Hello Stigma Busters supporters!
BONKERS! is being remounted!
Please join us for this FREE Show! Fabulous door prizes!
Tuesday, April 3, 7:00 p.m.
Alumni Auditorium
University Centre
University of Ottawa
(near Laurier St. West and Cumberland)
By Linda O'Neil
Directed by Lauren Lacroix
Featuring Emilie Creede, Chelsea Edgell,Jasmine Hasselback, Nathan McNeil, Nozithelo Ncube, Crystal Riley and Anna Vetter
Presented by the uOttawa Health Services Stress Team.
Thanks for putting on our show!
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About BONKERS!
In the tradition of Studs Terkel’s “Working”, BONKERS! consists of a series of interlocking monologues. It features six main characters – three members of a mental health support group, a sympathetic but puzzled brother, a social worker who’s changing the system, and a hospital chaplain who respects doubt as well as faith – as they share stories of struggle, spiritual questioning and hope. Comic relief is provided by two comics who serve up psychiatric jokes and groaners at the beginning and end of the show.
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WHAT IS STIGMA BUSTERS?
Stigma Busters Productions is a non-profit enterprise dedicated to promoting mental health and reducing the stigma of mental illness through the arts. It was launched by Linda O'Neil, a long-time mental health activist and volunteer, in 2004.
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Other News
In March 2007 Stigma Busters was proud to support Brett Desrosiers' team in the Ottawa Theatre Challenge.
Read on for more news of past productions...
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STIGMA BUSTERS IN 2005
Media Release - Sept. 19, 2005
MAD ABOUT THE ARTS presents "BONKERS!"
for Mental Illness Awareness Week 2005
Mad About the Arts Stigma Busters Productions will again offer a unique blend of entertainment, consciousness raising and "stigma busting" during Mental Illness Awareness Week with a presentation of “BONKERS!”, a one-act play.
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 7, 2005 at 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: St. Paul University, 233 Main St. in the Amphitheatre, Guigues Hall, Ottawa.
ADMISSION: Regular admission is $10. Pay-what-you-can for mental heath consumers.
ADDITIONAL INFO: Free parking, on the No. 5 bus route.
THE STORY
In the tradition of Studs Terkel’s “Working”, BONKERS! consists of a series of interlocking monologues. It features six main characters – three members of a mental health support group, a sympathetic but puzzled brother, a social worker who’s changing the system, and a hospital chaplain who respects doubt as well as faith – as they share stories of struggle, spiritual questioning and hope. Comic relief is provided by two comics who serve up psychiatric jokes and groaners at the beginning and end of the show.
The play is directed by Brett Marie Desrosiers and written and produced by Linda O’Neil. It premiered at the Ottawa Fringe Festival in June 2005.
Mad About the Arts is a coalition of Ottawa-based mental health agencies, consumers, arts organizations and interested community members. It organizes or sponsors art and cultural events with the aim of increasing public awareness about mental health issues and promoting sensitivity, acceptance and support for those who experience mental health problems.
Stigma Busters Productions is a non-profit enterprise dedicated to promoting mental health and reducing the stigma of mental illness through the arts. It was launched by Linda O'Neil, a long-time mental health activist and volunteer, in 2004.
For more information contact:
Francine Page, Mad About the Arts
Canadian Mental Health Association
737-7791 ext. 124
fpage@cmhaottawa.ca
Linda O’Neil, Playwright/Founder
Stigma Busters Productions
stigmabusters@yahoo.org
www.stigmabusters.org
Marie Desrosiers, Director
spudnick50@hotmail.com
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WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT “BONKERS!”
“Another super de-stigmatizing vehicle from Stigma Busters!”
(Renée Ouimet, Canadian Mental Health Association, Ottawa Branch)
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“Though it can be hard to demystify mental health challenges, especially in an entertaining way, Linda O’Neil’s BONKERS! manages to do so, from the opening psychiatric jokes that put the audience at ease, to the characters who speak poignantly about their hopes and fears. Mad About the Arts is pleased to again support Stigma Busters Productions in its goal of promoting good mental health and reducing the stigma of mental illness."
