Turning Point Partners with Erasing the Distance on 'Tell Me What You Remember'

Turning Point Behavioral Health Care Center CEO Ann Fisher Raney announced today that the award-winning outpatient mental health center will serve as the clinical partner for Chicago-based Erasing the Distance on a new project about depression in families entitled Tell Me What You Remember. The world premiere stage production runs Mondays and Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 & 16 at Filament Theatre, 4041 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago. More information is available at www.tpoint.org or www.erasingthedistance.org.

Erasing the Distance (ETD) uses the power of performance to disarm stigma, spark dialogue, educate and promote healing surrounding issues of mental health. The company utilizes both volunteers and ETD company members to collect stories from real people struggling with a variety of mental health issues. The stories are then shaped into performance based on verbatim transcripts and brought to life by professional actors.

Every performance will be followed by a talkback moderated by ETD Founder/Executive Artistic Director Brighid O’Shaughnessy and Turning Point CEO Ann Fisher Raney, LCSW, BCD. Members of Turning Point’s counseling staff will work with the director and cast to develop processes for feeling grounded and supported as they explore and perform the challenging subject matter. Turning Point will also create a “Depression in Families Toolkit” containing mental health facts and information on accessing community resources.

“Bringing to life these true stories on stage is a tremendous gift and honor that can be both incredibly rewarding as well as emotionally taxing on our artists,” said Erasing the Distance Founder and Executive Artistic Director, Brighid O’Shaughnessy. “We are thrilled at the opportunity to integrate the clinical expertise and professional guidance of the staff at Turning Point into our process.”

Representatives of Erasing the Distance presented a sampling of collected stories on Sept. 22nd for a large group of Turning Point staff, board members and clients. The program featured five monologues covering topics ranging from alcohol and substance abuse to bipolar disorder and the emotional impact of homelessness, and was followed by a question and answer session.

”Our staff and clients expressed tremendous gratitude for the work of Erasing the Distance,” said Turning Point CEO Ann Fisher Raney. “We feel the stories they present to the public illustrate in a visceral way the ‘turning point’ that many of our clients experience on their road to recovery. We look forward to honoring their work and advancing our own commitment to public education and advocacy for mental health care access.”

Tell Me What You Remember is being co-produced by Erasing the Distance and Rebecca’s Dream, in clinical partnership with Turning Point, December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, and 16, 7:30 p.m. at Filament Theatre, 4041 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago. Tickets are $15 for students/seniors, $20 in advance and $25 at the door and includes the post-show conversation and Turning Point’s “Depression in Families Toolkit”. More information is available at www.tpoint.org.