New York-based actor, writer and sketch comedian Liz Coin is heading to the Edinburgh Fringe this Summer with her one-person show ‘Lizzy Sunshine’. It centres on her own experiences growing up with a family member that struggled with addiction and is told through the eyes of a younger version of herself. Despite its poignant and personal themes, there is clearly lots of joy to Liz’s storytelling and it was brilliant to hear more about the show from the performer herself. Following a US tour, ‘Lizzy Sunshine’ will be at Gilded Balloon for two weeks, marking Liz’s first time performing at the festival.
What can you tell me about your comedy background?
I live in big fancy New York City now, but I grew up in the middle of America doing all of the theater and comedy I possibly could. My first sketch comedy was called “The Laughletes” when I was 13 years old – we’d do a new show every month! I started doing improv at 16 and just never stopped. I went on to study at Northwestern University and Second City in Chicago, and now I’m a full-time actor, writer, and sketch comedian! Over the years, I’ve performed sketch, stand-up and character comedy all over the U.S., with credits including Broadway’s Next Hit Musical (US Tour), Chimp Cocktail (Off-Broadway), DC Sketchfest, The Second City, PIT, UCB, and beyond. On screen, you can catch me popping out of boxes in Amazon commercials, openly weeping on Beast Games, and being deeply cringe on Instagram.
After a sell-out run in New York City and a tour of the US, you are bringing your one-person show ‘Lizzy Sunshine’ to the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe. What inspired you to write this multidisciplinary piece that ‘pays tribute to the families of addicts and those asked to be the sunshine for others’?
After nearly 20 years of living with a loved one affected by addiction, I started attending Nar-Anon support group meetings. I found so much comfort in hearing other experiences that were so similar to mine, and I wished I had joined sooner! You hear much more about people struggling with addiction than you do about the people who live with and love the addict. Admitting addiction is a disease that affects the entire family and that I was powerless over it changed my life. It is very hard to accept the things you cannot change! I say that addiction is the show that goes on, and Lizzy Sunshine is a way for me to share my role.
In the show you ‘find child-like whimsy in very adult themes’. To what extent have you drawn on your own childhood and personal experiences in creating the material?
This entire show is based on my personal experiences – with IFS [Internal Family Systems] therapy, I’ve gotten curious about the different parts of me that adapted to protect me. Lizzy Sunshine is a part of me that grew into a cheerleader, the perfect-no-problems-kid with a can-do attitude, a positive jokester with good stage presence and a KEEN ability to anticipate people’s needs and emotions. She is frozen in time around age 11, so the character in the show has a very childlike energy.
Creating this show was like going back to my childhood bedroom, discovering my inner child has been stuck there alone for years, and promising that I won’t leave her by herself ever again.
You have described the show as ‘like Glee unwilling to admit it’s Baby Reindeer’ and it even includes nods to musicals such as ‘Chicago’ and ‘Wicked’. Who is the show aimed at?
It does sound a bit all over the place, huh? I wrote the show so that people who LOVE theater and musicals can love and laugh at themselves, and people who HATE theater and musicals (but love comedy) can laugh at me. I promise it’s a funny haha big laugh show AND I promise it’ll make you feel big feelings. So, I guess anyone who’s into that?
If you were to describe ‘Lizzy Sunshine’ in one word, what would it be and why?
POSITIVITY!!!!! It’s very important!!!
Living in New York, what are you most excited about heading to Edinburgh this summer?
New York is a buzzing and vibrant city, but the streets aren’t necessarily filled with people eager to see theater. This is my first Fringe (and my first time in Scotland) and I just can’t wait to be amongst so many people who love the same stuff I do. We’re all NERDS! I also can’t wait to see a castle and hear all of the accents. I love Scottish accents so much (shout out Iain Stirling and Outlander).
A topical and positive comedy piece at this year’s Fringe
‘Lizzy Sunshine’ certainly sounds like the kind of show that will help people that are going through similar circumstances and also make them laugh at the same time. I wish Liz all the best for her first Fringe! You can catch the performer in action at the Bothie venue at Gilded Balloon Patter House from 30th July until 10th August. Performances start daily at 13:20, with tickets available via the festival’s website.
Thanks for reading my blog today.
Love Kat xxxx
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