By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
The upcoming world premiere of Black Man Goes to Therapy at Acts on Stage Theater explores the often-unspoken realities of mental health, healing, and vulnerability within the Black male experience. The production, written by and starring Jeremy Rubin, will run from May 21 through May 31 at Acts on Stage Theater, located at 10806 12th Ave. SW in Seattle.
Directed by Isiah Anderson Jr., the play is set in the isolating aftermath of the pandemic and follows a man who turns to therapy for help, only to encounter a burned-out therapist navigating struggles of his own.
Through deeply personal journal entries, his subconscious world unfolds on stage in vivid and compelling ways, confronting stigmas surrounding mental health while highlighting the importance of self-discovery and emotional healing.
To Anderson Jr., the present moment, where it often feels like history is repeating itself, makes the production especially timely.
“I am a senior. But for a lot of people, they say ‘oh I heard about those days, or back in the day’, and to feel like we are living in the times my parents and grandparents lived in, I think we as people of color have to utilize every opportunity and every advantage we have,” said Anderson. “And if stage and plays are a part of it, then we take full advantage of that. So, that’s why these plays are important to me, because they get our stories out there and they motivate people.”
Rubin, who has been writing for years, draws deeply from his own lived experiences to shape the play’s emotional core. Inspired by personal challenges he has faced, worked through, and ultimately overcome, Rubin channels those experiences into a production that is both intimate and relatable, bringing authenticity and depth to the work.
He began developing the play in May 2020, and the production was far from an overnight project. Throughout the journey, he learned how to blend comedy into a sensitive story about healing and mental health in a way that felt natural and seamless.
“I was using my skill as a writer to write these characters into these almost impossible situations where the worst is going to happen, and wrote scenarios where they were able to get out of it. My goal is that when other people see their story in the characters, that they understand that whatever version of crazy they’re going through, it’s not unique for them, and that actually sometimes it takes a little crazy to get you on the path that you’re supposed to be on,” said Rubin. “In every story that I write and everything that I’m connected to, I want you to be able to see some really tough situations and to be inspired by how people get out of these situations.”
“When dealing with these heavy topics, we still find ways to find things funny that probably shouldn’t be funny, but humans laugh at pain to get over it. And that is just everyday life. We do a good job at laughing when it is appropriate, and when it is not, and that is just a balancing art,” continued Rubin. “All these stories have been with me since 2008, and the compilation to bring this together, I have had a chance to tell these stories and get feedback. I just think that people are going to be so amazed at how we are able to handle these heavy topics in a way that people can digest them.”
While the play challenges long-standing stigmas surrounding mental health, especially within Black communities, Rubin understands the responsibility that comes with telling this story.
Through the play, he hopes to remind people that asking for help is okay, especially after the emotional impact of the pandemic.
“Coming out of COVID, you saw people were going to therapy, mental health was on the rise, and now what I feel like is the hangover from COVID is coming down. We have normalized and gone back to some of the behavior where we are participating in the distractions and not processing what we need to process to heal and be the best versions of ourselves,” said Rubin. “I’m taking this 90 minutes [to show you a bigger conversation], ‘wow’ this is something I still need to have the courage to do, or that’s the conversation I really want to have but haven’t.”
“And if you have that awareness as a starting point and you feel safe speaking, I really believe that we’ve done our job [with the play],” he added.
For so long, Rubin says Black men have often been penalized for conversations that may make them appear less masculine. He explained that, depending on the household someone comes from, talking about getting over a breakup can be viewed as being soft, while expressing hurt or concern can lead to being labeled a snitch.
Rubin hopes the play helps people realize that going to therapy as a man is acceptable, even if it may feel unfamiliar or uncomfortable at first.
“There are all these places where we have been trained not to speak, but then you’re telling me, as a man that’s now been impacted by life, that my freedom is through talking to a stranger and spilling my guts,” said Rubin. “I think that in a theater where you’re having a great time, getting lost in the story, and watching everybody respond to the same issues, it gives you the courage to say, ‘Wait, I’m not alone,’ and the whole goal, at least as a starting point, is to feel comfortable opening up to people and I believe that we’re doing a great job of setting the stage for that.”
Anderson said that people do not have to be “crazy” to seek mental health support and that taking the first step toward getting help is an important decision.
“There is a lot of stuff that we bottle up, that we hold tight to ourselves, and that we have to let go of, because if you don’t, then the body fills up with poison,” said Anderson. “So then, when passion and love come, you don’t have room for it. So, I just think it is really important that hopefully somebody sits in the audience and says, ‘I am going to take that first step.’”
Even if audience members may not directly relate to the main character’s experiences, Rubin believes the production carries universal themes that anyone can connect with.
“I think it is virtually impossible for you to come to this show and not connect with some character on the stage. There are multiple stories that are woven through this therapy session. And one of the things that Isaiah talks a lot about is that your character is somebody who’s going to be in the audience, and they’re going to see themselves,” said Rubin. “And so, the themes we’re talking about are family, healing, dreams, and empathy. So, when you look at all of those things, it is impossible for someone to come to this show and not see themselves or someone they know in it, and not be impacted, and I will stand on that.”
Tickets and additional information are available online at actsonstage.com.
