But Today I am fine

By Ying Ying Li

Directed by Jessica O’Hara Baker

Performances

Saturday, march 7 at 2pm–theatresquared

Saturday, march 14 at 7pm–TheatreSquared

About the play

A coming-of-age story of one woman’s motherhood, told in a series of scenes which are in turns poignant, unserious, and always the messy truth. Exhausted and sleep-deprived, she tells her life story with humor, vulnerability, and a touch of provocation. As she traces her path, she's astonished how much her childhood experiences have shaped the mother she has—fortunately?—become.

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT

Ying Ying Li was born in Beijing and grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She came to America to attend Yale Law School and practiced corporate law in NYC before restarting her life as a writer and performer. She has been a Colt Coeur Resident Artist (2024-2025), a New York Theater Workshop 2050 Artistic Fellow (2023-2024), and a member of The Public Theater's Emerging Writers Group (2020-2023). She is currently a 2025-2026 Artistic Resident at the cell, a Colt Coeur company member, a writer in the Parent/Caregiver Playwrights Group, and a member of the 2026 Relentless Award Subcommittee. Full-length plays include This Could Be You (Spotlight Series at The Public, NYTW workshop), Dance Moms (Premiere Play Festival semi-finalist, NEA grant recipient), and the solo show But Today I Am Fine (The Venturous Play List, workshopped at NYTW and the cell). Her work has been commissioned by Project Y, and developed or seen at The Public, NYTW, The Tank, Boomerang Theatre, Rule of 7x7, Decent Company, Yes Noise, The Brick, and on The Highline (so many helicopters, lesson learned). Her humor writing and videos have appeared in publications such as the New York Times, Buzzfeed, Wired, MSN, Lifehacker, Men’s Health, and Mental Floss. She has two small delicious children.