“To mount your silly idea and be forced to stand behind it for a month – rain or shine – is the kind of creative risk-taking I’m into.”
WHO: Kenny Gray
WHAT: “A one-man variety show / dreamscape filled with original characters, music and general absurdity written and performed by Los Angeles comedian Kenny Gray. In the show, Gray gets some shut-eye and lets the various people, places and inanimate objects of his subconscious take the stage. What follows is a cavalcade of lovable idiots, fragile male egos and one very sexual bottle of ketchup. It is a showcase of utterly stupid things, brimming with heart.”
WHERE: Greenside @ Riddles Court – Clover Studio (Venue 16)
WHEN: 16:05 (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
Indeed it is! I’m so excited to be a part of this giant artistic explosion. I grew up in a small town where fellow theater kids hung onto each other for dear life, so the idea of this international comedy nexus where I can meet hundreds of peers taking on the same wild challenge is immensely appealing. And that sort of creative boldness is what drew me speficially to Edinburgh Fringe. To mount your silly idea and be forced to stand behind it for a month – rain or shine – is the kind of creative risk-taking I’m into. People keep telling me, “It’s so much more than you can imagine!” with a sort of creepy wide smile, so I’m excited to experience the magic.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
The last show I did at Hollywood Fringe, I was focused on what I thought a one-person show “should” be. This led to an overcomplicated piece that, while rewarding, was not always fun to perform. This year, I decided to write a paired-down show that focused on maximizing the joy of comedy. I wanted people to have fun at my show and experience the weird ideas that make me laugh. That’s it! This simplicity allowed me to go much further creatively, and now I have a show that audiences seem to enjoy, and I absolutely love to perform!
Tell us about your show.
At its core, this show is a “best-of” my character work and a showcase of what I like to do as a performer. That ended up being a surreal 50-minute comedy collage/fever dream of wacky characters and music spanning many genres (such as synthy dance, broadway, 70’s rock, and lo-fi hip hop). I also specifically chose the backdrop of dreams because every piece is inspired by a real person or experience from my life. It feels like what might happen if Noel Fielding were my therapist.
The show is comprised of pieces I wrote in classes, workshops, and as part of ensembles over the course of a year and a half. I then slowly workshopped and refined them at over 100+ performances on variety shows, open mics, and Twitch streams (really anywhere that would let me perform). I wrote many characters in this process, and the show is solely the cream of the crop! I had the help of some excellent directors – shout out to John Milhiser, Sarah Smallwood Parsons, and Carl Foreman!
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
Well, after you’ve seen my show, stick around for the one right after, which is called “My Little Phobia” by Emily Markoe! It’s a hilarious and heart-touching exploration of anxiety told in technicolor glory. And if you’re looking for a show full of clown hijinks, water creatures, and stories about NASA’s weird science – check out “The Dolphin I Loved” by my friend Kelly Rielly. I also am a big fan of Natasha Mercado and can’t wait to see their new show! Also, if you’ve never witnessed the visceral comedy masterclass that is Stamptown and Zach Zucker – definitely check them out. And there’s no better sketch show than Britanick!
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