2010-2011 Annual Newsletter

Shedding light on mental health issues through theatre

Erasing the Distance: A Year in the Life Annual Newsletter July 2010 – June 2011

A Note From the Executive Artistic Director Dear Supporters, It’s been a full and exciting year at Erasing the Distance. In many ways, it has been a year of partnerships.

We began our Fall of 2010 with a partnership with AASPI (the Asian American Suicide Prevention Initiative). Together we brought to life a beautiful multi-media event shedding light on how mental health issues affect the Asian and Indian communities. In addition to the performance, ETD Artistic Associate Meredith Siemsen created a multi-lingual, interactive art installation and visual artist Alfred Li Tsao showcased his stunning work. The show was such a success that it was remounted in March of 2011 for three days at the University of Illinois Chicago and will see more audiences in 2012!

Next, we worked closely with Affinity Community Services on Chicago’s South Side to bring to life a brand new violence prevention initiative. From each of our organizations’ programming, we knew there was a link between violence and mental health and wanted to creatively respond. This exciting endeavor included a community forum, an original performance at the Vittum Theater, and free violence prevention workshops for the general public offered in collaboration with some of Chicago’s most respected agencies, such as Rainbow House and Cease Fire.

In the Spring, we premiered an original production brought to life for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, done in collaboration with Community Counseling Centers of Chicago’s Quetzal Center and Center on Halsted. The house was full that night, and we even had The Clothesline Project featured in COH’s lobby to deepen the impact of the event.

The season completed with an exciting partnership between Erasing the Distance and The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Graduate students learned the ETD methodology, sculpted stories into monologues, and six were chosen for a final performance at the prestigious Chicago Cultural Center. 300 people were in the audience. We received a standing ovation, and one of our storytellers even got up and shared his slam poetry during the talk back.

I speak to partnerships because without them, none of what Erasing the Distance did this year would have been possible.

Together with these amazing collaborators and many, many others, we combined our creativity, commitment, and courage to have a powerful impact.

We also couldn’t have done it without you — our storytellers, our audiences, our volunteers, and our donors. Thank you for your partnership. We look forward to many more years of it to come.

Warmest Regards,

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Brighid O’Shaughnessy Founder/Executive Artistic Director Erasing the Distance

Who We Are Founded in 2005 and now seen by over 26,000 people, Erasing the Distance is a non-profit arts organization that sheds light on mental health issues through theatre.

Vision: To be a national creative leader in generating

ETD for Hire Erasing the Distance has a repertoire of over 40 true stories covering a wide range of topics related to mental health issues.

Our stories feature people of all different ages, ethnic and racial groups, genders, sexual orientations, and perspectives. We even have a few stories in Spanish!

insight and compassion around issues of mental health.

Mission: To use the power of performance to disarm stigma, spark dialogue, educate, and promote healing surrounding issues of mental health.

These stories are brought to life by our professional actors at various organizations across the state and country. See below for a list of the many places at which ETD performed this past year.

What an impactful way to stimulate conversation around topics and issues we all face in some form. Very beautiful and positive—and real.

—audience member

Values: Central to the accomplishment of our mission and vision is a commitment to the following core values: π Collaboration π Compassion π Courageous Communication π Excellence π Sustainability You can expect to find these values in our words and actions.

What We Do π Gather,

transcribe and sculpt true stories from people impacted by mental health issues into theatrical pieces for the stage.

π Present

high quality, professional theatre productions for the general public.

Colorado State University

Elgin Mental Health Center

University of Chicago

Marsh Elementary School

Indiana Association of Behavioral Health Consultants Annual Conference DCFS Latino Family Institute Conference

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Dominican University

Latin School of Chicago Loyola Academy B’Nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim Alexian Brothers Hospital

Ohio Wesleyan University

University of Illinois Chicago

Loyola University

Illinois School Social Workers Conference First United Methodist Church at Chicago Temple

Chicago High School for the Arts

Congregation Rodfei Zedek

Greater Humboldt Park’s Community of Wellness Behavioral Health Forum Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute’s Community Mental Health Conference

Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture

Whitney Young High School Adler School of Professional Psychology

π Offer

custom performances to enliven meetings, conferences, events, and curriculum for organizations and schools around the country.

π Lead

outreach programs that provide youth with an opportunity to explore, share and perform their own mental health stories.

π Teach

our unique methodology of gathering true stories and transforming them into performance pieces.

