Month: June 2016

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Fringe Shows

HFF16 – Day Six

Day 6 of the Hollywood Fringe Festival started with breakfast at a Burbank greasy spoon with another of my wonderful friends.  This time it was VK Lynne, the sultry songtress from LA rock band, The Spider Accomplice.  VK and I have been friends for more than 10 years, and I have watched her musical growth through a myriad of styles until she has finally reached the place where she truly belongs.  Not only is she an amazing songwriter and vocalist, but she is becoming a much sought-after model.  Definitely check out her band and her work.  What an amazing woman.  Breakfast was a hoot.

Since my first Fringe show wasn’t until 6:15, I had plenty of time to relax and write.  It does feel good to have some down time, especially with a hectic weekend fast approaching.

I was invited to see a musical about one of my favorite country artists, Mindy McCready, so I decided to watch the first act of Broadway Noir and then slip out during intermission and head to the Dragonfly to see McCready.  Unfortunately, Broadway started late and so I had to leave before it finished.  However, from what I saw, it was a fun show with a great cast, and I wish I could have seen the whole show.

Broadway

The music and show were wonderfully written by Dan Sugi, who also plays the piano for the performance, and directed by Julia Lisa.  Check out their final show on June 19 at 3:45 p.m.

Back to the Dragonfly for McCready.  The show was lovingly created and written by Jon Bernstein and Jennifer Blake and stars Blake as McCready.  The musical direction was by Brady Harris and Michael Ursu and overall direction by Robert Glen Decker.  The rest of the cast includes Zack Crosby, Robert Hardin, Craig Umhoefer and Ursu.

McCready

The frustrating thing about this show is the untapped potential.  The story is great, Blake has a wonderful voice and a true connection to McCready, but the overall production just didn’t jell.  It seems to me that the biggest issue with this show is a lack of confidence by the cast, with the exception of Blake and Hardin.  I think they have the talent, but need further work to bring it out.

If you love the McCready’s music, check out the show and let me know what you think.  The remaining schedule is June 21 at 7:30 p.m. and June 26 at 2:30 p.m.

By this time I was ready to be wowed as I headed back to Sacred Fools for the opening night performance of My Big Fat Blonde Musical (“MBFBM”) by Theatre Unleashed member Theresa Stroll.  Mission accomplished!

Blonde Musical

OMG!  Stoll has created a masterpiece about accepting one’s self without giving up on dreams and ambitions.  With the assistance of her fiance’ Bobby McGlynn, and under the superb direction of Jennifer Lynn Johnson, MBFBM delivers its message of positivity with both barrels.  You cannot help but be inspired by the story of Stoll’s struggles and her victory over them in reaching her goal of becoming an actress.  Her songs are catchy, her dialogue is witty and her portrayal of the people she encountered during this time is spot on.  I’m sure each of us have faced similar rivals in our quest to better ourselves and reach our goals and potential.

Kudos also to the multi-talented Lindsay Braverman for her wonderful choreography.  MBFBM is truly one of the premier shows at HFF16, and we highly recommend it, especially if you need a positive lift to raise your spirits and your outlook on life.  Don’t miss one of the remaining performances on June 20 at 6:30 p.m., June 23 at 11:30 p.m. or June 25 at 8:30 p.m.

I was really looking forward to my last show of the day, Live From the Grave, it’s John Belushi (“LFTGraveIJB”).   SNL seems to be a popular subject this year, with shows from Larraine Newman’s niece (Charlotte’s Shorts), as well as shows about Gilda Radner and Richard Pryor.  Needless to say, a story about Belushi was almost too incredible to imagine, and LFTGraveIJB more than lived up to the challenge.

JB

Jack Zullo has created a masterful tribute to one of Hollywood’s brightest stars.  Despite his death in 1982, Belushi continues to reign as a gifted writer and comic who helped launch SNL, and this show further added to that legacy.  Special kudos to Keith Saltojanes for his stirring portrayal of Dan Aykroyd.  His version of “Rubber Biscuit,” combined with his duet with Zullo on “Expressway” rocked like it was the original Blues Brothers on stage.  The packed house was on its feet by the end of the show, cementing the fact that this show is a winner.

