Corey Manning explores fatherhood, cancer and addiction in his one-man show — and it’s a comedy!

A local comedian and community leader is bringing his authentic truth to the stage in his new one-man show, “Confessions of a Black Dad.”

Corey Manning said his show will cover topics from his battle with addiction, his experience going through treatment for and recovery from prostate cancer, along with his experiences as a father, a husband and a co-worker as a Black male.

It will also include storytelling, dramatic pieces, other creative stage performances and stand-up comedy.

Manning said he is excited to perform in the city and it has been a work in progress years in the making.

“What I found was that a lot of stuff that I talked about or wanted to talk about were things that most people wouldn’t find funny in a casual conversation,” he said. “And so, I tried to find a way to put a twist on it, to make it funny.”

Manning said this show not only shares his truth, but also infuses humor, storytelling and drama — as he is sharing personal things about himself that many community members may be able to identify with.

After his performance, there will be a panel discussion where he and other male community leaders will talk about the show and their reflections based on their own personal experiences and expertise.

“In sharing it, I’m opening up an opportunity for us, as a community, to have a conversation together. When I do the material as a comedian, without the insight and the back stories to where I came up with it, at least two to three people…will come up to me after the show and thank me for talking about it, because they’ve gone through what I’ve gone through,” he said.

Manning said he hopes community members, especially Black men, will leave the show feeling seen.

“There’s no ‘one size fits all’ description of what a man is, just like there’s no one size fits all description of what a woman is. Once we begin to realize, understand and appreciate that, I think we all will be in a better place,” he added.

The show will take place on Sunday, Sept. 21, at Hibernian Hall, 184 Dudley Street, starting at 6 p.m.; doors open at 5:30. Manning hopes audience members will feel better about themselves after seeing his show.

“I lean on humor so much as a weapon, a crutch, a communication skill, that sometimes, when you lean on things too much, you’re not able to walk tall,” he said. “That’s what I want to do with this performance. I want men and women to come out feeling like they can walk taller, because they’ve learned something, not only about me, but about themselves.”

ON THE WEB

Learn more at coreymanning.com