Before The Drugs Kick In at Court Square Theater

A 62-year-old woman in an insane asylum closes her eyes and becomes a 28-year-old stand-up comedian with everyone in the audience being part of her imagination. This is Before The Drugs Kick In. Playing every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in January at the Court Square Theater in Long Island City, Queens.

Inspired by personal experience, the delivery (not material) of Dave Chappelle, Christopher Nolan films, Netflix's Russian Doll and HBO's Hacks, the show is an intimate blend of stand-up, theatre and time travel starring NYC comedian and actress Maria DeCotis* (Broadway, Vogue, Rolling Stone) as comedian Lynn T. Walsh.

The show is dedicated to anyone, especially young mothers of the 80s, 90s and early 2000s, who society wrote off as crazy instead of giving them an opportunity to live.

Before The Drugs Kick In made its world premiere at the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe to multiple five and four star reviews while being nominated for two of the biggest awards at the largest arts festival in the world, the BBC Writersroom Popcorn Award for Best New Writing and the Mental Health Foundation Fringe Award. The play is written, directed and produced by comedian and playwright Mike Lemme with movement direction by Mandy Gordon.

Content Warning: Before The Drugs Kick In contains distressing themes with strong language and mentions of suicide but it's also full of punchlines too.

*Appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association

Showtimes: Friday + Saturday, 7pm. Sunday, 4pm

Court Square Theater

44-02 23rd Street

Long Island City

Queens, NY 11101

5-minute walk from the 7, M, E trains

Friday, 1/5 - 7pm 

Saturday, 1/6 - 7pm

Sunday, 1/7 - 4pm

Friday, 1/12 - 7pm 

Saturday, 1/13 - 7pm

Sunday, 1/14 - 4pm 

Friday, 1/19 - 7pm

Saturday, 1/20 - 7pm

Sunday, 1/21 - 4pm

Friday, 1/26 - 7pm

Saturday, 1/27 - 7pm

Sunday, 1/28 - 4pm