(Francine Page, Mad About the Arts)
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“I saw parts of myself and what I’ve gone through in every scene…the characters and situations realistically reflect a cross section of what people with mental health problems are dealing with…”
(B., Member of a mental health support group)
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“An honest and sensitive look at the challenges faced by people who struggle with mental illness – and the friends and family who try so hard to support them, often without the support they need themselves. BONKERS! will help both groups to better understand and appreciate each other’s experiences.”
(M., spouse of a person with a mood disorder)
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“Seeing the kinds of situations I face every day on stage is a powerful and emotional experience – sometimes releasing sad memories, but also inspiring and empowering. I hope everyone from my support group will have the chance to see it. I also liked the jokes! ”
(L., diagnosed with major depression)
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“BONKERS! opened my eyes to a world I knew little about but could still relate to. It made me realize how “ordinary” and “normal” people who have mental health problems are, and how depression or anxiety could affect anyone. It’s made me more aware of how suffering and the courage to overcome obstacles are shared by every human being.”
(S., general public)
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CAST AND CREW
Stigma Busters is delighted to announce the following cast and crew for 2005:
CALEB ALLARD (Stage manager, Mad About the Arts production)
SASHA CHARNLEY (Comic 1)
Sasha Charnley is an Ottawa U. Theatre student. She performs stand-up at Yuk Yuk’s on New Talent Night under the stage name “Sasha Jones.” She was thrilled to find out that she would be playing a comic in BONKERS! Acting and stand-up are her two major loves.
BRETT DESROSIERS (Director,)
Brett is excited to be part of Stigma Busters at the Fringe for the second year in a row. She is happy to be working with Linda again, and grateful to have such a diverse and talented cast for BONKERS! Everyone is amazing! Brett also dabbles in acting. She has appeared in numerous plays for the Algonquin and U. of Ottawa Theatre departments as well as being a part of Eddie May Murder Mysteries. She recently appeared in the n EW World Theatre Project’s production of Trainspotting. Brett hopes to one day create her own theatre company based on physical comedy.
DOROTHY CHARBONNEAU (Kelly, mental health volunteer))
Dorothy is delighted to be performing at the Fringe for the first time. She can normally be found roaming the halls of the Ottawa Little Theatre where she most recently appeared as Amanda Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie. As always, Dorothy would like to thank the usual suspects for their support and encouragement.
BRANDON GROVES (Ryan, Julie’s boyfriend))
Brandon is thankful to Brett to giving him this amazing role. He bows to Brett in awe. Brandon is mesmerized by Brett and her greatness. (He didn’t write his own bio). Brandon is studying at Ottawa U. in the Theatre program. He’s in awe of Linda too!
LANDON HICKS (Josh, Julie’s brother)
Landon Hicks grew up in the tiny village of Appleton. He spent years reading, watching movies, in acting for film and TV classes and in Smiths Falls community theatre. He has also been a competitive motocross racer, rock and roll singer in a band, and an ESL teacher in Korea. Landon recently spent two years in Humber College's Acting For Film and TV program. He describes himself in his debut in BONKERS! as a matured but slightly disturbed actor.
ILONA JONES (Julie, artist)
Ilona is delighted to be working with Stigma Busters and taking part in the Ottawa Fringe Festival. She is in her final year of theater at the University of Ottawa. She has been seen on stage in Ottawa in such productions as: Masses and Man, The Intruder, The Cherry Orchard, and Adonis for Sale.
CARYL McKAY (Lynn, social worker)
During foreign service postings with her husband, Caryl acted in Milan, Hong Kong and New Delhi, and studied acting, improv, and voice in New York, Toronto, and Ottawa. Recent appearances include The Great Divide, Last Summer (New Ottawa Repertory Theatre); The Women, Cabaret, Act Out Theatre); Icy Meadows (Ottawa Fringe), Separate Tables, Last
Night of Ballyhoo, (Ottawa Little Theatre), A Little Night Music (Orpheus), Bea’s Niece (Theatre Night at Merrickville), The Ideal Husband and The School for Scandal (Tara Players). Caryl directed Red Roses and Petrol for Tara Players (2005, Amateurs (2003) and The Betrothal (2004) for OLT, and assisted in Manhattan Je Vous Dis (NORT), and was Director’s Assistant for The Barber of Seville (Odyssey Theatre).
BRENDAN McNALLY (Chris, the Chaplain)
Brendan is thrilled to be working with Stigma Busters for the first time. He is a graduate of the Intensive Scriptwriting program of Algonquin College, and most recently appeared on stage with director Brett Desrosiers in the New World Theatre Project production of Trainspotting as Begbie.
