About The Show
Lymphomaniac is a one-woman show about cancer, comedy, and survival—told through the lens of someone who lived it. With dark humor, raw honesty, and an unfiltered perspective, the show dives into the realities of illness, anxiety, EMDR therapy, and resilience in a way that’s as hilarious as it is heartbreaking.
​
At 22, Megan was diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and through humor and vulnerability, she invites audiences into the often unspoken realities of her experience—not just battling cancer, but navigating the lasting mental health challenges that followed, even years later. Using comedy as a bridge, Lymphomaniac opens the door for deeper conversations about the emotional struggles we all face, whether sparked by illness or just life itself. It’s an honest, funny, and human invitation to talk about what’s really going on—because sometimes the only way through the darkest moments is to laugh right at them.
​
First written and performed just two months after Megan’s final chemotherapy session, Lymphomaniac quickly became a way to reclaim the narrative around illness—stripping away the clichés and saying the things most patients think but don’t say out loud. The show ran intermittently for three years before returning for a limited revival in San Francisco in 2024, where audiences once again found laughter and connection in its brutally honest storytelling.
​Now, in 2025, Lymphomaniac heads to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, at Just the Tonic Theater, bringing its powerful and darkly funny message to an international stage.
What audiences are saying:
"...Excellent impersonations... she really becomes [the characters]" Survivor brings on laughs in '[Lyphomaniac]!"
-SF Examiner
"5 STARS- I LOVED IT! If you, or a loved one or an acquaintance is fighting cancer or a serious medical condition, I recommend this play as laughter is medicine. Cancer is a subject that many are uncomfortable with , though many will be touched by cancer. I appreciate Megan's talent and courage to write and star in this play. I hope she will get a wide audience. Thank you Megan."
-Anonymous (Gold Star)
"There are people who do characters. There are people who do voices. But very few can do what Megan Timpane does. And what she does is instantly, dynamically metamorph. With the flick of a vocal cord she can become... well anyone. This kind of mecurial transformation has been relegated to master's like John Legizamo, Whoopi Goldberg, Eddie Murphy and Sarah Jones. That caliber. But awaken Hollywood and Broadway - this young woman has the full scope -- the complete depth to tackle comedy and drama effortlessly. She is an absolute beast of a talent in the kindest sense of the word."
-Don Reed, HBO/Snap Judgment, NBC streaming comedy series "Bartlett" with producers and talent from HAMILTON
"Her dead-on impressions and infectious energy lead one to believe this is just the tip of the iceberg for Timpane. With uncanny storytelling ability, Megan somehow manages to mix heartbreak, education, and humor in the most effective of ways. If Megan Timpane is playing in a city near you... or not near you... do yourself a favor and go. You'll learn a little. And you'll laugh a lot."
-Jeff Gelber, Writer/Producer