About the Artist

Madi Distefano is a Philadelphia performance artist celebrated for her inventive genre-blending theatre, her leadership in Brat Productions, and her contributions to the City's experimental and immersive arts scene.

She is the recipient of the F. Otto Hass Award for an Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist, one of the founding Fringe artists, and also a 9-time Barrymore Award nominee winning one for Best Leading Actress.

In this experimental solo workshop production, 1A Clown's Way reunites the actor/writer and director team that created Popsicles Departure, 1989 which won Best Solo Show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and a Fringe First for innovative writing.

Her work often blends physical comedy, quick-change techniques, and genre-bending storytelling creating high-energy, audience-engaging experiences. Memorable productions include:

Meanwhile... ---a quick-change comedy where two actors play all 12 roles, drawing from crime noir and mid-century pulp fiction

The Twenty-Four Hour Bald Soprano ---a 24 hour no-break revival of Ionesco's classic with audiences free to enter and leave at any hour

Haunted Poe ---an immersive room-to-room warehouse-scale adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's supernatural writings

She has also produced Bar and Social Club shows, such as Rum and Vodka, adapting Conor McPherson's bar tales for live performance in a pub setting.

Madi has a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Theater, and a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Directing from Temple University. Her training has laid the foundation for her career in performance, film, directing, and producing, which has included work with Brat Productions, Walnut Street Theatre, and appearances in the films Bottomfeeders (2001), Headspace (2006), and Diorama (2007).

Accessibility & Content Considerations

Contact the Fringe Festival Box Office for up to date accessibility information.

This event is appropriate for ages 13+

Adult Language

Strobe/Flashing Lights

Audience Interaction

Covid-19 Safety policy

This event does not require masks to be worn