American writer-performer Jerry Topitzer is bringing Once Upon A Wall Street to Edinburgh Fringe this summer. The show was the winner of the Audience Choice and Best Comedy Awards at the United Solo Theatre Festival, and is presented by Roan Productions.
“Jerry Topitzer led a secret double life: Wall Street banker by day, goofball comedy performer by night. As an idealistic graduate, he took a temporary job to tackle a mountain of student debt and through accidental success, became sucked into a world of luxury and lunatics. But at the height of his career, he discovers improv comedy, which brings a whole new meaning to his life. Torn between the worlds of comedy and cash, desperate to find purpose, everything starts to unravel…”
Where: Wine Bar at Gilded Balloon / Lounge at Gilded Balloon
When: 5-15 Aug / 18-30 Aug
Ticket link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/once-upon-a-wall-street
What is the show about, and where did the idea come from?
My show is about my real-life experience living a double life on Wall Street – by day, a managing director at the largest investment bank in the world, and by night, secretly a goofball comedy performer at comedy clubs around NYC. My show captures the true story of falling into Wall Street as a temp after expecting to go into community development after graduating from university, but saddled with student loans.
Finding accidental success, navigating the insane characters there, the show follows how a once broke do-gooder loses himself and re- discovers himself again through the world of NYC improv. At the height of my career, forced to choose between a lifetime of wealth and holding onto my soul, I risked everything to chase a crazy dream: to write and perform comedy and to help my wife start an amazing NGO (called arksolves.org). Leaving ends up costing me way more than I bargained for…Â
Sell the show to a potential audience in one sentence!
My solo show is a hilarious, heartfelt story about Jerry’s actual double life on Wall Street: a managing director by day and goofball comedy performer by night – what could possibly go wrong?
What does the Fringe mean to you, and do you have any particular memories?
This is my first time coming to Fringe, and ever since I started writing my show, I had a dream to perform here. My story is about taking a path that cuts against the mainstream and eschews chasing wealth in pursuit of the craziest of dreams, which is so in the spirit of Edinburgh Fringe. Fringe’s celebration of live theatre is more essential than ever now, and I am deeply grateful to have the chance to perform my show there.
What are you looking forward to in Edinburgh?
I am looking forward to connecting with, entertaining, and hopefully inspiring Fringe audiences with my show. Equally, I am excited to meet a whole new community of fellow artists and creators committed to making live theatre. Lastly, I can’t wait to see lots of great shows!