How would you describe your show to someone discovering it for the first time at the Fringe? American A**holes: Escape to Edinburgh is a trio of standup comedians dissecting identity, politics, and why Americans might in fact, be the worst. Together, we (Dannielle Slaughter, Lauren LoGiudice, and Wayne Charles II), all have material that creates this volatile Venn Diagram of perspectives that somehow lands in a deeply human place. Beneath the outrageousness is a collective search for relief, belonging, and maybe even redemption….maybe. Each of us brings a distinct comedic voice to the stage : Lauren LoGiudice is a whimsical poignant variety show within a stand-up set that spirals between satire and sincerity. Dannielle Slaughter, with machine-gun delivery, disarms audiences with her smokey Southern charm before cutting directly into subjects most people are too polite, or too afraid, to examine openly. And Wayne Charles II delivers conversational storytelling with the ease of a neighborhood regular holding court at last call, balancing sharp honesty with understated wit. Its the best of different genres of standup comedy, all confronting the same pack of rabid animals. What moment, idea or frustration first sparked this show into existence? Americans are not getting any more popular, this is not a political show, but we do not live in a vacuum. We live in one of the most popular cities in the world, in one of the least popular countries, with the most hated radical allied president in modern history. Rather than shy away from that, let’s address what that really means for those putting society under the interrogation lamp. Plus, we know everyone is already laughing at American A**holes, so we might as well make it official. How has the show evolved from its earliest idea to what audiences will see now? As individual comics, we have been developing our material for years. One of the biggest evolutions has been through our American A**holes trio segment on stage. This comes out of our real-time responses to the invasion that has taken place by 48 countries for the Fifa World Cup to the U.S. We welcome this invasion, please stay, and bring your armies and deliver us from hell. In all honesty, it has been a pleasure getting to know so many people from around the globe and getting to see everyone experience U.S. culture for the first time. But for real, SOS, please send help, our government is out of hand. What does bringing this particular show to the Fringe represent for you personally? For me, personally, it represents growth as a comic. Investing in my future, in my craft. Building skills, getting to test the universal nature of my material. It has been 15 months of work to bring this show to the EdFringe, and it means a lot to be an alumni of a festival that has helped to shape so many comics before me. What has been the most unexpectedly challenging part of getting this show to Edinburgh? The cost. 100%. Which contradicts the history and purpose of Fringe quite a lot. Luckily, we are splitting the cost into 3rds because of our Trio. But it is an insane amount of money, a very large investment and a lot has been sacrificed to have this opportunity. I think it is a reflection of the capitalistic values most countries and people have now. Every show in 2026 from every artist may not be the best-of-the-best anymore, because the best can not always afford to go. We each gave up a lot to be here. By the end of the night, audiences who may have arrived ready to judge the “A**holes” onstage, may then recognize parts of themselves in the stories being told. Somewhere between the punchlines and provocations, the show invites audiences to confront their own contradictions and consider how much of our worst behavior, insecurities, and shortcomings might actually be shared. Also merch, please leave with merch so we can buy food and alcohol! How do you think performing this show during a Fringe run will shape it? I think we will each grow on stage, be forced to surgically edit our material so that it is more universal, and we are always shaped by the audiences that come. It is about making them laugh first, but a very close second, it is about that connection we make with them. Being present and connecting. Who do you hope this show finds at the Fringe? We hope this show finds anyone who’s ever looked at America from the outside and thought, “What the hell is going on over there?” and Americans who’ve asked themselves that exact same question. American A**holes isn’t about telling people what to think. It’s about laughing at the absurdity of a country that can put a man on the moon, deep-fry butter, argue about the pronunciation of “herb”, and somehow make all of it feel completely normal. If you are curious about America, confused by America, exhausted by America, or just enjoy watching three A**holes on stage hold up a mirror to all of the worst parts of themselves and their home, you’re exactly who we made this show for. Finally, if this show came with a warning label, what would it say? WARNING: May challenge stereotypes, offend them equally, and leave audiences wondering whether America is a cautionary tale or an escape room no one can find the exit to. Side effects may include uncontrollable laughter and the realization your country and you are not doing much better. American A**holes: Escape to Edinburgh runs at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 20th-29th August 2026.
We speak to the American A**holes as part of our Edinburgh Fringe interview series. Escape To Edinburgh is ”a Queer, African and Indigenous American trio who unite for a cross-cultural comedy hour dissecting identity, politics, and why Americans might, in fact, be the worst. Smart, sharp, and occasionally unhinged, these comics deliver a Venn diagram of perspectives, overlapping in their desperate pursuit of something better: possibly love, definitely a visa. Featuring modern social satire and a marriage raffle of dubious legality. Free. Irreverent. Potentially inadmissible in court.”.
If audiences leave the venue holding onto one thing, what do you hope it is?
