The Manic Monologues

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Written byZachary Burton; Elisa Hofmeister
Date premieredMay 2019 (2019-05)
Place premieredStanford University, California, USA
Original languageEnglish
The Manic Monologues
Poster
Written byZachary Burton; Elisa Hofmeister
Date premieredMay 2019 (2019-05)
Place premieredStanford University, California, USA
Original languageEnglish
SubjectMental Illness

The Manic Monologues is a play created and premiered by scientist and mental health advocate Zachary Burton and medical professional Elisa Hofmeister.[1][2][3] The play consists of autobiographical accounts of mental illness from people diagnosed with mental health conditions, the family and friends of mental health patients, and health professionals. The play explores diagnoses including bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD in stories that are by turns tragic, humorous, and uplifting.[1][2][4]

The play aims to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and illness. The Washington Post calls it "A play that hopes to smash the stigma surrounding mental illness."[5]

Since premiering in California in 2019, the play has been performed in over a dozen U.S. states and in countries across Africa, Australasia, Europe, and North America. The play has garnered international acclaim including as a nominee for the 2021 Drama League Awards, winner of the 2023 Kenya Theatre Awards, winner of the 2024 BroadwayWorld Awards, and various other accolades.[6][7][8]

Burton and Hofmeister wrote the play in the wake of Burton's 2017 bipolar diagnosis while a doctoral student at Stanford University.[9][10][11] They drew inspiration from The Vagina Monologues, and incorporated approximately 20 true stories of mental illness provided by individuals across the U.S., Canada, and elsewhere.[1][12][13][14] During development, Burton and Hofmeister assembled a team of renowned advisors who consulted on the script and production. The founding team included psychiatrist and Stanford professor Rona Hu (who served as advisor to the first season of Netflix's 13 Reasons Why[15][16][17]), psychologist and UC Berkeley professor Stephen P. Hinshaw (who also introduced Burton to Glenn Close; Hinshaw and Burton served as advisors to Close’s mental health nonprofit Bring Change to Mind), advocate and performer Victoria Maxwell,[18][19][20] editor Tom Shroder, physician and Emmy Award winner Seema Yasmin, and playwright and Pulitzer Prize finalist Amy Freed, with later additions to the advisory team including advocate Kenidra Woods[21][22] and retired U.S. Army Major General Gregg F. Martin.[2][23][24]

Productions

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External links

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