"Call Me Crazy: Diary of a Mad Social Worker" Live At Kumble Theater

Helena D. Lewis’ “Call Me Crazy: Diary of a Mad Social Worker” makes a much anticipated return to New York’s Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts on the Sept. 23 – Oct. 1.

In this comedic, autobiographical, one-woman play, Lewis—a certified alcohol, drug and HIV/AIDS counselor—recalls her experiences running a drop-in center for prostitutes, helping HIV-positive male inmates, and working with staff members who sometimes need more help than the clients.

Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts is located on Flatbush Avenue, between DeKalb Avenue and Willoughby Street in Downtown Brooklyn. Performance dates are: Friday, Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 24 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 25 at 4 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 2 at 4 p.m.

Tickets for “Call Me Crazy: Diary of a Mad Social Worker” are $20; $18 for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased online at www.kumbletheater.org or by calling (718) 488-1624.

 After being assigned more work than she can handle, Lewis has a nervous breakdown and is committed for psychiatric observation.  While restrained, Lewis launches a plan to escape, taking the audience on a moving journey portraying 25 different characters.

“These are the crazy stories that social workers probably sit around with their peers and talk about, but now I’m telling the whole world,” Lewis said.  “I don’t think social service providers get recognized for the work that we do.  We get paid the least amount to deal with the most important commodity in the world—human life.”

Helena D. Lewis received a Bachelors degree in biology from Rutgers University. She was a member of the Nuyorican Poets Café 2000 National Slam Team and has performed with various groups including Nubian Expressions, Uninhibited Theater Company and the New Jersey First Wave Slam Team. Lewis is the author of the poetry collection “From the Gut.” “Call Me Crazy: Diary of a Mad Social Worker” was Festival Pick at the 2010 Washington, DC Black Theater Festival.

You can see clips from the show here: http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/hollywood-connection/exclusive-a-scene-from-call-me-crazy-diary-of-a-mad-social-worker.html.