Don’t miss the chance to see it.  Their remaining performances are June 25 at 6:30 p.m. and June 26 at 3 p.m. at the Three Clubs.

Afterwards I had a blast hanging in the bar with fringeships old and new, including David Haverty, Shannon Nelson, Brendan Hunt and Lauren Van Kurin, and got a t-shirt from Zullo.  You’ll see me wearing it around the Fringe on Saturday.

Happy fringing.

Categories
Fringe Shows

HFF16 – Day Five

Wednesday was another beautiful day in Los Angeles which started off with a much needed visit to the home of my friend, Grammy winning musician Dave Yaden.  It was so relaxing to just sit in his backyard and catch up on his career, while enjoying the company of one of my oldest and dearest LA friends and his sweet son, Wolfie.  Wolfie (age 2), who I had never met before, came out and greeted me as soon as I arrived, and made me feel very loved and accepted.  Our time together could not have been more therapeutic, and set the tone for the rest of my day.

Not wanting to sit on the 5 Freeway, I decided to take the scenic route home and wandered through downtown LA via 7th Street, veering over to Wilshire and taking it west.  I took a detour and stopped at the La Brea Tar Pits for a bit before continuing my journey, and arrived at the world famous Johnnie’s Coffee Shop which had been converted into “Bernie’s” (i.e. Sanders) for the California primary.  From there I turned north towards Santa Monica Boulevard and then east to the Fringe, arriving just in time to be able to park for free on the street near Sacred Fools.

My first show of the night was Please Stand Clear, the Doors are Closing at the Lounge Theatre.  This one-man show was profound and funny as David Harper took us along on the Metro, introducing 12 amazing characters with a myriad of things to say.  My favorite was the Grim Reaper commuting to work, but the entire show is non-stop fun.  Christopher Game did a great job of directing this show which belongs on the “must attend’ list of all Fringe attendees.

Stand Clear

We are proud to recommend this show, which has two shows remaining on June 24 at 6 p.m. and June 26 at 11:55 a.m.

Next up was the latest from another of my favorite Fringe performers, John Grady.  I met John back at the first fringe when he was performing Dog Years at Theatre of NOTE.  His latest, The Old Woman, is a brilliant piece of theatre, and reinforces my belief that some of the best work in theatre comes from the Fringe.

Old Woman

There are actors and there are storytellers, and Grady is most definitely a storyteller.  His latest masterpiece is a loving look at his mother’s influence and her struggle with dementia, capped off with the most moving ballet I have ever seen.  The audience was packed with Fringe participants, past and present, including Alex Knox, Michael Shaw Fisher and Bill Ratner (one of the best storytellers of all time), and every one of them stared in wide-eyed amazement at this performance.  This is what Fringe is all about.

Do whatever you have to, but DON’T MISS the one remaining performance of The Old Woman on June 18 at 8 p.m. at the Lounge Theatre.  You’ll thank me for it later.

My final show for the evening was the virtually sold out performance of All the Best Killers are Librarians at the Sacred Fools Second Stage.  I had been looking forward to this show, which took home the trophy at Season 10 of the Serial Killers series at Sacred Fools.

Killers

The play had previously been performed as seven separate episodes of the Serial Killers competition, and Fringe was the first time that all the story was told in a single performance.   This may account for the show’s only flaw – pacing that was too slow and which took away from the comedy and humor of the show itself.

Despite the pacing issue, and some technical difficulties that all Fringe shows experience, the brilliant script by Bob DeRosa and the incredible cast, led by Lauren Van Kurin in the title role, with assistance from Eric Giancoli, Pete Caslavka, Jennifer C. DeRosa, Carrie Keranen (star of Lamprey), Mike Mahaffey and Monica Greene, saved the day and kept the packed house in stitches throughout.

