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Okay, now to today's show.

Ben Rimmelauer, thank you so much for being on the podcast.

We're so happy to have you.

I'm so happy to be had.

Congratulations on your big success with the Paddy Issues. Thank you. Were you expecting such the fanfare and the success that you had? Exactly what I had. Good for you. Well, if you could

maybe give us an overview of the show for people who might not know about it. Sure.

Well, Patty Issues is my solo play or monodrama, according to my director,

The Brilliant Aaron Mark.

It explores the, I guess, intersection of my lifelong obsession with Patty Lupone and my very tumultuous relationship with my biological father,

who's also gay, and had a very dramatic coming out and battle with drugs and everything

and suicide attempts in my childhood.

And the play sort of ponderes how my obsession with Patty was my escape from that.

And then as an adult, I got to work with Patty and get to know her very well.

...