20 | APRIL 28 • 2022

OUR COMMUNITY

T

here are two sides
expressed through Gary
Gulman’s outlook, and
he is about to show both on
Michigan stages. His inclina-
tions converge in ways that
allow certain segments to be
emphasized according to the
audience.
His comedic side will dom-
inate the focus of his appear-
ance Wednesday evening, May
11, at the Michigan Theater in
Ann Arbor as he performs the
act solely written by him —
“Gary Gulman: Born on 3rd
Base.”
His more serious side takes
charge Thursday evening,
May 12, as he discusses his
continuing battle with depres-

sion in a presentation for
the Jewish Family Service’s
Spotlight Event at Temple
Israel’s Outdoor Pavilion in
West Bloomfield. Dollars
raised provide services for vul-
nerable community members.
“In Ann Arbor, I’ll be doing
a show about the disadvantag-
es and advantages I’ve had in
America because of my rather
impoverished upbringing but
also my God-given talents and
circumstances,” said Gulman,
who has been featured on
TV’s comedy specials and talk
shows as well as in a recurring
role on the streaming Hulu
series Life & Beth starring Amy
Schumer.
“For Jewish Family Service,

I will do more humor specific
to the American Jewish expe-
rience as well as discuss some
of the mental health issues
I’ve had in my life. I’ll also
talk about how Jewish Family
Service enabled me to go to
Hebrew school and [experi-
ence] one summer at a camp.”
When Gulman was 18 years
old, he was diagnosed with a
major depressive disorder, but
he believes it was probably
something left undiagnosed
during his childhood in
Massachusetts. He remembers
episodes of severe depression,
hopelessness and despair from
those earlier years.
From 2015-2017, he had
occurrences that placed him

in the hospital on a number of
occasions, and he talked about
his recovery during an HBO
special called The Great Depresh,
which premiered in 2019 as
produced by Judd Apatow
and is available in a recorded
format.
“I receive emails and mes-
sages and letters from people
who were moved or found The
Great Depresh resonated with
them,” Gulman said. “I’m
very proud of that, and I’ve
responded to almost every
single one.
“I’m still a little bit behind
because they come in every
single day. In some cases,
I’ve met people at shows who
found The Great Depresh helpful,

Gary Gulman

Comedian
Gary Gulman
to headline
JFS Spotlight
Event May 12.

Comedy
Takes a
Serious
Side

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER