Right Before I Go

Show Run: November 13th - 22nd, 2026

Show Description: 

Stan Zimmerman’s suicide awareness play, right before I go., highlights the raw struggles of people in all walks of life that have died by suicide. The play uses real suicide notes of celebrities, veterans, bullied teens, those identifying as LGBTQ+, people who have experienced a range of mental health calamities —as well as those who have survived attempts. The show runs an hour and is followed by a Talk Back with a local mental health professional.

History of Show:

Originally created for the 2015 Hollywood Fringe Festival as a four-person chamber piece, the play expanded to include a “Narrator” character in 2018. This role helps guide the audience through all of the emotions connected to survivors of loved ones that have died by suicide. Stan devised the play so that the cast size is expandable to accommodate five actors or as

many as needed.

A Personal Note from the Author: 

“After the suicide death of my good friend, Kevin Gill, I was at a loss about how to process this. Seeing so much shame around the topic, I decided to create a play in the vein of The Vagina Monologues, easily produced with actors on stools, reading the script from music stands. My hope is that this will create much needed discussion about a very complicated issue.”

– Stan Zimmerman, Playwright/Actor

WHAT CRITICS HAVE SAID:

“An account of actual letters written by people from all walks of life – veterans to LGBT bullied teens, well-known historic figures throughout several centuries, even celebrities, including Kurt Cobain. This show takes us on a journey of evidence a la Vagina Monologues and although rife with fails, ends on an incredibly hopeful note.” – Tracey Paleo, Gia on the Move

“It’s a simple-to-stage format, like A.R.Gurney’s Love Letters. All that’s needed are actors with a gift for inhabiting lives cut all too short. It works, to deeply moving effect.” – Steven Stanley, StageSceneLA

‘The message of this piece should be heard.” – Michael Van Duzer, Showmag.com

“A gripping and powerful piece. Profoundly moving. Bring an entire box of tissue.” – Eva Heinemann/Hi!Drama (Off-Broadway production) 

WHAT AUDIENCES HAVE SAID:

“Thought provoking”

“Beautiful and powerful”

“Creative, inspiring, and insightful”

“Wonderful, poignant, and very important”

“Accessible, relatable, and deeply moving”

“Heartbreaking. Heartwarming. Affirming.”

“An important event”

“Vagina Monologues for mental health”

“More than great theatre, a catalyst for change”

“The show was stunning”

“This is a show that needs to be seen. Incredibly well written.”

“This art is going to help so many.”

“Halfway through this show, I realized I was holding my breath. It made such an

impact on me.”

“I hope that it’s something that will be replicated by every theatre group!”

“I hope they take it took schools.”

“A MUST SEE!!!!”

Credits

Published by Theatrical Rights Worldwide

Stan Zimmerman

STAN ZIMMERMAN is a man of many mediums (TV, film and theatre). He’s been nominated for two WGA Awards for Best Comedy Writing – The Golden Girls and Roseanne (the infamous lesbian kiss episode). Stan’s also written and produced on Gilmore Girls, co-created the Lifetime sitcom, Rita Rocks, wrote on both Brady Bunch movies and rewrote the ABC-TV movie of Annie. Stan has a BFA-Drama from NYU/Circle-in-the-Square and has directed LA productions of The Diary of Anne Frank, Entertaining Mr. Sloane, A Tuna Christmas, Gemini, Spike Heels and his original plays — Meet & Greet, Knife to the Heart, Have a Good One, and Yes Virginia (also at Judson Theatre – Pinehurst, NC and North Street Playhouse – Onancock, VA). Stan directed Off-Broadway’s Hyprov (Daryl Roth Theatre). TRW has published and licensed his works: Yes Virginia, Silver Foxes and his suicide awareness play, right before I go., which he performs in across the U.S. Zimmerman & Berg wrote the Lifetime hit Christmas movie, Ladies of the 80’s: A Divas Christmas. Stan’s memoir, The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore was released by Indigo River Publishing. He’s appeared on numerous podcasts, national morning shows, and as the “Bartender” on Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live to promote it. Stan was the host/show runner on Bravo’s Situation:Comedy, a reality show produced by Sean Hayes.