How We Do It Erasing the Distance programming has three primary branches: ETD for Hire, Custom Productions, and Outreach and Education. Read on for more information about each of these vital areas of our organization.

Call 773.856.3455 or email brighid@erasingthedistance.org to bring Erasing the Distance to YOUR community!

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Custom Productions

ETD TO HOST FIRST ARTISTIC SEASON! Beginning in 2012, Erasing the Distance will offer an artistic season of shows so that more people can witness our work and join the conversation about issues of mental health. The productions will be performed over a series of nights by members of our professional acting ensemble and will occur in partnership with major mental health organizations that will offer training to the actors, referrals, and clinical support to any audience members who need it.

Erasing the Distance creates or co-designs custom shows for communities and organizations interested in exploring mental health from different perspectives.

ETD staged FIVE world premieres during this past year!

Here is a brief glimpse into each.

Stay tuned…more info to come!

Falling Petals OCT. 2, 2010 Created in collaboration with The Asian American Suicide Prevention Initiative and staged at The Theatre Building (now Stage 773), Falling Petals featured stories exploring how mental health issues and suicide impact the Asian and Indian communities.

The show also featured an interactive, multi-lingual art exhibit by Meredith Siemsen and visual art by Alfred Li Tsao. Falling Petals was remounted in March 2011 at University of Illinois in Chicago and will be performed a third time in 2012.

Stronger Than Silence: surviving our secrets

right :

Art by Alfred Li Tsao below :

Art by Meredith Siemsen

APR. 28, 2011 This custom collaboration with C4 Quetzal Center featured four stories about the mental effects of sexual assault and was staged in the Hoover-Leppen Theater at Center on Halsted as part of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

What You’re Not Expecting When You’re Expecting OCT. 27, 2010 Two real mothers’ stories compared the differences between storybook expectations of motherhood and the actual reality of post-partum depression. Featuring a panel of health experts, the show was staged at Flourish Studios and presented in partnership with Swedish Covenant Hospital.

left :

Cast and crew of Finding Peace in This House

Will You Stand Up? DEC. 1, 2010 Will You Stand Up? featured six stories exploring issues of violence and how it impacts the mental health of individuals and their communities. The show was presented in partnership with Affinity Community Services and staged at Adventure Stage Chicago’s Vittum Theater.

Will You Stand Up? was part of a three-monthlong, three-pronged violence awareness initiative we spearheaded that also included a community forum and free violence prevention workshops for the community.

Northern Trust was our gracious sponsor.

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Truly one of the best theatre experiences I've ever had. I feel so empowered by ETD in its ability to challenge and motivate through theatre.

Thank you a million times.

Finding Peace in This House JUNE 23, 2011 This theatrical production was the culmination of a five-month residency and training with The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (see pg. 7). Six stories, all transcribed and crafted by The Chicago School students, were staged in the Chicago Cultural Center’s Claudia Cassidy Theater.

—audience member 5

Brighid O’Shaughnessy speaks with The Chicago School students.

Artwork created by an ETD residency student.

OUTREACH and EDUCATION This is the only part of my day where I feel expressed. I want us to have this program year-round.

An ETD outreach residency typically lasts 3–5 months and includes in-depth mental health discussions with students, speakers who come and share their personal experiences, and an array of creative activities to help students give voice to their own stories.

This year, ETD provided outreach at two Chicago schools:

Erasing the Distance’s process of giving voice to true stories about mental health issues is unique, and we often lead presentations, workshops, trainings, and longer-term programs to teach artists, mental health advocates, and current/future health professionals our specific methodology.

–Grimes student

Brighid O'Shaughnessy with Al Raby students

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Robert L. Grimes Middle School

Al Raby High School

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

ETD hosted a three-month residency led by Certified Art Therapist Danniel Anthon, Brighid O’Shaughnessy and volunteer ETD artists. Students received support and education about mental health issues while giving voice to their own experiences with depression, substance-addiction, eating disorders, self-injury and more.

Brighid O’Shaughnessy led a five-month residency as part of the students’ service learning. The residency culminated in a self-created performance, staged for the school and community, which featured the students’ own mental health stories told through poetry, song and theatre.

Our biggest educational undertaking this year was with The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

With the guidance of Brighid O’Shaughnessy and ETD Board Vice President Jamie Pekarek Krohn, LCPC, graduate-level future clinicians conducted and transcribed interviews from individuals throughout the Spring 2011 semester. The students then edited and shaped those interviews into theatrical monologues, which were performed as the show Finding Peace in This House in June 2011.

