From July 12 through July 31, several of the artists bound for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe will try out their shows on New York audiences at 59E59 Theaters. We caught up with seven of these playwrights, directors, and actors to find out more about their work.

Lucie Pohl, "Apohlcalypse Now!"

Tell us about your show.

Apohlcalypse Now! is a hilarious new comedy of terrors banging together storytelling, stand up and characters. Expect bad language, bad decisions, a wedding, a break up, dead rats and wake up calls from Stephen Baldwin.

What playwrights are you most influenced by, past and present?

My father the German playwright Klaus Pohl, John Leguizamo, Eric Bogosian, Jean Genet, Eugene Ionescu, Lucy Thurber.

What would you change about the current state of theater?

I would want more subsidies for theaters so more artists have a shot at making a real living in theater and theaters would be able to support artists instead of only worrying about making rent.

What's something you're looking forward to doing in Edinburgh?

In Edinburgh I look forward to serenading a seagull in the rain.

Michael Burgos, "The Eulogy"

Tell us about your show.

The Eulogy is a parody of a funeral speech, where you see a few different characters attempt to speak about the recently departed and fail extravagantly — by way of song, dance, seduction, and chocolate cake. The play takes something traditionally heavy — death — and makes it as light, ridiculous, and fun as possible. The play has won four major awards internationally — most significantly, Best Comedy at the 2016 Adelaide Fringe (the 2nd-largest Fringe festival in the world) — and has become an international cult comedy experience.

What would you change about the current state of theater?

I would prohibit all universities from teaching "Method" acting, and I would prohibit most universities in the U.S. from teaching the "Stanislavski system" — at least at the undergraduate level. At the most, "the system" should be an elective at the undergraduate level.

People do not need to physically or mentally put themselves in painful situations to achieve verisimilitude; and any approach that prescribes such a method is garbage. Put it in the trash compactor and toss it to the curb.

As far as the "Stanislavski system" is concerned, it has been almost 100 years since the Moscow Art Theatre visited the U.S., and since then, Stanislavski's words have been translated, interpreted, re-interpreted, and re-interpreted from re-interpreters to such an extent that, the way in which it's commonly disseminated today no longer carries the spirit of the source (Stanislavski) and no longer serves the needs of most young actors; if anything, the "system" burdens young actors with copious amounts of unnecessary rubbish. Put it in the trash compactor and toss it to the curb.

What's something you're looking forward to doing in Edinburgh?

Since beginning touring last year, I've begun to discover what an amazing community the world of Fringe has, and I'm looking forward to seeing old friends and to meeting new friends in Edinburgh!

Harmon Leon, "Harmon Leon's Big Fat Racist Show"

Tell us about your show.

I've made a career out of going undercover and infiltrating extremist subcultures in America; normally which I write about for VICE. In my latest show, I take the audience along; infiltrating extreme hate groups to meet the ridiculous people behind the hate. Join me as I go undercover with the heinous Westboro Baptist Church, racist assault weapon gatherings in Kentucky, and white supremacists who try to recruit me at Applebee's. In this Trump-infested Brexit era, we need to laugh at hate.

What playwrights are you most influenced by, past and present?

Sam "The Man" Beckett - he's the king of absurdity.

What would you change about the current state of theater?

A salad bar?

What's something you're looking forward to doing in Edinburgh?

The Edinburgh Festival is like my summer camp - it gives me a chance to catch up with amazing comedians and theater people who I know from gigging at all points in the world. The energy from 3000 shows all going on at once is incredible. But most of all, I'm looking forward to the thrill of performing every night. Haggis pizza is also pretty good.

Paul Andrew Perez, Director of Infinity Repertory Theatre Company’s "Dark Heart"

Tell us about your show.

An exciting new musical from writer/composer Jessica Avellino delivers with a rock score. Emma suffering from the accidental death of her sister, is locked in a struggle for her sanity and her life. Thrilling, funny, chilling. Sometimes letting go is the hardest thing to do.

What playwrights are you most influenced by, past and present?

Mary Zimmerman, David Ives, Bertolt Brecht, Chris Durang, Tennessee Williams, Shakespeare.

What would you change about the current state of theater?

Would love to make theatre affordable to everyone.

What's something you're looking forward to doing in Edinburgh?

