Philly Fringe 2025: Anna Snapp presents I Found That the Sun Will Rise Tomorrow

A diagnostic odyssey

Snapp begins by heartbreakingly recounting her odyssey with physical pain and deep inflammation, agony that is worsened by several doctors who fail to diagnose her. This is a recurring theme, and Snapp doesn’t shy away from critiquing the medical establishment (she has performed her show for many conferences of medical students and providers alongside years of Fringe audiences). Eventually she receives a long-overdue diagnosis: Crohn’s disease, along with several bouts of acute pancreatitis.

Snapp’s continued medical challenges bring her to an integrative medicine doctor (sharply portrayed by Snapp in a white coat) who diagnoses her with SIBO but not much else. Though Snapp receives some answers, she feels dismissed by this doctor who “drops bombs” about her health status and then briskly leaves to see the next patient. Her health crisis continues with a sobering trip to the Mayo Clinic that uncovers a diagnosis of fibromyalgia and later, candida and Lyme disease.

Elsewhere, Snapp doesn’t shy away from recounting her mental health struggles, including depression, bipolar disorder, and suicide attempts. In a more reflective turn, she acknowledges the burden her ailments placed on her parents since they “made so many sacrifices to keep me alive” in the wake of numerous suicide attempts.

Levity, intimacy, and resilience

Though the show is overall a dramatic piece, I appreciate Snapp’s ability to bring a touch of humor and levity to such serious subject matter. For instance, the audience responded with thunderous laughter when Snapp donned a beret and sunglasses to perform a poem about rectal foam after an encounter with a gastroenterologist. Under director J. Paul Nicholas, Snapp shifts seamlessly between humor and heartbreak to create a connection with her audience.

In the intimacy of the Drake’s Proscenium, the set is a simple arrangement featuring a table covered with a black cloth, a chair, and a long ottoman draped in black fabric at center stage. These become a profound extension of Snapp’s inner world. The sole chair and table don't just furnish the space; they serve as the linchpin for moments of stillness and introspection, while the draped ottoman hints at secrets, hidden memories, and tense confrontations. Without visual clutter, this modest setting elevates the raw power of Snapp’s storytelling.

Snapp’s performance is a brutal and unflinching look at the thorny interplay of health challenges, mental illness, and trauma told through her singular and commanding voice. She masterfully guides the audience through an intimate rollercoaster of vulnerability and candor, transforming her private pain into a shared, cathartic experience. By offering her struggles with such honesty, Snapp not only elevates her own pain into a beautiful work of art, but also bravely challenges the stigma surrounding these often-invisible battles. Her resilience is a testament to the healing potential of telling your story with authenticity and courage.

Know before you go: This show contains reference to depression, self-harm, sexual assault, and suicide.