Dead Fat Corpse

Dead Fat Corpse, a daring two-hander solo play by Barbara Lee Bragg [Barbara Lee Bragg - IMDb], opens Friday, June 6 at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. This unflinching, dark comedy takes audiences on a journey through identity, survival, and the brutal realities of the entertainment industry.

Drawing directly from Bragg’s own life as a young actor navigating Hollywood’s unforgiving terrain, Dead Fat Corpse is a declaration of resilience. “Born out of pain—fire like a Phoenix arising,” Bragg says. “A poor kid from rural Wyoming gets into Yale Drama School and then has to fight like hell for the rest of her life to keep her dream alive. Never give up.” The play’s title comes from a real casting call that epitomized industry objectification—seeking a “dead fat corpse”—which became a breaking point for Bragg, but also a catalyst for her return to the stage with renewed purpose.

Blending biting humor with sharp social commentary, Dead Fat Corpse explores homelessness, self-worth, and the drive to survive and thrive in a harsh world. Bragg recalls the words of playwright John Patrick Shanley: “Most people are sleepwalking through life, and yet about 10% are walking around in constant amazement.” She says, “This is why I wrote this. Because you can’t keep a champion down.”

Audiences are left with a challenge: “What will you do with your one wild and precious life? You can be a hero to yourself,” Bragg declares. “You pick yourself. FLY.”