“I can’t wait to be surrounded by nothing but art and artists for a full month. Now I just have to make sure I don’t lose my voice on Day 1.”
WHO: Lily Blumkin
WHAT: “From The Daily Show’s Lily Blumkin comes a hilarious solo show about growing up and getting worse. When packing up her childhood bedroom, Lily introduces us to nine zany characters like a well-meaning dad, a self-indulgent rabbi, and an inanimate clump of hair. After sold out performances in New York, Nice Try comes to Fringe with an honest look at how we use the past to make sense of our present.”
WHERE: Blether at Gilded Balloon Patter House (Venue 24)
WHEN: 17:40 (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
Yes!! This is my first time coming to Fringe, my first time coming to Edinburgh, my first time coming to Scotland! I’ve always wanted to perform here because I think it’s the single best place for artists to grow as writers and performers. I’m so excited to finally have the opportunity, and I can’t wait to be surrounded by nothing but art and artists for a full month. Now I just have to make sure I don’t lose my voice on Day 1.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2024 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
Well, I’m American, so one of the big things I learned in 2024 is just how much people in my country hate women! But that’s probably not the answer you’re looking for. Regarding my show, I learned how to stay fresh in rehearsals by letting myself improvise, and that’s something I continue to do every time I practice. It’s important to me that my show feels lively and adaptable, so I definitely plan on giving myself the space to tweak as the festival goes on and lean into fun explorations that come up.
Tell us about your show.
Nice Try is written by, performed by, and produced by (Miss Piggy voice) MOI! It was directed in New York by my brilliant and talented friend Ariel Gitlin and directed in Edinburgh by another hilarious and gifted friend Lanee’ Sanders. I’ve been writing characters for about six years now, and in late 2023, I got the idea to compile some of my favorites into a solo show. I went through each character I had written, spent a year rewriting and workshopping them with Ariel, then eventually came up with the framing for my show and narrowed my characters down to just the strongest. I started running the full show in early 2025, and I’ve sold out performances in New York! Lanee’ and I will run the show in Edinburgh, adjusting here and there as new ideas come up. Then after the festival, I plan to run it again in NYC and travel with the show to a handful of cities in America.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
Everyone should be sure to check out Nick Hornedo’s “Watch This When You Get Home” which is about Nick reuniting with an ex-girlfriend to rewatch a movie he made to break up with her in high school. It’s a hilarious and heartfelt story that is not to be missed. Catch it for the full run Underbelly!
I also highly recommend seeing Alice Fishbein’s “Leo Still Dies In the End.” Alice is a Titanic superfan, having seen the movie approximately one million times. In her innovative and hysterical show, she spins a wheel of iconic Titanic scenes, then performs them from memory. This will be at Gilded Balloon 30 July – 15 August!
LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!
INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!
Get Your Coats On 