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[0:09] Robert Bannon: Welcome to The Roundtable, everybody. My name is Robert Bannon. You're listening to some Broadway World of Brawl Podcast Network, iHeartSpotify. One day I'll get my line. Liz Coin knows how to memorize. She's got an hour of material that's coming. I can't even memorize a sentence, but she can. She is here. She's bringing her show that has been all around the world. Literally, it's been around the world now, Liz Coin in the UK or whatever the Edinburgh. I don't know where that is. I failed geography. Oh no, it's in Scotland. And the Scottish people pronounce it like this Edinburgh with like a little oh she was in Edinburgh in Scotland, which is Europe. I know what the continent accounts. I might that may qualify me to be president of the United States at this point.

[0:53] Liz Coin: You're overqualified.

[0:54] Robert Bannon: I can already tell. You're safe to be around children, and they're not. So sorry. Fact. So Liz Coin, your show is coming to New York City, and one of my favorite places, the Soho Playhouse, which is incredible one-person shows that are so funny and entertaining. Congratulations. Welcome to the show.

[1:10] Liz Coin: Oh my gosh, thank you. I'm so excited to go to Soho Playhouse. It's such a legendary space, and I've seen so many shows there. So now that I'm doing it, I'm like, oh you know, so I can't wait to come up.

[1:22] Robert Bannon: Debut at the Soho Playhouse?

[1:24] Liz Coin: It's actually not my debut. I did do three shows last summer as a little fringe preview. It was kind of like a work in progress pre-fringe Lizzy Sunshine where I had openers come because I was afraid I wouldn't sell tickets. But we did sell out every show.

[1:41] Liz Coin: Um yeah. Oh, I feel like my connection's being bad. It's probably because I have so many.

[1:45] Robert Bannon: Okay.

[1:45] Liz Coin: It's probably because I have so many tabs open in my computer and in my life. I'm gonna close a few. What art can you tell? What are your tabs? Are they fun?

[1:56] Liz Coin: Um, no, I have the I'll tell you, I have the seed and spark.

[2:03] Liz Coin: Oh my god, let me just exit out of stuff. I know this is bad. Here we go. Am I back?

[2:12] Liz Coin: I think I have too many people on my Wi-Fi, my roommate and her boyfriend. Everybody's having Zoom meetings. This might be better from my phone. Is it any better now?

[2:21] Robert Bannon: It's perfect now.

[2:23] Liz Coin: Okay, great. Sorry. Oh my god, technology. Am I right? It's just like 2020 in here.

[2:30] Robert Bannon: Liz, I have a question, Lizzy Sunshine. Your show description says a positively chaotic comedy hour by addiction's fun little sister. Think glee, unwilling to admit it's baby reindeer. But don't worry, it's not sad. What does that mean, Liz Coin?

[2:51] Liz Coin: What a good question. You know, actually, I've changed the show description because that one felt a little all over the place. The show is a little bit.

[2:58] Liz Coin: No, keep it. Keep it. I mean, it's still true. Um, I just the addiction's little sister is kind of the reveal of the show. It's not like you don't find out that that's kind of why she's alone. Because it's basically the show is a two-person show. It's all about positivity, but at the very beginning, she doesn't know why her show partner is running late, like a fender bender, something's happened and he just isn't there. He's gonna be there soon. So she's just covering, even though he's kind of the star. Um, so she's trying to do his parts and her parts and use the audience and cheer everybody up and make sure it all goes smoothly, even though he's really the good one at this kind of a thing.

[3:38] Liz Coin: Um, and it's glee in that there's a lot of songs, there's a lot of like fun back and forth, it's very high energy. Um, and then it's not it is not sad. That is true. It is a comedy show, but like any good comedy, it's rooted in truth, and there's a little sadness in truth after all. So toward the end, you do find out the reason he's not coming is because um he is an addict, and it's all kind of uh a metaphor that addiction is the show that goes on and on, and you can't really get out of it even when you weren't the one who started it.