Sacred Fools not only has a beautiful theatre complex, but their company of actors is top notch.  It has been a pleasure to attend shows in their spaces and to see the level of quality that epitomizes their shows.  Thank you Sacred Fools for your graciousness, your friendliness and for making this Montana writer feel like he never left the Fringe.

Catch one of the two remaining performances of Librarians on June 18 at 4 p.m. or June 25 at 3:30 p.m.

Happy fringing!!

 

Categories
Fringe Shows

HFF16 – Day Four

Tuesday at the Fringe and not much was happening.  I only had two shows on my schedule and was looking at an early night, but things can change rapidly at the Fringe if you are willing to be flexible.

My first show of the day was 30:30:60 – A Competitive Birthday Event at Three Clubs, my first time at this venue this year.  Despite starting late (a violation of one of the Fringe’s cardinal rules), This was an improv show, actress and writer Anne Brashier did her best to adhere to the ending time, sacrificing some of her material to ensure the show ended on time.

30

The show was stimulating and fun.  Brashier portrayed a retired tennis star approaching her 30th birthday with a desire to accomplish 30 goals in 60 minutes.  The premise succeeded, in no small part due to the likability of the character and the humbleness with which Brashier embodied her.  She had the entire venue rooting for her success and willing to do just about anything to help her.

If you like improv, check out the show at her final performance on June 20 at 9:45 p.m.

I was scheduled to see Washed in the Blood next.  Unfortunately, I headed to the wrong venue, and could not get back in time.  One of my cardinal rules is to never enter a show after it has begun, so I headed over to Fringe Central instead.

As I thought about my other options for the night, I noticed that Bumpersticker the Musical would be starting shortly next door at the Dragonfly, and decided to see if I could crash the party.  Producer Michael R. Blaha was running the box office and was happy to let me in to the almost sold-out performance.  I was not prepared for what happened next.

Bumpersticker

Bumpersticker was an impressive musical featuring the songs of Gary Stockdale and Spencer Green.  Directed and choreographed by Michele Spears under the musical direction of David O, this politically charged piece was set during a massive traffic jam and featured songs about all the bumper stickers drivers are forced to view as they are held captive in their vehicles.

The songs were well written, but the brilliant cast, which featured Nadia Ahern, Jahmaul Bakare, Lamont Dozier, Jr. (son of Lamont Dozier, Sr,, who was one-third of Motown’s incredible songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland), Zachary Ford, Eliot Hochberg, Lauren Rubin, Jennifer Leigh Warren and Anne Yatco, brought them to life with their incredible voices.

Bumperstickers is a great piece of musical theatre that is this year’s hidden gem.  We strongly recommend the show, with remaining performances of June 18 at 2 p.m. and June 22 at 7:30 p.m.

After the show, I headed over to Butter’d Up, which is the renovated version of Room 5.  My friend Dave Yaden was playing jazz, and I wanted to check out the venue and see and hear this virtuoso of the keys.  Needless to say, it was an amazing night of music from Yaden and his band, with special guests Lio Nicol, Sean Hill and TJ Gibson.  There were also songs from Yaden’s business partner, Mike Rossi and Greta from Iceland, who will be a special guest next week.  It was also nice to see Justin Hopkins (The Voice) and Darwin Johnson (Colbie Cailat’s bassist) in the audience.  The event is free and open to the public every Tuesday night beginning at 10 p.m.  We highly recommend you spend some time at Super Tuesdays Live at the Butter’d Up.

DY Jazz

 

Categories
Fringe Shows

HFF16 – Day Three

I survived my first weekend at Fringe with 10 shows under my belt.  Monday’s shows didn’t start until 5:30 p.m., so I had plenty of time to write, catch an In-n-out fix, visit the old hood in Los Feliz, and talk to friends about getting together while I’m in Los Angeles.

