'PostSecret The Show' -- Go See It!

Do yourself a favor and go see PostSecret The Show at Booth Playhouse before it closes this Sunday, May 4. The show has actually been running for a week now, but it might be a bit of a secret to some of you. I had the privilege of seeing it last evening with a group of friends, and it's one of the best, most thought-provoking, and emotion-stirring live shows I've seen in awhile.

PostSecret, the brand, began in 2004, founded by Maryland-based Frank Warren as a community art project. He invited people to mail him anonymous postcards, confessing their secrets, and he would select some each week to post to his blog, PostSecret.com. It quickly grew to become one of the most popular blogs in the world, and today has received more than 650 million visits--Frank has received more than half a million postcards, all to his home address. He continues to post new postcards every Sunday. And, of course, he's gone on to write several bestselling books about the experience.

PostSecret The Show truly brings those postcards to life. I was amazed at how the one or two-sentence anecdotes were so riveting. Funny secrets--about pulling pranks and embarrassing confessions; sad secrets--thoughts on wanting to commit suicide or being victims of abuse; astonishing secrets--infidelity and crimes committed. It all comes together to convey that we really don't know what people are holding inside, and it reminds us just how alone in this world some people feel.

Actors Birgit Darby, J.R. Adduci, and Kerry Ipema in PostSecret The Show. Credit: Blumenthal

A group of Charlotte bloggers, including me, were invited to attend a dinner last week with Frank and the team of writers and producers responsible for turning PostSecret into a stage play (most of them are from Vancouver). That's where I learned that Charlotte, because of the presence of the great Blumenthal Performing Arts, is the debut city for this show, so Charlotteans are the first people anywhere to see it. You have four more opportunities to experience if for yourself:

Wednesday, Apr 30, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 1, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 2, 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 4, 3 p.m.

Tickets range from $19.50 to $39.50. Visit blumenthalarts.org/postsecret for complete details.