Could you first introduce yourself to the reader?
Hi! I'm Katy Berry. I'm from New York and I've been doing comedy for the last 12 years. Mostly musical improv, but I also write funny coming-of-age movies. I am excited to be coming to the Fringe with my first one-woman show, Diamond Goddess Crystal Pussy. The title is crazy, but in essence, it's a few of my favorite stories from my life that have finally made their way to the stage.
How would you describe your show?
Diamond Goddess Crystal Pussy is a high-energy, fast-paced, feel good musical about my experience growing up on Long Island, New York. I felt like an outsider there until I realized that my mom had a one night stand in the 80s, and my real dad is Poseidon, the Sea King. I regale the audience with embarrassing stories when it would have been convenient to know my true identity as a demi-Goddess, while also performing a series of magical spells to help my audience uncover their own repressed magic. The show is a mix of storytelling, audience interaction, and improvised musical numbers, designed to keep everyone on their toes and laughing their asses off.
What is your favourite part of your show?
I think my favorite part is the storytelling. It's so fun to talk to the audience like they're my friends, to be honest with them and tell them these crazy things that have happened to me. The other parts are also more mentally demanding, because I talk to the audience and spin our interactions into musical numbers off the cuff, and while that's very thrilling and I love that challenge, there's something so great about chatting in a more relaxed way. I like to make everyone feel like they're in my house having a cocktail with me and I'm giving them the real unvarnished truth.
If your show had a theme song, what would it be and why?
Hmm, this is really hard to say. The energy of the show is big and sparkly, like a Lizzo song, but I always listen to Do It Anyway by Ben Folds Five before I go on and I think that song echoes the show's theme really well. Failure is a part of life, and you should never stop challenging yourself and honoring your right to grow and fuck up colossally. For instance taking a show to the Fringe for the first time. I may make an ass of myself, I may lose a ton of money, I may cry and have a series of anxiety attacks off stage - I have to do it anyway. Always do it anyway.
What is one thing you hope audiences will take away from your show?
I hope audiences leave with a reminder that at ANY time, they can take their happiness into their own hands. It's scary to make a hard left turn to get on the right path for us because everyone has an opinion on the 'right way' to live. Screw other people's opinions! There are SO many more ways to live than the basic paths we are told to follow. We all subconsciously know what's best for us, but our third-eye is gaslit to death to be hotter, thinner, richer. But is that really what you want? I hope everyone leaves my show and quits their abusive jobs or leaves their crappy marriages or adopts a one-eyed dog and starts wearing tube tops.
If you could add a surprise celebrity cameo to your show, who would it be and why?
Definitely Billy Joel. He was born and raised on Long Island and has a lot of songs about Long Island. So as someone from Long Island, I grew up with his music playing constantly. He is the unofficial mascot of the show.
Why do you want to perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
I'm very hard on myself when it comes to my performances. I want to bring a show that I think is hilarious, something that I believe in, and see how people react. I guess I want validation that I can not only do hard things, but I can slam dunk them.
What differentiates it from other festivals?
Edinburgh, and the UK in general, seems to actually appreciate art. In America, it's all about money and fame. That's why we are getting dumber all the time. The Fringe is a humming community of artists from all different mediums and perspectives, which created this inspiring cross-pollination. People see different disciplines and light up and it trickles into their own work, and we all know how hard it is to do what we do, so you can find incredible support from like-minded weirdos. Even though you're competing with 2000 other shows for audiences, you get to meet so many artists who are brilliant and gracious and you uplift one another. It's really healing and empowering.
What is one thing you would change about the Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
I mean, it's damn expensive to come! I know that's a lame thing to say, but it's true. I wish there were more grants available to offset costs for artists.
How has your background, upbringing and education had an impact on your artistic career?