Seeing NEW work, talking with other artists and exchanging ideas and thoughts about our work.

Bob Bell, "The End of Politics"

Tell us about your show.

The show tries to explain the current 2016 election and how it came about. To do this I look at the effect of social media, technology, religion,etc on the electorate and on society in general. All of it’s presented with a searing sense of humor.

What's something you're looking forward to doing in Edinburgh?

I'm looking forward to Edinburgh since I've found the audiences are very open to political humor. People are not just willing to laugh but also willing to think about what you have to say. They also have no problem challenging you during and after the show which is always fun.

Brooke Allen, "(Cut the Bullshit) Len Bakerloo Speaks Truth to Power"

Tell us about your show.

In (Cut the Bullshit) Len Bakerloo Speaks Truth to Power, real-life hedge fund manager, Brooke Allen, talks about the difference between a liar and a bullshitter. He makes the case that the most harmful bullshit isn’t other people’s bullshit that makes you angry, but rather the bullshit you can’t see because you believe it. He illustrates his points with real-life stories from Wall Street and ends the show by teaching the audience the Cut the Bullshit Game that they can take home to play with friends, relatives and random bullshitters.

What playwrights are you most influenced by, past and present?

Among playwrights, Richard Caliban has had the biggest influence on me because I took a playwriting class with him once.

The late William Zinsser taught me how to write well through his books On Writing Well, Writing to Learn, Writing About Your Life, The Writer Who Stayed, and Inventing the Truth: The Art and Craft of Memoir. (Story: Although I never took a class with Bill, I was blocked once so I asked him for help and he invited me to his apartment for lunch and he spent a few hours helping me. What a guy!)

Critical to the development of this piece was my father, Thomas Allen, Jr. (who was a sculptor and poet but not a playwright). He told me, “Don’t lie and beware of the lie you believe because that is the one others will believe too.” It is OK to suspend disbelief when consuming fiction but it is a bad idea when someone is trying to sell you something.

I’ve been influenced by Princeton University philosophy professor Harry Frankfurt’s work On Bullshit, which deserves to be made into a play.

And, I was inspired by Jon Stewart who said in his “Bullshit is Everywhere” farewell speech, “Bullshitters have gotten pretty lazy and their work is easily detected. Looking for it is kind of a pleasant way to pass the time.”

What would you change about the current state of theater?

I would change the relationship between the audience and the performers/producers/writers, especially with newer works and less established people. Behind every performance – no matter how mediocre – is an amazing story of drama and courage. I developed this insight while attending the Fringe as a tourist in 2014 and I describe how this change can be made in: A Better Way to Experience the Edinburgh Fringe (and life).

What's something you're looking forward to doing in Edinburgh?

In addition to my own performance I am looking forward to meeting and helping other performers, producers, and writers. To this end, I am producing the Secrets of the Fringe Walking Tour where festival goers can meet performers who will not only pitch their shows but also talk about the drama behind the scenes. I’ve also created BullshitReview.com where anyone can write a tongue-in-cheek self-serving 5-Star review of their own show because the number of stars isn’t based on the show itself but on the bullshittiness of the review.

That said, because I live life as an adventure, I look forward most to all the things I’m not anticipating (other than a nervous breakdown, perhaps).

Walter Michael DeForest, "Van Gogh Find Yourself"

Tell us about your show.

The true portrait of a great artist, painted in the words of Vincent van Gogh. Spend an intimate moment with a visionary artist. Get a free portrait.

What would you change about the current state of theater?

I would make it more available to the masses. It is quite expensive to see certain shows. I hope this experience will bring me closer to that answer. I plan on bringing the show to children's hospitals and other places where people have limited access to travel.

What's something you're looking forward to doing in Edinburgh?

What a question. I am looking forward to being immersed in the creative universe. This is the largest arts festival in the world. I am told it will be the hardest thing I will ever do in my life. oh boy. I will be drawing caricatures and have been slotted locations for eight days. I have six 20-minute outdoor performances on the Royal Mile. I have The Guinness Book of World Records Attempt on August 10. and I now have a new venue, third so far... I have to be able to roll with the punches, keep my chin up...

There is Puppetry, mime, dance, song, Theater, Cabaret, Art... I plan on being inspired. I want to enjoy the act of sharing what I have to give as well.