A newsletter & podcast trilogy
And meet Maria Schaedler-Luera next week
May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
So I’m doing a trilogy of newsletters and podcasts dedicated to storytellers who are using the power of their stories to reduce the stigma attached to mental illness.
One of the absolutely most powerful ways to normalize mental health—which reduces the shame, guilt, and isolation of those who suffer—is by telling stories.
If you’ve been following this newsletter for any length of time, then you know my direct experience in this lane has been with CLOWNS LIKE ME, the one-man show I wrote and directed starring Scott Ehrenpreis. Scott bravely, humorously, humbly shares his lived experience, and last year’s world premiere (and filmed version!) took on such momentum that this summer we are heading Off-Broadway.
We’re also doing five preview performances of the Off-Broadway production right here in Sarasota at the Cook Theatre, May 23-26, and you can get all info and tickets (for both SRQ and NYC) HERE.
Scott will also be my guest on the PAGE&STAGE PODCAST in two weeks, as Part Three of my Mental Health Awareness Month trilogy. Part Two, next week, will be an interview with director, playwright, and anti-stigma superhero Sean Daniels.
But to kick off the trilogy this week, I’m honored to have CARRIE SEIDMAN join me for an insightful conversation about her work as a newspaper columnist and big-time advocate for normalizing mental health by telling the stories of people living with mental illness. Carrie is the wildly popular opinion columnist and dance critic over at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and her generosity and kindness are off the charts.
You can listen to her podcast episode—”It’s the Stories that Move You”—HERE.
And if you or someone you know is going through something, remember this… you are not alone.
And if you need help, start with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). They’ve got chapters all over, and resources galore.
And a quick reminder: the next IBIS BOOKS event features the phenomenal Maria Schaedler-Luera.
She’ll be reading an excerpt from her book, BE THE PROTAGONIST, before doing a q&a and then autographing copies that will be for sale (or bring your own already purchased copy and she’ll sign that one!).
This author meet’n’greet is at the Senior Friendship Center (1888 Brother Geenen Way, Sarasota, FL 34236) on Thursday, May 16, 4:30-6pm.
Admission is free and light refreshments will be provided. All you gotta do is REGISTER HERE.
Thursday, May 16, 4:30pm. Be there! And Be the Protagonist!
It’s a hard step to admit you need help. It’s a harder step to ask for help. It’s the hardest step of all to accept the help. Three descending stairs.
But once you get to that acceptance… the stairs go up.
Let’s climb them together.
Jason “Trilogy” Cannon