Gilmore Girls star to perform in Fringe suicide prevention play by show's writer

Right Before I Go, by Stan Zimmerman, which uses real suicide notes of celebrities, veterans, bullied teens, those identifying as LGBTQ+ and other people experiencing mental health issues, will star Emily Kuroda, who played Mrs Kim in the hit series.

The play originally premiered at the Hollywood Fringe and was written after the death of Mr Zimmerman's friend, director and producer Kevin Gill, in 2012.

The performance will also feature Wendie Malick, who is known for roles in popular TV series including Frasier and Young Sheldon, where she played university president Linda Hagemeyer. Mr Zimmerman will perform in the show as narrator.

“After the suicide death of my good friend, Kevin Gill, I was at a loss about how to process this,” said Mr Zimmerman. “Seeing so much shame around the topic, I decided to create a play in the vein of The Vagina Monologues, easily produced with actors on stools, reading the script from music stands. My hope is that this will create much needed discussion about a very complicated issue.”

He said Emily Kudora and Wendie Malick had volunteered to fly themselves over to Scotland for the play, which they had also performed in New York in September during World Suicide Awareness Month.

“It just goes to show that a lot of actors and artists feel they need to do something in these times and by using their craft, in this play, they can help save lives and provoke conversation, which is what this show is all about,” he said.

Each performance is followed by a post-show discussion with a mental health professional, and will raise money for SL24: UnLocke the Light Foundation, a US-based charity which supports young people’s mental health. Mr Zimmerman said he made a discussion - led by a qualified professional - a requirement of anyone who licences the play.

“It really became a story about what happens to a funny person - like me as a writer - when something tragic happens in their life and how they deal with it. I’m dealing with grief and all the stages of grief and the audience can ride that with me. It’s all of the things we experience with grief, with all deaths, not just suicide.

“I share so much about what I go through that suddenly, in this room in the theatre, people start sharing their experiences and it becomes kind of group therapy. At Fringe, we will continue this out onto the streets and bars and hopefully keep talking about it.”

Right before I go has travelled across the USA, including a run in NYC at The Tank, often featuring star casting, most recently attracting Vanessa Williams, Olly Alexander, Christine Taylor and Patrick Page.

A school edition of the show has recently been produced, which Mr Zimmerman hopes to tour in the UK - including in Scotland - early next year.

“If we can reach kids of that age, we can really stop this epidemic of suicide by discussing mental health and the stigma around it,” he said.

Right Before I Go will be performed from 5 to 31 August at Pleasance Dome.