A darkly funny solo show about broken parents, failed therapists, and the art of getting it right.
“Critics’ Pick”
“This is a damn decent piece of theatre: Quietly funny. Deeply human. Unpretentious.”
“…Unflinching honesty, warmth, and wit.”
“An absolute gem of a show! Brian takes the audience on an unforgettable journey.”
SFFringe.com
Upcoming Shows
Potrero Stage - San Francisco
5TH ANNUAL FREE-PLAY FESTIVAL
21 productions from across the country.
Sat, Aug 1, 8PM;
Sun, Aug 2, 6PM;
Mon, Aug 3, 8PM
Minneapolis, MN
Southern Theatre
Fri. Aug. 7, 7PM
Sun. Aug 9, 4PM
Mon. Aug 10, 5:30PM
Thu. Aug 13, 8:30PM
Sat. Aug 15, 2:30PM
Indianapolis, IN
Indianpolis Fringe Festival
Black Box
Fri. Aug 21, 9:30PM
Sat. Aug 22, 3:30PM
Sun. Aug 23, 5:00PM
Chicago, IL
Brian is doing a series of shows at the beautiful Athenaeum Center in Near North Chicago
Fri. Sept 11 7PM
Sat. Sept 12 7PM
More Shows - TBA
Reviews for Therapist Zero
‘Critics Choice”
“This is a damn decent piece of theatre:
Quietly funny. Deeply human. Unpretentious.”
“A powerful show worth experiencing.”
“…Unflinching honesty, warmth, and wit.”
“Leonard’s background in both performance and writing brings humor, heart, and sharp storytelling to the stage in his first solo outing.”
“Leonard’s exploration of the mental health industry’s absurdities is sharp and funny, but beneath the satire is the moving story of a father desperate to help his daughter however he can.”
"Brian Leonard is a terrific storyteller whose ease, vulnerability and perspective paints an extraordinarily honest picture of dealing with mental health.”
"Leonard’s honesty, humor and refusal to offer easy answers remain compelling."
“What makes this show so compelling is its humanity. Leonard approaches difficult subjects with honesty, vulnerability, and just the right amount of humor. The story speaks to anyone who has struggled, healed, or tried to become a better version of themselves. Thoughtful, relatable, and deeply human, this is a straightforward yet affecting piece.”
“(Leonard) draws the audience into his narrative with charm and vulnerability.”
What is
Therapist Zero?
Therapist Zero is a raw, darkly funny, and deeply human solo performance by Brian Leonard, directed by Ken Sonkin.
Following a string of sold-out performances in UK, San Francisco, and a limited Off-Broadway run, and being named a San Francisco Chronicle “Critic’s Pick," Therapist Zero has resonated with audiences and critics alike for its honesty, humor, and emotional precision.
"This is a damn decent piece of theatre: Quietly funny. Deeply human. Unpretentious." - FringeReview UK
Told through sharply observed vignettes that move fluidly between laughter and heartbreak, the show traces Leonard’s two-decade journey parenting a brilliant but emotionally volatile daughter through an endless revolving door of therapists and a mental health system that often felt more confounding than supportive.
As Leonard struggles to help his daughter, the story widens to include his own unconventional childhood, marked by neglect, chaos, and emotional absence. Those formative experiences resurface in unexpected and poignant ways as he tries to parent differently, only to discover how difficult it is to escape the patterns we inherit.
Directed with clarity and compassion by Ken Sonkin, Therapist Zero balances unflinching honesty with unexpected warmth and wit. It refuses easy answers or tidy resolutions, instead exploring the slow, imperfect work of persistence, patience, and repair—asking what it really means to keep showing up when nothing seems to work.
Parents, mental health professionals, and fellow artists have praised Therapist Zero for its candid storytelling and emotional impact. Audiences have hailed the piece as “funny, vulnerable, and captivating.” TheaterMania praises the show for its “…unflinching honesty, warmth, and wit,” and SFFringe calls Therapist Zero “…an absolute gem of a show! Leonard takes the audience on an unforgettable journey.”
By turns hilarious, intimate, and quietly devastating, Therapist Zero is a story of generational echo, fierce love, and the fragile, hard-won moments of connection that make healing possible.
What Audiences are Saying:
Brooke C.
