Who Am I?

Hello! I'm Diana Varco - the playwright/performer of the solo plays Shattered & Rise - dark (dark) comedy one-woman shows that use theatre to break down stigma, build compassion and cultivate joy through the power of the creative arts.

Shattered premiered at the Whitefire Theatre in 2017 and Rise previewed at Reykjavík Fringe 2023 and premiered at Edinburgh Fringe 2023 (through this very fundraiser! Thank you Backers )

This summer, I'm reopening my GoFundMe for Rise - a prequel/sequel to Shattered - to help support production expenses for the next stage: The Hollywood Fringe 2026.

In 2023, I launched this fundraiser to preview the show at Reykjavík Fringe and premiere Rise at Edinburgh Fringe. Thank you to all the amazing backers that helped me get there!

It truly was a transformative experience - and I've kept going!

You can read all about the original fundraiser below this update and read my backer updates to follow my journey with the show

Here we go again!

FUNDRAISER 2026 - Hollywood Fringe

Why Hollywood Fringe?

2026 Hollywood Fringe marks the 10th year since I attended Hollywood Fringe 2016, saw my friend's solo show and realized I had run out of excuses to stay silent with my story.

I started the process of writing what would become my solo show Shattered.

It's important for me to honor the decision of stepping out of silence in 2016 and into solo theatre. Rise is the very story I vowed I'd never tell.

Rise (the project)

A dynamic and hard-hitting solo play - told through 20+ characters - about rage and resilience, set upon a metaphorical moon.

Read the full description here: Rise at Hollywood Fringe

The funds:

Any amount you donate helps to off-set the cost I've invested over the years with the production. From Reykjavík Fringe 2023, before, after and up until today.

Listed below are the current Hollywood Fringe expenses that your donation can help cover:

$1,400 - Theatre Rental

$200 - advertising

$150 - printing

$250 - tech rehearsal/coaching

$300 - rehearsal space

$425 - Hollywood Fringe Registration

Total = $2,700

Anything raised above that amount will also help with living and travel expenses while I'm in LA for the production (car rental, housing, per diem, etc)

The venue, Actors Company LA

Me at tech :)

For this version of Rise at Hollywood Fringe 2026, the script is very much the same as preview/premiere and we are returning to the lighting only technical elements of Rise that we used for the Reykjavík Fringe and Edinburgh Fringe production.

But I am different.

I have grown into this story and the Truth behind it.

When I launched this fundraiser in 2023, I couldn't tell people what the show is actually about - foster care.

Now? I raise awareness for foster care organizations, I find opportunities to play in the text, and I can hardly believe I lived the story.

I celebrate the resilience it took to survive it, speak about it, and perform the story.

The Truth is still painful, but it no longer defines me and THAT is a priceless result of being able to bring Rise to the stage.

I very much appreciate your support! Thank you

Below is the fundraiser to help get Rise to the first stage - Reykjavík Fringe 2023 and Edinburgh Fringe 2023.

Thank you,

✨Diana

FUNDRAISER 2023

I'll be premiering my new play Rise (a prequel/sequel to Shattered) at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August, with preview performances at the Reykjavík Fringe Festival in June.

Please support me in covering production, marketing and travel costs -- and help me take Rise to the next stage!

(Donations of any amount, commenting on, and sharing my campaign all help!)

The Project...

What happens when Truth, Rage and Purpose converge upon a metaphorical moon?

A displaced narrator must face her past and find out.

Darkly dramatic, yet lightened by comedic elements, Rise is a magical realism, existential (at times explosive) solo play - told through 20+ characters - that explores artistic risks and rewards, the power of denial, roots of addiction, and rising to one's purpose in spite of it all.

Why Edinburgh Festival Fringe?

In 2019, I performed a full run (25 shows) of my first solo show Shattered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe - the largest arts festival in the world.

Thank you to the 150 backers that helped me get there!!

August 2019 was the 10th 'anniversary' of the sexual assault I talk about in Shattered.

I used to dread the month of August; but now, I look forward to it. Now August means returning to Edinburgh Fringe to perform my story, entertain audiences, and support discussions that raise awareness about mental health and intimate partner violence.

