Dan Rocha opens “My Grandma Is Totally Crazy” tonight in Rio, a one-man show honoring Paulo Gustavo, directed by Pedro Vasconcelos.
Teatro Cândido Mendes, in Ipanema, hosts the opening night of “Minha Avó É Muito Louca” (My Grandma Is Totally Crazy) this Thursday, March 26 — a solo show written and performed by Dan Rocha. The production is directed by Pedro Vasconcelos, with scenic direction by Catarina de Carvalho and creative direction by Isabella Santoni. The run continues every Thursday at 8 p.m. through April 30, 2026.
At the center of the stage stands Neide — a sharp-tongued 92-year-old woman who turns the theater into her living room and the audience into her confidants. She holds nothing back: family secrets, sex in old age, technology, religion, funerals, phone scams, and an absolute intolerance for the modern world all make their way into her monologue.
A tribute five years in the making
Beneath the laughter, the show carries a meaningful tribute. Five years after the death of Paulo Gustavo — one of Brazil’s most beloved comedians — Dan Rocha places the late artist’s influence at the heart of his performance. A self-declared fan since adolescence, he channels Paulo Gustavo’s fearless authenticity into every moment of Neide’s story.
Paulo was an artistic compass who taught me that being intense, dramatic, and over the top is not a flaw — it’s power. This show is born from the courage to exist without apology.
Comedian Fábio Porchat also shaped Dan’s artistic path. “I used to imitate both of them at school. That’s when I understood that humor could be where I belong,” he says. That direct, warm, and unapologetically popular style runs through everything Neide does on stage.
Everyone’s grandmother
The show began with a spontaneous moment. Director Pedro Vasconcelos watched Dan impersonate one of his grandmothers during a casual gathering and told him immediately: “This is extraordinary. You need to turn this into a play.” What started as a joke became a full dramatic work.
Neide is a composite of Dan’s two grandmothers and traces of his mother — their gestures, phrases, temperaments, and contradictions across generations. “I resisted at first. It felt too personal. But when I realized that grandmother was also everyone else’s grandmother, I dove in,” the actor recalls.
Over-the-top yet deeply familiar, Neide is an affectionate portrait of a certain kind of Brazilian woman. The show makes the case that growing old doesn’t mean slowing down — it means laughing harder, especially at your own problems.
Bring your grandma for free
The production includes a special offer designed to bring generations together in the audience. Anyone who buys a ticket gets a second ticket free to bring their grandmother. The initiative reinforces the show’s core spirit — placing grandchildren and grandmothers side by side, on stage and in the seats.
If the audience leaves laughing loudly and wanting to hug their grandmothers — or apologize for having silenced them so many times — then I’ve done my job.
Event Info
- Show: Minha Avó É Muito Louca (My Grandma Is Totally Crazy)
- Dates: March 26 – April 30, 2026
- Schedule: Thursdays at 8 p.m.
- Venue: Teatro Cândido Mendes – Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro
- Tickets: R$ 70 (full price) | R$ 35 (half price)
- Online tickets: https://bileto.sympla.com.br/event/116738/d/367458
- Box office: Thursday to Sunday, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
