In recognition of World Mental Health Day, Brooklyn Art Haus will present A Little Unwell, a powerful circus-variety production that blends performance and advocacy to explore the role of art in healing.
The show runs Friday, Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 11 at 2:00 p.m. at 24 Marcy Avenue.
Produced by Caytha Jentis and Smita Rajgopal Polak, the event features circus artists from diverse backgrounds who share deeply personal stories of navigating mental health challenges.
“The concept for this show came about when Smita and I attended an aerial act creation boot camp and were surprised to discover that each of us was creating spoken-word pieces about our own mental health struggles,” said Jentis, a veteran television and film producer who began studying aerial arts in her sixties. “It seemed like a good idea to use our stories—and those of other performers—shared through performance to help others facing similar challenges.”
With one in five people diagnosed with a mental health disorder and younger generations reporting record levels of depression, the need for awareness and compassion continues to grow. Yet few who live with mental illness say they experience real understanding.
Through aerial arts, movement, song, and storytelling, performers in A Little Unwell turn vulnerability into strength, using their craft to spark empathy and human connection.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit NAMI-NYC (National Alliance on Mental Illness of New York City), the city’s only nonprofit dedicated to supporting families caring for loved ones with mental illness.
Organizers hope the production will remind audiences of one simple truth: no one struggles alone.
Tickets are available at tinyurl.com/ALittleUnwell, with both in-person and livestreaming options. Donations can also be made directly at naminycmetro.org/a-little-unwell
