A dark solo comedy about love, cancer, and magic mushrooms

Aug 16 - Sept 1

Matrix Theater

7657 Melrose Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90046

🍄 I got rid of all the toxic people and there was no one left

About the Show

Chronically single, Gail has always been good at staying busy, setting boundaries and avoiding intimacy. That is, until a scary diagnosis makes her realize that she might just need to slow down, chill out, and get some help. But, who can she trust? “I got rid of all the toxic people and there was no one left.”

This dark comedy solo show tracks Gail’s quest to find the line between herself and others after a cancer diagnosis and her participation as patient #13 in a ground-breaking FDA study that gave psilocybin (magic mushrooms) to cancer patients with anxiety and depression. The study has blazed a trail for the potential legalization of the psychedelics for use as a medical treatment.

See a 2-minute video about the show

🍄 No one wants to date a bald girl

Reviews

“…Her performance in PATIENT 13 is a gripping roller coaster ride of emotions. As she skillfully recounts her story, I am in awe of her perseverance and impressed by her resilience. I was deeply moved witnessing her standing ovation, seeing the tears of joy streaming down her face… Go for the story and leave with Hope.”

— Eloise Coopersmith of Gia on the Move

“Gail Thomas, a Moth Story SLAM winner, has a winning way and a lot of shocking details. From “defensive dating” to a string of doctors, this is a story of a strong woman who kicked cancer and got rid of the toxic people in her life. Thomas reminds us all to participate fully in life, to trust and let go. And she leaves you wondering where you can get your hands on some psilocybin.”

— Larchmont Buzz

“….Throughout, Thomas is magnetic and engaging in her intensity and candor…PATIENT 13 is a masterclass in storytelling, and how sometimes, a chair and a stage is all you need.”

— Guy Picot of Gia the Move

“...this canny author manages to turn her fears and black thoughts into a very funny glimpse at just how ridiculous life can sometimes turn out...Gail Thomas does a fantastic job of telling her poignant story, all the while poking fun at her own actions and reactions... PATIENT 13 entertains while asking thought-provoking questions and memories which will linger long after the show is over.”

— Elaine Mura, Splash Magazines

“Patient 13 is infused with this warm, conversational quality, a down-home, honest, and lived in feel, genuinely friendly in a way that can feel revolutionary in Los Angeles....Gail Thomas is a born storyteller. More than that, she makes you feel like her best friend in seconds...This is a show that is not afraid of darkness, but for all its talk of death, depression, anxiety and medical nightmares, it has something quirky and uplifting about it, and the comedy really lands... It is always a pleasure to see a fresh, bold personal story that is, quite simply, about telling a true story”

— Amanda Callas, Broadway World

“I’ve interviewed a lot of people and Gail’s psychedelic trip report definitely stands out!”

— Michael Pollan, Author of How to Change Your Mind, The Omnivore’s Dilemma

“Gail Thomas is a poignant storyteller … constantly (although never frenetically) moving around the space, so that although this is a solo show, the production never becomes boring. Patient 13 is engagingly performed throughout. A moving ... always entertaining one-woman show that dares delve into taboo topics typically overlooked by romcoms. Artistically acted …”

— Ed Rampell, Hollywood Progressive

🍄 Tripping Legally with FDA Approval

About Gail

(performer/writer) is a writer, lawyer, actor, filmmaker, and storytelling coach. As a storyteller, she is a Moth SLAM winner and has performed at Stories From Stage, The Moth, RISK!, Story Collider and beyond. Voiceover credits include John Cameron Mitchell’s Anthem: Homunculus, Angelo Rules, David Letterman, Beavis and Butthead, and various commercials and movies.

Her short comedy, My BFF, won audience favorite at NYC New Filmmakers. She was a speechwriter for the Tribeca Film Festival and is currently a storytelling coach for PracticalStorytelling.com and The Story Studio.

Gail's Website