Co-facilitator Jamie Pekarek Krohn

What an amazing, life-changing, powerful process! A great opportunity for me to throw my textbook out the window and better appreciate the subjective experiences of individuals who have experienced mental illness.

–The Chicago School student

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A Year in the Life 

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JUN 23, 2011

Finding Peace in This House world premiere!

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JUN 5

JUN 5

MAY 23

Story of Reverend Cheryl Magrini performed at the Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute’s 10th Annual Community Mental Health Conference in Evanston.

ETD Executive Artistic Director Brighid O’Shaughnessy interviewed by host Angela Pargas on her Public Affairs Show on Radio Disney AM 1300.

2010–2011 

MAY 21 Two stories — one in Spanish, an etd first! — performed as part of The Greater Humboldt Park Community of Wellness Behavioral Health Forum.

MAY 13

MAY 6

APR 28

APR 19

APR 10

APR 1

an etd first!

An Evening With The Senses Spring Gala, co-chaired by ETD Board Treasurer Lisa Liebman and ETD Board President David Strauss.

What’s Behind Our Eyes performed at Chicago’s Marsh Elementary School.

Students from the Al Raby High School residency perform their stories at a city-wide service learning conference at Malcolm X College.

Stories on pot addiction and bipolar disorder performed for teens at Loyola Academy.

STRONGER THAN SILENCE: Surviving our Secrets world premiere!

Story Sharing Day! ETD artists and volunteers collect interviews from anyone who wants to share their story at Flourish Studios.

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MAR 29

MAR 25

MAR 18

Brighid O’Shaughnessy interviewed on CBS radio

by Brendan McCaffrey of WSCR 670’s “The Score.”

Three stories performed at the Chicago High School for the Arts.

Brighid O’Shaughnessy instructs University of Illinois Chicago students and community organization representatives on the ETD methodology.

JAN 19

JAN 4

DEC 12

DEC 3–17

an etd first!

ETD performs for the first time in Ohio with four stories staged for students and faculty at Ohio Wesleyan University.

Five stories performed at B’Nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim in Deerfield.

Will You Stand Up? Workshop Series  Presented in partnership with Affinity Community Services and in collaboration with C4 Quetzal Center, Rape Victims Advocates, Rainbow House, Cease Fire and more, six workshops help teach skills and practice action for violence prevention.

FEB 17

FEB 15

DEC. 16 Understanding Youth, Media and Violence Facilitator: Carrie Wachter

Residency: Al Raby High School

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NOV 16

NOV 13

NOV 9

NOV 7

NOV 5

Five stories performed for students at Loyola University.

A Secret Eats You Up Five stories, including the premiere of a new piece about one minister’s struggle with bipolar disorder, performed at the First United Methodist Church at Chicago Temple.

Brighid O’Shaughnessy and ETD Artistic Associate Meredith Siemsen instruct future teachers on the ETD methodology at the Anne Bilstein Theological College.

Brighid O’Shaughnessy presents at the Active Minds National Conference at Montclair State University in New Jersey.

Three pieces performed about Latino mental health for the DCFS Latino Family Institute Conference.

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DEC 14 “Manhood” isn’t a Bad Word Facilitator: Jae Jin Pak

DEC 10

DEC 8

DEC 4

DEC 3

Your Life is My Life, Ending Violence Starts with Me: An Introduction Facilitators: Jenna Musselman-Palles and Melvin Santiago

Cyberbullying…

The Choices and Responsibilities of Digital Citizenship Facilitator: Sarah Migas

Assertiveness and Conflict Resolution Facilitator: Melissa Richardson

Prevent Verbal Violence Facilitator: Yvonne Jeffries

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OCT 28

OCT 27

OCT 27

Five stories performed as part of the keynote address at the Indiana Association of Behavioral Health Consultants Annual Conference in Indianapolis.

Two stories performed for students and faculty at the Latin School of Chicago.

Will You Stand Up? world premiere!

Learning To Trust Your Gut — When Your Body Speaks Facilitator: Linda Weise

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OCT 25

OCT 24

Two stories performed for 7th and 8th graders at The Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School at the University of Chicago.

Three stories about healing and community performed at Chicago’s Congregation Rodfei Zedek.

What You’re Not Expecting When You’re Expecting world premiere!

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OCT 22

OCT 17

Four stories performed at the Illinois School Social Workers Conference.

