Lab Rat: A Reckoning is not just a memoir—it’s a survival artifact.

Told with poetic precision and unapologetic honesty, it chronicles one man’s descent through medical trauma, queer estrangement, and the theft of everything he held sacred—including his beloved cats.

At its core, it is also a love letter: to the body, to the voice, and to a black cat named Sayuri, who became grace in fur.

This is more than memory—it is resistance on the page.

A reckoning with silence.

A resurrection in print.

Adapted into a powerful stage play, Lab Rat confronts what was taken and reclaims what still belongs: truth, identity, and the right to be heard.

What Readers Are Saying

"James Heldt’s memoir is a phoenix rising from suffering—written with such emotional depth that it's hard to call it anything less than extraordinary."

— A.T., Reader

"I am speechless. The vividness of the play and memoir broke my heart—in the best way. James doesn't just write; he brings his story to life with honesty and power."

— M.R., PhD, Clinical Psychologist

"Amazing writing. Emotionally powerful and written with great skill."

— K.D., PhD, Literary Scholar

Lab Rat: A Reckoning — The Stage Play

Lab Rat: A Reckoning is a raw, allegorical memoir staged with unflinching intensity. Drawing from the acclaimed book, this one-person performance confronts abuse, systemic betrayal, and survival through bold theatrical devices—and ends with a ritual act of art gifted directly to the audience.

The performance blends poetry and provocation with innovation:

Mic-drop silences jolt the audience into bearing witness

Grotesque projections distort archetypes into living shadows

Ghost Box reveals unveil canvas testaments, not coffins

Survivors often attend twice: once with someone they trust, then again alone—transforming the experience from shared witnessing to private reclamation. It’s both a public reckoning and an intimate ritual.

More than a play, Lab Rat is a story that must be lived twice.

That’s what makes it unforgettable, necessary, and enduring.

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