The theme of the day was definitely comedy and I laughed at these shows more than I have laughed in a long time.  The first of them, How to be a Virgin (in 12 Morally Ambiguous Steps) started my day off right with some of the best lines and deliveries I have seen at Fringe.  Studio C was packed, and the audience anxiously awaited the start of this autobiographical story from six-time playwright Carla Neuss.

Virgin

This show is proof that the Fringe system works, and it is perfect for this environment.  Not only is it wonderfully written, it is brilliantly directed by Payden Ackerman and lovingly performed by two comic geniuses, Katelyn Schiller in the title role and Josh Bross providing all the support she needs.

Fourth wall be damned – Schiller interacted with the audience and broke down all their barriers while delivering such a believable and memorable performance that some of the audience members thought the story was hers.

This was probably one of the best hours I have ever spent at Fringe, and I highly recommend this show.  Remaining performances are scheduled for June 18 at 11 p.m. and June 25 at 7 p.m.  Don’t miss it.

Next up was a play that debuted as part of the Serial Killer series at Sacred Fools, Lamprey:  Weekend of Vengeance.  Heads were constantly turning on the shoulders of this packed house as this tightly paced dramedy steamrolled from one hilarious scene to the next, with dialogue delivered at lightning speed.  The audience hardly had time to breathe as the play unfolded and we were all rooting for Lamprey to discover the perpetrator of the crime.

lamprey

This show was written by the uber-talented Peter Fluet and perfectly directed and produced by Victor Isaac with an amazing assist from Scott Golden.  Carrie Keranen in the lead role is pure dynamite, and her supporting cast of Pete Caslavka, Maya Imani Estephanos, Fluet, Amanda Blake Davis, Glenn Stanton, Derek Mehn, Dana DeRuyck, Marshall Givens and CJ Merriman all turned in stellar performances.

This show is what Fringe is all about, and is mega-highly recommended for all those who want to spend a solid hour in the presence of theatrical greatness.  Be sure to catch one of their remaining performances on June 18 at 2 p.m., June 20 at 7 p.m. or June 24 at 11 p.m.

I had a two and a half hour wait until my final show of the night, so I spent it at Fringe Central hanging out with the cast of Virgin, as well as Fringe staffer Meghan McCauley before heading back down to Sacred Fools for The Toxic Avenger Musical.

Toxic

This show is one of those rare Fringe events – a fully staged off-Broadway musical that chooses to return to the Fringe, and boy are we glad it did.  With music and lyrics by David Bryan and book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro, and near perfect direction by Janet Miller and musical direction by Corey Hirsch, Toxic Avenger delivers.

With only a five-member cast that included Jared Reed in the title role, Kim Dalton as the blind librarian Sarah, and a supporting cast of Shirley Anne Hatton, Wesley Tunison and Danny Fetter, the production never takes itself seriously, creating many fun “insider” moments for an audience that was totally invested in the show.

The only thing that marred this great show was the technical issues with the sound, but the cast rose above it and gave their all to entertain the crowd.  Huge kudos to both Dalton and Hatton for going above and beyond in providing award-winning performances.

Even for those who have never seen the Toxic Avenger movie, the show is campy fun and enjoyable for all.  Don’t miss the chance to catch one of their remaining performances on June 15 at 11 p.m., June 16 at 7 p.m., June 18 at 6 p.m., June 22 at 10 p.m., June 24 at 8 p.m., June 25 at 5 p.m. or June 26 at 1 p.m.  You won’t regret the decision to invest two hours in this fun romp.

Happy Fringing!

Categories
Fringe Shows

HFF16 – Day Two (part 2)

One of the beauties of Fringe is the ability to change your schedule on a whim.  That occurred when I ran into an old fringeship, Kat Primeau, while walking between venues.  I noticed that she was dressed in what appeared to be a costume, and she told me that she and her troupe, Robot Teammate & the Accidental Party, were doing a show at the Sacred Fools Main Stage called Thug Tunnel.

