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Sleepwalker Stirs Yuks Off-Broadway

Sleepwalking With Me wins praise from neurologists

By Kristina Loew, Newser User

Posted Jan 25, 2009 9:18 AM CST

(Newser) – Fighting off an imaginary Brad Pitt and leaping from a second-story window confirmed it: Mike Birbiglia was ready to turn his sleepwalking stories into a one-man show, Newsweek reports. Launched off-Broadway in November, the comedic Sleepwalk With Me is drawing raves from reviewers and sleep researchers alike. "Mike is really de-stigmatizing this disorder," one neurologist said.

At least 5% of adults suffer from REM Behavior Disorder, which is likely under-diagnosed because people are too embarrassed to see a doctor. At least it's no longer considered a sign of madness, although some experts say it has psychological roots. Birbiglia agrees it's not all yuks: "It's terrifying if you think about it," he said. "Your brain is like, 'We're going to shut down for a while,' and your body is like, 'We're going skiing!'"

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

In this image released by Keith Sherman and Associates, Mike Birbiglia, who wrote and stars in "Sleepwalk with Me," is shown. The production is now playing off-Broadway. (AP Photo/Keith Sherman and Associates, Joan Marcus)

In this Jan. 8, 2009 file photo, Brad Pitt arrives at the 14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg, file)

Experts say drugs like Ambien cause some sleepwalking incidents. "But that doesn't mean all sleepwalking stems from the medications," says one. (Flickr)

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He had thrown a chest of drawers across his living room to block an attack from Brad Pitt and destroyed his TiVo digital recorder in the course of a dream where he thought he was in an Olympic dust-busting competition.
- Jeneen Interlandi in Newsweek

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Sleepwalker Stirs Yuks Off-Broadway