On Monday, October 6th, Hollywood actors participated in red carpet interviews at the “This Is Crazy!” play benefit, which was held at Symphony Space in New York City.
The proceeds from this benefit event aid the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
The actual play featured Oscar winner Jane Fonda, Sanaa Lathan, Mark Ruffalo, Edie Falco, and others, for a one-night-only performance of “This Is Crazy” by Tony and Obie award-winning playwright V (formerly Eve Ensler).
The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.
Luke Ferrari
Artist Luke Ferrari stated, “It feels incredible! I just came off another tour of a musical that I was working on with V. (the writer) of ‘This Is Crazy!’ and I am so excited to be working with her again.”
Ferrari continued, “All of her pieces are extremely impactful not only to the world but to people and I am excited to share this work with her.”
“Mental health is extremely important to be de-stigmatized, especially these days. The mental health system is failing us, as people in this country, and we need art to impact and cultivate the world to do better,” Ferrari added.
Olivia Oguma
“This is wonderful! I’ve been working with V. since 2012,” Oguma said. “This has been a long-standing collaboration with V. and it has been wonderful to get to learn from her and to continue to do all these inspiring projects.”
“The most important thing about NAMI is that mental health is a huge issue that we need to focus on,” she said.
“People are struggling every day. I recently lost a friend to suicide two months ago. We all just need to find a way to look at mental health in the same way that we look at cancer,” Oguma elaborated.
“There is a stigma around it, and it needs to be de-stigmatized. It needs to be handled in a more serious way, and I think this is an amazing event that brings light to mental health,” she added.
Colette McDermott
On being a part of this event, McDermott said, “It feels amazing to be here. I am so honored to get to be alongside legends that I’ve always looked up to, so I am beyond grateful to be here.”
“It is so amazing to have an organization that is supporting mental health and doing all that they can to make a change; it’s incredible,” she added.
Rachel Hilson
“I am very excited to be here and to support NAMI like this,” Hilson exclaimed.
“This cause is important because we have a mental health crisis. I think we need more work like this and more art like this that lets people know that they are not alone and that they are seen and that they are represented. We are all in it together,” Hilson elaborated.
“From this event tonight, I want people to feel less alone, and I want them to know that they are not alone in their struggle, and they have a lot more support than they think,” she added.
Edie Falco
“It is very exciting to be here tonight,” Falco said. “This is a topic that is very dear to my heart, and the hearts of most people I know right now. We are slipping as a culture in our mental health, and it is really important.”
“NAMI is spearheading this idea that mental health is something that needs to be attended to, and that we are not going to be okay in the long-term. We need to start managing the way we take care of ourselves and our loved ones,” Falco elaborated.
“We are all going through some version of mental health,” she added.
On her definition of the word success, Falco said, “Success means that there are long stretches of time throughout my day where I am peaceful.”
When asked about her “Sopranos” co-star Lorraine Bracco, Falco said, “I don’t get to see Lorraine much these days, except at events where we give each other big hugs. Other than that, I don’t see Lorraine a ton.”
Rosanna Arquette
On being a part of this event, Arquette said, “It feels great. V. does incredible work always, and it’s an honor to be here with friends, so it’s exciting.”
“NAMI brings awareness on mental health, and they help people that are going through crisis,” she said. “Everybody in America is in some way, shape or form touched by someone who is affected by trauma or stress; we are all experiencing trauma living in this country right now.”
“From this event, I want people to know that they are not alone! Everybody is dealing with something in their life; we are all in this together as human beings. We need to have some humanity, which we seem to have lost in this country,” Arquette elaborated.
“Fortunately, NAMI is doing good to bring awareness and to help others,” she added.
Ellen Barkin
On being at this event, Barkin said, “It feels great! Rosanna Arquette is my best friend, so of course, I am here and I am looking forward to Jane Fonda and Lois Smith.”
Barkin underscored the importance of mental health these days. “I am a big worker on my mental health, and I have been my whole life,” she said.
On the key to longevity in the entertainment industry, Barkin said, “There is no key. Some people have longevity and get a much longer run.”
Barkin defined the word success simply as “happiness” in life.
AnnaSophia Robb
AnnaSophia Robb remarked, “I am excited to be at this event, and I cannot wait to see the performance.”
“NAMI is important to me because everyone needs help with their mental health,” she noted. “I don’t think any of us know exactly how to take care of ourselves so it is important to have resources to help people.”
For young and aspiring actors, she said, “Do something that brings you joy each day that is just for you… something that isn’t about producing something or being watched. Do something that makes your heart happy.”
On being an artist in the digital age, Robb said, “The digital age is a part of our life. I think you can use it for good purposes. There is power in it and it’s a responsibility.”
Regarding the title of the current chapter of her life, she said with a sweet laugh, “Fall is Here.”
On her definition of the word success, Robb said, “Success means being appreciative of every chapter.”
Sara Haines of ‘The View’
On being a part of this event, Haines said, “I am so honored to be included in such a special night. NAMI highlights that people are often struggling with things that we don’t know. In fact, everyone is struggling with something.”
“Mental health has been a big area of advocacy for me because I’ve dealt with a lot of things myself, so we scream about it, normalize it, and talk about it, this way, it can get the attention and the resources it needs,” she said.
For young and aspiring journalists, she said, “Stay true to information and facts. We are here to tell people; we are not here to tell people how to feel. So, in a world of editorials and a 24/7 saturated news cycle, it is important to stay with real information. You don’t have to be the first; it is most important to be accurate.”
On the title of the current chapter of her life, she she responded, “I am in my ‘Yes, I said that’ era.”
Haines equates the word success with peace of mind, and being able to make a positive impact on the people closest to her.
To learn more about NAMI or the play “This is Crazy,” visit the official NAMI website.
