they are living the revolution!

Mental illness is often a secret kept in the family, a source of self-recrimination, shame, and a sense of isolation for those afflicted. The stigma that surrounds issues of mental health is being actively challenged by the Fisher Players, a troupe of adults from southwest detroit. Their new play opened this past weekend, and I encourage you - if you're anywhere near detroit - to go and see the play this coming weekend. It is their best work yet, and I could not be more proud of them. Their history is full of stories about audiences moved to offer tearful "thank you's" to the Players for helping them either to understand or to talk about the mental illness that affects their lives or their families.

I am also happy to announce that the Fisher Players' successes have not gone unnoticed; inspired by their work, a new group has formed in Bowling Green, Ohio, to perform the first play written by the Fisher Players. When that first production is done, they will begin creating original pieces in the model of Players. I know this, because I attended a discussion between the two groups this Sunday past after a matinee show.

I also recently learned that the Fisher Players' impact on stigma has been researched by clinical psychologists, and the work causes a measurable decrease in stigma in an audience both immediately following a production and that decrease is sustained for at least 30 days following.

To have been the Fisher Players' founding director and to be able to work with them again today is one of the things I am most proud of in my life. If you get the chance, see the new show! Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 4 p.m., 2730 Bagley. (313) 967-0999 for reservations and directions.