Meet Dawn Heilung

Dawn Heilung (they, them) is a performer, producer, and wiggly spaghetti noodle. Dawn has been dancing for 16 years and has trained in numerous movement styles like viewpoints, droznin, and partnering/lifts. They’ve choreographed for multiple musicals like the Addams Family and Thoroughly Modern Millie and danced in Queer Dance Freakout since its inception in Texas in 2018! Dawn studied Dance and Musical Theatre at the North East School of the Arts and graduated with a BFA in Acting from Texas State University. In Chicago they have danced at Thalia Hall, The Den Theatre, Steppenwolf, and The High Hall. They have had their choreo featured in performances with the Chicago Dance Maker’s Forum and the Fly Honeys. In 2025, Dawn started guest teaching and choreographing at Ball State University and was featured guest choreographer with Noumenon Dance Ensemble. They are also one of the newest additions to Comedy Dance Chicago as a choreographer and dancer.

About We Got to Have Hope

This piece is interactive and you are invited to participate from your seat!

The writing you hear is a modern adaptation of the historic Hope Speech (1978) by Harvey Milk written by Dawn Heilung in collaboration with the voice actors on the piece. Parts of the choreography were devised in collaboration with the dancers on stage.

Voice Actors & Collaborators for Spoken Word: Gentle Flames (they, he), L'Raven (she, her), Lorena Torres-Garcia (they, she), Jessie Mortensen (she, her), Marin Lord (she, her), Robin Carnilius (they, them)

Inspired by Harvey Milk’s Hope speech (1979)

Written by Dawn Heilung

When I say “so what do we gotta have”

You say “we got to have hope”

I can't forget the looks on people’s faces who've lost hope.

Be they queer

be they ancestors

be they looking for an almost-impossible job,

be they TikTok-ers trying to explain their problems and aspirations in a tongue that's foreign to themselves.

I personally will never forget that people are more important than buildings.

I use the word "I" because I'm proud.

I stand here tonight in front of my queer siblings, friends, and comrades

because I'm proud of you.

I think it's time that our teachers are queer

and proud of that fact

and do not have to remain in the closet.

I think that as a trans person,

up-front,

I will not walk away from responsibility

Or be afraid of being fired from my job.

So what do we gotta have?
we got to have hope!

I’ve had my friends killed year after year

By the systems that deny us housing

And the oppressors that keep us in poverty

Killed by the hands that feed us

And the non profit industrial complex

that was supposed to save us.

I’ve seen the faces of my queer community

reaching out for some symbolic thing

that would give them hope.

So what do we gotta have?

we got to have hope!

These were strong people,

whose faces I knew from the 7/11

From the lakefront

From The city council meetings

and people who I never saw before but I knew.

They were strong,

but even they needed hope.

So what do we gotta have?

We got to have hope!

And the young queer people who are coming out

and hear the president on television

telling them they don’t deserve to exist.

The only thing they have to look forward to is hope.

So what do we gotta have?

We got to have hope!

And you have to give them hope.

Hope for a better world,

hope for a better tomorrow,

hope for a better place to come to

So what do we gotta have?

We got to have hope!

if the pressures at home are too great.

Hope that all will be all right.

Without hope,

not only queer people and trans people

but black people

the undocumented and the dreamers

our disabled family

the us'es,

the us'es will give up.

So what do we gotta have?

We got to have hope!

The more of us that engage in the revolution

the more we give a green light to all who feel disenfranchised,

a green light to move forward.

It means hope to a nation that has given up,

because if a queer person grows old

the doors are open to everyone.

So if there is a message I have to give,

it is that I've found one overriding thing about my personal journey

it's the fact that if a queer person can

stand here on stage

and wax poetical

it's a green light.

And you and you and you, you have to give the people hope.

So what do we gotta have?

We got to have hope!