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Chris Blackwood
Comedy, Interdisciplinary, Solo Show, Storytelling & Spoken Word, Theater
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For over a year, Chris knew the exact date his grandfather planned to die.
His grandfather wasn't terminally ill. He wasn't suffering from depression. A longtime leader in the right-to-die movement, he spent decades advocating for the idea that people should have the right to choose when and how they die. After years of deliberation, he chose his 92nd birthday as the day he would end his life and shared that plan with family and friends well in advance.
The Countdown is a funny, thought-provoking solo show about what happens when someone you love tells you exactly when they plan to die - and means it.
Through comedy, storytelling, recorded interviews, emails, and multimedia elements drawn from a true story, Chris explores how he navigated the months leading up to his grandfather's planned death, how he processed what came after, and how the experience transformed his understanding of autonomy, mortality, family, and what real closure with a loved one could look like.
Part memoir, part investigation, and part philosophical exploration, The Countdown invites audiences into a deeply personal story that asks: What happens when someone believes their life is complete, chooses the date of their death, and follows through? What happens to the people who love them?
While the subject matter is serious, the show approaches it with humor, curiosity, and humanity rather than advocacy for any particular position. Whether audiences leave agreeing with Chris's grandfather or not, they are invited to grapple with the same questions Chris faced as he watched someone he deeply admired prepare for a deliberate and carefully chosen goodbye.
September 19, 2026 5.00pm
319 N 11th St
3rd Floor
General Admission: $20
PWYC Options
September 20, 2026 5.00pm
319 N 11th St
3rd Floor
General Admission: $20
PWYC Options
About the Artist
Chris Blackwood is a Washington, DC-based comedian, educator, and nonprofit leader. He has performed stand-up comedy for more than 13 years at venues across the United States, including The DC Improv, The Stand (NYC), Cobb's Comedy Club (San Francisco), The Punch Line San Francisco, and the Broadway Comedy Club (NYC), and the Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse. He has shared the stage with notable comedians including Aparna Nancherla, Nimesh Patel, Tony Woods, Rosebud Baker, Sammy Obied, and JR De Guzman.
In 2017, Chris founded Grassroots Comedy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses comedy as a tool for advocacy, civic engagement, community building, and social impact. Through live events, educational programs, and partnerships with nonprofits and grassroots organizations, Grassroots Comedy has raised tens of thousands of dollars for charitable causes while helping audiences engage with issues ranging from climate justice and reproductive rights to immigration, democracy, and humanitarian aid. Grassroots Comedy is also home to the Comedy Catalyst, a training program that brings together comedians, advocates, organizers, and storytellers to explore how humor can be used to connect with audiences, shift perspectives, build community, and inspire action.
Outside of comedy, Chris has spent nearly two decades working in international education, learning, and organizational development. His professional background includes work with the Peace Corps, USAID-funded programs, English language education initiatives, and nonprofit organizations around the world.
The Countdown is Chris's first solo theatrical production. Drawing on personal recordings, family correspondence, and years of reflection, the show explores the true story of his grandfather's decision to end his life on his 92nd birthday and the profound impact that decision had on those who loved him.
- Arzoo MalhotraDirectorarzoothecomedian@gmail.com
- Chris BlackwoodProducer
- Actorblackwoodc@gmail.com
Accessibility & Content Considerations
Contact the Fringe Festival Box Office for up to date accessibility information.
This event is appropriate for ages 18+
This performance includes discussion of suicide, death, grief, and end-of-life decision-making. Through personal storytelling, comedy, and recorded interviews, the show explores these themes without advocating for any particular viewpoint.
Covid-19 Safety policy
This event does not require masks to be worn
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(at Race St.)
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Directions
Tickets: 215.413.1318
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