HOW TO SWALLOW A VOLCANO to be Featured in 2026 MITF
Anne McDermott's solo show, directed by Padraic Lillis, will play the American Theatre of Actors.
As the Midtown International Theatre Festival (MITF) officially returns to the New York stage after a decade-long hiatus, festival producers have named the solo show "How to Swallow a Volcano" as a featured production of the 2026 season. Written and performed by Anne McDermott, this "unapologetically human" comedy will headline the festival's residency at the American Theatre of Actors (ATA) this summer.
"How to Swallow a Volcano" is a fast-paced, intimate journey through the art of making bad choices with total confidence. Moving between sessions with an unflappable therapist and the vibrant mess of real life, McDermott explores bad romances, family dysfunction, spiritual misadventures, and the peculiar emotional logic that only denial can justify. Directed by Padraic Lillis and developed with Emmy Award-winning writer Matt Hoverman, the show explores what happens when being "nice" becomes a liability, inviting audiences to laugh and wince at the hilarious process of finally choosing oneself.
A featured performer in the Best of Generation Women at Joe's Pub, Anne McDermott has graced the stages of the Comedy Cellar, The Moth, and Broadway Comedy Club. Her writing has been featured in The New York Times, The Daily Beast, and The Belladonna Comedy. Following a sold-out premiere at NYC's 124 Bank Street Theatre in late 2025, McDermott now brings her whimsy and depth to the MITF stage.
The relaunch of the Midtown International Theatre Festival, founded by John Chatterton and produced in partnership with indie luminary Jay Michaels and the landmark American Theatre of Actors, transforms the three-theatre ATA complex into a massive hub of creative innovation from June 15 through July 26, 2026.
Performances will run at the American Theatre of Actors Monday June 15 at 8:00pm, Thursday June 18 at 7:15pm, and Sunday June 21 at 3:00pm.
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