FOUND LIVES
A fascinating stage play that explores the inner lives, struggles,
​and triumphs of people with schizophrenia and their family members.  

The play's characters are composites of real life stories of those with schizophrenia or by their caregivers.  In every regard, the play strives to be an accurate portrayal of the mental illness and how it affects all those involved.  

For production rights or a play script, please send Michael a message!  Click Here.

"Everyone needs to see Found Lives! It will help normalize experiences for people who are directly dealing with the struggles of schizophrenia, as well as help decrease the stigma often associated with it." 
- Caregiver of someone with schizophrenia

Found Lives gives the public a rare glimpse into the experiences and daily life of people with schizophrenia.  Everything you will hear in this stage play are based on real life experiences.  Only names and places were changed to enhance the privacy of the bloggers.   Found Lives is a unique and unflinchingly honest theater piece about living with schizophrenia. 

Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness based in faulty brain functioning which affects 1% of the population worldwide, yet is poorly understood by the public.  Most media reports of schizophrenia revolve around rare sensational events which makes it difficult for the public to truly understand the experience of individuals with schizophrenia and their needs. Found Lives was designed as a theater experience to enhance public understanding of the human side of this illness and reduce the stigma which is associated with schizophrenia.

Found Lives was first presented as a staged reading by local actors directed by Michael Wehrli.  Performances were given on June 18 & 25, 2009 at OHSU Old Library Auditorium.  On October 16, 2009, a full production was presented at Artist Repertory Theatre in Portland as a fund raiser for NAMI Multnomah, the local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).  It was co-production by New Moon Productions andNAMI.

A question-and-answer session with a psychiatrist, the playwrights, and cast followed the performance. Proceeds from the fund-raising event went towards supporting NAMI’s many programs.  The show was directed by Michael Wehrli, and the cast included Sara Kennedy Adams, Brynn Baron, Mike Borgstrom, Jessica Brand, Cheryl Green, Donovan Snyder, and Pamela Stringer.  

It is our sincere wish to see other productions of this important stage play.

For production rights or a play script, please send Michael a message.  Click Here.

Various feedback from those with schizophrenia, caregivers, family members, and those in the medical community:

"Thank you for this experience, I am forever changed." 

"Amazing is all I can say. This was a wonderful glimpse into the world of schizophrenia. The questions and responses from audience members were astounding." 

"I want to tell you how deeply moved I was by the play. The stories of these brave people speak to the human condition and are relevant to all of us, no matter where we fall on the spectrum of “mental health.” 

"As a psychiatrist, I found it to be incredibly moving and powerful. It reminded me of how deeply and profoundly this disorder affects patients and their families, and of the breadth of experiences and symptoms that exist under the umbrella of schizophrenia." 

"Simply put, this play gets it right.  Very real and moving." 

"I would recommend Found Lives not just to those interested  in mental illness, but to anyone interested in better understanding the full scope of human experience." 

"As a medical student who has learned just a little about psychiatric disorders, I feel that the play was just educational enough for those not familiar with the disease. But that did not take away from the humanistic, artistic purpose of the reading. I look forward to seeing more." 

"How much I enjoyed “Found Lives.” It was really a wonderful way to honor people with  schizophrenia and their families… The reading  was poignant, entertaining, and educational. There was something really powerful about hearing the bloggers’ words coming through experienced stage actors." 

"We learned so much about the experiences of people and family members dealing with schizophrenia. Thank you for offering the question and answer session afterwards. The performers were incredible... the way the stories were interwoven, and having the voices talking during many of the monologues was so impactful."