Let’s Talk (and Laugh) About End-of-Life Planning: A Unique Community Event

Date and Time

• Wednesday, Nov 18, 2026  5:30pm - 8:30pm

Location

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Event Categories

Live Shows & Theater | Visual Arts | Fitness & Wellness

Details

End-of-life care planning is one of life’s most important conversations—yet it’s one that many avoid. Let’s change that with End of Life: Live and Unscripted!—an engaging, entertaining, and informative event that uses humor to tackle this crucial topic.

What Is End of Life: Live and Unscripted!?

Presented by the Mayo Clinic Hospice and acclaimed improv comedy group, Danger Boat Productions, this one-of-a-kind show breaks down the barriers of fear and discomfort surrounding end-of-life discussions. Combining expert insight with laughter, this event helps audiences feel more confident and informed about end-of-life care planning.

We also invite guests to arrive early at 5:30pm to experience In Loving, In Loss, an art installation that provides a reflective space to honor grief, loss, and cherished memories.

In Loving, In Loss is a participatory art installation designed by local artist Olivia Mulvey Morawiecki. Commissioned by The Compassion Museum, this moving piece explores the profound experience of loss and grief, honoring it as an inevitable and universal part of life. It invites us to reflect on love, memory, and our connections, awakening a deep sense of compassion for ourselves and others who have been touched by love and loss.

Tickets are free thanks to the Mayo Clinic’s Dolores Jean Lavins Center for Humanities in Medicine. Learn more about the Lavins Center at www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/humanities-in-medicine/minnesota.

What to Expect

This interactive, improvisational event offers a thoughtful mix of education, entertainment, and conversation:

Expert Insights: Learn from Brenda Hartman, a life-threatening illness specialist and cancer survivor, and Dr. Ann McIntosh, an emergency medicine physician with decades of experience in critical care decision-making, and Dr. Cory Ingram, Mayo Clinic Hospice and Palliative Care Physician..
Improv Comedy: The Danger Boat troupe brings levity to the conversation, helping the audience warm up to complex topics in a supportive, enjoyable way.
Audience Engagement: Share stories, questions, and hopes in a safe space, with opportunities for small-group discussions.
Actionable Takeaways: Access resources and tools for starting your own end-of-life planning journey, including guidance on healthcare directives, hospice care, and more.