EdFringe Talk: Ismael Loutfi: Heavenly Baba

Posted in *EdFestivals 2025, *Written Interviews by

“I wrote “Heavenly Baba” because I wanted to make something deeply personal, and utterly un-clippable.”

WHO: Ismael Loutfi

WHAT: “Comedian Ismael Loutfi’s father tried to convert the state of Florida to Islam. He did not succeed. This hilarious solo show examines those efforts, and the impact they had on Ismael’s family. Heavenly Baba is a show that needs to be seen to be believed, a hilarious and touching exploration of what it means to express oneself honestly and authentically, and how not to lose yourself in said expression. Ismael is a comedian, writer and actor, currently writing on the upcoming animated show Mating Season, from the team behind Big Mouth.”

WHERE: Studio Five at Assembly George Square Studios (Venue 17) 

WHEN: 18:00 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Yes! I’ve wanted to do Edinburgh for years. Comics in New York City would often be gone over the summer, only to return with tales of a great carnival out East. A land where people of all stripes can express their art and hone their craft. A land where the people speak English, but also– do they? I started working on my show because I became annoyed with the direction stand-up was heading: clips, crowd work, selfie-videos, all started to blend together as a betrayal of the artform I love. I wrote “Heavenly Baba” because I wanted to make something deeply personal, and utterly un-clippable. Immediately after performing the show for the first time, I started setting my sights on Fringe, a place where an hour-long comedic story could thrive.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2024 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

The biggest thing I learned last year was that I hate Los Angeles, California. I moved to LA for writing work at the beginning of 2024. I already knew LA wasn’t my speed, but I hoped that with a well paying job or two, I’d learn to love it. But alas, I do not love it. I hate it. This city is hopeless, and I’m thankful to know that I must leave it as soon as humanly possible. Now, regarding “Heavenly Baba,” I learned that sitting in the emotional moments of the show is not a bad thing. As a comic, going too long without a laugh (ie. a single minute) is anathema to my very existence. But with this show, I’ve been taught that crowds actually appreciate, and even want me to take a moment on stage when the subject matter gets heavy enough.

Tell us about your show.

I started running “Heavenly Baba” two years ago at an indie club in Bushwick called “The Tiny Cupboard.” I wrote the show all by myself – but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been collaborators along the way. My director, Greg Walloch, has helped me finetune the show in multiple ways, and has been an excellent sounding board for certain wacky ideas. He’s also helped the production evolve past “man talks into microphone,” and has given the show a fuller, more professional, feel. AEG is producing the show at Fringe, and they’ve been little angels. After the festival, I plan to do a run off-broadway.

What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?

Check out Laurie Magers’ “Do You Accept These Charges,” at Pleasance. She’s incredibly talented and has been a good friend to me while I’ve lived in LA. Her love for her show has inspired me in so many ways. She comes from a theatre background, so her work ethic regarding the production made me feel silly doing mine, which was essentially just “man talks into microphone.” Seeing her made me take “Heavenly Baba” more seriously as a production, and it’s since blossomed. Also, I’m rooming with her for the month of the festival, so if you don’t go to her show she’s going to be very annoying to live with.

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