“Therapist Zero” takes us on multiple, compelling journeys. The path of the loving parent, the path of the unseen child and the path of someone navigating a sometimes, treacherous mental health care system. It’s all conveyed in Brian’s touching, down to earth, relatable and very funny way. As dark as it sometimes gets though, it always feels hopeful and fascinating. The mark of a great storyteller is when you want them to tell another chapter and I definitely felt this way at the end.
Sven
Beautifully written and performed. Brian is both funny and poignant in sharing his journey trying to cope with his family’s challenging experiences dealing with the mental health profession. Absolutely a must see.
Tanuja P.
An absolute gem of a show! Brian takes the audience on a vivid, unforgettable journey that’s as thought-provoking as it is moving. To share such an intimate, personal story with warmth, depth, and laugh-out-loud humor is a rare gift—and he delivers it masterfully.
John
Great story-telling from a man who has been thru the wringer with his family, and came out so much better for it. He does it with great wit, reflecting on his own upbringing and demonstrating his wonderful love for his daughter, as the family struggles to navigate modern mental healthcare. A real treat of a performance.
Danielle T.
Therapist Zero is a hilarious, beautifully told, poignant look at trying to avoid the mistakes of your own parents while parenting an extraordinary child of your own. The audience member sitting next to me said, “I wish he had more children. I want more chapters. I could listen to these stories all day!” I couldn’t agree more. Brian Leonard gives a flawless performance.
Do not miss it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Debra
Brian is an amazing storyteller. Funny, vulnerable, and captivating. He made me laugh. He made cry. Any maybe even more importantly, his performance kept me reflecting on own child raising choices and experiences for hours afterward. Therapist Zero is a don’t miss experience!
Marie
Therapist Zero is an evocative and emotional journey told through the lens of a caring, loving, and deeply concerned father. It offers a vulnerable and heartfelt account of one family’s experience navigating the complex and often overwhelming world of mental health. With raw honesty, it captures the resilience of the human spirit, showing how love, hope, and determination can endure even in the face of immense challenges. This story is as much about healing and understanding as it is about the enduring bonds that hold families together.
Pari M.
Absolutely loved the show. Brian’s performance was personal, intimate, and incredibly funny. He’s a wonderful storyteller, effortlessly weaving childhood memories into broader family dynamics. The show struck a perfect balance of humor, heart, and honesty.
About Brian Leonard
Brian Leonard is a writer, performer, and storyteller whose career spans stand-up comedy, television, theater, and animation. A veteran of the stand-up circuit in the 1980s and 1990s, Brian appeared on numerous TV comedy shows, earning praise as “…one of San Francisco’s most intelligent and funniest comedians” (San Jose Mercury News).
As an actor, he’s appeared in films like Bottle Shock and Bee Season, TV shows including Nash Bridges, and regional theater productions from San Francisco Shakespeare and TheaterWorks, among others. His writing credits include writing and directing for Ellen DeGeneres, Jason Sudeikis, and Mindy Kaling; writing BBC Radio’s The Treatment, and story consulting for Pixar Animation. He’s also had an animated series optioned by NBC/Universal.
Brian’s work has been honored with a Silver Hugo from the Chicago International Film Festival, and his writing for a UK campaign to de-stigmatize fertility issues was recognized by the Webby Awards. With a background in both performance and writing, Brian brings humor, heart, and sharp storytelling to the stage in Therapist Zero, his first solo show.
About Ken Sonkin
Ken Sonkin is an award-winning actor and director with an extensive career on stages throughout the Bay Area and beyond, including American Conservatory Theater, Berkeley Rep, San Francisco Playhouse, The Magic Theatre, and Z Space. His regional credits include The Denver Center Theatre Company, Grove Shakespeare Festival, and Pacific Resident Theater in Los Angeles.
A seasoned performer and director, Ken has collaborated with acclaimed playwrights such as Oliver Goldstick, Brian Thorstenson, and Lynne Kaufman. He has served on the acting faculty at American Conservatory Theater and taught at Northwestern, Stanford, and The National Theatre Conservatory.
Ken is currently a professor at the University of San Francisco, where he teaches acting and directing and has helmed productions of Angels in America: Perestroika, Metamorphoses, and Tartuffe. He is a proud member of Actors’ Equity and SAG-AFTRA.
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