Jennie Fahn to Perform ‘Under The Jello Mold’ at Pierson Playhouse

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Jennie Fahn will bring “Under The Jello Mold” to Pierson Playhouse for one night only on Sunday, October 20—a “maternal love story with a secret in an unexpected place” promising “a roller-coaster story of hidden secrets, purse snatchings, mommy issues and love.”

“The too-crazy-to-not-be-true story of the end of her mother’s life, the title refers to the specific spot Jennie’s mom hid her end-of-life instructions,” read a statement about the show. “It turned out, she was also hiding a secret. In 80 minutes, Jennie’s one-woman tour-de-force entertains, enlightens and thrills.”

Fahn has several connections to Pacific Palisades, including her husband, Jonathan Fahn, who has directed multiple productions for Theatre Palisades. Their son, Harrison, graduated from Palisades Charter High School with the Class of 2014.

The show features a song and dance number, “Hospice Hottie,” with lyrics by Fahn and music by John Mickevich, and musical staging by Palisadian Melissa Fahn, Jennie’s sister-in-law.

“Fahn just returned from an ovation-earning engagement at the SheDFW Arts Festival in Dallas, Texas, where emotional audience members lingered long after the show to discuss the many relatable moments,” according to the statement.

The show serves as a follow up to Fahn’s original one-woman show, “You Mutha! A One-Mother Show,” which ran for two years in Los Angeles and part of the New York City Fringe Festival.

“‘You Mutha!’ was about different mothers, but the character of my real mother became the star,” Fahn explained. “People begged me for a sequel. But as my mother’s health declined—and she eventually passed away—I felt the audience deserved more. I wasn’t sure they really wanted a show about death. But when I tested the material in front of an audience, I learned they wanted the truth. The truth can be very funny, but also really touching.”

“Under The Jello Mold” was originally directed by Tom Cavanaugh. Fahn has been performing it since 2017. It has garnered “top awards” at the Hollywood Fringe, including Best Solo Performance and Pick of the Fringe.

It has since been performed across the United States, in California, Idaho, Arizona, Oklahoma and Washington, D.C.

“I’m trying to get the show to NYC,” Fahn joked, “but I’m taking the long route.”

The performance at Pierson Playhouse, located at 941 Temescal Canyon Road, will take place on October 20 at 4 p.m. Tickets are available for $25 at underthejellomold.com.