EdFringe Talk: Best. Dad. NEVER.

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“So embarrassing that one of my first impressions of EdFringe was watching The Simpsons cartoon where Lisa buys a ticket to ‘Musical: The Play.'”

WHO: Hike Chahinian

WHAT: “A gay Armenian-American Girl Dad, setting out to be the perfect Black Girl Magic-celebrating papa, stumbles through the hilarious and humbling fumbles of first-time fatherhood: from shopping for girls’ swimsuits to catching his own bigotry. Haig “Hike” Chahinian, grandson of Armenian Genocide survivors, was expected to marry a woman from his tribe. Instead, he met his dream man and adopted a bouncing biracial baby. Inspired by his viral essays in The New York Times, this intimate, messy, richly relatable story unpacks what we inherit, what we pass down, and the inherent conflict in striving to be good.”

WHERE: Just The Cask Room at Just The Tonic at The Mash House (Venue 288) 

WHEN: 13:05 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

Is it ever, I’ve never even been to Scotland before. So embarrassing that one of my first impressions of EdFringe was watching The Simpsons cartoon where Lisa buys a ticket to “Musical: The Play.” Now I’m feeling the pull to produce my own show there. I’m excited to work among thousands of artists, and even more—millions?—of theatregoers. It’s possible I’m going to feel like a child on the first day of school where the classroom is a toy store. I’m going to be playing with so much, and so many! I hope I don’t break anything. Except maybe ticket sales records?

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2025 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

That audiences find fumbling through fatherhood to be funny. Good thing, as that’s the essence of my piece.

Also, I used to think that grounded, compelling performances like Hannah Gadsby’s and Wanda Syke’s specials must have come naturally. I love their sardonic humor, and the way they talk to the audience like friends. But my wonderful director Sandi McCree tells me words have to be supported by movement—in voice, face, and body. She said the audience experiences freedom when the performer has put in the work. I didn’t know what that meant, until I got on stage.

After recent rehearsals I’ve been feeling spent, ready for a nap. So I think I’m absorbing the lesson?

Tell us about your show.

My show Best. Dad. NEVER. reveals all the secrets about being a queer parent in an interracial family. Trying to buy a girl’s bathing suit, getting bullied by toddlers, catching my own bigotry, it’s all in the script I wrote, inspired by essays I’d published in the New York Times, and O The Oprah Magazine. Along with the amazing team at Suzanna Rosenthal Productions, my husband and I are producing this run. I premiered the show at Solofest 2025 in Los Angeles, then mounted a 5-night run at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. If I had a crystal ball I’d love to tell you where the show’s headed after EdFringe. Do you have one so you could tell me?

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

Definitely ‘Notes from a Narcissistic Negro and Other N Words’ written and performed by tour de force Elizabeth June. I couldn’t see its Los Angeles run, and I’m beyond excited to travel 5,000 miles to see it in person at last. 16:45 at the Annexe at Paradise in the Vault.

Also, ‘Roomies’, written and performed by fellow Los Angeleno Julia Stephens. I attended an awesome early reading and I’m eager to see how the technical aspects come to life. I understand it’s going to be a real treat.

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