1. SUICIDE WATCH: FOR THE ONES DEALING WITH DEPRESSION AND CONSIDERING SUICIDE is a recent play you’ve submitted to The Baltimore Playwrights Festival. What is it about?
This is a play that deals the struggles of everyday life while having depression, or anxiety that could lead to suicide. I wanted to portray how mental health effects people at different ages and walks of life.
2. Why was it important to you to write the play and what do you hope the audience will take away?
I wrote this play hoping to reach out to people who feel like giving up. I want the audience to connect and not feel alone when it comes to mental health. I also want people who see or read the play to gain knowledge about depression and other mental health disorders and how it effects people differently.
3. What was your preparation for writing SUICIDE WATCH?
I usually try write out my issues when I’m feeling down or depressed. I realized I had written a handful of monologues I felt needed to be shared. I knew I was not alone dealing with depression. When I wrote this play it was around a time when suicide was more visible to the world. I thought about how and why people would give up and it inspired me to write for them and create different scenarios and backgrounds for them. I put myself in other people’s shoes and imagined how I would feel dealing with the issues they faced.
4. Tell us about yourself.
My name in Dan’ae Henry and I am a Baltimore native playwright. I have been writing scripts and stories since 2010 and have had opportunities within my church and school to have some of my plays and skits performed and or read in front of an audience. I like to write plays and stories that people can connect to and learn from. I also enjoy writing fiction novels and poetry as well. I am always looking for opportunities to improve my work and better myself. I appreciate the support from the Baltimore Playwrights festival for giving me an opportunity to share and gain feedback to improve.
5. What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a poetry/story book about mental health, therapy, and self-love. I have also been improving past scripts, and building new stories and ideas. I am working on becoming a fiction/non-fiction author as well as a playwright.
6. What is coming up next for you?
I hope to have my book published this year. Right now I am editing and putting the finishing touches on it.