Kill the Buddha - A One-Woman Show

Dive into a bold and hilarious one-woman show that flips the script on spirituality and self-discovery. Kill the Buddha: A One-Woman Show Written & Performed by Eli Walker (co-presented by Broadway in Beacon) In this darkly comic solo performance, Eli Walker dismantles the modern obsession with expertise, belonging, and the seductive promise of spiritual authority. Part confessional memoir, part satire of wellness culture, Kill the Buddha traces her path from eager yoga student to viral yoga entrepreneur to self-proclaimed “belonging expert”—and the unraveling that exposes the gap between performing wisdom and living authentically. Framed around a disastrously honest podcast interview, the show ricochets between past and present as Eli confronts the manipulative yoga teacher who exploited her search for meaning, the media machine that commodified her irreverence, and her own complicity in turning pain into performance. Through a rotating cast of characters, Walker skewers the ways we surrender our agency to anyone claiming to have “the way.” With raw honesty and biting humor, Kill the Buddha asks what it really takes to stop performing enlightenment and start living the truth beneath it all. About Eli Eli Walker is a speaker, author, performance artist and a recognized voice on belonging and human connection. Her career bridges interactive storytelling, wellness and global impact. She is the founder of the viral brand Drunk Yoga®, featured in GLAMOUR, WomensHealth, Forbes, INSIDER, New York Post, People, The LA Times and more. In 2024, Drunk Yoga® evolved into The Uplift Center, her belonging design studio, where she and her team curate social wellness experiences and trainings for organizations and community leaders worldwide. A performer since childhood, Eli wrote her first one-woman show—a feminist twist on Little Red Riding Hood—at age 8, and by 16 was performing Lily Tomlin’s The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe from memory. While earning her BFA in Acting from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, she performed off-Broadway at Lincoln Center, LaMaMa, and the Lucille Lortel Theatre, working with Tony Award-winning directors such as Liz Swados and Blake Bradford. Eli can also be seen in TV, film, and commercials for DiscoveryID, Hallmark, Microsoft, Honda and Xfinity and more. Eli's previous one-woman shows include STEPS, COUNTING, and The Quarter-Life Crisis Monologues, which premiered in NYC at Wing Theater, ETW and The PIT. Through all her work, Eli invites audiences to explore the space between self and other—the only place where belonging is sparked. Learn more at www.belongwitheli.com or follow @belongwitheli. About Alex Kunz, Producer Alex Kunz is a multi-hyphenated artist who brings a passion for connection, creativity, and community-building to every project. He received his undergraduate degree in Music Entrepreneurship from South Dakota State University and a Master’s degree in Musical Theater Performance from Arizona State University. As an actor, singer, and producer, Alex has performed both regionally and internationally, drawing inspiration from diverse cultures, perspectives, and artistic traditions from around the world. He is now located in upstate New York designing engaging programs and events that foster belonging, well-being, and authentic human connection across communities and audiences. About Erin McGuff-Pennington, Director Erin McGuff-Pennington (she/her) is a writer, director, actor, producer, and mom whose work explores the multifaceted and nuanced female experience. Through storytelling that asks audiences to consider big questions rather than accept simple answers, she aims to challenge minds, open hearts, and bridge divisions. Currently, she’s developing her award-winning short thriller, “Rosalie,” into a feature about obsession and longing in the wake of pregnancy loss. She’s one half of the producing duo behind Ruffled Owl Productions. Originally from Texas, Erin holds a BFA (Drama) from NYU-Tisch and lives in the Hudson Valley with her family. @emcguffp @ruffledowlproductions https://www.erinmcguffpennington.com/ About Broadway in Beacon, Co-Presenter After two years of sold out shows, Will Reynolds and Jen Malenke host a night of Broadway magic and mayhem! Prepare to be blown away as Broadway performers and incredible local talent sing your favorite show tunes! Plus, there will be surprise guests appearances…direct from Broadway! Instagram: @BroadwayinBeacon https://www.eventbrite.com/o/broadway-in-beacon-85267945533