2008 Woodie Awards
Nuci Story Project to document impact
Community benefits from Space
BRIANE DAVIS
Issue date: 6/8/08 Section: Variety
After a long battle with clinical depression, 22-year-old musician and University student Nuci Phillips committed suicide on Thanksgiving Day 1996. Four years later, his mother, Linda Phillips bought and renovated an old warehouse on the edge of Athens.
The warehouse, now known as Nuci's Space, includes four practice rooms, a stage area, a coffee bar/lounge and a library. Its mission is to help with counseling and raise money to spend on therapy for musicians suffering from depression, anxiety and other neurological disorders. The support center aids musicians with no health insurance by requiring a small fee to pay for a therapist or psychiatrist while Nuci's Space pays the balance.
The building also aids Athens' music scene by providing spaces for musicians to practice, renting out rooms for as low as $6 per hour. Inspired by Linda's mission, producer/director Brandon Deyette tells the story of Nuci Phillips and the impact of his suicide on the Athens community.
"Through theater and art people can see the change; recognize the problem, and it can hit home," said Deyette, co-owner of Uzupis Theater Company.
The Athens-based company, which opened last year, is a theater for social change, including issues such as poverty and suicide. The company embraces stories and issues that affect a community as a whole.
The Nuci Story Project is a community-wide project about how the death of Nuci Phillips and the birth of Nuci's Space has affected everyone in and surrounding Athens. It will consist of a documentary with interviews from people around the community, while also exposing the work Nuci's Space does for those who have considered or attempted suicide and suffer from disorders.
The theatre company also is producing a play that links all of the stories from the interviews together.
The warehouse, now known as Nuci's Space, includes four practice rooms, a stage area, a coffee bar/lounge and a library. Its mission is to help with counseling and raise money to spend on therapy for musicians suffering from depression, anxiety and other neurological disorders. The support center aids musicians with no health insurance by requiring a small fee to pay for a therapist or psychiatrist while Nuci's Space pays the balance.
MORE INFO
Contact Brandon Deyette at info@uzupistheatre.com to make an appointment or for any input for the project.The building also aids Athens' music scene by providing spaces for musicians to practice, renting out rooms for as low as $6 per hour. Inspired by Linda's mission, producer/director Brandon Deyette tells the story of Nuci Phillips and the impact of his suicide on the Athens community.
"Through theater and art people can see the change; recognize the problem, and it can hit home," said Deyette, co-owner of Uzupis Theater Company.
The Athens-based company, which opened last year, is a theater for social change, including issues such as poverty and suicide. The company embraces stories and issues that affect a community as a whole.
The Nuci Story Project is a community-wide project about how the death of Nuci Phillips and the birth of Nuci's Space has affected everyone in and surrounding Athens. It will consist of a documentary with interviews from people around the community, while also exposing the work Nuci's Space does for those who have considered or attempted suicide and suffer from disorders.
The theatre company also is producing a play that links all of the stories from the interviews together.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
DT
posted 6/05/08 @ 2:39 PM EST
Nuci's Space and it's founder, Linda Phillips, make Athens a better place. Their contribution to the community cannot be overstated. I hope that this documentary can do them justice. (Continued…)
Deb Mashock, M.A.
Deb Mashock, M.A.
posted 6/11/08 @ 10:50 AM EST
This is an amazing project. I would like to stay informed as to how it's progressing. Is there someone reading this post who can keep me posted?
Thank you to everyone involved!
Deb
Seattle
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