[4:12] Robert Bannon: So, what inspired you to write it? What what happened, if you don't mind sharing that this was the like this is what the show is about.

[4:20] Liz Coin: Yeah, imagine if I was like, I don't know, I just made it up. Uh yeah, no, my brother, my brother has um struggled and overcome and struggled and is um in the addiction cycle since I was a teenager. And so um, to no fault of his own, the opiate crisis in America took a lot of people, uh, people's lives and changed them and their families are really affected. And I've been in a lot of like support groups and I teach improv workshops about this, and like it's really important to me to kind of normalize addiction because when I was little, I thought, you know, addicts were bad people, they were someone else. They were the people I I was so sheltered growing up in Iowa. They're people, they're not us. And then you realize so many people are addicted to something. Everybody has an uncle, everybody has a brother, a cousin, a friend, a somebody. And addiction isn't really for other people, it's kind of just for people, people.

[5:14] Liz Coin: And the more that we kind of normalize it and stop um avoiding talking about it, or you know, you know, that's just we don't, we don't talk that's a not a polite thing to talk about, Lizzie. Um, the more it can be normalized and and comfortable speaking. And I think in general it is, like sobriety, all of that. It's very hot and trendy right now. Hashtag non-alcoholic beers, please sponsor, right? But um, yeah, so that's that's where it came from.

[5:39] Liz Coin: I love non-alcoholic. I don't drink. Not so I love it. So shout out to non-alcoholic beer. You can always sponsor my show too. I accept money. And so for May, May 6th, uh until oh all the way till May 16th, there's a bunch of chances you have a chance to see the show. It's at seven o'clock. Some shows are at five o'clock. The tickets are $26. You can't even get an you can't even get a six-pack of non-alcoholic beer for $26. So you can come see the show if you're looking for something to see or do, uh, take a date, take a friend, and you're bored of doing the same things. This is your chance to do something different and have a conversation.

[6:12] Robert Bannon: Who do you recommend comes and sees it?

[6:14] Liz Coin: It is it something that people I have a lot of people in my family who've completed programs who are are sober. Um and we do have to, we do have to make it more of a conversation and talk about it.

[6:23] Liz Coin: Yeah, but also make it fun. Like for the love of God, this is not a drama. I like, I really I I in these interviews, I always end up talking about the addiction portion of it. But like 90% of the show is just crazy kooky fun time. Do you know what I mean? It's like it's um every person I've known who've who's seen the show on a date are like, this was the best date. We had so much to talk about after, because I use the audience as my cover for him. So it's very clown in that way, where the audience is a huge part of the show the entire time. There is no fourth wall.

[6:57] Liz Coin: Um so I recommend um who do I recommend to see this? People who are like theater kids will love it because there's a lot of theater kid references. But because the show is like kind of farcical and like fucked up in that nature, non-theater people like it because they're like, whoa, she's doing something different. And there was some stand-up in there, and I like stand-up. So I try to appeal to a mass audience, but I think anyone who loves uh has seen clown shows and that kind of burgeoning scene right now. It's really popular, will like this show a lot. Um, but it's suitable for people 14 and up. There's no bad words, there's no sex.

[7:35] Liz Coin: Um, there's just uh good old, good old fashioned fun with a little bit of meth at the end.

[7:41] Robert Bannon: Perfect.

[7:43] Liz Coin: That sounds like perfect. That is what was this look what this show, um I was very moved because a portion of the ticket sales is being donated to Naranon and other family support groups, as well as improv workshops to support substance abuse rehab centers.

[7:57] Liz Coin: Laughter, you say is the best medicine, and it truly is. And to everybody who is in narcotics anonymous or their families in Alanon, Alanon Anonymous, et cetera, um, this show, you know, we it's a it's a love letter and support and laugh track to some real serious stuff.

