About the Project
2026 Top of the Fringe and Solo Theatre Nominee
See The Abyss July 9th & July 23rd at The Elysian Theater
Tickets: www.brendanscannell.com
Brendan Scannell: The Abyss
A World Premiere solo comedy coming to Hollywood and Edinburgh Fringe 2026.
Part stand-up, part surreal journey in a suboptimal submersible, this comedy about that Sinking Feeling is an hour-long descent to the depths of Brendan’s brain, where his mother is a life coach obsessed with death, his bipolar brother is communing spiritually with Gwyneth Paltrow, and his inner child is a total asshole. The Abyss is a love letter to families who are grappling with mental illness from Emmy-nominated actor and comedian Brendan Scannell (Bonding, Heathers, After Midnight with Taylor Tomlinson).
Directed by Emily Olcott (Story Pirates, Ars Nova NYC)
Produced by Cara Christian (Dad’s Leg, Big Bear)
Audience Reviews of The Abyss
“Phenomenal. Smart and sharp. Devastating and Singularly Hilarious. Everybody needs to see this.” – Drew Droege, Stop! That! Train!, Messy White Gays
“Absolutely brilliant. One of the most stunning hours I can remember seeing, at Fringe or otherwise." – Gregory Nussen, Hollywood Fringe 2025 Solo Theatre Winner
“The premise of the Abyss is so strong I felt completely entrenched in his world from the beginning.” – Alex Derderian, Holy Holy: Birth of Disco, Best Dance & Physical Theater & Bold Theatricality Award, Hollywood Fringe 2025
“This is a piece of art you do you not want to miss, something you will say ‘I saw this when.’” – Ilana Peña, creator Diary of a Future President
“This show is such an incredible distillation of Brendan’s journey as a comedian, son, and brother. At once laugh out loud hilarious and a gut punch emotionally— If you want to get in on the ground floor of a project that feels like it’s about to launch someone into the stratosphere, catch this show any time you can.” – Joel Kim Booster, Fire Island, Loot, Netflix Comedy Special
“Rarely can a show balance humor and heartbreak so effortlessly… A beautiful show that has you laughing one second and bawling the next.” – Joey Richtor, Team Star Kid
“A joy to watch an actor perform a show of such depth and humor.” – Mitch Silpa, Groundlings, Bridesmaids
“I was left with that cathartic post-cry feeling where you feel almost at peace with your discomfort.” – Mary Elizabeth Kelly
“You will laugh, you will cry, you will feel. The show IS Brendan Scannell and honey, if you don’t know him? GET INTO IT/HIM.” – Matthew Scott Mongomery, playwright, actor
“I laughed my ass off and cried my eyes out. The Abyss will be a show that stays with me for a long time.” – Olivia Liang, actress Kung Fu
“Genuinely one of the best pieces of live performance art I have had the privilege to see. Phenomenal. True artistry. Hilarious.” – Harper Rose Drummond, Comedian and Host Tea Time Podcast
“A heartbreakingly funny show from the unhinged Brendan Scannell” – Anonymous
Creative Team
Brendan Scannell is an actor and comedian known for starring in the Netflix dark comedy series Bonding, for which he was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Series. He previously starred in Heathers, Paramount’s TV adaptation of the cult classic film. He also has appeared on After Midnight with Taylor Tomlinson, Apple TV’s Loot, the FX anthology The Premise, Diary of a Future President, and co-starred in the film Bromates on Hulu opposite Snoop Dogg. He was a New Face of Standup at Montreal’s JFL Comedy Festival and has headlined shows at NY Comedy Festival and Netflix is a Joke. His standup and sketch videos with Comedy Central have over 20M views on Youtube and won the 2021 Webby Award for Best Comedy Video. See more about the show at brendanscannell.com or follow him on instagram https://www.instagram.com/bscan/
Emily Olcott (Director) is a performer, writer, and director based in NYC. Directing credits: The Story Pirates National Tour (JFL, Lincoln Center, Solid Sound Music Festival at MassMOCA); Chet Siegel’s My Dead Wedding (Ars Nova, UCB); Josh Nasser and Michelle Chan Bennett’s Bada Swing! (54 Below, Joe’s Pub); Kaytlin Bailey’s The Oldest Profession (currently touring); Michelle Cohn’s Hadid (upcoming: Edinburgh Fringe); Marty Miller’s BETH (Joe’s Pub, UCB). Emily is currently associate director to Ellie Heyman on Jesse Malin’s Silver Manhattan (Gramercy Theater, Bowery Electric). Select performing/comedy credits include Kafkaesque! (Theater 154, Off-Broadway premiere); Downtown at the KC Cabaret (The Kennedy Center, opening for Amber Ruffin); Dear Kiko (The Bell House); and several original solo shows performed all over NYC. BA Northwestern.
Cara Christian is an independent producer based in Los Angeles. Her recent theatre credits include Hitch: The Musical… A Parody (written and directed by Chanse McCrary), Dad’s Leg (written and directed by Zach Shields, starring Rain Spencer), Big Bear (written and directed by Patrick McDonald), Love Kills (starring Kaley Cuoco and Tom Pelphrey), and A Steady Rain (starring Lewis Pullman and Shaun Sipos). She also produces Essays, a bi-monthly comedic essay reading series at The Hunt Vintage that has been featured in the Los Angeles Times. With a background in both television and theater, Cara is dedicated to bold storytelling and the transformative power of live art.
Learn More at brendanscannell.com
Production Team
