Orland Park Resident Premieres Play to Open Dialogue on Mental Health

Dana Hall, Orland Park resident and award-winning playwright premieres her play, Refracted Light, in Chicago at The Edge Theater, performed by Eclectic Full Contact Theater, and runs 8/29/25-9/28/25. This premiere is especially timely. With September recognized as Suicide Awareness Month and Illinois becoming one of the first states to promote mental health screenings for school-aged children, now is the moment to raise community awareness and encourage dialogue around prevention and support.
This play is opening to rave reviews and has already been recognized nationally, winning honors such as New Works of Merit, AACT semi-finalist, publication with Smith & Kraus, Best Psychological Screenplay at the Chicago Theatre Awards, Women’s International Film Festival, and Best Stage Play, among others.
But more important than the accolades is the story itself. Refracted Light is an honest, unflinching look at mental health, bipolar disorder, and the painful reality that individuals living with bipolar disorder are 10–30 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. These are difficult truths, but silence only increases the danger. The play blends humor, love, and raw honesty to open the door to conversations that too many families struggle to have. This show feels like it pulls back the curtains on the regular struggles of a middle-class family, and we watch our own lives unfold on stage.
Playwright Dana Hall, who is also a mental health therapist, adds, "What makes Refracted Light unique is that it is both female-centered and healing-focused, something still too rare in theater. It’s messy, it’s real, and it’s ultimately about hope. It may not be for everyone, but it is especially for those who feel unseen, for those who have quietly carried these struggles, and for those who've said, “Thank you for saying the words out loud.” If even one person walks away feeling less alone or more willing to seek help, then this work has been worth it."

“Refracted Light” was developed in workshops over the course of a year as part of EFCT’S New Works Development Project. A family faces the upheaval of change as their daughter prepares to leave for college. Struggling with mental health challenges and the weight of the unknown, each family member is forced to confront their fears, failures, and deep connections. Refracted Light is a heartfelt exploration of resilience, love, and the ways we bend without breaking.

The cast includes Jessica Lauren Fisher as Lucy (pictured), Zach Kunde as Ted, Jamie Lee as Penny, Kim Buck as Becky, Charles Schoenherr as Dr. Daker(pictured), Claire Rutkowski (Lucy u/s), Michael Galbincea (Ted u/s), Maya Pauletta (Penny u/s), Jillian Mueller (Becky u/s) and Paul Chakrin (Dr. Daker u/s)

For more information about the playwright visit: DanaHallCreates.com
Licensing information: Refracted Light | Dana Hall
For ticket information visit Eclectic Full Contact Theater: http://eclectic-theatre.com