One-man show shares tale of grief and healing
Jay Geller woke up to find that his wife, Suzanne, who was nine months pregnant at the time, had died in her sleep.
He soon found himself a single father of two girls, wandering in a world of grief, trying to find his way.
Back then, in the year 2000, he found many resources for single mothers whose husbands had died. But rare was something to fit his situation for widowed men with young children.
In 2010, he went on a sabbatical from his job as the department chair for theater, journalism and speech at McHenry County College. He’d originally set out to write a support book about grief targeted at younger fathers who’d lost their wives.
Instead, he ended up writing a one-man play titled “What Am I Going to Do Now?” which will make its debut this weekend at McHenry County College’s Black Box Theater.
Writing the play, and now bringing it to life before an audience, proved to be a cathartic experience for Geller.
The play tells his story of a single, grief-stricken father who struggles to find a sense of normalcy in his life. It chronicles his grief and shows how he raised his daughters, eventually entered the world of middle-aged dating and found love again.
“I’m hoping it will appeal to someone who wonders what does someone go through when something horrific like this happens, when you lose someone, especially at a young age,” he said.
“I’m hoping as hellacious and horrible as the grief process is, it will show there is a light at the end of the tunnel. If you are working toward the positive you can find your way out of the muck,” he said.
“You never forget, obviously, the people who passed away, and they are obviously in your heart forever, but there comes a time when you can move on,” he said.
Geller, a Kildeer resident, believes his journey shown onstage with both sadness and humor will appeal to many.
He said he expects the show will strike home with some who are going through similar experiences.
There also are those who want to know more about what happened with Geller and his family. They know of his situation, but never knew the details.
In the show, Geller said, he shares many details he’s never shared before, and that has helped him along with his own grieving process that began more than 11 years ago.
“It’s been a very interesting process and very cathartic, in many ways, for me to talk about some of these things, and reveal some of these things I’ve never really talked about before,” he said.
“It’s benefitted me a little bit and has allowed me to move on, so it’s been beneficial. I hope in some small way someone can learn something from it.”
However, he said, he knows that many people will probably come away echoing a line from his play that says, “I’m glad I’m not that guy.”
“What Am I Going to do Now?” is a one-man play, but also has many supporters behind the scenes. Ian Streicher of Chicago is the director, Annie Rezac of Cary is the associate director, Sue Lewis of Crystal Lake is set designer.
Rick Amundsen of Woodstock is the lighting designer, Michael Hillstrom of Woodstock composed the original music, Pete Lilly of Huntley is the digital director, Paul Bayer of Crystal Lake is the project director and Ashley Brown of Cary is the stage manager.
The show opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, and runs through Saturday, Feb. 4, with performances also Saturday, Jan. 28, and Friday, Feb. 3, at the Black Box Theater, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake. Tickets are $5.
For reservations, call (815) 455-8746 or email jgeller@mchenry.edu.
If you go
What: What Am I Going to Do Now? a one-man play focusing on a young widowers journey through grief and healing
When: 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Jan. 27 and Feb. 3, and Saturdays, Jan. 28 and Feb. 4
Where: McHenry County Colleges Black Box Theater, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake
Tickets: $5
Reservations: (815) 455-8746 or jgeller@mchenry.edu