Comedian Angelina Spicer brings 'Postpartum Revolution Road Trip' tour to Tull Family Theater

Comedian Angelina Spicer will be stopping in Sewickley as part of her multi-city tour, the “Postpartum Revolution Road Trip.”

Her show, sponsored by Allegheny Health Network, will highlight her journey through postpartum depression and her time hospitalized because of the diagnosis — an experience she has turned into a punchline for her stand-ups. On stage, she has managed to turn a sensitive topic into a relatable comedic relief to help normalize discussing postpartum depression.

The stop at the Tull Family Theater from 7 to 9:30 p.m. July 17 will include a screening of her comedy special, “The Waldorf-Hysteria” followed by a panel discussion about postpartum depression with survivors, birth workers and the local medical community.

Spicer said one in five women experience postpartum depression.

“We all heard about postpartum depression in our peripheral, but no one knows what it means and what it is. Yes, I lived the experience, but you have a comedian meeting it with jokes,” she said.

After giving birth to her daughter in 2015, Spicer instantly felt the effects of postpartum depression.

The vibrant, bustling world she knew and loved became a bleak gray forest she could not escape. Spicer knew something was wrong, but what? She said the hardest part about having postpartum depression was not knowing anyone else going through it.

“I had no one to turn to or speak to about it. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to share it. It was I didn’t know who to share it with,” Spicer said.

Dealing with postpartum depression for eight months, she chose to go to a psychiatric ward after being offered the option. Spicer said intrusive thoughts and anxiety lead her to do it. The words “psych ward” may sound scary, but Spicer saw it as a vacation to have alone time.

”I feel very fortunate that I got the help by way of the vacation. That vacation helped me and saved my life,” she said.

Her postpartum journey pushed her into a role that earned her the title “accidental activist” because she never thought she would go beyond her art to start lobbying. Her advocacy for maternal mental health led her to work with lawmakers in California and Capitol Hill — three bills in California passed and went into effect last year to help support new moms.

“After experiencing postpartum depression and feeling forgotten and misunderstood, I knew I needed to tell my story and advocate for women in a different way,” Spicer said.

Spicer’s work continues as she will meet with legislators in each city she is touring in to encourage similar national legislation that was passed in California.

Her road trip and work with legislators will be featured in a 100% crowdfunded documentary titled “The Push For Permission.” The feature-length documentary uses comedy and humor to help empower mothers with postpartum depression and educate others on the topic.

As Spicer looks forward to her tour, she is nervous, but she hopes people will show up to hear her unique storytelling of her journey.

“I hope people will see the value in the message and in their healing, and the value in the uniqueness and approach in trying something new,” she said.

The Tull Family Theater announced July 8 that Spicer has partnered with the theater to provide free tickets to 40% of the audience. To purchase tickets to Spicer’s show, visit thetullfamilytheater.org.