BREAKING OUR SILENCE
Storytelling for Mental Health
A Performance and Celebration
Hosted by the Ithaca High School Chorale
Coordinated by Rachel Lampert
Kulp Auditorium, Ithaca High School
May 21, 2022, 7:30 p.m.
PRESENTERS & SPONSORS
Story House Ithaca (producer and presenter) is a new organization that brings people together to share, study, create, and enjoy stories in all their forms. It is built on the idea that communities are stronger when people get to know each other better. Story House Ithaca is a project of the nonprofit Center for Transformative Action. More at storyhouseithaca.org.
The Sophie Fund (sponsor) supports mental health initiatives aiding young people in greater Ithaca and Tompkins County. It supports programs and projects; raises awareness and fights the stigma around mental illness and treatment; advances a “zero suicide” ethos in the community; and serves as a community advocate for young people struggling with mental illness. More at thesophiefund.org.
NAMI Finger Lakes (sponsor) is the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the country’s largest mental health advocacy group. It provides support for families affected by mental illness, works to educate the community, and advocates for support at the local, state, and federal levels. More at namifingerlakes.org.
Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County (sponsor) strengthens the arts in our area by providing services and resources for artists and arts groups, and by leading collaboration among the arts, government, education, business, and the community at large. More at artspartner.org.
Civic Ensemble (partner) creates theater by, with, and for the community, and engages audiences in dialogue about pressing questions and concerns. The ReEntry Theatre Program is a supportive, creative community for people who have experienced incarceration or court involvement. It aims to raise awareness about and shift the narrative around the realities of the criminal justice system and the people involved. More at civicensemble.org.
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PROGRAM
We Are
Words and music by Ysaye M. Barnwell
Ithaca High School Chorale
Kristin Zaryski, Director
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Welcome
Lesley Greene and Jonathan Miller
Co-Directors, Story House Ithaca
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Snap! (excerpt)
Regi Carpenter
Storyteller
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Release through Movement Explorations (demonstration)
Megan Omohundro, Kathy Lucas, and Sophie Trowbridge
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Poems
Lorelli Cervantes & Malcolm Greenspun
Ithaca High School students
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Please Stay
Music by Jake Runestad
Lyrics adapted from tweets using #IKeptLiving –
expressions of hope from those who battle depression and chose to live
Ithaca High School Chorale
Kristin Zaryski, Director
Anna Hummel, Collaborative Pianist
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Remarks
Deb Grantham
Board President, NAMI Finger Lakes
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In the Depths
Song "Swim Good" by Frank Ocean, Waynne Nugent, and Kevin Risto
Performed by Dermot Kennedy
Indira White, Dancer
Video by Mee Ae (Mandy) Caughey
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Delia Divided (excerpt)
by Judy Tate and the ReEntry Theatre Program
Presented by Civic Ensemble
Directed by Gabriella da Silva Carr
Featuring:
Leroy Barrett – Paranoia
Uraina Bellamy – OCD
Jo-Louis Hallback – Depression
Amy Heffron – PTSD
Emonie Raphael – ADHD
Carley Robinson – Delia
Introduced by Julia Taylor (Producer)
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Bridge Over Troubled Water
Words and music by Paul Simon
Arranged by Kirby Shaw
Ithaca High School Chorale
Kristin Zaryski, Director
Anna Hummel, Collaborative Pianist
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TONIGHT’S PERFORMERS
Ithaca High School Chorale
SOPRANO
Anna Bjerken
Lorelli Cervantes
Amelia Colbdorf
Veery Evans
Corinne Ford
Aled Hern
Sabetha Hersini
Izzy Leyden-Githler
Ellie Kaden
Alice Knipe
Rowena Lloyd
Emma Loiacono
Nina Lyons
Flossie Martell-Glennon
Rosemary Mead
Trinity Odom-Reed
Tori Payne
Ananya Prasad
Ezri Rubenstein-Miller
Skye Steuteville
Caitlin Strong
Annalise Thompson
Gigi Weislogel
Anneke Wittink
ALTO
Rinchen Aaya
Bella Antes
Frieda Bernstein
Lizzie Bonassar
Tatiana Byrd
Rose Chandler
Elle Decatur
Noemi Donenfeld
Emma Duell
Nomi Falk
Fiona Glenn-Keough
Cecilia Grace-Martin
Malcolm Greenspun
Addie Houle-Hitz
Ella Kramer
Hope Machlin
Gio McBride
Tayler McEver
Anya Packard
Bella Pauldine
Maggie Schneider
Lila Travers
Anais Vanek-Raphaelidis
Clare Weislogel
Nora Wing
TENOR
Rob Chatrchyan
Sam DeLisa
Emile Rebillard
Caleb Robinson
Abe Sachs
Sam Sachs
Charlie Shanton
Summer Steinhagen
Dove Williams
BASS
Niko Fontanez-Vargas
Forrest Kingsley
Andrew Putnam
Will Shanton
Skye Slattery
Obie Smolenski
Elden VanCamp-Ingiosi
Noa Yamaguchi
Leroy Barrett has been a member of the ReEntry Theatre Program since 2017. He is a father of three, a son, brother, and a third-generation B-Boy (breakdancer).
