When Emmy and Peabody Award-winning comedian Paul Mecurio takes the stage at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, the audience can expect more than just laughs—they’ll experience an unforgettable evening of connection, healing, and storytelling.
Some call Mecurio’s unscripted, interactive comedy experience, Permission to Speak, “comedy therapy.” “Laughing is the best medicine,” he says. “During my show, the audience willingly shares their stories so there is an indirect mental health focus here. There’s not a show like this that can bring people together. We engage and connect with people. We have conversations that everyone can relate to. Storytelling is empowering.”
Mecurio brings audience members on stage to share their stories, breaking down barriers and revealing the connections everyone shares. “When we unbox our stories,” he explains, “we see we’re not so different after all.”
Mecurio also understands the benefits of his performance to one’s mental health:
- Self-awareness: Sharing stories allows people to express themselves in a stress-free, judgment-free zone.
- Empathy and healing: Storytelling fosters deeper connections and mutual understanding.
- Reducing stigma: Audience members who relate to the stories often feel less shame and isolation.
- Stress relief: Laughter helps alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.
“This is a blend of sociology meets pop culture meets comedy meets therapy meets serious,” Mecurio says. “This is the right show at the right time. We are more alike than we think we are. Our audience walks out happy, mentally healthier through laughter and knowing they’re not alone in their experiences, which can be very comforting”
Mecurio is known for his work on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, HBO and The Tonight Show and hosts the popular podcast Inside Out with Paul Mecurio, where he interviews icons from entertainment, politics, sports, and science.
Mecurio’s Permission to Speak comes to the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, January 17 at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Truist Comedy Series. For tickets and information, visit https://www.browardcenter.org/events/detail/paul-mecurio-2025.
