This semester, I had the pleasure to publicize a production put on by the oldest student theatre club at the University of Delaware. We’re called E-52. For the past six months or so, I’ve been the Publicity Chair. What this means is I get to do poster, quarterfold, and banner designs for our shows.
The show I’m currently publicizing is called Suicide, Incorporated. It’s about a controversial corporation that helps people write their suicide notes before they, well you know. It’s dark and macabre, with a touch of dark humor. On its own this would be a heck of a thing to publicize. As someone who loves typography, it almost necessarily means what I have to do is the word SUICIDE in big bold letters to catch eyes. That’s complicated, as you could imagine.
This show is incredibly well-timed on campus, in my opinion, as difficult as it is to put on. In the Fall, we had a student commit suicide on campus. This is the first suicide I know of that has occurred on my campus in my time here, but it’s a fragile subject regardless. The addition of an actual suicide at UD makes directing, casting, performing, and publicizing the show much harder. All of us on the production staff have to adopt two conflicting mentalities:
• Tackle the issue of teen suicide head-on. Shine a light on this ugly and dark subject so we can all learn more and do more to prevent suicides on campus and beyond.
• Don’t trigger. Be gentle and cognizant of the comfort zones of the students on campus who have been affected by suicides in the past, whether by the student who committed suicide in the Fall or by other friends or family members.
Suicide is emotionally charged on its own. It’s a hard subject, and scary to think about. What could drive a person to take their own life? How can we take those motivations and turn them into something the afflicted individual would want to work on? After all, suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
Thankfully, the director of the show had the idea to charge a few more dollars per ticket and donate those extra dollars to an on-campus suicide prevention effort. This philanthropic spin makes the show so much more of a beacon than it would be without the donation, and it makes me excited and honored to be a part of it.
Here is the poster I’ve made. I’ll create separate posts for the banner and quarterfold, since I think they deserve their own space.
In any event, these are the result of many hours of trying to be bold and sensitive, creative and respectful.
J
If you or someone you know has or is suffering from suicidal thoughts and is in need of a helping hand and a number they can call at any hour of the day, this is the number to call: 1-800-273-8255
Stay well, and take every day one breath at a time. It’s the only way to do it. There are always brighter days ahead.
Thou Art 