Photo by Mike Chiodo
The Circus of Healthcare and Cancer Come to Absurd Life in Debut of mother/daughter team Amanda and Terry Miller’s “Quacks & Whacks: A Cancer Comedy” at New York City Fringe Festival, April 2025
In “Quacks and Whacks: A Cancer Comedy,” absurdist humor, clowning, puppetry, music, and animation spotlight the very real struggles and triumphs of navigating the three-ring circus that is living with advanced stage cancer in America. We join Sharon, a 45-year-old teacher (and the colorful cast of cancer cells singing, dancing & hiking through her body) as she dodges gravel cravings and horny doctors in pursuit of effective screening, humane healthcare, and, really, any kind of answers at all.
DIRECTED BY: Catt Filippov
STARRING: Katie Kopajtic, Bryan Fernandez & Amanda Miller
WHEN: Friday, 4/4/25 @ 7:40 p.m. EST
Sunday, 4/6/25 @ 3:40 p.m. EST
Tuesday 4/15/25 @ 6:00 p.m. EST (Available via livestream)
Sunday, 4/20/25 @ 3:40 p.m. EST (Available via livestream)
WHERE: The Chain Theatre, 312 W 36 St. 4th Fl. NYC 10018
RUNNING TIME: 60 minutes
TICKETS: $20 PURCHASE HERE
quacks & whacks is Proud TO BE PARTNERING WITH RED DOOR COMMUNITY
Formerly Gilda’s Club, Red Door Community is New York City’s preeminent nonprofit cancer support organization helping everyone and anyone impacted by cancer. A welcoming place that provides FREE cancer support, emotional and educational programs, and healthy lifestyle workshops online and in-person. Red Door Community is committed to providing unwavering support at every stage of the cancer experience, so no one faces cancer alone.
214 Starr St, Brooklyn, NY
1/2 block away from the Jefferson Stop of the L Train
FRI, MARCH 14, 2025
About this event
Have you or someone you love been affected by cancer, or other serious illness?
Have you or someone you love been disappointed by the ailing American Healthcare system?
Have you or someone you love felt dismissed or doubted when seeking medical treatment, left with more questions than answers?
Us too. And we're sick of it.
Quacks and Whacks: A Cancer Comedy is coming to the NYC Fringe, and you're invited to join the funds, and the conversation!
Come out to Starr Bar on Friday, March 14th from 6-10PM for an evening of comedy, camaraderie, and support for not one but TWO great causes (more below).
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FEATURING PERFORMANCES FROM:
Ian Goldstein is a writer/performer based in Brooklyn. His work has been published in the New Yorker and McSweeney's and he was recently featured in the NYTimes for throwing a party dedicated to meeting his healthcare deductible.
Diana Aydin is a writer, comedian, and Staff Writer on the animated TV series, Alma's Way. You can find her wandering UCB on the Lloyd team, Grunch, or performing in "Broads in the Attic" at The PIT.
Gastor Almonte is a stand-up comedian and storyteller from Brooklyn, NY. He's appeared on Comedy Central's This Is Not Happening, Don’t Tell Comedy, HBO, Peacock & more. Timeout magazine named him one of your "New Comedy Obsessions." He's the co-host of The War Report w/ Gastor-n-Shalewa podcast. His album, Immigrant Made, was released in March 2019.
Sandi Marx is a NY based storyteller and comedy adjacent. She can be heard on a multitude of podcasts like Risk, Story Collider and many more. Her award winning documentary,“The Fabulist” is streaming on Amazon Prime, TUBI, etc. and her first comedic memoir” Slightly Above Average” is available wherever you buy books and also on Amazon.
Orli Matlow is a comedian and writer whose work ranges from “Indefensible” on SundanceTV to the ADDY Award-winning Cold War documentary “From Yalta to Malta” to the New York Times recommended cabaret “Send in the Clowns: Comedians Sing Sondheim.” @HireMeImFunny
Jenna Dioguardi is an Obie & Drama Desk-award winning performer who can be seen storytelling in dimly lit venues throughout New York. As a side gig, she beat breast cancer in 2021 and is now working out material for her debut solo show, Nipples for Christmas.
Caitlin Reese (she/they) is a Queens-based comedian and writer. She recently released a comedy album, Erotic Associate, was a Finalist on Amazon Prime’s Comics Watching Comics, featured on Best of Helium Comedy Records Volume 2, published in The Onion, and her pilot, In June, made it as a finalist in Robert McKee’s Scriptapoolza 2022. She regularly performs at comedy clubs in NYC and has been in a million festivals, including the HBO Women in Comedy Fest, Limestone, New York Comedy Festival, and Laughing Skull.
Zac Amico is a comedian, actor, wrestling personality, and broadcaster from Brooklyn, NY. Whether you’ve seen him on or writing for some of your favorite roasts, heard him on his podcasts The Luis and Zac Show and Zac Amico’s Midnight Spookshow, or witnessed him call the action for Juggalo Championship Wrestling, you know he’s a charming raconteur with a filthy mouth who loves to bring laughter to the dregs of society.
PLUS enjoy a super special sneaky preview of a Quacks & Whacks, the play!!!
Written by mother/daughter team, Amanda and Terry Miller, Quacks and Whacks: A Cancer Comedy, uses absurdist humor, clowning, puppetry, music, and animation to spotlight the very real struggles and triumphs of navigating the three-ring circus of living with advanced stage cancer in America. (The Chain Theatre, April 4, 6, 15, 20)
GENEROUSLY DONATED RAFFLE PRIZES INCLUDE:
60 Minute Massage with licensed therapist
Extended Hospital Stay Care Package ($200 value)
Bespoke Jingle by Ian Goldstein (priceless)
Personalized Portrait Photo Session (35mm, B&W + Color)
2 Boxes of Mystery DVDs courtesy of Troma Entertainment Inc.
1 Private 75 Minute Restorative Yoga Class
...and much more!
RAFFLE WINNERS ANNOUNCED @ 9:00PM
RAFFLE TIX VARY BY TIER, ATM ON PREMISES
ADVANCED TIX: $15 // DOOR TIX: $20
DOORS @ 6:00PM
SHOW @ 7:00PM
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To bring this show to life, we are raising a total of $12,000.
50% of this will go directly into the production - Thus-far, Terry (mother of this play, living with cancer to this day) and Amanda (co-writer, performer, devoted daughter) have funded the production on their own. However, we need your help to meet production costs.
And in the spirit of showing up for one another where The System continues to fall short, 50% of all funds raised will go directly to the Red Door Community (formerly Gilda's Club) - which provides FREE cancer support, emotional and educational programs, and healthy lifestyle workshops online and in-person, so no one faces cancer alone.