ABOUT THE SHOW
Untold weaves music, movement, and excerpts from over one hundred interviews to explore the mental health crisis in America, where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate 46% of the population will struggle with mental illness at some point during their lifetime. This evocative meditation on hope and resiliency marked the San Diego debut of Blindspot Collective in 2017.
This show is the culmination work in partnership with local schools and organizations – including the New Village Arts, Army and Navy Academy, Canyon Crest Academy, Coronado School of the Arts, and Sage Creek High School. The creators of Untold collected interviews with social workers and therapists; individuals struggling with addiction, eating disorders, and personality disorders; veterans battling PTSD; and survivors of suicide, all conducted and recorded by local students. Stories from those interviews lay the groundwork for a show that provocatively portrays these individuals’ bravery, vulnerability, and resiliency.
The show includes mature themes and language, and is recommended for ages 12 & up.
Untold arrives to the San Diego International Fringe Festival after a workshop presentation at New York University, where it was showcased as part of the International Forum on Ethnodrama.
LEARN MORE
If you wish to know more about the show or are interested in bringing the production to your school and community, please email us at:
education@blindspotcollective.org
The show is scheduled to tour in April & May 2020.
MEET THE ARTISTS
Created & Produced by Blake McCarty
Directed by Catherine Hannna Schrock & Blake McCarty
Creative Team & Casting to be announced in Spring 2020
The original cast featured Russell Clements, Carter Davis, Wilfred Grant Paloma,
Shellina Hefner, Sara Lucchini, Kayla Morales, Andrew Shane Walters,
Kiana Tori, Jimi Valiente-Neighbours, and Wrekless Watson
BOOKING
Performances are available for schools and community organizations.
The production is scheduled to tour in April and May 2020.
View the School Guide for more information and details about booking.
FREquently asked questions
If it was co-developed with schools, is this appropriate for my kids?
This production was initially developed because students felt that mental health and the stigma around mental illness deserved to be explored. Teenagers may enjoy the show, but it is not recommended for those under the age of 12 due to mature language and themes.
Will the performance be triggering for those who have experienced mental illness?
We feel that audience members know themselves and their individual needs best—and respect that frank discussions of mental illness may be upsetting to some people. In our experience, it is often empowering and impactful to see a reflection of our own experiences in performance, and numerous individuals who have personally faced mental illness have found the production moving and insightful. Alternately, the show is intended to educate those who might have little to no experience with concepts of mental health. Though the creators have been as objective as possible, the show does not claim or attempt to encompass all possible perspectives on this issue. However, the themes explored do include anxiety and depression; bipolar and eating disorders; LGBTQ identity; combat trauma and PTSD; and candid discussion of suicide.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Other mental health resources can be found at www.MentalHealth.gov
What is verbatim theatre?
Sometimes called ethnodrama, docudrama, or interview theatre, the term refers to any work that reconstructs and presents the precise words spoken by people interviewed about a specific topic or event. Shows like The Laramie Project and artists such as Anna Deveare Smith have popularized the technique. In Untold, the actors portray real people discussing their personal experiences with mental illness—incorporating their exact words as well as emulating their tone, inflection, and body language.
How long is the show?
The show is approximately 1 hour long and does not have an intermission.
CONTACT US
Blindspot Collective develops artistic programming to illuminate voices, communities, and stories in the blindspot
of our society.
Untold is available for performances at schools and community centers in San Diego.
If you have questions, please contact us at education@blindspotcollective.org