HOLLYWOOD FRINGE: EMMY-NOMINATED ACTOR AND COMEDIAN BRENDAN SCANNELL DEBUTS THE ABYSS – A COMEDY ABOUT THAT SINKING FEELING

Brendan Scannell: The Abyss

Emmy-nominated comedian, actor and writer Brendan Scannell will debut his new solo show The Abyss – a show described as “part stand-up, part surreal deep dive in a sinking submersible” – at The Broadwater Studio as part of Hollywood Fringe 2026

In The Abyss, Scannell descends deep into the darkest depths of his brain — where his Irish mother is a life coach who is obsessed with death, his bipolar brother is in psychic communication with Gwyneth Paltrow, and his inner child turns out to be a total asshole. As the capsule dives deeper, comedy pressurizes into difficult realizations.

The show explores mortality, mental health, family dysfunction and the yawning gap between who we want to be and who we actually are — with the wit and genuine darkness that has made Scannell a regular feature in the LA comedy scene. The Abyss is a comedy that is not afraid to explore thorny material without clear solutions, and a love letter to families struggling with mental illness and homelessness in America.

Scannell is best known for his starring role in Netflix’s dark comedy series Bonding, for which he received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Series. He previously co-starred in Paramount’s cult TV adaptation Heathers, and has appeared on After Midnight with Taylor Tomlinson, Apple TV’s Loot and FX’s The Premise. As a stand-up, he was named a New Face at Montreal’s JFL Comedy Festival and has headlined Netflix Is A Joke, the New York Comedy Festival and SF Sketchfest. Vulture has named him “a comedian you should and will know.”

The Abyss is directed by Emily Olcott, a performer and director based in NYC. Directing credits: The Story Pirates National Tour; My Dead Wedding (Ars Nova); Bada Swing! (Joe’s Pub); The Oldest Profession (currently touring); Hadid (also at Edinburgh Fringe 2026); BETH (Joe’s Pub); and Hysteria (OperaFest LA). Emily has performed in plays and musicals Off-Broadway and as a comedian/cabaret artist at UCB, Lincoln Center, MassMOCA, and in Provincetown, MA. Cara Christian (Big Bear, The Elysian; Dad’s Leg Hudson Theatre; Essays) produces.

Learn more at www.brendanscannell.com

SHOW DETAILS
Show: Brendan Scannell: The Abyss
Venue: The Broadwater Studio
Dates: June 5-27 (50 Minutes)

Fri Jun 5 – 5:00 PM (Preview)
Mon Jun 15– 6:30 PM
Fri Jun 19 – 9:00 PM
Sat Jun 20 – 10:30 PM
Jun 21 – 5:00 PM
Wed Jun 24 – 8:00 PM
Sat Jun 27 – 10:30 PM

Age: 18+
Tickets: www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/12988
Information: www.brendanscannell.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bscan

PRESS ENQUIRIES
Cara Christian, Producer [email protected]

NOTES TO EDITORS
Brendan Scannell is an Emmy-nominated actor, writer and comedian. He is best known for starring in Netflix’s ‘Bonding’ (Emmy nomination, Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series) and Paramount’s ‘Heathers’ Further television credits include ‘After Midnight’ with Taylor Tomlinson, Apple TV’s ‘Loot’, FX’s ‘The Premise and Diary of a Future President’. His feature film work includes ‘Bromates’ (Hulu), opposite Lil Rel Howery and Snoop Dogg. As a stand-up, he was a Just For Laughs New Face of Comedy and has headlined Netflix Is A Joke, the New York Comedy Festival and SF Sketchfest. His Comedy Central content has amassed over 20 million views on YouTube and won the 2021 Webby Award for Best Comedy Video. Vulture has named him “a comedian you should and will know.”