About The Show
Award-winning writer Ben Kassoy brings poems from his spectacularly original book to life in this genre-defying solo show, which audiences celebrated as “impactful,” “magical,” “hilarious,” and “incredible” at its sold-out preview in New York. Bursting with humor, heart, and defiant wonder in the face of anxiety, The Funny Thing About A Panic Attack uses physical theater, dance, and poetry to reveal the connections between mental health, art…and pancakes.
Making its world premiere at The Hollywood Fringe Festival before taking the stage at Edinburgh Fringe in August, The Funny Thing About A Panic Attack opens a timely, courageous conversation about mental health, stigma, masculinity, and family, delving into the writer’s journey with anxiety and panic attacks. While the story is personal, it’s also widely relatable, inviting audiences to explore how all of us can find strength, healing, and a path forward after trauma.
[Content Warning // Discussion and depictions of mental health crisis, mentions of suicide and self-harm.]
Learn more at www.panicattackshow.com.
About Ben Kassoy
Ben Kassoy (he/him) is a poet, a dancer, and an award-winning writer. He is the coauthor of nine books, including the poetry collection The Funny Thing About A Panic Attack (Bottlecap Press, 2023). Ben’s poetry appears in Ghost City Review, JMWW, Defunct Magazine, Pithead Chapel, Cobra Milk, Bodega,Sky Island Journal, Human Parts, and others. He has also written for the websites of Elle, GQ, Teen Vogue, Glamour, Details, Women’s Health, AskMen, Bustle, Elite Daily, Well+Good, Brooklyn Magazine, and others. Read more at www.benkassoy.com and follow Ben on Instagram at @bkassoy.
About The Team
The Funny Thing About A Panic Attack is directed by Joanna Simmons, who also directed Mark Vigeant’s Mark Pleases You, which won the Hollywood Producers’ Encore Award at the 2023 Hollywood Fringe Festival. The show was choreographed by Emory University Professor of Dance Julio Medina and features music from Matt Lipkins of The Shadowboxers, who have been featured in TIME, Billboard, Playboy, and many others.
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Learn More at panicattackshow.com
