Rising comedy performer Liv Rocklin makes her Edinburgh Fringe debut with her sharply funny and original musical comedy, An American (Not) in Paris; a genre-blending whirlwind of stand-up, original songs, and storytelling that dives headfirst into the beautifully messy reality of losing control.
Told through seven songs, six languages, and five undiagnosed conditions, the show dissects Rocklin’s obsession with control, while exposing the chaotic inner workings of a brain on the brink. À la Rachel Bloom and Bo Burnham, the result is a fast-paced, deeply personal, and hilariously self-aware performance that resonates with anyone who’s ever tried – and failed – to keep it all together.
Where: Just The Bottle Room at Just The Tonic at The Mash House
When: 6-30 Aug
Ticket link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/an-american-not-in-paris
What can you tell us about your show? What is it about and where did the idea come from?
Basically, I’ve had a 5-year plan ever since I was 5 years old. I was doing things at 13 that I’d mapped out at 8. So, when my lifelong dream of studying abroad in Paris was suddenly sabotaged mid-rendezvous, it was the kind of inciting incident that made me realize I couldn’t control everything.
The show starts with my dream of having a Lizzie McGuire Moment (aka, riding on a Vespa with a hot European man), but then hits a lot of different details of my life, all pointing to how little control I have, and why that might actually be okay. It’s very much about loneliness, growing up, and realizing control and safety aren’t necessarily synonymous.
I’ve been performing stand-up and musical comedy for about 10 years, but I’ve been itching to push it more into a theatrical medium. Watching Rachel Bloom, Bo Burnham, Mike Birbiglia, Alex Edelman, and so many other brilliant comedians take on the form of solo theatre, I really wanted to challenge myself. I love being a nerd about theatre, and I figured if I did that for my own work, I just might make something cool.
How would you sell it to audiences in one paragraph?
It’s an OCD, ADHD, gluten-free, Gen Z, One Woman, Musical Comedy! There are 7 songs, 6 languages, and 5 undiagnosed conditions (we’ve got Bingo!). Through stand-up, storytelling, and musical comedy, I’ll bring you through the highs and lows of a study abroad gone wrong that kicked off my journey of growing up in a world burning down. It’s fun, it’s sharp, and while there’s sincerity, it never leaves you too low for too long.
Coming off being named Best of the Fringe (Orlando 2025), Funniest of the Fringe (Pittsburgh 2026), Critic’s Choice (Portland 2026), and a sold-out NYC Off-Broadway run, you’ll leave the show feeling like you saw Lizzie McGuire, Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, and Princess Diana all in the form of a 5’8” American Gen Zer. But I honestly read more like a Canadian Millennial (complimentary).
Do you enjoy participating in the Fringe? And do you have any moments you particularly remember?
I absolutely adore Fringe Festivals. In the past couple of years, I’ve done Orlando, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and Portland, and what I so love about the Fringe vibe is the balance of people caring so deeply about their art without ever taking it too seriously. I remember in Orlando, my tech, who was so kind and awesome, asked me if it bothered me that the projector screen was a little crooked. The projector screen was, in fact, a white sheet that we had laundry clipped onto a curtain. I was like…No, I don’t think it being a little crooked is going to give away that this isn’t a Broadway theatre.
But that’s why I love it! People are invested, but they’re not precious. It allows it to be about the art. You never know when you’re going to see something truly special with a crooked bed sheet being used as the screen.
What are you looking forward to the most in Edinburgh?
My first instinct answer was honestly just, “finally doing the damn thing.” Prepping for Edinburgh Fringe has truly been a year-long process. Every local Fringe I’ve done has been in preparation; my producers, Alice Zelenko and Sammie Taxman, have been planning and prepping with me and ahead of me at every step.
I know I can’t control exactly how things go in Edinburgh, but I just feel so ready to get there and hit the ground running. My show taught me that even when I don’t know the outcome, there’s still a next right step to take. And I think I’m just about ready to take that step onto my flight to Edinburgh! I’m also excited to see how the show lands with an international audience!
I honestly can’t tell if the show is pro-France or staunchly anti-France. So I’m excited to see how potential French audience members feel. I did comedy in Paris for a while as well, and I will say the French loved me. They mostly loved me because my entire sets would be about how ridiculous Americans are and how the French are so much better. So I can admit I was
pandering…C’est la vie!
What’s next for the show?
Why, who’s calling? My dream for the show is that it can continue to grow. My tech operator at Portland Fringe told me that once I have the budget, the show should end with me riding a Vespa off stage. So if we can get to Broadway, that’s number one on my list. Truly, though, some goals of mine would be an Off-Broadway run back in New York, a UK Tour, and the ultimate fantasy? Doing the show in Paris. I think the Parisians’ fantasy is for that to never happen.
Immediately after Fringe, I’m performing the show back in New York City as part of Neurotica Fest, and then in October, I’m going to Island Fringe out on Prince Edward Island in Canada. My Canadian debut! So I’ll keep going where the Fringe Lotteries take me while continuing to work with amazing people who help me bring the show even further and make it better.
I’m proud to say that this show’s entire production and creative team is made up of women and nonbinary people. I don’t say that for a pat on the back, but more to say that as the show hopefully grows, I’m committed to continuing to raise those up with me who have historically not been given a seat at the table. A seat…on a Vespa.