Lyme Disease: The Musical, a new dark comedy, will have its world premiere at the Let Live Theater at the 2022 Hollywood Fringe Festival. The story follows an optimistic young woman stricken by a mysterious illness. With her feisty best friend and her loyal cat by her side, she navigates unsympathetic doctors, disbelieving friends, and her own depression as she fights to recover both her health and sense of hope.

The book and lyrics were written by award-winning writer/producer Ellen Thompson, who was diagnosed with late stage Lyme disease in 2015. Music was composed by Emmy-winning songwriter Hughie Stone Fish, and music tracks were produced by Kev Luu and Hughie Stone Fish. 

The production will be helmed by veteran Hollywood Fringe Festival and off-Broadway director Robert Glen Decker. Music Director Todd Risenmay will also play the narrator, who happens to be a tick, the main mode of Lyme disease infection. The show will be choreographed by Shanta’ Robinson.

The cast, who plays multiple roles throughout the show, also includes Taylor Murphy-Sinclair, Zozo Chen-Wernik, Candice Brock, Brendan McCay, and Eric Delgado.

“Lyme disease took a lot from me, but it couldn’t take my sense of humor, which has always been dark,” Thompson explains. “Sometimes I get to choose whether to laugh or whether to cry. I almost always choose to laugh, and it’s a bonus if I can make others laugh, especially while raising awareness for Lyme disease.”

There will be one preview performance on Sunday June 5 at 2:30 pm and performances on Thursday June 9 at 8 pm, Friday June 24 at 10 pm, Saturday June 25 at 7 pm, and Sunday June 26 at 12:30pm. Tickets are $14 ($10 for the preview performance) and will be available May 1, 2022 at https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/5715?tab=tickets. For $12 tickets, use code FEST22.

The Let Live Theater at The Actors Company is located at 916 N. Formosa Ave (bet. Romaine St & Willoughby Ave), Los Angeles, CA 90046, (323) 463-4639. Free parking is available in the lot and on the street. ID and Proof of Covid vaccination or negative PCR test within 48 hours or antigen (rapid) test within 24 hours of the performance. Masks will be required.

The Hollywood Fringe Festival is an annual, open-access, community-derived event celebrating freedom of expression and collaboration in the performing arts community. This year’s festival runs from June 9-26, 2022.