Uraina Bellamy is a proud mama of six beautiful children and one amazing grandson. She is a masters student in photojournalism at Syracuse University. She has worked with College Initiative Upstate (CIU) and is involved with Pros at Mental Health of Ithaca.
Regi Carpenter is an award-winning storyteller, author, and singer who uses the power of stories to help others deal with grief, loss, and mental health issues. Regi has toured her solo shows and workshops in theaters, festivals, and schools, nationally and internationally.
Mee Ae (Mandy) Caughey is a dancer and choreographer with experience in many different styles of dance. She is passionate about advocacy for mental health, and enjoys filming dancers.
Gabriella da Silva Carr is a proud queer latinx interdisciplinary artist who has been on staff at Civic Ensemble since 2015. Her work has been seen at the Hangar Theatre, Kitchen Theatre Company, White Plains Performing Arts Center, Ithaca College, Cornell University, and Off-Broadway. Gabriella also runs a private voice and acting studio for young people.
Deb Grantham is president of the board of NAMI Finger Lakes. She became the primary caregiver of her sister, Liz, after their father became unable to care for her. She found NAMI FL through an employee assistance program and has been involved with the group ever since.
Lesley Greene is a sound designer, composer, video editor, playwright, and director. She worked for many years at the Kitchen Theatre Company and is co-founder and co-organizer of Porchfest, a festival that began in Ithaca in 2007 and now takes place in more than 150 cities across North America.
Jo-Louis Hallback has been rocking with the ReEntry Theatre program for a couple of years now and it has been a real learning experience, with a mix of social justice, art, and real stories from real people.
Amy Heffron is a mother of three who has been a member of The Re-Entry Theatre Program since 2017. She has appeared in many theater works both in person and online. She is Outreach Facilitator for College Initiative Upstate (CIU) and a member of Criminal Justice Alternatives to Incarceration (CJATI).
Rachel Lampert is a playwright, director, and choreographer. She served as the artistic director at the Kitchen Theatre Company from 1997 to 2017. In 2015, she founded Fitz&Startz Productions, which produces plays for younger audiences.
Kathy Lucas is a dancer, Pilates instructor, and unconventional fitness coach. She has a deep understanding of wellness, persistence, and restorative healing, and is committed to building a community focused on authentic, creative, and empowering experiences of wellbeing and vitality for all.
Jonathan Miller is a journalist, writer, and radio producer whose work has taken him to more than 20 countries. He serves on the board of Ithaca City of Asylum, an all-volunteer group built on three of the things he values most: generosity, hospitality, and right to creative expression.
Megan Omohundro is a professional choreographer, dancer, and educator. She launched her career by founding the hip-hop dance troupe “Battle Breakers.” She loves teaching, practicing capoeira, and engaging the community with movement that heals and refreshes the soul.
Emonie Raphael is 24. She enjoys acting, singing, and reading.
Carley Robinson is a theater practitioner and community worker from Upstate New York. She has worked with Civic Ensemble for three years, and is so excited to bring Delia Divided to life onstage!
Julia Taylor is the Executive Director of Civic Ensemble, and over the past year has co-directed Civic’s productions of Indigo and Steppin’ Into My Shoes. Julia is deeply grateful to everyone whose stories and experiences helped shape Delia Divided, and to you all for joining us in sharing these stories!
Sophie Trowbridge is a lifelong dancer and lover of movement. Tap and contemporary jazz dance styles are her first loves. Outside of dance she is a veterinarian and conservation research analyst. She is deeply committed to dance and movement as a method for healing and mental health wellness.
Indira White was born in the Dominican Republic, where her first language was dance. She is a modern-contemporary mover and choreographer who is currently working on a NYS DanceForce Choreographers’ Initiative project exploring intersections of modern and flamenco dance.
Kristin Zaryski is the director of Choral/Vocal Music at Ithaca High School, where she teaches choral ensembles, group voice lessons, and AP Music Theory. She finds joy helping students find confidence building music literacy skills, encouraging creativity, and fostering a community where all students feel that they can contribute and grow.
THANKS TO OUR CREW
Steve Brookhouse
lighting designer and technical director
Helen Kuhar
stage manager
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