*CONTENT WARNING: Mention of potentially disturbing content around depression and suicide.

Accessibility: video reading of the text below is available here.

In December 2014, I almost killed myself over a ripped McDonald's bag. A heavy and ridiculous sounding statement, I know. With all that life can throw at us, accidentally ripping your food bag seems like something you can actually laugh at in the moment. Or at the very least, after the initial frustration subsides. But this moment for me was different. It was a breaking point, the last straw, my last loss of control. It's a bit wild to think about now, but my last shred of self-worth was shattered when that bag ripped. Let me give a little more context...

It was winter break during my freshman year of college. I was studying Theatre at James Madison University and while it may have seemed like I was thriving on the outside, my life on the inside was very different. I can still remember the day... it was a cool, Fall afternoon. I was walking out of Carrier Library on the main campus when I decided to take a seat on one of the benches at the top of the Quad (anyone familiar with the campus knows how beautiful and alive that spot on campus is). After a few moments, a few breaths, a few thoughts... something wild happened. A sad piano song came on in my head (from a random movie about gymnastics) and after it played for a few seconds, I felt the life drain from my body. It was like all of the light in me extinguished from the top of my head down. It happened in seconds, it felt like hours. This was the moment that my depression took hold of me and my life.

When I was 16 years old, I lost my Dad. A year prior to that, I lost my older sister. Not too long after my Dad passed I lost his father, my Grandfather. And at the start of my freshman year at JMU, I lost my brother. These events, I believe, were the catalyst for what was to come. Looking back now I do believe that I had depressive tendencies even before high school, but I know for sure that my college years were the hardest and darkest. It has taken me a long time to heal, and I am still healing, but I can say with my full heart that I am the happiest today that I have ever been. There are still challenging days, but even those darker days are lighter than they used to be. My healing came from years of numerous forms of therapy, leaning on loved ones, and... my healing came through story. My craft. What I do as an actor and artist. Even more than that... I was healed, and am healing, by being a storyteller.

As my time at JMU was coming to an end, I did an independent study that dug deep into who I am as an artist, a storyteller, a man, and a human being. While that study did not end the way that I had hoped, what came out of it was a one-act play that I wrote as a final project. That play became the raw materials for a one-man show, which I had been wanting to do for years. While in Quarantine in the Summer of 2020, I reconnected with a friend in the DC area who was teaching an online solo show intensive that I immediately jumped at. Not too long after that, I discovered the amazing folks at Soaring Solo Studios in Los Angeles... and that leads us to today.

I am taking my very first one-man show, The Sad Life Of A Happy Man, to the 2023 Hollywood Fringe Festival! While this venture is a dream becoming a reality for me, I am also using it as an act of service. I have the core belief: If someone has the means to do something good in the world, they have the responsibility to do so. My story and my art form are my means, doing something good with them is my responsibility.

Therefore, it is my mission that for as long as I perform this show in my lifetime, half of all profits that would go into my pocket will be donated to a mental health organization doing deep and impactful work to aid those who are struggling. For my debut at Hollywood Fringe and for the foreseeable future, this mission will be supporting the JED Foundation in its efforts to support struggling teens and young adults.

In order for this dream to become a reality, I need your help. Taking a show to a fringe festival is a HUGE task and is even more challenging when you need to travel cross-country and stay out of town for over a month to do it. If you are in a place to do so, your financial contributions of any amount would be immensely appreciated. And whether you are able to contribute or not, helping me spread the word about this mission and this campaign is just as valuable! TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. I am needing to raise my goal of $10,000 in the next 30 DAYS to make it to the festival. You can check out my breakdown of projected expenses below...

Your direct support will not only help me with this production, but you will also be making an impact in the lives of young people who are being affected by mental illness in our nation. Suicide among people in the United States, and the world, is an epidemic of immense proportions, and it is especially present among our children and young adults. Storytelling has an incredible way of uniting people, reminding us that we are not alone, and can even aid in healing. I have experienced this first hand and I am truly excited to share this with others who need to hear it. This is my mission. I think I can even say... this is my life's purpose.

In return for your generous gift, you can be entered to win some incredible prizes! All prizes will be awarded via random drawing. Multiple gifts at the following amounts will earn you more entries! Check it out: (**DISCLAIMER: I am accepting gifts as an individual artist. These gifts are NOT tax-deductible.)

- ALL SUPPORTERS: Will forever be listed in my show's program as a "Mental Wellness Warrior".

- For $50: One person will win one FREE year-long subscription to Headspace! Find some grounding and focus with the popular mindfulness meditation app.

- For $150: One person will win one private yoga session with Tara Eschenroeder of Great Abiding Yoga. Another will win one custom-made 8x10 piece of comic book-inspired art by former DC Comics Artist, John K. Snyder!

- For $200: Two people will win an EFT Tapping session with certified EFT Practitioner, Dana Middleton of The Aligned Artist! Shift your mindset and tap your way to abundance. =)

- For $250: One person will win a holistic wellness session with Health Coach and Confidence Curator, Moniqua Plante. Another will win one 90-minute Human Design deep dive session with Elyse Preston, the Founder of Be More Connected!

- For $350: One person will win a Financial Freedom coaching session with Money Mentor, Katy Chen Mazzara! Four others will win a 60-minute lesson with the Holistic Voice Teacher, Karen Lyu!

- For $500: One person will win a 60-minute VOICE ACTING Coaching package with me! Have you been wanting to break into Voiceover? Let's get you going strong!

- For $1000: GRAND PRIZE: One amazing supporter will win the ultimate wellness coaching bundle! The winner of this bundle will receive…

1 Holistic Wellness Session with Moniqua Plante.
1 EFT Tapping Session with Dana Middleton.
1 Financial Freedom Session with Katy Chen Mazzara.
1 Life Coaching Session with Tara Eschenroeder.

*Side note: if you end up winning one of these prizes and wish to pass it on/re-gift it, that is totally fine!

Thank you for reading this far. I consider it an honor that you gave me your time today, and I trust that you will help me on this mission. Let's make a difference in someone's life who really needs it. Let's do it through story. Let's do it together!

With love,

- Ty

P.S. Check out my show's Fringe page here!

Storytelling Heals

By Soaring Solo LLC

Storytelling Heals

Help Me Take My Show To Hollywood and Support Depression and Suicide Prevention!