This year it's very exciting to be performing Rise - the 'next chapter' of Shattered - at Edinburgh Fringe, strengthening past partnerships and creating new ones.

Performing previews of Rise at Reykjavík Fringe, where Shattered took home the 'Punch in the Face' Award (impact award) last year, provides me the opportunity to test my new writing in front of a live audience before my performances in Edinburgh and also raise awareness around themes of Rise during my visit.

The Importance of Your Donation...

Your generous donation will help subsidize production costs at Edinburgh Festival Fringe (theatre rental, technical director, marketing, etc), as well as cover flights, accommodation, and per diem expenses for Edinburgh Fringe and Reykjavík Fringe.

My costs at Edinburgh Fringe are reduced, as I'm spending the bare minimum, performing a limited engagement run (5 shows) and self-producing Rise. Luckily, Reykjavík Fringe covers production costs, so my main expenses are travel and accommodation.

Sample Budget...

Reykjavík Fringe

Flights - $800

Accommodation - $1,400 (8 days)

Per diem expenses - $400

Ground transportation - $100

Marketing & printing - $200

Total= $2,900

Venue hire, stage technician, and festival publicity hosted by Reykjavík Fringe.

Edinburgh Fringe

Flights - $800

Accommodation - $1,400 (14 days)

Per diem expenses - $500

Marketing: $1,500

Edinburgh Fringe Registration: $250

Theatre rental: $1,250

Tech hire (5 shows): $450

Filming: $275

Insurance: $175

Solo theatre consultant/Direction fees: $1,000

Press: free - it's me :)

Total = $7,600

Total needed: $10,500

*Any money raised above the goal amount will be repurposed into future production costs for Rise and/or Shattered*

Financial Cost vs Human Benefit...

I do believe the change-making potential of Rise outweighs the financial cost.

Like Shattered, Rise is an educational, thought-provoking, and entertaining theatrical performance written from lived experience that connects audiences to our shared humanity. A performance of Rise builds compassion, allows us to release self-judgment and facilitates discussions about experiences that far too many people suffer through in silence.

Shattered audiences often remark that they feel 'seen' and leave quoting characters from the play. I do not doubt that Rise will yield similar - yet show specific - results.

Apart from the benefit to the audiences, I often partner with organizations working in mental health, sexual assault, domestic violence, and suicide prevention - hosting post-show discussions (when possible) and sharing information in my program to increase awareness of their work, encourage people to seek help and inspire individuals to create change.

Risks and Challenges...

Rise is a very tender story for me. I've taken time to allow the show to unfold since I started writing it many moons ago, in the early months of Covid. To ensure longevity as a person and as a performer, I will rely on self-care routines before, during and after performances in Reykjavík and Edinburgh.

Also, although Rise has comedic and fantastical elements, there are intense moments that confront challenging, true-life topics. My program will contain content warnings, as well as mental health resources to assist audience members, should they need them.

My Philosophy...

I often say there's a universe of people doing really important work to bring about a better world. I am but one star in that universe. You are too!

I appreciate your support!

Thank you so much for helping me get Rise to the next stage!

Want to learn more about my first play Shattered?

Here's my website (Click Here) and some quick information...

Trailer...

Reviews...

'Clever, brilliant, disturbing, funny and heartbreaking all in equal measure...'

***** Jodie McVicar, BroadwayBaby.com - click here

'Every feature of this play takes creativity to another level.'

***** Yulia Ovcharova, EdFringeReview.com - click here

'An exercise in vulnerability that I feel privileged to have experienced.'

***** Molly Smith, EdFringeReview.com - click here

Production photos...

And my website ...again...

For more information visit: https://www.dianavarco.com/

Or follow me on social: dianavarco

Shattered is directed by Jessica Lynn Johnson (https://www.soaringsolostudios.com/), who also serves as producer and solo theatre consultant for Rise

Photo credit for production stills: Clark & Main Photography

Shattered logo by: Second Language Design, Photo by Laura Burke Photography