Marisa Tomei, Rosana Arquette, Lois Smith, Natasha Rothwell, Rudy Pankow, & Rob Morrow Star in One-Night-Only Los Angeles Benefit Performance of “THIS IS CRAZY!”
Written by Tony and Obie Award-Winning Playwright V (formerly Eve Ensler), Creator of “The Vagina Monologues,” Acclaimed Play Gives 100% of Proceeds to NAMI
Los Angeles, CA — Last night, an extraordinary cast of artists came together at The Wallis in Beverly Hills, Calif., for a one-night-only performance of “THIS IS CRAZY!,” a bold and moving new play from Tony and Obie Award-winning playwright V (formerly Eve Ensler), to benefit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). An ensemble of film, television, and theater talent — Marisa Tomei, Rosanna Arquette, Lois Smith, Natasha Rothwell, Rudy Pankow, Rob Morrow, Rachel Hilson, Colette Hayes, Luke Ferrari, Olivia Oguma, Carol Ades, Milo Maharlika, and Michael Govan Hackett — brought to life a series of monologues, each offering a raw, personal perspective on mental illness, family, survival, and the emotional complexity of the human experience.
Additional guests in attendance included: CAA’s Kevin Huvane, co-chairman & managing partner, Richard Lovett, co-chairman, Natalie Tran, head of CAA Community & Impact; Entertainment 360 partners Darin Friedman, Gabe Cohen, Justin Grey Stone, Eric Kranzler, Evelyn O’Neill; members of the Huvane family Ruth-Ann Huvane, Declan Huvane, Michael Huvane, Stephen Huvane; as well as special guests Andy Buckley, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Ellen Barkin, Justin Sylvester, Moby, Tory Kittles, and others.
Ideated by CAA Community & Impact (formerly the CAA Foundation), the philanthropic arm of leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), in memory of beloved talent manager Chris Huvane, THIS IS CRAZY! is produced by Ruth-Ann Huvane, mental health advocate and NAMI National Board Member, and Tony Montenieri, executive producer of Lotus Productions. One hundred percent of proceeds from the performance will benefit NAMI.
“‘THIS IS CRAZY!’ was a powerful reminder that we are stronger together. Through storytelling, we opened hearts, challenged stigma, and created connection and hope,” said Daniel H. Gillison, Jr., CEO, NAMI National; Jessica Wilson (Cruz), CEO, NAMI California; and Erin R. Ryan, CEO, NAMI Westside Los Angeles. “This extraordinary evening reflected the strength of NAMI — national, state, and local — coming together as one community. We are deeply grateful to V, the Huvane family, the remarkable cast, and everyone who made this evening possible. Together, we turned the power of storytelling into the power of community.”
Productions like “THIS IS CRAZY!” help spark vital conversations, and through more than 650 NAMI State Organizations and Affiliates nationwide, help and hope are never far away. NAMI works every day to ensure that no one feels alone in their journey — and that individuals and families have access to the support and community they deserve.
To learn more about NAMI, “THIS IS CRAZY!,” or ways to support, visit nami.org.
The views, opinions, and perspectives expressed in the play are solely those of V’s and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of NAMI, its board of directors, its affiliates, or its members.
ABOUT NAMI
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.
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For more information about NAMI and how you can get involved, visit nami.org
ABOUT CAA COMMUNITY & IMPACT
CAA Community & Impact (formerly CAA Foundation) harnesses the power and reach of the entertainment and sports industry to drive positive social change. Rooted in Creative Artists Agency’s (CAA) commitment to being a force for good, the group builds impactful public-private partnerships, mobilizes volunteerism, and helps shape public discourse around critical issues. For more than 30 years, CAA Community & Impact has led work across public education, civic engagement, climate action, and crisis response, while supporting the agency’s clients in advancing purpose-driven initiatives. CAA Community & Impact | CAA
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