2026 Philly Fringe lineup just announced! Tickets are on sale now.
Rachel Hunsinger
Cabaret & Variety, Comedy, Interdisciplinary, Opera, Performance Art, Theater
Connect
If an alien comes to your world to understand human democracy, what will you tell them? Called a “Fat Rock Fantasia,” Black Mirror meets American Idol as Regulator XXL hurtles, slams, belts, and jiggles through THE CONTROLLER'S weight evaluations—because fat pigs can't fly, until they soar.
‘WHEN PIGS FLY’ is an exploration of Rachel Hunsinger’s personal experience with fatness and control. An absurd cabaret song cycle mixed with theatrical solo piece, Regulator XXL performs arrangements of 90s pop, rock, classical musical theater, bluegrass, and more, whatever it takes to lose the weight. Through song and physical theater sequences, ‘WHEN PIGS FLY’ pulls from encounters with body awakenings, child sexual assault, and fascism’s reinforcement of white supremency in Judaism and the American South. All of those things, or maybe some of them. They all, in turn, destroy the fat body.
‘WHEN PIGS FLY’ introduces a sliver of BLOOD ON THE CATS NECK V2, a larger performance coming in 2027/2028. Revamping Hunsinger’s devised staging of R.W. Fassbinder’s absurdist play BLOOD ON THE CAT’S NECK in 2016, ‘WHEN PIGS FLY’ offers the first response to the work's pivotal question: If an alien comes to your world to understand human democracy, what will you tell them?
2016 production of BLOOD ON THE CAT’S NECK:
www.joe-burt.com/blood-on-the-cats-neck, www.ericsondesign.com/, www.jacksonlasseter.com/blood-on-the-cat-s-neck
September 10, 2026 7.00pm
2321 Emerald St
General Admission: $25
PWYC Options
September 12, 2026 8.00pm
2321 Emerald St
General Admission: $25
PWYC Options
September 20, 2026 3.00pm
2321 Emerald St
General Admission: $25
PWYC Options
About the Artist
Rachel (they/she) is an Experimental Performer, Producer, Deviser, and Educator who endeavors to create artistic opportunities that foster social and emotional competency, stretch perspectives on disparity, and demand joy. They have over 20 years of experience in theatre and performance additionally in curriculum development, technical theater, and art administration working alongside organizations including Charleston Stage, Emerson College, Quintessence Theatre Group, FringeArts, Cannonball, The Naughty Jawn, Pig Iron, Freak Mic, The Upside-Down Tree, Wild Horizon, and The Strides Collective. Currently they are deeply invested in using personal experiences and research on Fat and Desirability Politics to enlighten audiences about their own biases and harm towards Fat people through experimental performance.
Most recent work includes ensemble devised “The Bad Pirate Rock Show” (PhillyFringe 2023 & 2024), a feature with Alyse James in “Donner and Blitzen After School Special with Donner and Blitzen” (mimebaby, PhillyFringe 2025), producing “Dreaming the Upside-Down Tree” and “The 24hr Mixtape” (The Upside Down Tree, 2025), performing in “Eyes Open, Eyes Closed” (Wild Horizon, Race Street Pier 2026), and performing and producing “A SEPTAGON” (The Strides Collective, 2026).
- Rachel HunsingerArtistrachellindsayhunsinger@gmail.com
- Caroline TweedyTechnical Directorcarolinesuntweedy@gmail.com
- Colby CalhounLighting Designermissgenderdotcom@gmail.com
- Tyler Catanella Sound Designercatanellat@gmail.com
- Heather Hosford Choreography hosfordheatherm@gmail.com
Accessibility & Content Considerations
Contact the Fringe Festival Box Office for up to date accessibility information.
This event is appropriate for ages 18+
Nudity
Adult Language
Audience Interaction
Adult Language, Nudity, Stripping, allusions to Violence.
Covid-19 Safety policy
This event does not require masks to be worn
Copyright © 2026 Philadelphia Fringe Festival
140 N. Columbus Blvd.
(at Race St.)
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Directions
Tickets: 215.413.1318
Admin Office: 215.413.9006
