Religious groups topic of comedian's one-woman show at Emmaus Theatre

EMMAUS, Pa. — A local podcaster/comedian has faith that her material won't offend the masses.

Lisa VanArsdale, in her one-woman show "Lisa Joins a Cult," set for 6 p.m. Feb. 23 in Emmaus Theatre, opens up about her experiences with various religious groups.

Tickets, at $20, are available on the theater website.

VansArsdale had to reschedule the show after a fire in October
caused minimal damage at the historic theater at 19 S. Fourth St. It reopened a month later.

"Obviously not true, but I joked that Scientology started the fire to keep me quiet," VanArsdale said via email.

Indeed, the jab about Scientology is in jest. As a matter of fact, the stories in VanArsdales' stories are not meant to poke fun of the religious groups, but instead create empathy.

In a recent phone call, she clarified that the groups she talks about in the show are not cults — despite the show's name.

"When we think of cults, it's an automatic negative connotation," VanArsdale said. "Nobody thinks a group is a cult if it's a group that they approve of what they're doing.

"At no point in the show do I say that any of the groups are a cult. I just point out shining characteristics from each group. It's a whole thing that I explain in the show before I get into any of it."

Religious awakening

VanArsdale first performed the show at SteelStacks last February after a suggestion from ArtsQuest's comedy department.

"I had worked on the material for three years," she said. "I was already visiting groups just for my own enjoyment, as a hobby."

Some of the VanArsdale's recollections are wacky, others thought-provoking.

"I've been in houses of worship all of the world," she said. "I stayed overnight [at some of the groups], ate what they ate and wore what they wanted me to wear."

VanArsdale said part of the desire to explore different religions stems from her childhood.

"I grew up religious," she said. "And for me, growing up in a religion where you're told this is the only right way and then outgrowing that idea, it's a valuable experience.

"It's kind of a constant unpacking of growing up that way to see what other people believe and compare and contrast that with my own experience."

'Ask questions, be accountable'

There is some curiosity on her part, as well, she said.

"I generally love people and I'm fascinated by groups of people who are united either by a common interest or belief," VanArsdale said.

"That doesn't necessarily need to be a religious belief. It could be nudists, it could be Bronies, it could be Swifties, it could be fraternities, masons, any sort of group.

"I think variety is the spice of life. The more you expose yourself to different ways of life, the more equipped you are to be the best version of yourself."

Doors for the show will open 30 minutes before the performance so attendees can take a look at memorabilia she's collected from the religious groups.

"My hope would be that the audience is that their takeaway is what to look for as far as like red flags when joining a group," she said.

"The idea that if whatever you believe, those beliefs should be making you more willing to ask questions and be held accountable. To seek to understand other people.

"And if your beliefs aren't encouraging you and empowering you to do that, they're probably not beliefs worth holding on to."