Maria Mainelli is bringing her solo production, “Baby Bipolar,” to Los Angeles. The performance serves as a reclamation of identity following the creator’s Bipolar 1 diagnosis during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Exploring Identity and Mental Health
The demonstrate blends comedy and tragedy to navigate the first five years of Mainelli’s life after her official diagnosis. It examines themes of grief, joy, and community, while incorporating manic moments and depressive episodes.
Mainelli’s narrative includes personal reflections on advocacy and the challenges of the medical experience, including “the horrors of CVS pharmacy.” Director Fiona Campbell describes the operate as an honest and “wickedly funny” exploration of radical self-love.
Production and Performance Details
The production will run at The Hobgoblin Playhouse, located at 1516 N Gardner St, Los Angeles, CA 90046. Performances are scheduled for June 7 at 8pm, June 15 at 7pm, June 19 at 10pm, and June 21 at 1:30pm.
Tickets for the show are priced at $15. Interested attendees can purchase tickets through the Hollywood Fringe website.
The Creative Team
Mainelli, a comedian and writer based in Atlanta, Georgia, began writing during the pandemic. She has previously performed at venues including the Kennedy Center, UCBNY, and various Fringe festivals in Edinburgh, Pittsburgh, and Atlanta.
The show is directed by Fiona Campbell, an actor and improviser from Orlando, Florida. Campbell, who completed the Meisner intensive with The Atlanta Conservatory, is making her Hollywood Fringe debut with this production.
Given Mainelli’s history of touring her debut solo show, Fly Trap, this production could potentially lead to further iterations of her pandemic-era writing. The show’s reception in Los Angeles may influence future advocacy-driven creative projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is “Baby Bipolar” being performed?
The show will take place at The Hobgoblin Playhouse, 1516 N Gardner St, Los Angeles, CA 90046.
How much do tickets cost and where can they be bought?
Tickets are $15 and are available for purchase on the Hollywood Fringe website.
What is the central theme of the show?
The solo show focuses on Maria Mainelli’s journey toward acceptance and advocacy following a Bipolar 1 diagnosis during the Covid-19 pandemic.
How does the use of comedy in theatre facilitate in processing complex personal traumas?
