A performance of Alone Together will take place on July 7, 1:30 p.m. at Arts at the Armory in Somerville.

By NaBeela Washington

Marshall “Gripp” Gillson, a local writer, playwright, and mental health advocate, is presenting an original performance of Alone Together on July 7, 1:30 p.m. at Arts at the Armory in Somerville. The play focuses on a black couple trapped during a blizzard who both struggle to confront their own mental health issues.

Alone Together was born out of Gillson’s experiences as a child. He often felt isolated in his feelings of confusion and anxiousness, but turned to a notebook for deeper introspection and clarity in his mental state. Much like the greater black community, Gillson kept the notebook a secret, often hiding it out of sight.

It wasn’t until two decades later that Gillson realized he wasn’t alone in the way he felt and that there was power and healing in coming together with strangers to express shared emotions. Now out of the dark, Gillson is using his platform for the greater good and providing tools for others to continue a larger dialogue around mental health and deep-rooted issues in black communities. Gillson’s “closet screenplay” will be presented alongside a public forum on black mental health to discuss the unique struggle of maintaining emotional wellness in a black body.

“I didn’t want anyone to come away believing in easy answers. The intersection of race and mental health is complicated. There is a lot of stigma around struggling with mental health. But everyone has moods. Everyone has emotions. Even if you don’t have a history of depression or anxiety, you have to spend time caring for your mental health just like your physical health,” Gillson said.

The show will include a table read of the script, with the two main characters being played by area actors Mindy Britto and Christian Thomas, as well as an open discussion on mental health with panelist Dr. Charmain Jackman. “The goal is to encourage audience members to be proactive about protecting their own mental health in the face of an unforgiving world.”

Gillson has been an active member of the greater Somerville community and has appeared in a number of plays and films, provided support to Boston’s House Slam poetry, and regularly advocates for local arts communities. Gillson is applauded for his reputation as an advocate for mental health, and won grants from the Somerville Arts Council and the Boston Foundation to continue to produce live shows.

“All my work tries to address the social conditions in which it was created,” says Gillson. “My goal as a writer is always to give new language to people struggling with things they can’t yet describe.”

Join the conversation and secure your seat to Alone Together today by going online to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/alone-together-an-original-story-mental-health-forum-tickets-62414418205.