LINDA O’NEIL (Playwright, Producer)
Linda is an Ottawa writer and editor and the founder of Stigma Busters. Linda has been a mental health volunteer and advocate for many years. BONKERS! expresses her admiration for those who struggle with and survive severe mental health problems. In addition to consulting and playwriting, she works in Public Education with the Canadian Mental Health Association.
JEREMY ROSE (Stage Manager, Ottawa Fringe Festival)
Jeremy is thrilled to again be working Linda and Brett for Stigma Busters. This is his second year at the Fringe as Stage Manager. He is a graduate of the Television Broadcast program at Algonquin. Jeremy likes puppies.
JOSH SPARKS (Comic 2)
Josh just finished performing in The Pleasure of his Company and Ottawa Little Theatre. He’s very excited to take on the mysterious erotic role of Comic #2. Josh has been singing/performing since February and after Bonkers he plans to sit down for ten minutes and maybe have a glass of water.
MICHEL ROSS (Original music)
Michel is studying piano performance at Ottawa U. He has created and scored a few short films and has plans for a full-length film in the near future. Michel directs the Ottawa Baha’i Choir, and plays jazz piano with the Nepean All-City Jazz Band.
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May 2005
"BONKERS!" PREMIERES AT THE OTTAWA FRINGE FESTIVAL 2005
"BONKERS!", a new one act play by Stigma Busters’ founder Linda O'Neil premiered at the 2005 Ottawa Fringe Festival, with six performances between June 17 and 26.
The play was presented at Studio Leonard Bealne on the University of Ottawa campus, a smaller and more intimate location than last year’s.
SHOW TIMES
FRI. JUNE 17 – 10 pm (two admissions for the price of one)
SAT. JUNE 18 – 5:30 pm
SUN. JUNE 19 – 1:30 pm
THURS. JUNE 23 - 7:00 pm
SAT. JUNE 25 – 11:00 pm
SUN. JUNE 26 – 2:30 pm.
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ABOUT THE FRINGE FESTIVAL, 2005
The Fringe is a celebration of the arts, guided by the philosophy that the nature of art is not to be decided by anyone but the artists themselves. Local, national and international artists are provided with a venue to showcase their work without interference in the creative process.
Known as "The Mighty Fringe", the 2005 Festival again featured dozens of plays, as well as musical and artistic presentation and workshops, presented on the University of Ottawa Campus and Arts Court.
The Festival ran from June 16 to 26. For more information, contact www.ottawafringe.com.
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ABOUT STIGMA BUSTERS
STIGMA BUSTERS PRODUCTIONS is a non-profit enterprise dedicated to promoting mental health and reducing the stigma of mental illness through the arts. It was launched by Linda O'Neil in 2004. She is currently playwright, producer and funder! Linda hopes to eventually pursue funding and obtain charitable status for Stigma Busters. There is no permanent theatre company. Actors are solicited for each production. When possible, cast and crew receive an honorarium for their work.
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STIGMA BUSTERS IN 2004
"WHAT GOES AROUND" REMOUNTED IN OTTAWA FOR MENTAL ILLNESS AWARENESS WEEK
Stigma Busters Productions is pleased to announce that Mad About the Arts will present two performances of "What Goes Around" on Monday, Oct. 4 at the Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Ave at Lisgar St., Ottawa. (the former Immaculata High School).
There will be PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN PERFORMANCES at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. It is hoped that this will afford many mental health consumers the opportunity to attend.
These performances are being presented in recognition of Mental Illness Awareness Week.
For more information about the play, see the information below, which was prepared for the Ottawa Fringe Festival, where "What Goes Around" premiered in June, 2004.
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"WHAT GOES AROUND" AT OTTAWA FRINGE FESTIVAL, JUNE 2004
ARE YOU READY FOR STIGMA BUSTING THEATRE?
“What Goes Around”, a play about surviving depression and growing through hard times, was presented at the 2004 Ottawa Fringe Festival between June 19 and 26, 2004 at Academic Hall. It’s the first production of Stigma Busters, a theatre and publishing initiative dedicated to raising the profile of mental health issues, reducing the stigma of mental illness, and promoting self-expression among people who experience mental health problems.
