Watertower Theatre's The Manic Monologues

Director/Co-Choreographer: Ashley Puckett Gonzales

Associate Director/Co-Choreographer: Alli Betsill

Music Coordinator: Pam McClain

Band Leader/Pianist: Rebekah Prim

Musicians: Michael Dill & Randy Linberg

Set designer: Kae Styron

Lighting Designer: Ryan Burkle

Costume Designer: Hope Cox

Sound Designer: Emilee Biles

Production Stage Manager: Lexi Salmon

Assistant Stage Manager: Devon Patch

Run Crew/Covid Safety Officer: Ruby Pullum

Dates: April 13-30, 2024

“When creator Zack had his first psychotic break and was diagnosed with bipolar in May 2017, he was just finishing his PhD at Stanford University — and his world imploded. Would mental illness dictate his whole life? Would everything change? Zack was underwater, and his then-girlfriend Elisa (and future co-creator) had no way of knowing whether her happy, gregarious partner-in-crime would ever resurface. One of the hardest parts about those early days was the absence of relatable, lived experiences. Zack and Elisa decided to create a play based on true stories to disrupt the stigma around mental illness. It resulted in a series of vignettes they called THE MANIC MONOLOGUES.

THE MANIC MONOLOGUES is a play showcasing true stories of mental illness to disrupt stigma. It has shown in-person to thousands of people across four continents, and has been featured by the Washington Post, NPR, Psychology Today, NYT, Broadway World, and many more. The play will have its regional premiere at WTT enhanced by movement & live music for the first time, to bring an immersive experience of this important piece to our theater community playing at the Addison Theatre Centre on the Terry Martin Main Stage for 2 weeks of April.

THE MANIC MONOLOGUES brings to life incredible stories — stories that will challenge and inform your ideas about what it means to be touched by a mental health condition. These true, lived experiences come from diverse and resilient people living across the world. These brave individuals have things to say about struggle and pain, but also triumph and joy. They are moving. They are human. And they are not ashamed.

Director ASHLEY PUCKETT GONZALES returns to WaterTower (having directed WTT’s productions of I AM MY OWN WIFE & THE ODD COUPLE) to reimagine this unique piece and is eager to begin rehearsals. This piece resonates with her as an artist in a very personal way.”

Article from Promotional Materials