Bum Bum, or, this farce has Autism

by Dave Osmundsen

It’s the night of the All Stars for Autism telethon to benefit Singing and Hearing Autistic Greatness (SaHAG, or SHAG). Lisa is going to perform a little ballet. Sean is going to do a family-friendly comedy routine. And Jason is going to perform with his trusty ventriloquist dummy, Gil McGillicuddy. But the three can only take condescending press reps, problematic pop stars, and the widescale infantilization of...

It’s the night of the All Stars for Autism telethon to benefit Singing and Hearing Autistic Greatness (SaHAG, or SHAG). Lisa is going to perform a little ballet. Sean is going to do a family-friendly comedy routine. And Jason is going to perform with his trusty ventriloquist dummy, Gil McGillicuddy. But the three can only take condescending press reps, problematic pop stars, and the widescale infantilization of Autistic people for so long. When the three band together to take over the broadcast and perform their less “appropriate” routines, hijinks ensue.

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Bum Bum, or, this farce has Autism

Recommended by

  • Jacqueline Goldfinger: Bum Bum, or, this farce has Autism by Dave Osmundsen
    “

    Rarely does a play make me laugh this hard, but also mean so much. Osmundsen is a vibrant and exciting emerging playwright whose play leans into the absurdity of modern life through the lens of a wide-range of characters and perspectives.

    Rarely does a play make me laugh this hard, but also mean so much. Osmundsen is a vibrant and exciting emerging playwright whose play leans into the absurdity of modern life through the lens of a wide-range of characters and perspectives.

    ”
  • Sam Heyman: Bum Bum, or, this farce has Autism by Dave Osmundsen
    “

    I had the pleasure of watching a recording of BUM BUM and came away from the experience with a profound sense of hope — hope for a world, a cultural landscape where autistic artists, dancers, comedians, PLAYWRIGHTS get to be themselves, uncensored, unsanitized, and unapologetically so. Dave Osmundsen is at the forefront of what theatre is and can look like. BUM BUM, OR, THIS FARCE HAS AUTISM is funny, profound, and deserves to be seen by audiences all over. Produce this play!

    I had the pleasure of watching a recording of BUM BUM and came away from the experience with a profound sense of hope — hope for a world, a cultural landscape where autistic artists, dancers, comedians, PLAYWRIGHTS get to be themselves, uncensored, unsanitized, and unapologetically so. Dave Osmundsen is at the forefront of what theatre is and can look like. BUM BUM, OR, THIS FARCE HAS AUTISM is funny, profound, and deserves to be seen by audiences all over. Produce this play!

    ”
  • Asher Wyndham: Bum Bum, or, this farce has Autism by Dave Osmundsen
    “

    Your actors are going to love rehearsing this. And they will find it hard to stop laughing.
    There are many plays about antics and shenanigans of theatre making behind the scenes, but never one about a telethon for Autism.
    This play does something that many plays don't, it develops ALL ensemble characters equally, lets them shine. And the SPEED, moment after a moment, a whirlwind of jokes, burlesque, ventriloquisim and plenty to say about being autism.
    This deserves many productions!

    Your actors are going to love rehearsing this. And they will find it hard to stop laughing.
    There are many plays about antics and shenanigans of theatre making behind the scenes, but never one about a telethon for Autism.
    This play does something that many plays don't, it develops ALL ensemble characters equally, lets them shine. And the SPEED, moment after a moment, a whirlwind of jokes, burlesque, ventriloquisim and plenty to say about being autism.
    This deserves many productions!

    ”
View all 9 recommendations

Production History

  • Professional, EPIC Players, 2025