The Darren Podcast Show Live!
Written and Performed by Josh Cab; Directed by Justis James
Presented by the New York City Fringe Festival
UNDER St. Mark’s Place | 94 St Marks PlNew York, NY 10009
Fri April 3 at 9:50pm, Wed April 8 at 9:50pm, Sat April 18 at 3:40pm & Sun April 19 at 7pm
Photo Credit: John Louis Quiroz
Beer cans scattered across the stage. One chair. One mic. A man and his unraveling.
Darren takes us inside his 250th podcast, though what unfolds feels far less like a broadcast and more like a mind in motion. He has an ex-wife, a young daughter, his intern, Emilio, two dogs: Ronald and Donald (named for the presidents) and his podcast. Today’s episode features guests President Trump, Jay-Z and Dr. Dre who are there to mentor a young tech launching his app. Sprinkled through his spoken words are references to Lil Bow Wow, Lil Romeo, and Lil Kim. Then there’s the rap battle which is judged by gunshots.
The experience is, at times, dizzying.
There are moments where the spoken word lands with clarity and force, when Darren’s pain cuts cleanly through the noise and we glimpse the man beneath the spiral. His daughter, the light of his life, emerges as a grounding presence, a reminder of what has been lost and what still matters. The absence of his family, particularly his ex-wife and child, hangs heavily in the space.
But there are also stretches where the structure becomes difficult to track, where the layering of substance use, memory, and performance blurs to the point that it’s hard to discern what is happening and why. The podcast framing device is interesting but it doesn’t always hold the piece together.
What remains is a portrait of a man in deep depression, searching for meaning through language, rhythm, and escape. It feels less like a traditional narrative and more like being inside Darren’s head, fragmented, restless, and unresolved.
Click HERE for tickets.
Review by Malini Singh McDonald.
Published by Theatre Beyond Broadway on April 7, 2026. All rights reserved.