[8:12] Robert Bannon: You got critic rave, like five-star Edinburgh fringe when you did it and you read.

[8:17] Liz Coin: Do you read the reviews?

[8:19] Robert Bannon: I have I did read the reviews.

[8:21] Liz Coin: They say not to, but I don't think I'm famous enough for that yet. I'm gonna read them all.

[8:26] Robert Bannon: Yeah.

[8:26] Liz Coin: Do you know what I mean? Um, but yeah, I it went so well. I really have to shout out my my publicist lady, um, Rosaline Hodgitz. She did such a good job.

[8:34] Liz Coin: I was only at the fringe for my first time with that work in progress for like two weeks. I did a mini run and she got so many reviewers in to see me.

[8:45] Liz Coin: And it really has changed the course of this show because as soon as you get one person to say, This is worth seeing, you know, it starts it growing in that way. So I'm just trying to get more reviewers and more people to see it, and then just more people, people to see it. Cause it's just, it's just for fun.

[9:01] Liz Coin: It's fun, laugh fun times. Come have, you know. And like I feel very anti-AI all the time. And I think live theater and comedy, like the more AI gets worse and worse, and the internet is a place of AI slop, the more we're gonna want to go in a real room with real other people and connect more.

[9:19] Liz Coin: And like my show is just a big connection fest. Look, you people have said you just have to see it. A smart piece of theater, uh, relentlessly optimistic and positively brilliant.

[9:29] Liz Coin: Like people have written incredible. Her mom gave it 26 stars. If you go to soho playhouse.com and you can get your tickets right now uh and get your tickets.

[9:40] Robert Bannon: So for you, when I read a little bit about you, you've done some television, you've done some stand up and you've done a whole bunch of writing, et cetera. You're second, a second uh a second city person and all that. When did you realize like I want to be an actor comedian, funny lady?

[9:54] Liz Coin: Well, I used to want to be a dentist, and then around age 11, I was in the living room and I thought it would be funny to practice fainting, and I was like, and I fell on the ground. And then I thought I was so good at it that I got up and I said, Mom, sign me up for acting classes.

[10:11] Liz Coin: And then I did community theater that summer, and then I just never stopped, and my dreams of being a dentist died. So always, always.

[10:20] Liz Coin: I went to Northwestern because it was near Second City. Um, I did it my first ever sketch comedy group when I was 13. We were called the Laughlets.

[10:28] Liz Coin: Um, and we did like SNL inspired shows in the middle of rural Illinois. I used to try I used to commute from Iowa over the river to community theater to go be a laugh fleet.

[10:38] Liz Coin: Everyone else was like an adult tow y and I was 13, but I was so committed, which is the theme of my life. Um, yeah, I had a, I mean I definitely had a few years where I stopped believing in myself and started doing economics and business, and I was like, I'll just be a producer.

[10:50] Liz Coin: Um, which those skills serve me well. But yeah, I wanted to do this all along. I think I fear some of this shit's just in your bones.

[10:57] Robert Bannon: It is.

[10:58] Liz Coin: If you got it, you're stuck.

[10:59] Robert Bannon: It's that's it. You would be the funniest dentist ever, though.

[11:03] Liz Coin: Yeah, I like be doing bits while I'm I would name it.

[11:06] Robert Bannon: It pays well.

[11:07] Liz Coin: Yeah, pays way better than whatever this is.

[11:11] Robert Bannon: So wait. So how do you write? Like, what is your process? Do you sit down with the blinking cursor? Do you talk into your phone? Like, how does it work for you?

[11:19] Liz Coin: Well, I'm right-handed and I have a mug of pens. I'll show you here.

[11:22] Liz Coin: They are hold on. Oh, here they are.

[11:25] Liz Coin: Um, those are nice pens. See, that's dentist money pens because those are not cheap.

[11:30] Liz Coin: No, you know what? They were a gift.

[11:32] Liz Coin: Um, and I write and I write every morning.

