Westport Country Playhouse’s Barnstormer Series will present “Fear of Heights – A Very Funny Phobia,” a biographical story about an Irish-American whose fear of heights led him to break with family tradition and forge a career far removed from the dangerous steelwork of his father and grandfather. Written and performed by award-winning stand-up comedian, actor, writer, producer, and television host Kevin Flynn, the show will take place Monday, October 26, at 7 p.m. in the Lucille Lortel White Barn Center, adjacent to the Playhouse. Tickets are $20; general admission, seating is limited/unreserved Running time is approximately 70 minutes. Recommended ages: PG-13.

Kevin Flynn’s grandfather, Paddy Flynn, was immortalized in Charles C. Ebbets’ iconic 1932 photograph, “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper,” which captures 11 ironworkers taking a lunch break on a steel beam high above the Manhattan skyline. Seated at the far right, Paddy appears perched on a lonely beam seemingly floating in the sky, with the city’s towering skyscrapers stretching out below.
This breathtaking image sets the stage for “Fear of Heights,” Kevin’s biographical story of growing up in an Irish-American family whose generations of men earned their living as New York City steelworkers—and of the very different path he ultimately established for himself, shaped by his fear of heights.

Barnstormer: Fear of Heights