Virtual Variety Show – Mental Fitness

JOIN MENTAL FITNESS AS WE
REDEFINE NORMAL: ONE ACT AT A TIME!

Bright Lights Variety Show
Premieres May 14-28, 2021

Ticket Sales Open to the Public
Wednesday, May 12th

ABOUT THE BRIGHT LIGHTS VARIETY SHOW

Through national and international campaigns that ignite healthy change, our nation has seen how the power of media and storytelling, coupled with the powerful voices and hearts of influential people, can cultivate a paradigm shift: a way to improve the mindset and mental wellbeing of individuals as a new cultural norm.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Mental Fitness Inc. is proud to introduce The Bright Lights Variety Show, an online event created to reduce the mental health stigma by encouraging safe & open communication and demonstrating various forms of healthy expression.

The Bright Lights Variety Show will be held MAY 14-28, 2021 and includes some of the nation’s top performers who will share their stories and showcase their talents through a variety of artistic forms including music, spoken word, poetry, monologue, song, dance, comedy and more.

Purchase Ticket

FEATURED ARTISTS & PERFORMERS

Christina DeRosa

Actress, Blackish

Christina DeRosa is an award-winning actress and producer with over 70 credits in movies such as Bad Moms alongside Mila Kunis and Inheritance opposite Lily Collins, and in TV shows including Black-ish, Jane The Virgin and Devious Maids. Her performances have earned her voting membership in the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Christina is the Executive Vice President of Film and Television at Kingvigor Inc. and the proud partner of D.I.G Entertainment. In these roles, Christina manages 32 actors and handles show biz from a business perspective by scouting, acquiring, and developing literary talent’s intellectual properties. She is thrilled to announce a horror film trilogy, A Savannah Haunting scheduled to premiere in 2021. Proudly serving as chairwoman for the non-profit, Face Forward International, Christina believes gratitude is the best attitude and is most happy when she is giving back.

Ryan Niemiller AKA Cripple Threat

Comedian, America’s Got Talent

Despite being born with a disability in both arms, Ryan Niemiller, the self-proclaimed “Cripple Threat of Comedy” shares his views of the world from the perspective of the handicapped. Ryan began his comedy career in Los Angeles, California, and hasn’t looked back since, performing in clubs and colleges across the country. Covering topics such as dating, trying to find employment, and attempting to find acceptance in a world not designed for him, Ryan tackles the issues in a way that makes you think while laughing the entire time. With his quick wit, great timing, and a gimmick that only he can exploit, Ryan hopes to prove to the comedy world that he may be unarmed, but he is dangerous.

Taryn Papa

Singer, The Voice Season 19

With powerhouse vocals and a never-quit spirit, Taryn Papa is a Connecticut native whose voice recalls the raw electricity of ‘90s country stars like Martina McBride and Trisha Yearwood. With a classically charged sound built for a new era, she was a Top 17 standout on Season 19 of NBC’s The Voice in 2020. Her first post-Voice single, “Dream Girl,” serves as the start of a new chapter, an autobiographic anthem with a timeless country sound and epic presentation. Sounding like a modern-day country classic with a chance to change lives, it’s just the first in a new wave of tracks to be released in the coming months, all focused on the bold optimism of taking life by the horns.

Mary Testa

Actress, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Mary Testa is an American stage and film actress and singer. She is a three-time Tony Award nominee for performances in revivals of Leonard Bernstein's On the Town, 42nd Street, and Oklahoma. In 1979, Testa made her film debut in Going in Style and has appeared in numerous movie and television roles including the 2003 sitcom Whoopi, the 2014 film Big Stone Gap, and the 2010 film Eat Pray Love. Other credits include Law & Order, Sex and the City, 2 Broke Girls and White Collar. In 2014 Testa collaborated with Michael Starobin and released an album with contemporary interpretations of songs by artists such as Alanis Morissette, Prince, The Beach Boys, Leonard Cohen, Finn and LaChiusa.

Ballet Spartanburg

Dance Performance

As Ballet Spartanburg celebrates its 55th season, the company continues its tradition of providing exceptionally strong educational outreach programs both within and beyond the local community. Through community outreach, the beauty of dance and the joy of participation is shared by the company through partnerships with organizations such as the Leap of Dance Academy in Nigeria, Africa which provides quality ballet education to indigenous young artists. Ballet Spartanburg provides the highest quality dance education in a non-competitive atmosphere through its Center for Dance Education, creating a pleasant and supportive atmosphere for artistic excellence where students realize their full potential.

