Nancy Parker, a New York City playwright, actress and mother of a daughter struggling with serious mental illness has written a riveting full length play. She will perform the “reading” at the Lexington Venue theatre on June 18th. This performance unravels the twisted journey taken by mother and daughter as they travel through the confusion, disappointments and struggles of coping and
learning how to “live life” ~ as a young child with a mental illness and a mother determined to advocate for her daughters medical care, ever holding onto “hope”, fighting each step of the way through the maze of treatments, programs, diagnoses and stigma.
A heavy theme for certain, yet in the artistic hands of this talented writer, actress and comedian we are carried along for an hour or so on an incredible ride. Nancy, who plays an array of characters: doctors, nurses, her daughter, herself….shifting effortlessly from one to the other in this one woman show…draws the audience in so tightly and creates a visceral experience for all, that is spiced with just the right amount of humor, at just the right time!
As a stand up comedian for more than 25 years Nancy Parker has appeared on numerous TV shows, such as Arsenio Hall, Merv Griffin and Lifetime’s Girls Night Out, to name a few. As an actress, she has appeared in an HBO special, “The Wilder Summer” and as a talented writer she has contributed material for the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the Rosie O’Donnell Show. Her daughter’s illness, starting at a young age, catapulted her into volunteering with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) in New York City where she has served as a facilitator of a Support Group for Parents of Children and Adolescents with Mental Illness for over 9 years. Her personal life experience, connection with NAMI and her unleashed theatrical talents have melded together and created ~ stigMAAAA!! Come and enjoy the show.
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This free special performance is made possible by the generous gift of the use of the Lexington Venue and sponsored by the joint efforts of the NAMI Central Middlesex and NAMI Greater North Shore Affiliates. Donations to be collected: gifted to NAMI to support the free “NAMI Basics” education classes for families of children and adolescents with mental illness. Come early for good seats!
