This world premiere dance-theater piece uses cinematic style to explore familial bonds, love, and heartache.

Mother makes dinner. Daughter sets the table. One empty chair. A knock at the door. Expecting someone? Back to dinner. You made a mistake. Everyone’s watching. The bills pile up. The job’s never done. Another disaster. And your face—it’s older. The cameras are rolling. The Fool is laughing. You’re doing just fine.

Through the eyes of an American family, The Holy Fool examines the toll of aging, grieving, and growing up in a culture where normativity is the most valuable currency. A thrilling ghost story unfolds in a dreamlike visual landscape scored by a hypnotic blend of trumpet, percussion and synthesizers. Co-Directed by Ninth Planet’s Sam Tower and Nia Benjamin, and collaboratively written by the ensemble, The Holy Fool marks the company’s return to the Fringe after a sold out run of High Noon as part of Cannonball in 2022. Festival veteran and co-founder of Headlong, David Brick, returns to the stage alongside his daughter, Zephyr Saffron Brick, and Philly theater heavy-hitter, Bi Jean Ngo.