Thug

Thug Tunnel is this year’s Doomsday Cabaret.  It is well written and directed and has an extremely talented cast that sells the story of a time when the only place you can live is underground.

Primeau, Chris Bramante and Dave Reynolds lead the brilliant cast, turning in fine performances along the way.  The packed house audience was totally engaged and invested in the show, and the energy from each side of the stage fed the overall atmosphere, creating an electrifying good time.

If you like rock music, an interesting story and a good crowd, then Thug Tunnel should definitely be on your radar.  Don’t miss what is sure to become a Fringe legend.  The remaining performances are scheduled for June 17 at 7:30 p.m., June 18 at 4:30 p.m., June 19 at 9:30 p.m. and June 20 at 11 p.m.

From the world of rock music and tunnel dwelling I was next transported to Happy Hour, a truly original combination of acting, live music and movement.  The show features part of the Venice Symphony Orchestra (“VSO”), led by Wesley Flowers, providing the live soundtrack for the show.  The show is brilliantly directed by Elitia Daniels in her directorial debut.

Happy Hour

The cast turned in great performances.  Besides their acting chops, they were also called upon to do multiple dance movements during the times when VSO was performing.  Those movements were so well choreographed that they appeared natural and integral to the storyline.

If you’re looking for a unique Fringe experience, then Happy Hour is definitely the show for you.  Catch one of the remaining performances on June 18 at 5 p.m. or June 24 at 11:55 p.m.  This show is guaranteed to entertain you and is highly recommended as part of your Fringe experience.

My last show for the night was Suddenly Split & Swiping Over at the Asylum @ Studio C portion of the Complex Theatre.  The show is brilliantly written and produced by Tracy Held Potter and directed by Katherine Vondy.  Although the show stars Susan-Kate Heaney, I was treated to a delectable performance by her understudy, Angela Jaymes.

Suddenly

Through multiple characterizations (Kelly, her best friend, her mom, her therapist and several others), the show tells the story of a young lady, recently split from her boyfriend of 9+ years and thrust into a new single existence which includes hook-up apps and constant advice from well meaning friends and family.

Jaymes does a great job stepping into the role, although the pacing could have been a little tighter.  Overall, it was an interesting and entertaining tale which was well told.

Jaymes will appear in the performance on June 26 at 8:30 p.m. while Heaney will do the other performances, scheduled for June 19 at 2:30 p.m., June 23 at 10:30 p.m. and June 25 at 2:30 p.m.

Happy Fringing!

 

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Reviews

HFF16 – Day Two (part 1)

Day 2 of the 2016 Hollywood Fringe Festival began with A Feast of Snacks, the latest production from one of the Fringe’s best groups, Theatre Unleashed.  This year the group is using the Lounge Theater as their base of operation, and the place was packed and filled with anticipation as we chatted with one another and eagerly awaited the show.  On top of that, it was the birthday of their Director of Development, Jim Martyka.

The show is a smorgasbord of musical delights but calling them “snacks” is like calling a filet mignon a Big Mac.  Every one of these mini-musicals could have stood on their own, and getting all four was like being at an all-you-can-eat buffet in Vegas after winning the jackpot on one spin.

Michael Gordon Shapiro has written not one but four masterpieces that kept this writer laughing with glee and totally enthralled, and 75 minutes flew by in the blink of an eye.

Snacks

Beginning with the first segment, “The Charmed Life,” which featured Heather Lake in the lead role, the cast hits the stage like gangbusters, and never lets up.  Every member showed the multi-facets of their talents in both starring and supporting roles.  Lake once again showed the audience why we all clamor to hear her voice and laugh at her comedic performances.  She truly has a gift for making the absurd believable.

The second segment,”Climb the Smallest Mountain,” featured David Foy Bauer in the lead role, with a scene-stealing assist from the birthday boy himself, Martyka. combined elements of Karate Kid with Happy Gilmore to create a wonderful show.