Story Sharing Day! ETD artists and volunteers collect interviews from anyone who wants to share their story at Flourish Studios.

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Two stories performed for students at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology to help kick off the student story-collecting residency with Brighid O’Shaughnessy and ETD Board Vice President Jamie Pekarek Krohn.

FEB 25

DEC 1

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JAN 25

MAR 2–4

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Story of Chloe performed at Alexian Brothers Hospital’s Coalition for a Psychologically Healthy Community.

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Five stories performed for students and faculty at the Adler School of Professional Psychology.

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Falling Petals remount at University of Illinois Chicago.

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Al Raby students present their residency’s culminating performance.

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Five stories performed for students and faculty at Chicago’s Whitney Young High School.

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OCT 8

OCT 2

Premiere of new piece that explores the Latino mental health experience. Performed at the Institute for Puerto Rican Arts and Culture as part of The Greater Humboldt Park Community of Wellness Project.

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SEP 30

SEP 29

Two pieces performed on in-patient units for clients and staff at the Elgin Mental Health Center.

Falling Petals world premiere!

Community Forum on Violence held as Will You Stand Up? kick-off event.

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SEP 20–21

SEP 16

SEP 13

Two performances of Facing the Rain at Dominican University.

ETD featured on Karen Meyer’s segment of the 11:00am ABC–News local news broadcast.

Residency: Robert L. Grimes Middle School

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JUL–AUG

JUL 21, 2010

Brighid O’Shaughnessy and ETD ensemble member Rhonda Bynum lead a summer arts residency at Oak Park River Forest High School.

an etd first!

ETD performs for the first time in Colorado with five stories as part of the Beneath the Light National Youth Conference at Colorado State University.

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ETD Supporters Erasing the Distance would like to thank our amazing donors for their generosity. We simply cannot do it without you.

Visionary ($5,000 +) Anonymous (3) Arch W. Shaw Foundation I.A. O'Shaughnessy Foundation Rebecca's Dream Sirius Fund

Transformer ($2,500–$4,999) Chicago Board of Trade Foundation Northern Trust

Leader ($1,000–$2,499) City of Chicago CityArts Program Lisa and Marc Liebman Helen and Dennis O'Shaughnessy Debbie and David Strauss Sue and Robert Strauss

Change-Maker ($500–$999) City of Chicago CAAP Program Robin and Ed Culbertson Juliet and Michael Gray Alan Krohn Jamie and David Pekarek Krohn Latham & Watkins LLP Employees Susan Lloyd Jamie Pasquale Jo Reizner Sally and Michael Rosenthal Babe and Joseph Sanfillippo Barbara and Ben Shapiro Sharon Sidell Rhonda and Skip Stern

Healer ($250–$499) Lisa and Ron Abrams Alisa Bergman Laura and Eric Berlin Lauren and Jeff Brown Michael Carrillo Jantina Clegg Caryn and Steven Cohen Wendy and Adam Fleishman Mary and John Ford Suzanne and David Friedland Kim and Daniel Griffin 10

Larry Grimm Sheldon Harris Jellyvision, Inc. Renske and Russell Lynde Madonna and John B. Merritt Cindy and Michael O'Connor Mary O'Shaughnessy and Charlie Van Gilder Gail Owens Julie Pekarek Ashlyn and Andrew Pohl Julia Rahn Paula and Richard Shopiro Caroline Steelberg Suzy and Ron Strauss Chris and Mark Tippery

Supporter ($100–$249) Anonymous Jennifer Arch Catherine Arnold Sara and Casper Balistreri Susan and Jon Ballis Ruthie Beam Carol Anne Been Lori and Seth Berk Christine Bollettino Brian Bouldrey Maria Braham Candace Broucher Ina Burd Simone Carthan Laurie and Eric Chern Wendy and Bill Choslovsky Leslee and John Cohen Sharon and Jules Cohen Lori and Jon Cooper Joanne and Anthony Curro Debbie and James Dallet Rachael and Ryan Deutsch Susan and Marvin Dickman Loraine Edwalds Mark Enright Robert Erickson Jane Fidler Elizabeth Finlayson Dana and P.J. Fitzsimons Barbara and Todd Ford Patti and Michael Frazin Paul Gebuhr Laurie and Phillip Gerber Jeff Glavan Holly Gloff Liza and Dick Goldberg Janet and Scott Goss Gail and Marty Gottner