THE STORY
The play tells the story of 20-something Lisa, who wakes up one morning on the pyschiatric ward with a diagnosis of clinical depression. With the help of her feisty sister, she struggles with self-doubt, stigma, an unsupportive environment and inadequate health care system, and comes out a stronger person for the experience.
In the course of this fast-paced one-hour play we meet Lisa’s parents, boyfriend, psychiatrist, and members of a support group that befriend her, among others. Fourteen roles are played by the six actors. Despite the essentially serious theme, there are many comic moments.
“What Goes Around” was written by Linda O’Neil, an Ottawa writer/editor and playwright and long time mental health volunteer and advocate. “Nearly all the members of the artistic team and cast have a personal, professional or family connection to mental health problems.“ says Linda. “I couldn't hope for a more committed group – whether in terms of providing great entertainment or helping the public learn something about mental health problems and the daily challenges faced by those who struggle through them."
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WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT "WHAT GOES AROUND"
“There’s a serious performance called “What Goes Around” ... It’s presented by a new group called Stigma Busters Productions of Ottawa …a theatre group founded by Linda O’Neil who also wrote the play. She’s a mental health advocate and the play is about a young woman who wakes up one day on the psychiatric ward because she has suffered from depression and she spends the rest of the play putting her life back together.
“It’s interesting theatrically, because they bring in all kinds of specific techniques so they make it interesting as well as informative. She [Linda O’Neil] wants to educate the public about certain mental health problems that carry stigmas. The point then is to bust stigmas as the company’s name suggests. I’ve never seen anything like this before at the Fringe, it’s something quite new. I’ve never seen them deal with this kind of question before.”
Alvina Ruprecht, CBC Radio One, June 21, 2004
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“A super de-stigmatizing vehicle!”
Renée Ouimet
Public Education, Canadian Mental Health Association
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“The characters represent all the facets of attitudes out there – the generational as well as the class stigma, the support groups, the hospitals… an extremely balanced and positive representation. The characters are real and the stories are those we have heard over and over again about the reaction people get when it appears they are living and/or struggling with a mental illness.”
Alexandra Keay-Murray
Mad About the Arts
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"Just wanted to let you know...how much I appreciated the content and impact of your play. It was well constructed, moved very well, gave so very much valuable information on the issues, experience, and consequences of depression, and was presented in a way that people could learn a great deal in a manner much easier than reading a book or going to a workshop. Let me know of anything else that Stigma Busters is doing."
Dr. M.E.F., psychologist
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“Linda O’Neil’s characters are true to life and mental health consumers will recognize themselves in every step along the way. "What Goes Around" provides non- consumer/survivors with a realistic view of what it is to suffer from a mental health problem, and to overcome the obstacles to survive it. Humorous at times, at others times poignant, "What Goes Around" is an honest and unassuming work based in suffering and growth.”
R., mental health consumer/survivor
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"'What Goes Around' is an inspiring and important piece of theatre and education. In a single hour, Linda O’Neil manages to cover numerous challenges and issues faced by someone dealing with a mental health problem. Her characters have a candor that will resonate with mental health consumers and those in relationship with them... a touching and powerful creative experience."
B., mental health worker, and mental health consumer
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“I love the gentleness with which the drama offers the audience an education – how the raw information is worked in in a wonderful, subtle way.”
S., family member of mental health consumer
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ARTISTIC TEAM, FRINGE FESTIVAL 2004
BRETT DESROSIERS (Director)
Brett is excited to tackle the important issue of mental health and working with Linda and the talented cast of "What Goes Around". Brett is a graduate of Algonquin College'S Theatre Art Program and she is currently enrolled in the University of Ottawa's Theatre Program as well. Brett's past directing credits include: Sheep, Lemmings, and Other Tales From The Office (ACTA ), Pobody's Nerfect (ACTA), Kill the Computer (NAC Hothouse), and assistant director for Masses and Man (ACTA). Brett also dabbles in a little acting as well. She was seen as the Inspector in Dogg's Hamlet, Cahoot's Macbeth (ACTA), Anya in The Cherry Orchard (ACTA), Girl in Wintersleep (ACTA), Agent X in Qui Bono (NAC Hothouse), P.D. Janes in Murder By The Book (Eddie May Mysteries), and Cindy Whitebread in I Know What You Did Last Christmas (Eddie May). Brett hopes to one day create her own theatre company based on physical comedy.
