I am going to die
(And All They Gave Me Were These Lousy Cupcakes)
Welcome to the Deathday Party!!!
We’ve all gathered here to honor the death (and life) of... someone who REALLY likes cupcakes. This highly interactive and improvisational experience encourages you to assist The Figure in uncovering exactly who they are and what their life was all about. Watch as they unpack the many mysteries and traumas of life, identity, and what it means to die, all while enjoying the subpar delights of some less than ideal cupcakes.
Learn More
Podcast Interview With Jay Michaels
Broadway world Rochester
Get To Know The Artists Philly Fringe
ShowTones Article
Previous Performances:
Piven Theatre Workshop
CULTURE & CO.
Audience Reactions
“Grosvold's audience interaction and improvisation were smooth, allowing for her awkward-yet-lovable character to connect with the viewers easily. It felt casual as she seamlessly flew back and forth from new ideas posed by the audience back to the text.”
- Morgan Kingsley
“This was a delightful show and powerful show that perfectly blended comedy, drama and interactivity. 10/10 would see again”
- Fringe Arts Audience Member
“So fun! I laughed! I cried! I contemplated death! Sylvia is endlessly talented and this show is a marvel. Well done, LibLab. Great show!! She was amazing!”
- Fringe Arts Audience Member
“Weeks later, and Lousy Cupcakes is still with me, in the best ways. It’s thoughtful, engaging, dark, and funny.”
-Marc Gomes
“Wonderful show! Unique, engaging, thought provoking and exceptionally performed!”
- Fringe Arts Audience Member
ARTIST STATEMENT
I Am Going To Die (And All They Gave Me Were These Lousy Cupcakes) is an original work by Lochlan MacLean and February Schneck. Lousy Cupcake (as we colloquially call it) is a highly improvisational and experimental one-act play, that explores death from two perspectives -- That of a person who knows they are going to die and that of a person who’s lost a dear friend and must now process their grief.
Lochlan wrote the concept for this play shortly after a terminal cancer diagnosis forced them to look at life (and death) from a new perspective. They created a loose story in which the “Figure” character would be recreated during each performance by the actor and audience, showing how no matter who this person is, their experience with life and death is universal. Following Lochlan’s death, their close friend February picked up the script and with the support of Lochlan’s community adapted it into the show we have today.
Lousy Cupcake seeks to open up conversations about the societally taboo topic of death and grief -- especially for those actively processing their own mortality and/or the death of a loved one. Sylvia Grosvold, the actor who portrays “Figure”, is uniquely poised to take on this mission. After the death of her mother in her early childhood Sylvia has striven to spread awareness about death and grief through close work with The Dougy Center -- a nonprofit that provides free group therapy for grieving children. She has also recorded multiple Story Corps conversations with her dad for National Public Radio where they share their story in the hopes of demystifying the healing process.
Lousy Cupcake is a heartfelt and hysterical show that takes you on a new journey with every performance. We hope to see you there!
