Tell us about your show. Why should we go and see it?
Picture this: New York City. November 2016. Election night As thousands were staring up at the stubborn glass ceiling at Jacobs Javits Center, waiting for the victory speech that Hillary Clinton never gave, I was a few clicks across town at the Jill Stein election night party.
Jill Stein was the Green Party candidate for President. I was her communications director.
Many Hillary Clinton supporters blame Jill Stein for splitting the progressive vote and paving the way for Donald Trump to win.
So was I- a left-leaning activist and media maker somehow responsible for helping a grifter with no political experience— a Twitter troll bent on all-out civilization war, a pussy grabbing, Muslim banning, Make-America-White-Again-in-chief monster (“Donzilla”)— was I partially responsible American waking up in Trumpandia?
Come, see the show, and you tell me.
What are your hopes and dreams for the Fringe?
I’ll have the “Phoebe Waller-Bridge/Fleabag” option, please. Is that a realistic goal? My story made into a streaming service global sensation? It is! Splendid. I’ll order one of those from your Fringe menu, please. That, and soaking in the coolest effing performing arts gathering in the world.
What makes you laugh?
Tragedy + Time
Complete honesty
Puns. The cheesier, the better.
What three words best describe your performance style – and why.
Funny, vulnerable, spontaneous.
Manifest Destiny’s Child is a true personal narrative that is funny, well-crafted, and provocative. It takes a pickaxe to the toxic myth of American Exceptionalism. I mean, there are no literal pickaxes—it’s just a metaphor—but this being the Fringe, I should be clear about that. No actual pickaxes. But you might want one after the show.
How will your audience think/feel differently after an hour in your company?
I hope they will feel like, to quote Arundhati Roy, “Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.”
What kind of shows – apart from your own – are you looking forward to seeing at the Edinburgh Fringe?
Dance and physical theatre. And also other theatre with social justice and political themes.
The cost of living is a big issue this year – will it make this Fringe more challenging?
Um, hell, yes. You want to donate to help an American like me, to offset some costs of bringing a show here. Please do! I’ve got a donate button over at ManifestDestinysChild.org.
What do you predict will emerge as the big themes of this year?
The big theme, again, will be meta: Has the Fringe become too expensive for artists? And also: anti-capitalist revolutionary storytelling with a sense of humour.
Who is your showbiz idol, and why.
I have a few, but for this, I’ll say Spalding Grey.
As one of the pioneers of the solo memoir show format, I’m inspired by, and indebted to him, even as I’d like to think of my work as pushing the genre well into the 21st century.
What is your idea of a perfect Fringe moment?
Going to see a show on a whim after reading some Q&A like this one and not knowing anything else about the show and having it be one of my favourite things to have ever experienced in a theatre.
Manifest Destiny’s Child
14:25
Assembly Rooms, Drawing Room
August 3-27
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/manifest-destiny-s-child