I went to school for non-fiction writing and I always thought I'd write humor essays like David Sedaris. Then I got deep into improv comedy, and I loved doing outlandish characters based on people I knew, or putting really personal, mortifying things into scenes and seeing the audience explode. Both writing and improv were critical in helping me hone my artistic voice into one that is highly specific. Anyone who reads my scripts or sees my shows always says "it's so Katy Berry" and I take that as a huge compliment. Whether you like my work or not, it's entirely my own, and that is a big leg up in this industry.
What is your favourite thing about performing for a live audience?
I love when you know the audience is right there with you. Even if there are 250 people in the audience, when you are being authentic, they all tune in on a similar wavelength. They become one – this one giant friend that you are exchanging energy with. It's crazy how a big room of people can feel so intimate when you are in the zone.
What is the strangest thing that has ever happened to you while performing?
I'm an improviser so strange things happen all the time. But I do a bit called Guilty Pleasures where the audience writes down their anonymous guilty pleasures and I freestyle rap about them as I pull them out of a bowl. You get lots of strange secrets on those little slips of paper. But no matter how 'weird' it is, the audience is always on board when you validate it. I've gotten everything from people who pull out their own pubes for fun to people who love watching videos of barns being power-washed. We celebrate it all!
What's the most challenging or unconventional venue you've ever performed in, and how did it impact the overall experience?
One time I had to play a fake cheese monger at a birthday party and prank the guests by telling them fake things about the cheese. I told them one cheese was made of rare pony milk and went into a long monologue about how to milk a pony. Some people definitely believed it and were fascinated and excited to eat the pony teat cheese. It was super weird to lie straight to people's faces in someone's kitchen apartment. But it taught me to commit, commit, commit, to the bit. To this day, I believe in locking your jaw on a character like a pitbull. Never back down!
Is there a piece of feedback you've received from an audience member or critic after a performance that’s stuck with you?
I got to perform with Jackie Hoffman, who is a Second City original cast member. She's a Broadway star and she's been in a lot of film and TV. She came up with people like Martin Short and Steve Martin. My God, she is quick. So funny, such a great character actor. We did an improvised musical together and I made her laugh a lot. I loved playing with her. When it was over she said "You are fuckin' hilarious. You're good at this shit." It made me so happy.
What is your favourite thing to do in Edinburgh when you're not performing? How do you relax and look after your mental health?
I'm so glad you're asking about mental health because I think it's a huge part of a successful Fringe run. It's all-too-easy to run yourself down, get sick, spiral into insecurity. I've seen it happen year after year to other performers. I am very strict about getting plenty of rest. It's tempting to party all night and drink a lot, but for the most part I make sure I am getting lots of rest, drinking tons of water, listening closely to my body. I also like to walk around Old Town and read up on the history of the city. Remind myself that I am lucky to be here in this incredible place, and the whole experience is net positive no matter what, because I am HERE. Just taking some time to bask in the wonder of a beautiful city.
Is there a show you’re excited to see when you’re up there?
I'm excited to see some friends perform. Namely Lane Kwederis, Chris Grace, and Tim Murray. I also want to see Patti Harrison perform because she's very funny. And I like to see some weird interpretive dance. I think it's so cool when dancers can keep me emotionally invested for an entire hour just through movement.
What is one piece of advice you’d give to someone thinking about taking a show up to Edinburgh? If you’ve never been before, what would you say has been (potentially) the most useful?
My advice would be to make sure you are in a good place psychologically and ready to surrender yourself to the Edinburgh gods and ride the wave. You cannot control every moment of your run. Don't go into it thinking "I have to launch my career or this is all a waste." That's setting yourself up for turmoil. Do it because you love performing and you want to spend a month in an amazing city. There will be days where you are on cloud nine and days where you can barely get out of bed. The more you can ebb and flow and be present, the more amazing it will be.
When and where can people see your show?
People can see Diamond Goddess Crystal Pussy at Just the Tonic @ The Mash House at 2:10 pm 3-27 August 2023 except for the 14th and 22nd.
And where can people find you online?
www.katyberrycomedy.com or @katyberrycomedy on all social media platforms.
0 Comments