BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A Lehigh Valley comedian is bringing her one-woman show examining religious groups and cult dynamics to ArtsQuest’s SteelStacks venue on Jan. 30.
Lisa VanArsdale, a Lehigh Valley native and seven-year veteran of the local comedy scene, will perform “Lisa Joins a Cult,” an immersive show that draws on her visits to various religious communities around the world.
The performance combines storytelling, video footage and a display of religious artifacts she has collected, including Mormon undergarments.
The show originated several years ago when ArtsQuest approached VanArsdale about developing a one-woman performance.
During an initial meeting about potential subject matter, her enthusiasm for discussing her recent acquisition of Mormon underwear made the direction clear.
VanArsdale said she deliberately avoids labeling any group a “cult” during the performance.
“Cult is an inherently pejorative word. Nobody uses that term in a neutral way anymore,” she said. “At no point in the show will you hear me call any of the groups that I’ve visited a cult, because that removes the empathy and dehumanizes the people involved.”
Instead, the show examines how cultic characteristics exist on a spectrum, exploring what traits certain groups share without passing judgment on members.
[See a snippet of VanArsdale’s performance below.]
VanArsdale, who was raised Christian, said her interest stems from a fascination with groups united by common beliefs and a desire to bridge divides in an increasingly polarized society.
“I think it’s really, really important to be able to meet with groups or individuals who believe differently than you, and even if you can’t agree in the end, at least see where they’re coming from or how they got to follow their train of thought, and to see the humanity in them,” she said.
The comedian said she wrote the show so that members of any group she discusses could attend without feeling attacked.
“Any logical person could look at the show and see that I am not speaking poorly of anyone,” VanArsdale said. “All I’m doing is repeating what they’ve told me.”
VanArsdale works full-time as a house sitter and performs comedy as a hobby. She previously staged the show at the Emmaus Theatre and is performing in Denver on Jan. 24 before the Bethlehem date. A performance in Concord, New Hampshire, is scheduled for April 3.
Doors open early for attendees to view VanArsdale’s collection of religious artifacts. Tickets are available through the ArtsQuest website.