The third segment, “The Escape Artist” was making its World Premier at the Fringe, and introduced to us the brilliance that is Graydon Schlichter, a delightful con man trying to get out of jury duty, until he comes across an equally gifted con woman (Lindsay Braverman) who is doing the same thing.

Last but surely not least was “HMS Headwind,” which also featured Schlichter as the captain of the ship which was pursuing the pirate vessel commanded by Black Abigail (Sammy Lappin).  This was my favorite portion of the show, and it was the perfect way to cap it off.

Hats off to Managing Director Greg Crafts and his lovely bride Jenn Scuderi Crafts (Artistic Director and Feast Stage Manager) for his leadership of Theatre Unleashed that allows them to consistently deliver some of the best entertainment during the Fringe.  Kudos also to every member of the cast (Braverman, Bauer, Margaret Glaccum. Lauren Holiday, Lake, Lappin, Mark Lopez, Carey Matthews, Matthew Martin, Martyka and Schlichter) for doing what they do best – entertain.

Feast continues on June 19 at 10 p.m., June 24 at 8 p.m. and June 25 at 11:55 a.m.  Don’t miss it!

As wonderful as Feast was, my second show, Chemistry, brought me back to earth with a serious show about mental illness, which told the story of what happens when a depressed girl and a manic boy fall in love.

Chemistry

Written by the brilliant Jacob Marx Rice, Chemistry educates its audience with a rapid fire dialogue and performances by two very gifted actors, Autumn Bruewer and Colin Conrad, who turned in very believable representations of individuals facing the trappings of mental illness.

The beauty of Fringe is that you can be entertained and you can be educated at the same time.  For that reason alone, we highly recommend Chemistry.  Although the material is dark and serious, it is a truly timely and necessary piece of art that must be experienced.

Chemistry has two more performances on June 16 at 8:30 p.m. and June 18 at 3 p.m.  It is well worth the price of admission for the real-world education you will receive from viewing this show.

My third show of the day, Sex, Nudity, and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction was the dramatic equivalent of Feast, with five short plays by members of The Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights.

Sex Nudity

All five plays were brilliantly written and performed, and covered topics including gay rights, wounded veteran issues, sexuality in the deep south, and being single.  Every member of the cast turned in believable performances that kept the audience engaged.  I was especially enthralled by the fourth story about two sisters who were running a small town café.  I won’t give away the shocking ending, but it alone is worth the price of admission.

Definitely check out this show at Fringe.  You can catch it on June 18 at 11 p.m. or June 25 at 2:30 p.m. at Asylum @ 6470 within the Complex Theatre on Santa Monica Boulevard.

The remainder of my Sunday shows will be covered in my next post.

Categories
Fringe Shows

HFF16 – The Journey Begins (part 2)

My first show for the day was Tell me on a Sunday at the Black Box portion of the new Sacred Fools Theater.  The location previously housed Theatre Asylum, as well as the Elephant and Lillian Theatres.

Tell Me

Tell me could not have been a better start to my HFF16 experience.  It was a one-woman musical told without any dialog.  The music was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Don Block, under the direction of Calvin Remsberg and the musical direction of Richard Berent.  But what truly set this musical apart was Shannon Nelson, the dynamo behind this musical gem.

Without the use of any spoken dialogue, Nelson told us a story of love and relationship, entirely in song and through her amazing acting chops.  Her performance left no doubt of the story line, or who was the true victor in this all too common story of love found and lost.

We highly recommend this show, with remaining performances on June 15 at 9 p.m., June 19 at 11 p.m., and June 20 at 10 p.m.

Next up was Tilt, one of the ten shows in my article Ten Shows I’m Looking Forward to at the 2016 Hollywood Fringe Festival.  The cast of Tilt contained two of my favorite Fringe actors, Ben Moroski and Michael Shaw Fisher, and was directed by Nick Massouh.

