Nancy Parker, a New York City playwright, comedian, actress and mother of a daughter struggling with mental illness performs her own riveting full length play at the Lexington Venue theatre, 1794 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington, on Monday, June 18 at 7 pm. Free.  Donations go to sponsor free “NAMI Basics” education classes for families of children and adolescents with mental illness.

The reading takes us on the mother and daughter's journey as they travel through the confusion, disappointments and struggles of coping and learning how to “live life”, ever holding onto “hope”, fighting each step of the way through the maze of treatments, programs, diagnoses and stigma. Nancy, who plays an array of characters: doctors, nurses, her daughter, herself….shifts effortlessly from one to the other in this one woman show…draws the audience in so tightly and creates a visceral experience for all, that is spiced with just the right amount of humor, at just the right time!

As a stand up comedian for more than 25 years Nancy Parker has appeared on numerous TV shows, and as a talented writer she has contributed material for the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the Rosie O’Donnell Show.  Her personal life experience, connection with NAMI and her unleashed theatrical talents have melded together and created ~ stigMAAAA!! Come and enjoy the show.

This free special performance is made possible by the generous gift of the use of the Lexington Venue and is sponsored by the joint efforts of the NAMI Central Middlesex and NAMI Greater North Shore Affiliates.