By Neil Doyle

NORMAL – A local student has decided to put on a theater production in an effort to make the community more aware about mental health.

Normal Community High School senior Emma Williams is the director of “Tigers Be Still,”  a play tackling social issues.  Williams said a sociology capstone project helped spark the idea.

“The thesis of the project is to do something you’re patient about and do something that does some kind of social good,” Williams told WJBC’s Scott Miller.

The school’s drama department fronted Williams $150 to purchase the script.

“I wanted to put on a show about these heavy topics because I feel like there is a major drought in the community discussing these things,” Williams said.

“This play is more of a comedy,” she added. “There are these shows like ’13 Reasons Why’ that talk about suicide in a heavy way, and that is perfectly acceptable, but there are some absurdities with anxiety and other things where it’s OK to laugh and I wanted to show that angle.”

The money to purchase the script has been paid back thanks to donations through a Go Fund Me page.  Extra money raised through the donation site and proceeds at the door will be donated to PATH, a local organization offering crisis services.

“I recently learned about PATH and I feel like everyone should know more about what they offer and it’s a very worthy cause,” Williams said.

“Tigers Be Still” can be seen Saturday at 7 p.m. in the NCHS auditorium.

Link to “Tigers Be Still” Go Fund Me page.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]