly inappropriate comments from friends/family, the Instagram moms with perfect nurseries and fertility smoothies.

At the end of the day, I’m not laughing at the hard stuff — I’m laughing with people who’ve lived it. And when audiences laugh with me, there’s this release, this sense of “Oh wow… I thought I was the only one.” That’s when I know I’ve done my job.

You blend comedy with a very personal and often taboo topic. Have you received different reactions from different communities and what has the feedback been overall?

Oh yes — the reactions have been as varied as a fertility chart. Some people come up to me after the show and say, “Thank you for exposing what I’ve never had the words for or the courage to share,” while others just whisper “…Girl.” and give me a knowing hug. Both are valid.

What’s been beautiful is seeing how different communities find their way into the material. For many, these topics have not been explored this honestly and this publicly, let alone with humor. There’s such deep cultural pressure around motherhood, strength, and silence, so when we crack that open in a room full of strangers and start laughing about it? That’s liberation.

“SPADURA” becomes this unexpected education. I’ve had people say, “I came to laugh, but now I understand my partner/sister/friend in a whole new way.” That kind of response is incredibly meaningful.

The overall feedback has been: “It’s funny, it’s raw, it’s healing — and I didn’t know I needed it.” That tells me I’m hitting the sweet spot — making people laugh and think.

So yeah — all of that is in “SPADURA.” Jokes. Identity. Rebellion. And love. Always love.

Have you had any audience members or viewers reach out and share their own fertility stories?

Absolutely — and it’s been one of the most humbling parts of this journey. People don’t just watch “SPADURA” and leave — they come up to me after shows and share stories they’ve sometimes never even said out loud before.

One thing that surprised me was the couples that didn’t survive their fertility journeys. How infertility can break a union. It’s something we don’t talk about enough — the emotional, financial, and physical toll that can quietly erode a relationship. I remember one man telling me, after the show, that he finally understood his ex-wife in a way he never had before. That moment hit me hard.

It made me realize that while “SPADURA” is my personal story, it’s tapping into something much bigger — the silent heartbreaks and invisible battles people go through behind closed doors.

I feel incredibly grateful because, for me, this process brought my husband and me closer. He’s a graphic designer and creative director — so he designed all the “SPADURA” posters and assets — and he’s also been my roadie on tour. Like, literally. He loads the car, sets up the merch, makes sure I have snacks. The man travels the country with me while I talk about our fertility journey onstage in front of strangers — that’s real love.

So yes, the responses have been moving, eye-opening, and sometimes heartbreaking. But knowing the show gives people permission to speak their truth? That’s the most rewarding part of all.

What advice would you give to someone going through IVF who is struggling to find the humor in it?

First of all, let me say: if you’re going through IVF and not laughing, you’re not broken — you’re just human. It’s a wild, expensive, emotional rollercoaster where your body is a science experiment and your calendar is ruled by syringes and acronyms….TTC, OPK, BFP. Finding the humor can feel impossible when you’re exhausted, bloated, and Googling things at 3am like, “Can stress make your uterus disappear?”

So my advice? Be gentle with yourself. Don’t force the funny. Sometimes the humor shows up later — after the appointment, after the crying in the car, after the credit card bill.

Also: find your people. Whether it’s a friend, a support group, or that one cousin who always keeps it real — connect with folks who let you feel what you feel without judgment. Humor doesn’t erase the pain, but sometimes it helps carry it.

And if all else fails? Come see “SPADURA.” I’ve already cried and made jokes about it — so you don’t have to do it alone.

What are your goals with SPADURA? Can we expect a spinoff series, documentary,    etc.?

Oh yes — I have a whole vision board. First and foremost, “SPADURA” is having its world premiere at the American Black Film Festival on Friday, June 13, 10:30 a.m. – as part of the official documentary features competition. I’m not gonna lie, I really want us to win that Audience Award in my hometown!

Also, I’d love to see “SPADURA” made into a movie. Some people process things better through narrative storytelling than through a solo show, and this story has all the ingredients — humor, heart, heartbreak, prenatal vitamins, and spiritual growth. You know, the essentials.

I’ve also written several drafts of a TV series. Let me tell you, breaking your actual life into half-hour episodes is… whew. Hard. But I do think a series allows more room to explore all the layers — cultural, emotional, medical, spiritual — the expanse of experiences, especially since my story is personal and specific.

Another dream? Hosting a show. But not some loud, chaotic reality circus. I’m talking about a space where people navigating fertility, identity, or womanhood can feel seen — a soulful, humorous space. I’d be like a funny emotional doula — guiding folks through their mess with empathy and punchlines.

As for the documentary — a team called Blue Midnight — led by the amazing director Talleah Bridges McMahon and her producing partner (and husband), Jim McMahon — has been following my journey for over a year. They’ve captured it all: behind the scenes, personal

interviews, the highs, the heartbreaks, and the hustle. We just need the right studio or platform to help finance and finish it because the footage is gold.

So yes, “SPADURA” is just the beginning. My deepest hope is that this docu-comedy special can be seen by a global audience. Helping people feel a little less alone. That’s the goal. And a streaming deal wouldn’t hurt either. You know… so we make our money back. And pay off our debts. (Just kidding! …No I’m not. Like, at all.)

What can we anticipate from you next?

I’m hitting the stage in New York City for two live performances of “SPADURA” at Caveat NYC, July 19 and 20 — After that, I’ve been invited to perform as part of the Logan Festival of Solo Performance in the metro DC area — It’s a residency that highlights the top solo artists in the country and I’m honored to be among them.

And fingers crossed — I hope the “SPADURA” docu-comedy continues its festival run and makes its way to even more screens across the country and around the world. The response has been so moving, and we know this story resonates with people far and wide.

We could absolutely use financial support to keep spreading the message, so if you believe in the power of storytelling to heal, laugh, and connect — we’d be grateful for your help.

This is just the beginning. Stay tuned — and if you know Oprah, send her my way.

Bonus:

Last year, I had the honor of performing the live version of “SPADURA” at the Historic Lyric Theater in Overtown — not just because it’s in my hometown, but because that stage carries a powerful legacy of Black artistry and cultural resilience. My father, Daniel Neil Hall, is an architect and passionate advocate for the revitalization and preservation of Black historic neighborhoods — especially Overtown, where his work and heart have long been rooted. So the fact that ABFF is closing out their festival at the Lyric makes this moment feel like more than a world premiere — it feels like a true homecoming.