Grainger Matching Grant Lois and Robert Greendale James R. Hansen Deb and Gary Holzman Carrie Horwitz Nancy Hotchkiss Karen and Tony House Diana Jaffe and Julie Reed Sally Jansen Jenny and Pete Jones James Kane Amy and Marty Kaplan Michele and Brian Katz Jenny and Michael Kelber Debbie and Robert Keller Julie and Scott Kindra Lisa and Steve Kleiman Lorrie Knitter Jamee and Scott Kohn James Konold Barb and Bob Krugman Aimee and Adam Lewis Melissa and Eric Linn Megan Lordos Lisa and Steven Lowenthal Margaret and Richard Luchtman Judy Macior Erin Mason Susan Mulhern Lawrence Nash Sally and Robert Nelson Julie and Gregg Orloff Erin Pond Karla and Joe Pope Fran and Lee Preston Stacie and Jason Primer Kayme and Brian Pumphrey Amy and Jonathan Resnick Susan Richman Colleen and Mike Robson Tony Romas Jill and David Schlossberg Felicia and Scott Schneider Hanna and Mark Shapiro Johanna and Skip Silver Andrea and Mark Silverman Julie and Adam Simon Lisa and David Sitzman Starcom Matching Grant Midge Stocker and Diana Clegg Josh Strauss and Anat Geva-Strauss Nate Tico Christy Uchida

Guy Van Swearingen Lisa and David Weinberg Kathy and Mark Weinstein Stephanie and Jeffrey Widman Brooke Wiseman

Friend (up to $99) Kym Abrams Susan Arnold Danielle Baird Jean and Mike Ban Bank of America Foundation Matching Grant Stacy and Beth Bankier Judith Barnes LaRue Sandra and Chuck Barsky Tim Batdorf Amy and Ron Berger Amy Bernhard Sheri and Robert Blacher John Bliss Lisa Boone Scott Borchert Susan Borovsky Caryn and Jordan Bressler Robin Broadnax Amy and Joel Brodsky Tawanna Brown Susan Burgess Seamus Campion Stacy and Kevin Chernett Cindy Clegg Jennifer and Scott Cohen Jeff Cummings Julie and Kevin Cunniff Michelle Dahlenburg Rashada Dawan Patricia Decker Jane Dewey Jennifer and Dan Doerfler Steve Domsky Joan and Stephen Duffy Delicia Dunham Cindy and Michael Edelstein Melissa and Todd Epstein Rebecca and Todd Erdman Wannapa and Claude Eubanks Rachel and David Fein Jill and Jason Feldman Katy Ferguson Deanna Fiorentino Judy and Jack Fitzpatrick Jacquelyn Fletcher Connie Foster

Yolanda Fowler Lisa and Daniel Friedman Nancy Gamburd Susan Glass Virginia Goldrick Anne Good GoodSearch Julie and Bill Gorden Beth and Brian Gottlieb Jennifer Gray Karey and Doug Halverson Krista Hansen Barbara Hendrickson Jeanette and Richard Hollingsworth Helen and Mike Hollingsworth Meghan House Janet Howe Kim Hunt Kim and Chris Huss Rachel and Jeff Hyman Regina and Gregory Janicik Eunice Jensen Cynthia and Stanley Johnson Sarah Jolie Robin Jones Debbie and Todd Katz Steven Kent Rhonda and Glen Keysor Jane and Bill Kindra Tanya Krohn Marianna and John Kurzydlo Joanne Lambert Steve Leaver Warren Liebman Bill Lipper Andrea and Anthony Lissuzzo Joan Llewellyn-Burns Jennifer Locke Darius Loghmanee Lois Long Lisa Maggiore Cheryl and Peter Magrini Alyssa and Robert Mandel Lynne and Stephen Marcus Deborah Marks Robin Mason Mitchell A. May John Mayes Thomas McGuire Bruce McKeever Barbara Murray Margalit Neusner Jennifer and Tom Nowak

$102,882

*

John Oelerich Cary Okoro Ragnar Olson Wendy and Joby Orlowsky Amy Panici Nancy Pekarek Susan Piasecki Francesca and Adam Picklin Melissa and Billy Polovin Beth Raap Jenna Rabideaux Gail Randal Nancy and Alan Reinberg Anne Richter Janis Richter Aleda Richter-West Julie Ritchey Kathleen Rodak Lynn Royster Sarah Rozny Amira Sabbagh Patricia and Norm Sack Laura and Steve Schaffer Michael Schmitt Erik Schroeder Kevin Schweitzer Leona Selee Beth and Doug Shabelman Leslie Shook Kathleen Siemsen Carolyn Silberman Marjorie and Edwin Silverman Lisa Sniderman Elaine and David Sobel Julie and Michael Solot Jeanne and Bob Somers Joan and Paul Souchek Beth and Gary Spencer Carolyn and Ken Spero

