I adore ‘Shitt’s Creek’, so when this musical parody made its way to the Fringe last year, I made sure to send a reviewer along to see it – and said reviewer returned a very favourable report.

US universities have been bringing shows to the Fringe since forever (well, certainly since I first started paying attention in the 1990s), contributing to the very international flavour of the Festival. This show from Sacred Heart University in Connecticut was created by former students Grace Curley and Paul Richard Keegan, and the cast and production team consists of current and graduating students.

Their director is Jerry Goehring, Executive Director Of Performing Arts at the university, a Tony and Grammy-nominated Broadway producer. I spoke to him to find out more.

CM: Can you tell us what the show is about?
JG: ‘Crapp’s River’ is the outrageous, unauthorised musical parody of the beloved TV series ‘Schitt’s Creek’.

Moira, Johnny, David and Alexis must face their most over-the-top challenge yet: surviving small-town chaos all over again, but worse! With the town gearing up for the Crapp’s River Bicentennial Parade, one question looms large: Who will be crowned Grand Marshal?

Relive an original musical parody of your favorite TV series featuring original songs, ridiculous plot twists, and all the family drama – and a little heart – you never knew you needed.

If you loved ‘Schitt’s Creek’, you’ll holler at ‘Crapp’s River’. When life goes down the loo, there’s no better place than ‘Crapp’s River’!

CM: To what extent does the plot of the TV show inform your show?
JG: The well crafted “fish-out-of-water” style of comedy of ‘Schitt’s Creek’ is the bedrock of our parody.

The superbly and distinctly written characters of ‘Schitt’s Creek’ allow for elaboration of their desires to return to their former life and their disdain of the lower-class society they have been forced to live in.

The plots of the TV show spring from these characters as they clash with the local townspeople who have a different view on life, friends and family. That is our parody inspiration as we help the once-rich family find a home, friends and each other along the way.

CM: What made you decide to create a musical about ‘Schitt’s Creek’? What was the inspiration?
JG: The idea was mine. During our time at the Fringe in 2024 I noticed there was a entire streaming channel dedicated to ‘Schitt’s Creek’ in Edinburgh… I LOVE the show so I approached two of our student writers to see if they would like to learn how to write a parody musical and tackle the show.

Of course, that is daunting for students! But we know, parodies are a staple of the Fringe, so it seemed like a natural thing to do.

The project has really turned out to be fun and educational for the students and the result was amazing last year – we sold out every performance. We believe it will certainly be enjoyed by many audience members again this year!

CM: What kind of music can audiences expect from the show?
JG: It is very traditional musical theatre style, with the songs being character based which moves their plights along through song. The songs are all original, but the overall “sound” comes from of the TV show’s orchestration style of the small town the story takes place in.

CM: Can you tell us a bit about creators Grace Curley and Paul Richard Keegan?
JG: Both Grace and Paul are recent graduates of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, USA.

Grace recently graduated with her master in playwriting from the University Of New Orleans and Paul has been busy writing new musicals, several of which have been produced in the New York area.

Both writers had multiple scripts developed, workshopped and produced in the new works programme in the theatre department at SHU. Their clever and brilliant story voices will lead the next generation of theatre artists.

CM: Can you tell us a bit about the cast?
JG: The cast are all students from Sacred Heart University. Approximately 50% are still in the undergrad theatre programme and the other 50% graduated in May. Those who graduated will continue on in their training with some attending post-graduate schools and others will be auditioning and starting their careers.

Post-grad schools range from the Guilford School Of Acting MFA programme to Columbia University MFA Stage Management programme.

CM: You brought the show to Edinburgh last year and you’re back, so presumably you had a good time? Why did you bring the show back again this year?
JG: This is our fourth year at the Fringe…. all students have had a GREAT time! The chance for American theatre students to meet artistic colleagues, young and old, from around the world is at the top of the list of why we come back.

The show was in its first stage of development last year and it sold out all of the performances at Gilded Balloon. The show continued to develop over the last twelve months and Gilded Balloon offered us a larger theatre with more tech support.

How could we say no to that offer?! A wonderful experience that will continue to grow this year. And, besides, hearing devoted fans of ‘Schitt’s Creek’ laugh and laugh and laugh is addictive.

CM: Has the show changed or developed since the 2025 run?
JG: The story has expanded and the music has been refined to allow the characters to find their intent and outcomes… through a bigger-than-life parody style.

When you have a month of audience reactions, it gives the writers a lot of fuel to see what worked and what did not, then adapt the story accordingly. The blessing has been for the writers to have this opportunity to refine and expand under the creative umbrella of The Fringe

CM: What do you love about Edinburgh during the Festival? Are there any downsides?
JG: There is no downside… well, maybe housing is too expensive!

I will never forget several things from our first time performing at the Fringe four years ago. The SHU students were able to experience stories and subjects that mattered to artists from other countries.

And those new international friends learned that like-minded story tellers from America are not what the news channels represent when they broadcast American news stories.

We were all in the performing arts to tell stories that mattered, learn, laugh, hug, play and respect each other. We are all the same. When I saw those new Fringe relationships blossom for our students, I knew we were in the right place.

CM: What will you be doing when you are not performing? Will you see other shows? What kind of show will you see?
JG: I believe we all have a HUGE list of shows that we hope to see.

Some students love the drag shows, some one-person shows, some comedies, some musicals, some dramas. All of us love great stories. We not only want to support our colleagues, but have them reciprocate and be a part of our comedy family.

In between shows, we will be doing what everyone else is doing: flyering, inviting people to the show, exploring Edinburgh and its history, making new friends… and eating from food trucks!

CM: What aims and ambitions do you have for the show in the future?
JG: This is where we are different from most other Fringe shows: we do not have a goal for future productions of ‘Crapp’s River’. It is all about being here now and giving the students, from all creative areas, the experience.

This month is the culmination of a year’s retooling and rewriting, while still making writing adjustments during the run at the Fringe. After this, the show belongs to the authors and the world is their oyster.

CM: What’s coming up next for you all after this?
JG: Sacred Heart University has one of the top collegiate theatre training programmes in America. This coming academic year we will be producing seven large scale productions, an intensive line up of new works written by students, theatre for local children from at-risk communities and professional internships and opportunities for undergraduates and graduates.

Student writers have already started writing next year’s Fringe show – a new musical based on a short story by Edgar Allen Poe. Get ready…

Crapp’s River is on at Gilded Balloon Patter House until 30 Aug. Find the edfringe listing here.

LINKS: instagram.com/crappsriver