Shame, Stigma, Silence. 

Three words that come to UND Associate Teaching Professor (Dept. of English) Kathy Coudle-King's mind when she reflects on the history of mental health care.

Produced by Theatre without Walls, LLC, the play takes the audience through 7 centuries during which they are visited by historical figures such as Joan of Arc, Virginia Woolf, Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald, and Helen Keller. The long, dark history of mental health care is brought to life through the doctors who advocated for their therapies:  Benjamin Rush, S. Weir Mitchell, Egaz Moniz, Walter Freeman, Sigmund Freud, and others – as well as two chimpanzees, former lab animals, who help narrate the history.

Four actors play these roles and more:  Walter Criswell, Hannah Diers, Ashley Fredricksen, and Nicole Quam.  

Lights and video creation by David Kuznicki; Sound design by Owen Skroch, costumes by Caiden Kirby-Gable, set by Caiden Kirby-Gable, Eric Castle, Hannah Lindholm, and Heidi Lamb Castle. 

Voice-over actors:  Becca Cruger, Kim Forness Wilson, Ruby Lamb-Castle, Meghan Perry, Julia Harris, Hannah Diers, Kate Preszler, Chris Gable.

Stage manager:  Jace Erickson

Retail Therapy is an immersive theatre piece written running May 11-21 (May 11-13, 17-19 at 7:30; May 14 & 21 at 2 p.m.) Running time is approximately 90 mins. There will be a post-show discussion. **Please bring headphones or earbuds, if possible.

Tickets are $20 and $15 for seniors, students, active military, and Veterans with I.D.   

Those interested in attending are encouraged to make reservations.  While available seats will be sold 30-minutes prior to curtain, there is limited seating for this "boutique theatre" piece. Please call 701-746-5500 or go to www.empireartscenter for reservations. 

Trigger Warning:  Mental health issues, suicide. A fog machine is briefly used.

Made possible by an American Recovery Grant from the ND Council on the Arts, through the National Endowment for the Arts. and a Special Projects Grant from the ND Council on the Arts, as well as a donation from Valley Senior Living.