5 people. 5 stories. 60 minutes.
Facing the Rain
Our 60-minute theatrical experience sharing the stories of college students impacted by mental illness.
Facing the Rain chronicles 5 true stories, performed by a cast of professional actors. Choose the 5 stories you feel would resonate most with students on your campus and we’ll bring them out!
Upcoming Shows
- Sep 20
- Dominican University. Ticket information.
- Sep 21
- Dominican University. Ticket information.
- Oct 28
- Indiana Association of Behavioral Consultants Annual Conference. Private event.
- Nov 16
- Loyola University. Ticket information.
Cast

- Rhonda Marie Bynum as Marie
-
Marie grows up in a home where everything is unpredictable and looks to obsessive exercise and disordered eating as vehicles for control and maintaining invisibility.

- Stephanie Diaz as Sarah
-
As a child, Sarah bargains, begs, and even tries to bribe her father to stop drinking - anything to stop the pain that his alcoholism wreaks on her family. As a college student, she faces his hollowness and her own powerlessness to change it.

- Amanda Eaton as Rose
-
After years of chronic abuse, Rose is diagnosed with bipolar disorder. By accident, she discovers self-injury as a way of feeling again and soon it begins to feel like an addiction. Ultimately, thanks to a friend's love, she seeks treatment and finds her way towards healing.

- Jared Fernley as Jay
-
Jay's girlfriend lives with OCD and an eating disorder. Things nearly fall apart before the couple faces reality and finds out how the power of love and not keeping secrets can change everything. (Role also performed by David Hornreich).

- Chris Hauser as Keith
-
Keith lives with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and considers Howie Mandel his idol. He uses humor and self-deprecation as a way of making it through each day and finding hope to face the future.

- David Hornreich as Jay
-
Jay's girlfriend lives with OCD and an eating disorder. Things nearly fall apart before the couple faces reality and finds that the power of love and not telling secrets can change everything. (Role also performed by Jared Fernley).

- Jessica Mondres as Karen
-
Karen experiences severe depression with hallucinations after an acquaintance rape in college. She finds a way to face the rain and keep her roots as she handles the aftermath and its impact on her adult relationships.

- Remy Ortiz as Jaron
-
After years of depression, Jaron began using cocaine to find happiness. After having two seizures and finally getting arrested for possession, he finds Narcotics Anonymous, a supportive college community, and sobriety.

- Adam Poss as Ryan
-
Ryan's father suffers from untreated mental illness and alcohol addiction. Together, they are a toxic combination that leads to domestic violence in the home. Ryan's story draws a picture of how this violence affected him as a young boy and does now, as an adult, as he tries to express and handle his own emotions and form and maintain serious relationships.

- Deanna Foley as Understudy
-
Deanna may be seen in any of the female roles above during performances.
"Facing the Rain is not only a mere source of entertainment, it is also a truly educational performance. By shattering preconceptions and stereotypes, this show provides its audience with real experiences and reliable resources."— DePaul University Student Read more testimonials
Important numbers
-
75%
of people with mental illness experience their first episode by age 24. This makes college students one of the most vulnerable groups to be impacted.
-
38%
of students, according to The American College Health Association, felt so depressed that it was difficult to function. Mental illness is a real and pressing issue on today’s campuses and needs our attention.
-
10-15
Years people go without proper diagnosis and treatment, often due to lack of information and stigma. The sooner we can get to college students, the sooner they can get assistance and step toward healing.