Krystal Steiner Melissa Sterne Jean and Don Stewart Susanne Suffredin Mary and Ken Sullivan Tammy and Doug Swill Marianne and Stuart Taussig Susan and Paul Toback Jenny Topolosky Helene Turner M. Dianne Wagner Washington Post Company Matching Grant Susan Wehrli William Wehrli Harriet and Michael Weinger Linda Weise Fred Wellisch Melissa White Andie Zamler Robby Zar Maura Zurek

Rescuer (In-Kind) Adventure Stage Chicago Arts & Business Council Business Volunteers for the Arts Rhonda Bynum campusCATALYST, Northwestern University Jeff Chelin Gedalya Chinn Fetch PR Jimmy Freund Yvonne Jeffries John LaVere Photography Lightfellow Sarah Migas, Attorney General's Office

Jess Miller Zak Mucha Kelsey Mueller Jenna MusselmanPalles, CeaseFire Meghan Llanes O'Connor, Rainbow House Jae Jin Pak, Community Counseling Centers of Chicago Angela Pargas, Radio Disney Ron Rains Melissa Richardson, Rainbow House Julie Ritchey Amira Sabbagh Melvin Santiago, CeaseFire Charlotte Schuber Kristina Smolak Staples The Jason Steele Quartet Carrie Wachter, Rape Victim Advocates Chris Weise Linda Weise *Donations received July 1, 2010– June 30, 2011

Erasing the Distance is a recognized 501(c)3 not-for-profit.

Donate Today!

No amount is too small, and every contribution goes a long way toward supporting ETD’s diverse programming. All donations are tax-deductible.

To donate, visit www.ErasingtheDistance.org.

ETD staff members Jennifer Mathews, Brighid O’Shaughnessy, Chris Weise and Diana Clegg

THE ERASING THE DISTANCE FAMILY Staff Brighid O’Shaughnessy Executive Artistic Director Diana Clegg Managing Director Jennifer Mathews Communications Director Chris Weise Production Manager

Board David Strauss President Jamie Pekarek Krohn Vice-President Kelly Luchtman Secretary Lisa Liebman Treasurer Terence O’Shaughnessy Director

Mental Health Advisory Board Scott Conklin, LPC Grady L. Garner, Jr., PhD Jamie Pekarek Krohn, LCPC Erin Mason, PhD Lawrence Nash, MD Jamie Pasquale, PsyD Lisa Sniderman, LCSW

Ambassador Council Carly Bueltel Antonia Clifford Hillary Doyle Lisa Goodson Angela Alise Johnson Brian Mellovitz Rebekah Moras Brighid O'Shaughnessy

Wannapa Pimtong-Eubanks Agime Rahmani Jennifer Shine Sarah Silva Chris Weise

Artistic Ensemble Rhonda Marie Bynum Philip de Guzman Katie Genualdi Angela Alise Johnson Jennifer Mathews Brighid O’Shaughnessy Adam Poss Ron Rains Craig C. Thompson

Artistic Associates Brenda Arellano Kamal Angelo Bolden Wes Clark Stephanie Diaz-Reppen Amanda Eaton Jason Economus Amos Ellis Jared Fernley Deanna Fiorentino Krista Hansen Chris Hauser David Hornreich Millicent Hurley Anish Jethmalani Maura Kidwell Sarah Luse Jessica Mondres Irene Patino Wannapa Pimtong-Eubanks Chris Popio Amira Sabbagh Meredith Siemsen Dwight Sora

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Thank you for shining the light.

Powerful.

I was in awe.

Helped me to understand...

Superb job.

Just wonderful!

Compelling.

Inspired me to keep going.

A phenomenal experience.

Astonishing, moving and valuable.

Poignant, human, real.

Amazing.

Eye-opening.

I believe everyone in the world should see this.

Shedding light on mental health issues through theatre

6504 North Winchester Avenue, Chicago, IL 60626

Blog: Follow us at erasingthedistance.blogspot.com Facebook: “Like� us at www.facebook.com/erasingthedistance Twitter: Follow us at twitter.com/erasedistance For more information, visit us at www.ErasingTheDistance.org.

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