Tilt

Previous to this production, Moroski has been considered a brilliant storyteller with two award-winning solo shows, while Fisher was considered a musical theater genius of three award-winning musicals and one winner of a solo show.

Needless to say, the energy in this show was palpable, and never lets up from the opening to the closing scenes.  Fisher’s commanding stage presence, and the kinetic energy of Moroski combine to light up the stage.  The dialog is witty and the chemistry between these two giants of the Fringe is worth the price of admission alone.

This is definitely a show that must be experienced.  Remaining performances are scheduled for June 17 at 10 p.m., June 18 at 5:30 p.m., June 24 at 9:30 p.m. and June 15 at 5:30 p.m.  The performances are on the Second Stage portion of Sacred Fools.

My third show was The Rogues Gallery, performed in the Studio portion of Sacred Fools.  It is a fast-moving, campy and comedic one-woman show written and performed by New Orleans’ own original classy broad, Alison Logan.

Rogues

Logan puts four of her previous ex-boyfriends “on trial’ as she explains why they should all be convicted of roguish behavior, separated by song and dance numbers featuring the smoky and powerful pipes of Logan.  The show also includes great audience participation, including a hilarious version of the Village People’s classic anthem, YMCA.

This show is too much fun to miss, and only has one remaining performance at 10 p.m. on Sunday.  Don’t miss it.

At this point, I took a musical interlude to attend the amazing performance of my friends Shannon Hurley and Ben Eisen’s duo, Lovers & Poets, held at the newly opened Second Stage portion of the world-famous Hotel Café.  The show was further proof that Lovers & Poets are becoming a force in the LA indie music scene.  They did not disappoint and kept the small but mighty audience enthralled during the set.  Were Freddy and Francine not celebrating their CD release on the main stage, I’m sure the venue would have been packed.

After spending some time with fringeships David Haverty,  Meghan McCauley, Leigh Neeves, Jeffrey Wylie and others at Fringe Central, I headed over to my final show of the night, Charlotte’s Shorts, held at the Actor’s Company theater on Formosa.  The show features the short stories of the incredibly talented Charlotte Dean, daughter of my friend Tracy Newman, as read and performed by some of Hollywood’s rising talents, including Anastacia McPherson, Lisa Schurga, H. Michael Croner, Hannah Einbinder (daughter of Tracy’s sister, SNL alum Larraine Newman), Lynne Stewart, Navaris Darson and Jordan Black.

Charlotte

Unlike anything I have ever experienced at the Fringe, this show was fun, witty, and non-stop hilarious.  Not only did it showcase Dean’s talents as a writer, but it also showed Hollywood what type of talent is waiting in the wings for their big breaks.  This was indeed one of the best Fringe shows I have ever seen in my six years of covering the Festival.

Indie Voice Blog is proud to highly recommend this show.  Don’t miss one of their remaining performances scheduled for June 17 at 8:30 p.m., June 19 at 5:30 p.m. or June 26 at 3:30 p.m.  With a revolving pool of talent, every show will be different, so why not catch them all?

I closed out the night with a night cap at the Formosa Café with Dean, Newman and several members of the cast.  It was a wonderful ending to a perfect first day of Fringe.

Categories
Fringe Shows

HFF16 – The Journey Begins (part 1)

I left Missoula at 7 a.m. on Friday to begin my journey to the 2016 Hollywood Fringe Festival.  After fuel stops in Dillon, Montana and Plymouth, Utah, I ran into bumper-to-bumper traffic outside Ogden, Utah due to construction and a small brush fire.  I finally arrived in Salt Lake City about 3:30, where I met up with my old Riverside Community Theatre partner-in-crime, Erin Michael Finney.  He moved to SLC about 12 years ago, and we had not seen each other since.  We headed out for the Natural History Museum where he gave me a private tour of the amazing paleontology exhibits.  Afterwards, we headed over to the Sugar House section of town, where we had dinner at the Salt Lake Pizza and Pasta restaurant.  After a too short visit, I was back on the road towards Vegas around 7 p.m.

