May 18 – 28, 2023
Cook Theatre, located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts
In his world premiere, one-man show “Clowns Like Me,” Sarasota actor and storyteller Scott Ehrenpreis tells his humorous yet profound story of living with mental illness. “Clowns Like Me” reveals the fascinating, heartbreaking, and ultimately uplifting true story of Scott’s personal journey as he struggles against OCD, bipolar disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, social anxiety and depression. Ultimately, Scott discovers that being on stage gives him the power, even for just a couple hours, to step into the light and leave the shadows of his mental health struggles behind. Audiences are in for a show that will make them laugh, cry and leave thinking differently about the stigmas tied to mental health.
Here’s what people have said
about the show:
“… thought-provoking, compelling, rings-true, a necessary
message, meaningful, and above all, extremely entertaining.”
– ANTHONY GRAZIANO
“Aside from all that I learned … it’s a damn good story.”
- DAVID RUBIN
“ We found Scott’s story both moving and informative.”
- JOAN AND BRIAN WIDES, THE MELISSA WIDES FOUNDATION
“To say we were blown away would be an understatement.”
- LARRY AND SHEREE ZASLAVSKY
“I found answers and closure to my son’s suicide that nothing in the past 10 years could give me.”
- DENA WIRT
LISTEN TO PODCASTS
“Clowns Like Me” star Scott Ehrenpreis was recently a guest on Carrie Seidman’s podcast, “FACEing Mental Illness.” Listen now as he talks about his personal struggles and how “Clowns Like Me” is getting its world premier on the stage in Sarasota!
Joel Ehrenpreis, founder of Lifeline Productions, Inc. , was featured as a guest on The Florida Center for Early Childhood’s podcast, “Centering Kids.” He discusses how he discovered his son's talent and nurtured his dream to one day be an actor, all while educating the public about what it means to live with disabilities, disorders, and mental health challenges.
Here’s what the media have
said about the show:
“Actor battles mental illness with humor and heart in one-man play ‘Clowns Like Me’”
– SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE
“Actor finds catharsis sharing life with mental illness in one-man play at Cook Theatre”
– SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE
“Sarasota actor bares his soul in one-man show”
– OBSERVER
’Clowns Like Me’ spotlights mental health”
– THE DAILY SUN, “LET’S GO!”
“’Clowns Like Me’ shines spotlight on mental health”
– WEST COAST WOMAN MAGAZINE
“One-man show, ‘Clowns Like Me’ brings awareness to mental illness”
– ABC 7, SUNCOAST VIEW
Sponsors
The David, Adrianne
and Jordan Rubin Fund
The Melissa Wides Foundation
Dina Wirt Trust
Doll-Loesel Foundation