Noah Guthrie

Musician

Noah Guthrie is a South Carolina based, singer/songwriter who taught himself to play guitar and began writing songs at 14. By the age of 18, he had performed over 200 shows across the U.S. and built a strong following on social media. Noah continues writing his own brand of americana/country music and has released two original albums that have received critical acclaim. Noah and his band, Good Trouble, were recently featured performers on Rock Boat XVIII with Sister Hazel, Barenaked Ladies, needtobreathe, Drew Holcomb and others. Noah has toured Europe 5 times and recently performed in the Middle Eastern nation of Oman.

Arialle Kennedy

Dancer & Choreographer

Arialle V. Kennedy is a dancer and choreographer who began her professional training as a fellowship student at The Ailey School in New York City. She has performed with Columbia Classical Ballet, FootPrints Dance Company, the Surati Indian Dance Company, and in the feature film, Bolden. Arialle also has participated as a featured dancer in international performances throughout Europe, Canada, and the Caribbean. As an instructor, Arialle has worked with aspiring dancers throughout North America, including students at Harlem School of the Arts in New York City and Cirque Du Soleil in Canada. Arialle currently owns and operates AVK Dance Studio in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Brandan 'BMike' Odums

Visual Artist, Studio BE

Brandan “BMike” Odums is a New Orleans-based visual artist whose work encapsulates the political fervor of a generation of Black American activists who came of age amidst the tenure of the nation’s first Black president, the resurgence of popular interest in law enforcement violence, and the emergence of the self-care movement. As a public artist Bmike has collaborated with important organizations, brands, and public figures including, Nike, Cadillac , Red Bull , Starz, Spotify , OnStar , Bleacher Report, Complex , Revolt TV, Amnesty International , Colin Kaepernicks’ Know My Rights Camp, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Boys & Girls Club, and more.

Matthias Pope

Spoken Word, TED Talks

Growing up in the ‘90s, Matthias Pope developed a passion for hip hop at a young age, and eventually began testing his own lyrical skills writing and performing at small, local gatherings. As a young adult, through his years as a Navy helicopter pilot and corporate America, Matthias retained his passion for writing. He eventually discovered his place as a successful spoken word performer where he was not only able to leverage his skills as a creative outlet, but also as a way to channel his own complicated thoughts and emotions. He began performing at open mics, and received invitations to perform at corporate and non-profit events including State Farm and TEDx Talks. Matthias has received national recognition for his ability to turn presentations into performance and is celebrated for his heart-felt and authentic content as well as his evolving ability to engage audiences through poetry and rhyme.

Worth the Wait

Musical Group, The Voice Season 19

Worth the Wait is a country/pop trio band from Centre, Alabama whose members include a mother, Tara Matthews, and her daughters Mia, 15, and Jacy, 13. The group is originally consisted of three sisters called the Matthews Sisters who gave an impromptu performance of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ in line at a store one day and an onlooker posted a video of it that went viral. The video eventually led to local gigs until the oldest sister, Sadie, left the group to care for her newborn son. At that time, their mom joined the group, and they rebranded as the band Worth the Wait. The trio performed as contestants on Season 19 of The Voice.

PURCHASE TICKETS

PURCHASE TICKETS

Ticket sales open to the public on Wednesday, May 12th and may be purchased with a minimum donation of $25 to support the mission of Mental Fitness. All ticketholders will receive a special link with unlimited access to this encouraging and inspiring video collection that promotes mental wellness through a variety of artistic expressions. Streaming access will begin at 12pm EST on Friday, May 14th 2021 and will run through 12pm EST on Friday, May 28th 2021. *Please note that all ticketholders must have internet access to stream the event. Since 100% of all proceeds from this event are to benefit a nonprofit organization, no exchanges or refunds are available. All ticket sales are final.

EVENT PROMOTIONS

The Bright Lights Variety Show will be promoted in conjunction with the national movement to raise awareness about mental health throughout the month of May. Follow Mental Fitness on Facebook & Instagram for posts and videos that share event details, focus on mental health awareness, and include special messages from participating performers and mental health advocates.