[11:36] Liz Coin: Oh my god, you can't see because I'm blurred, but you write I write every morning in my journal.

[11:40] Liz Coin: Um, three pages a day. I did the artist's way. But how do I write? It just kind of comes to you.

[11:44] Liz Coin: Do you have you ever like suddenly had needed to go to the bathroom so bad because you're gonna have diarrhea right now or else?

[11:51] Liz Coin: I feel like that's a little bit how my writing process is.

[11:54] Liz Coin: And I have to like lightning will strike, and I need to go write right now and get it all out before I forget about it, which is why I always have a small mini notebook.

[12:03] Liz Coin: Where is it? I always somewhere.

[12:06] Liz Coin: I have oh here it is. I have a small mini notebook that I keep in my pocket because you never know when your lightning diarrhea is gonna strike.

[12:13] Liz Coin: You know, that's the perfect way to put it.

[12:16] Liz Coin: I just you gotta get it out when you have that art. I did the artist way too.

[12:19] Liz Coin: I don't think I finished it.

[12:20] Robert Bannon: It's hard it's okay maybe I gotta I gotta look back.

[12:24] Liz Coin: Yeah, you gotta restart.

[12:25] Robert Bannon: Look, what I love about you is A, you're funny, but B, you have substance and we obviously are very smart and obviously we need you right now in this world and and people need to come see this show if you've been touched by what she's talking about or not if you want to laugh if you want something new and original you know Broadway is no shade recycling old 80s movies that have been done over and over again you want to hear a new original story you want to you want to laugh and you want to have something to talk about you gotta go to the Soho Playhouse and see a show there and and you'll save yourself like 250 dollars soho playhouse.com is where you can get your tickets and and Lizzie Sunshine is gonna be there for a whole bunch of days the links are below us you can get your tickets we can follow you on social media.

[12:25] Liz Coin: Yeah follow me at social media it's Liz Coin it's my real name at Liz Coin follow on socials and also for you listeners use code Sunny for five dollars off your ticket to whole playhouse sunny for you then you're only gonna pay 21 dollars yeah that's free that l in New York City with inflation that is free that's free.

[12:25] Robert Bannon: Yeah, that is free that's that's why she's doing root canals in her basement on the side pay for this her real life.

[12:25] Liz Coin: Yeah I gotta go actually I gotta go do oh sorry you gotta okay how my teeth look do they I they need a little whitening Liz they look great no whitening isn't always the sign of health okay it's more like plaque and stuff you really um and you look great yeah I went on a date recently with a guy who'd said that he never brushed his teeth before bed because he brushes them really good in the morning and I said I need to call the police and go home isn't that crazy I'm upset, yeah, me too.

[14:01] Robert Bannon: So when's your second day?

[14:05] Liz Coin: I can change him.

[14:06] Robert Bannon: I can change it.

[14:08] Liz Coin: I've read that book.

[14:10] Robert Bannon: Now I'm married I've seen that one woman show.

[14:13] Liz Coin: I've seen that one.

[14:15] Robert Bannon: Your fun time.

[14:16] Liz Coin: I hope you come back. Please come back and hang out with me.

[14:19] Liz Coin: I would love to.

[14:20] Robert Bannon: Yes, I would love to.

[14:21] Liz Coin: Thanks for having me.

[14:22] Liz Coin: I love this is my favorite thing to talk about because it's my whole world right now.

[14:25] Liz Coin: There's really nothing else. So I'm um I'm thrilled to talk about it.

[14:28] Liz Coin: Thanks for taking the time.

[14:29] Liz Coin: And I hope you get to come see the show.

[14:30] Liz Coin: I'd love for you to.

[14:32] Robert Bannon: And I want to see the show May 6th to the 16th.

[14:33] Liz Coin: Soho Playhouse.com.

[14:35] Liz Coin: Get your tickets, use the code. The link will be below, and just get a ticket and come experience it and have some fun.