Gwen Sunckle is a comedian and a nurse in Indianapolis, she strongly believes that laughter can be used as medicine to help people cope with difficult situations. As the Executive Producer of the Middle Ground Comedy Festival, she aims to use humor to pave the way for challenging conversations.
The festival, which takes place from April 25 to April 28, features 40 comedians from Indiana and other parts of the country. Sunckle hopes that by sharing relatable stories from comics like Lucas Waterfill, who has cerebral palsy and alcoholism, those attending the festival will realize that they are not alone in their struggles.
Waterfill credits comedy with helping him better cope with his addiction. He says that laughter has been a powerful tool in his recovery process. Sunckle believes that this festival can provide a safe space for people to come together and laugh, while also providing them with valuable resources and support to help them deal with mental health issues.
To purchase tickets and learn more about the festival, visit their website. The festival aims to become a non-profit organization in the future to provide further assistance to individuals dealing with mental health issues. The price of tickets ranges from $10 to $25, ensuring affordability is not a barrier for access to the event.