I arrived in Vegas just before midnight local time (having crossed over to Pacific time) where I was supposed to spend the night with a friend.  Unfortunately, our wires got crossed and the promise of a bed and some sleep failed to materialize.  I spent about an hour on Fremont Street, where I listened to the music of Spandex Nation (an 80’s hair band tribute act) and gambled a bit at the Golden Gate Casino.  With nowhere to stay for the night, I decided to just keep on driving, and got out of Vegas just before a massive rainstorm hit.

Having already driven more than 13 hours, I only made it as far as Baker, California before having to pull over and catch a couple hours of sleep.  I woke up about 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, just as the dawn was breaking.

My journey continued and I arrived at my AirBnB location in Burbank about 8 a.m.  My hostess, Sun, could not have been nicer.  I settled in for a few more hours sleep before making my way to my first day of the Fringe.

The Fringe is headquartered this year at the Dragonfly, a long-time musical venue located on Santa Monica Boulevard.  Since they did not open until 2 p.m. on the weekend, I stopped and chatted with several of my old fringeships (fringe friendships), include Monica Miklas at the Complex and Matt Quinn of Combined Artform aka Asylum.

Finally, 2 p.m. arrived and I headed over to Fringe Central to check in and receive my press credentials.  I had a wonderful chat with my old friend Ben Hill, the Executive Director of the Fringe, as well as with Lois, one of the bartenders at Bryan’s Bar, located within the venue.  Having secured my credentials, it was time to start Fringing.  Follow what happens next in my next post.

Categories
Fringe Shows

Ten shows I’m looking forward to at 2016 Hollywood Fringe Festival

I attended the first five Hollywood Fringe Festivals before missing last year.  I am very excited about attending this year’s event, and will arrive on Saturday, June 11.  I am currently scheduled to attend 29 shows, with time for a few more.  These are the 10 shows I can’t wait to see (in alphabetical order):

A Feast of Snacks – Theatre Unleashed has consistently put on some of the best productions at every Fringe.  This one contains four mini-musicals.  How do you top that?

A Horse with a View – I met Chris Piehler last year at the Zootown Fringe Festival and he blew me away with his show.  Looking forward to seeing what he has for us this year.

All the Best Killers are Librarians – Sacred Fools is legendary for putting on good theater.  Their serial killer series was one that I wanted to see had I been in LA.  Since they are offering a couple of them during the Fringe, they immediately went on my list.

Broadway Noir – This show came highly recommended from several of my friends at the Southern California Renaissance Pleasure Faire, so it had to be included.

Gilda:  A Tribute to the Beloved Comedienne Gilda Radner – Who doesn’t love Gilda Radner?  I was a big fan of the early years of SNL, and can’t wait to see this tribute to Gilda.

Lamprey:  Weekend of Vengence – Another play featured in the Sacred Fools Serial Killer series.

My Big Fat Blonde Musical – This one comes highly regarded by my friends at Theatre Unleashed.  Plus I love musicals.

The Old Woman – One of my favorite one person show writers is John Grady, and I have seen both of his past two Fringe shows.  His new one sounds like a touching tribute to his mother.

The Father, The Son and the Holy Sh!t – Shadley Grei impressed me with his last show, Marshall’s Law.  When I found out he was doing a solo show, it immediately went on my list.

Tilt – Two more of my favorite Fringe performers combine in what is sure to be another Fringe winner.  Ben Moroski, who brought us the solo winners This Vicious Minute and Wake, and Michael Shaw Fisher, who contributed Doomsday Cabaret, The Werewolves of Hollywood Boulevard and Shakespeare’s Last Night Out, should provide another one with their latest offering.  This is probably my most anticipated show

I will post reviews of these and all the other shows I attend here on Indie Voice Blog.  Follow my blog to get the latest reviews.  Just click on the link below.  Have a great time Fringing with us.