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MAYUMI (MAY)GOMI (Assistant Stage Manager)
May brings stage/audio production experiences in student theatre, the Urban Music Festival and the Ottawa Folk Festival to her work as Assistant Stage Manager with "What Goes Around". In addition to broad experience in amateur acting, improv, singing, and modern jazz dance, she’s done a variety of jobs in television production for Rogers Community television. On the advocacy front, she has worked with the Mental Health Unit of Family Services Ottawa to foster awareness about mental health issues and confront the problem of stigma, and welcomes the opportunity to further this work through Stigma Busters.
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MAYSA HADDAD (Lisa)
Maysa is pleased to be back at the Fringe Festival to perform in Stigma Buster's first show, "What Goes Around". Her most recent appearance was in Tara Players' Amphibians. Past theatrical productions include the Ottawa School of Speech and Drama’s Spring Awakening and the Ottawa premiere of Tony 'n Tina's Wedding, an Arts Court fundraiser. Maysa has also appeared in independent films.
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JESSICA LEROUX (Michelle)
Jessica has been performing since her teen years, and has channelled her passion for the stage into Theatre studies at the University of Ottawa. She hopes to one day be a Broadway star (“waitressing job included”).
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LINDA O’NEIL (Author, Producer)
Linda has been an Ottawa writer/editor for more than 25 years, with a background in journalism. Since taking Algonquin’s Intensive Scriptwriting program last year, she has written three plays and undertaken many other scriptwriting projects. She is proud to work with Brett and the committed actors in "What Goes Around", her first Fringe Festival play and the first production of Stigma Busters, which she created in 2004. Linda has been a mental health volunteer and advocate for many years. "What Goes Around" has allowed her to combine her artistic talents with her support and admiration for those who struggle with severe ongoing mental health problems. The play is dedicated to “all the Bevs” – in Lisa’s words, the people who “have really been through the mill and haven’t given up” and who have “made the best of a really tough life.”
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ALLAN MELTZER (Father, Mood Disorders Association President, Andrew)
Writer and musician Allan Meltzer got his first theatrical break in 1998 when then finance minister, Paul Martin, presented him with an offer he couldn’t refuse – early retirement. Since then he’s performed with Tara Players and many other theatre companies around Ottawa. In 2000, Allan was named the Eastern Ontario Drama League’s One-Act Festival’s best supporting male actor in a Tara production of W.B Yeats’ Kathleen ni Houlihan.
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NATHALIE PAQUIN (Dr. Benton, Chantal)
Nathalie studied music for many years back in her hometown, Montreal, before taking theatre classes at such schools as St Laurent CEGEP, Maisonneuve CEGEP, and Yannick Auer School of Theatre. She has also participated in many other workshops. Nathalie has mainly worked as a background performer in American movies such as The Sum of All Fears and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, and the Québec TV series Duceppe, Fortier and Les Bougons, among others. "What Goes Around" is Nathalie`s fourth theatre appearance and her first in English.
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JEREMY ROSE (Stage Manager)
Jeremy is a graduate of Algonquin College’s Television Broadcasting program. With What Goes Around, he brings his experience in camera work and technical work in film and television to the theatrical world for the first time. He is thrilled to be working with Stigma Busters.
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JOSH SPARKS (Greg, Kevin)
Josh was last seen in Amphibians with the Tara Players, where, coincidently, he also played opposite Maysa Haddad. Josh also appeared in Feiffer’s People at the University of Ottawa. This is Josh’s second appearance at the Fringe Festival following One Room’s Theatre’s production of Antigone.
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BARB WINTHROP (Mother, Bev)
Barb was bitten by the acting bug in high school and has since been involved in various community theatre groups in Ottawa. Barb has performed in a number of Nepean Little Theatre productions including: The Mouse That Roared, The Twelve Pound Look (a contender in the Eastern Ontario One Act Drama Festival) and the lead in NLT's Wrong For Each Other, which was also later entered in the Perth Theatre Festival. Her latest involvement was in Lakeside Players production of a pantomime entitled Hickory, Dickory Dock. As an actor and as a health care professional working 15 years in the area of mental health, it is with great pride that Barb is involved in this Stigma Busters' production of "What Goes Around".
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STIGMA BUSTERS is located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
