“Hope is a light, and light will always shine through the darkness”
Our Story
A Heartfelt Beginning
“Suicide broke my heart. I imagine that it's broken a lot of hearts. The ripple that it has is huge. That outpour of people in the beginning was overwhelming, but that wasn't the end. I remember getting phone calls from people months after my dad died as the news slowly traveled. People who he had met only a handful of times were moved enough by his choice to call me and share a memory or give a condolence. It always left me with a warm sadness. You were so loved. You touched so many lives. Why did you do it? Why did you have to go?
It's better not knowing. For me anyway. I don't want to imagine the helplessness, the hopelessness, the pain....but he was such a happy person. I heard that from a lot from people. They still say it, but underneath he wasn't. We are conditioned to hide our pain, to present our best, happiest selves to the world. That's bullshit. It's okay to not be okay. It's okay to not have everything together. There's no shame in needing help.
I want people to know that. I want you to know that you are loved and that your life matters. That help is attainable. Together we can break through the stigma of depression and mental health. We can learn to reach out to each other. Please reach out. There is always hope. Hope is a light, and light will always shine through the dark.”
— Kelly O’Malley, Founder
Where It All Started…
The journey of A Light in Dark Places began with a profound and personal loss. Our founder, Kelly O'Malley was deeply moved by the impact of suicide on her life and the lives of those around her. This experience ignited a passion to address the stigma and silence surrounding suicide through a unique and powerful medium: the performing arts.
Driven by a desire to honor loved ones and offer support to others grappling with similar pain, our founder envisioned a platform where stories could be shared, conversations could be sparked, and hope could be illuminated. The vision became the cornerstone of our mission and the catalyst for our efforts to create change.
From Pain to Purpose
Using Art to Transform and Heal
Our First Production…
A Light in Dark Places started in the Spring of 2016 with an idea to use theater as a means to reach out to those whose lives have been affected by suicide. It was an experiment with many many steps and discoveries along the way, but what we ultimately put together was a play festival made up of five original short plays working together to bring awareness, understanding and hope. We partnered with the Stella Adler Academy of Acting and Theatre - Los Angeles for the space, actors and directors and with Playground-LA for the playwrights.
The production ran for one weekend in the beginning of September. Each performance was followed by a Q&A and reception where we could connect and process the show together. It was a beautiful and humbling experience, and one that we were able to keep open to all. In order to do this, we decided that tickets were to be donation based with all proceeds donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, who gave us guidance and support along the way.
A Light in Dark Places: a Collection of Plays for Hope was our contribution to National Suicide Prevention Week, and we were successful. We had talented people donating themselves to bring this project to live, and we had a supportive audience that grew each night. Our success came because we had people coming together to support our message of hope and prevention.
Our 2016 production was our first attempt at reaching out through performing arts and has continued to see as the foundation for all our events to come.
Why Theater?
Theater offers a unique intimacy that allows audiences to share a physical space with one another, creating a powerful collective experience. Being present in a room filled with real people fosters a sense of connection and shared emotion that is hard to replicate elsewhere. This closeness can spark conversations that may feel uncomfortable but ultimately lead to deeper dialogue. The friction created in these moments encourages individuals to engage, share their thoughts, and reflect on their own experiences. It’s about bringing people together, using the art of storytelling to illuminate important issues and inspire change.
Where We Are Now
Expanding Our Reach
What We’ve Achieved…
Today, we proudly host our Plays for Hope events in both Los Angeles and Dallas, with all proceeds supporting A Light in Dark Places. Our commitment to using the performing arts as a vehicle for change remains steadfast.
We have already celebrated the success of dance shows, cabaret nights, and Songs for Hope. However, when COVID-19 hit, we had to pause our in-person shows and pivot to online formats, launching a series of virtual performances for Plays for Hope and Songs for Hope to continue fostering connection and support during challenging times.
In 2021, we joyfully returned to the stage with our first in-person show, marking a significant milestone in our journey. This momentum carried us into 2023, where we expanded our offerings to include a comedy show and a holiday cabaret night, revitalizing our mission to spread hope through the arts.
What’s Next…
As we look to the future, we are eager to continue these one-night events alongside Plays for Hope. We aim to broaden our reach by continuing our events: Songs for Hope, Cabaret Nights, Keepin’ it Light (comedy show), while also introducing other events such as art galleries, live music events, short films, and more! Each event will provide an opportunity to inspire, unite, and bring hope to our community.
The Reality We Face…
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention estimates that 130+ people die by suicide per day in the United States. Every death by suicide affects an average of one-hundred people, and there are statistically twenty-five attempts for each completed suicide. Despite these high numbers, there continues to be stigma and misunderstanding surrounding the topic. We believe that a piece of the solution is to shift how we view suicide and other mental health conditions as a culture.
With our programs, ALIDP provides opportunities to connect and educate through the transformative power of art, with an emphasis on safe messaging. Each event includes a representative from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and/or a mental health professional to provide valuable information and resources.
A Light in Dark Places is dedicated to breaking down stigma surrounding the topic of suicide by using the performing arts to encourage healthy discussion, create community, and offer hope to those affected.
The Heart of Our Mission
We envision a world with no shame or stigma surrounding those of us affected by suicide; a world where people can confidently reach out for help and be met with understanding and compassion, where mental health can be talked about freely and resources are readily available to all.