(HOLMDEL, NJ) -- On Monday, February 26, 2024, the Holmdel Theatre Company in partnership with the New Jersey Creative Arts Collaborative presents a staged reading of Call Me Isaiah by Jared Kelner. The reading is directed by Diane L. Parker. Admission is free with a $5 suggested donation. The reading begins at 7:00pm. After the reading, stay for a discussion with the playwright and cast members.

Call Me Isaiah transcends boundaries, navigating mental health with profound depth. Drawing from his experience in mental health counseling and his rich acting and playwriting background, Kelner carefully weaves therapeutic interventions into the narrative, offering a glimpse into the resilient spirit and intricate complexities of the human mind.

This is a heart-wrenching and enlightening play, that will engage audiences on emotional and intellectual levels seldom explored in traditional theater. The play challenges assumptions and confronts societal stigmas around mental health, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and respecting psychological well-being, especially within communities of color.

Call Me Isaiah features Di Shawn J. Gandy, Jared Kelner and Diane L. Parker, with narration from Gwen Ricks-Spencer.

After the play, audiences are encouraged to participate in a talkback discussion with the playwright and cast. They will be joined by Lynette Sheard, the Community Education Coordinator at the Mental Health Association in New Jersey, as well as representatives from Central NJ’s Center for Therapy and Counseling Services.

The Holmdel Theatre Company is located at The Duncan Smith Theater (36 Crawfords Corner Road) in Holmdel, New Jersey. Holmdel Theatre Company is a non-profit, semi-professional theatre company dedicated to presenting fresh interpretations of classic plays as well as rarely presented modern dramas and comedies. HTC is dedicated to providing opportunities for students and non-professionals to work with professional theatre artists in a collaborative, artistic and educational exchange.