Jonathan Shew, Kendra Kassebaum and Joe Cassidy from Next to Normal production by Arizona Theatre Company. Photo: Tim Fuller/ATC
The math surrounding mental illness is startling. Experts report that 1 in 5 Americans are living with a mental health disorder, something you’ll likely hear more about in coming days as mental health advocates recognize National Mental Health Awareness Week, established by Congress in 1990. It’s held the first full week in October, and runs Oct. 7-13 this year.
A pair of theater works heading to Valley stages this month are especially well-timed. Arizona Theatre Company performs “Next to Normal” Oct. 11-28 at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix. It’s a musical that imagines the life of a family facing both a mother’s bipolar illness and the death of a young son. Theatre Artists Studio performs “Proof” Oct. 19-Nov. 4 at its Scottsdale studio. The play imagines the adult daughter of a mathematical genius wondering whether she’s inherited her father’s madness.
Actress Glenn Close advocates alongside those living with mental illness through an organization called Bring Change 2 Mind. Her sister Jessie Close, diagnosed less than a decade ago after living nearly her whole lifetime with bipolar disorder, is one of two featured speakers (along with Andrew J. Sperling, J.D.) for a 30th anniversary celebration for NAMI Southern Arizona dubbed “Unmasking Mental Illness.” The event takes place Sat., Oct. 13 at Loews Ventana Canyon in Tucson.
The National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) in Arizona presents “NAMI Walks” Oct. 20 at the Arizona State Capitol. Registration starts at 10:30am and the walk begins at 11:45am. If the math works, consider a donation to support the walk — or an organization of your choice working to improve the lives of America’s 1 in 5.
— Lynn
Note: Click here to explore ongoing offerings from Art Awakenings, which provides people living with mental illness with diverse arts experiences
Coming up: Dance meets dinosaur?, Before there was “Family Guy”
Stage Mom Musings 
Seeing N2N in a week and a half. I can’t wait!
It is such a powerful and moving play. Both thumbs up! And the actors are completly AMAZING!