This preview, published Aug. 24, 2016, in the Daily News-Record, profiles Ted Swartz ’89, MDiv ’92, and “Laughter is Sacred Space,” his performance about depression and mental illness that tells the story of聽 friend, business partner and fellow alumnus Lee Eshleman ’86, MDiv ’92. The Studio Theatre on campus is named after Eshleman.
Ted Swartz knows what it鈥檚 like to experience the grief of losing a loved one to suicide.
But in his performance of 鈥淟aughter is Sacred Space,鈥� which opens Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Weyers Cave Community Center, he teaches audiences the importance of laughter in a celebration of life lost, but also a celebration of love.
鈥淚f you can find comedy in the situation, it means you care deeply for the situation,鈥� the principal actor, creative director and writer of said. 鈥淭hat we can find laughter in a situation means there鈥檚 a lot of love.鈥�
The free one-man performance is the first of 11 shows around the country on the September Suicide Prevention Awareness month 鈥淗uman Faces鈥� tour.
[Swartz returns to the area with a Sept. 27 performance at 7:30 p.m. at Bridgewater College.]
Using a multimedia show of photos and video, Swartz takes the audience through his relationship with friend and business partner, Lee Eshleman, who took his own life in 2007.
Through Swartz鈥檚 narration and the media shown, the audience will get a glimpse of who Eshleman was, his work with Swartz and what he meant to him.
鈥淚 like [the photos] we chose because it pokes fun at our relationship and also gives people a great glimpse into who [Eshleman] was and how talented he was and our love for one another,鈥� Swartz, a Harrisonburg native, said.
The show highlights the paradox of working with a comedic partner struggling with bipolar disorder, while Swartz struggles to write and perform stories about God despite feeling an absence of God.
The juxtaposition of footage from Swartz and Eshleman鈥檚 work together and Swartz鈥檚 solo performance highlight the sense of loss as Swartz struggled toward hope.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a sense of absence in the midst of the sketches,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut why they鈥檙e written and how they鈥檙e written is a journey toward wholeness even with the absence.鈥�
The show is sponsored by Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren and Karis 鈥淕ifts of Grace,鈥� a Christian nonprofit founded to help people change their lives through God.
On the tour, Swartz targets houses of worship and religious organizations because they are the best positioned and least equipped group of people to deal with mental illness.
With suicide so prevalent, especially in the veteran population, it鈥檚 important to raise awareness, according to Swartz.
鈥淐hurches are places where we don鈥檛 bring our pain or hurt because we think we have to put the pain away, but that鈥檚 the antithesis of what churches are supposed to be,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 want the show to help people be aware that there are people struggling around them all the time and be more open to share stories if they feel it鈥檚 acceptable to share.鈥�
To those concerned about the emotional weight of the subject, Swartz said the laughter helps balance the sadness of suicide.
But suicide still needs to be talked about.
鈥淥ne of the best ways to continually perpetuate the stigmatization of mental illness and depression is to not talk about it,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e looking for a night of easy entertainment, you should go rent a movie, but if you want to feel deeply and connect to other human beings, come see [the show].鈥�
Free refreshments to follow the performance.
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