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Artists Worth Checking Out LA Music Critic Awards Women in Entertainment

Winners of LA Music Critic Awards for first half of 2018 announced

It was another fantastic run, thanks to the amazing indie artists who shared their talents with us, and also their equally amazing fans.  Since the nominations were announced on June 8, we have had more than 9,000 views on our blog, including nearly 5,000 views of the nominations article.  We received almost 800 comments/votes from the fans in 51 different countries.  You also set a new one-day record with 1,928 views on June 23.  Thanks so much for your support.  Here are the winners for the First Half of 2018 (winners are indicated in bold type):

BEST EP (Male) – Michael Malarkey (Captain Solitaire); Kevin Daniel (Myself Through You); Rich Krueger (Life Ain’t That Long); Eric Benoit (Heartrender); Larry Lacerte (Dreaming of the Ways)

BEST EP (Male International) – Tom Richardson (Promise of the Light); Average Dez (Beautiful Life); Purkinje (Voyager); Jeremy Romeo (All You’re Meant to Be); Saux (Right)

BEST EP (Female)Alezzandra (The Black Rose); Amanda Mair (To the Moon); Kyler England (The Wilderness); Margaret Glaspy (Born Yesterday)

BEST EP (Female International) – Oklou (The Rite of May); Yuki Ame (Anamnesis); Clare Hennessy (April); Violetta Zironi (Half Moon Lane); Elin K (Still Your Desire)

BEST EP (Group) – TIDES (Crossroads); Only Bricks (Foundation); The Spider Accomplice (Los Angeles: The Dichotomy); Tribal Seeds (Roots Party); Wildeor (Wildeor)

BEST EP (Group International) – Calembour (Let the Wind Lead us Home); Ellevator (Ellevator); Mushy Callahan (Revelations); Accent (In This Together); The Dreggs (Seas Embrace); Belle and the Beats (Lose Your Feathers)

BEST CD (Male) – Keith Harkin (In the Round); Rob Bonfiglio (Trouble Again); David Philips (Get Along); Kris Barras (The Divine and Dirty); Frank Hannon (From One Place . . . to Another, Vols 1 & 2); Luke Winslow-King (Blue Mesa)

BEST CD (Male International)Mr. Pong (Echoes Between a Rock and a Hard Place); Jon Allen (Blue Flame); Endre Nordvik (Suburb Hero); Sule (Hold On); Dom Fricot (Deserts)

BEST CD (Female) – Kari Kimmel (Gold & Glitter); Janiva Magness (Love is an Army); Caitlin Canty (Motel Bouquet); Katie Herzig (Moment of Bliss); Leilani Wolfgramm (Live Wire); Cindy Alexander (Nowhere to Hide)

BEST CD (Female International) – Em Joy (The Feast); Bossie (Not Pictured); Kira May (Sense); Lucy Wise (Winter Sun); Esme Bridie (Today it Rains)

BEST CD (Group) – RVZOO & The Sugar Spun Elephant Band (Guiding Star); Hello Stranger (Long Division); The Nightowls (We are the Nightowls); Floods (Bad Times); The Evening Attraction (The End, Again); Southern Halo (Just Like in the Movies)

BEST CD (Group International) – John Flanagan Trio (Honest Man); Lee Ainley’s Blues Storm (Shoot me Down); Vickers Vimy (Atlas of Hearts); Fifth Dawn (Duality); Dany Franchi Band (Problem Child)

BEST VIDEO (OFFICIAL) (Male) – Andy Sydow (“Reasons for Departure”); Sean McMahon (“Show me the Way”); David Garfield (“I Lied”), Keaton Simons (“1 2 3 Go”); Harts (“Ain’t Nothing on Me”); Rob Drabkin (“It’s a Beautiful Day”)

BEST VIDEO (OFFICIAL) (Female) – FlecHaus (“Tell me Something”); Hannah Lucia (“Your Love”); Janey Sttreet (“Undone”); Dree Mon (“Rebel Soul”); Kari Kimmel (“High”); Lucy Levinsohn (“Dear God”)

BEST VIDEO (OFFICIAL) (Group) – The Zephyr Bones (“Telephone”); The Spider Accomplice (“Swallow”); Halo Circus (“Narcissist”); Fanny Walked the Earth (“Lured”); Floods (“Heavy Hearts”)

BEST VIDEO (FOR A CAUSE)Alice Wallace (“Elephant”); riVerse (“Giant”), Ashley DeLima (“Stay in America”)

BEST VIDEO (LYRIC)Janiva Magness (“Home”); Polly Baker (“Scraped Knees”); Foreign Figures (“Heart of Gold”); Cindy Alexander (“Passenger”); A Big Yes and a small no (“Enough is Enough”)

BEST VIDEO (COVER)Frank Hannon (“Blue Sky”); Frank Hannon (“Sunrise in Texas”); Pros & iCons (“I Did Something Bad”)

BEST VIDEO (COLLABORATION) – Blue Elan Family (“Shine Down on Us”); Chelsea Williams and Poco (“Rose of Cimarron”)

BEST VIDEO (INTERNATIONAL) – Black Mamba (“Loop”); Young Galaxy (“Frontier”); DJ Moh Green (“Por Favor”)

BEST SINGLE (Male)Keaton Simons (“1 2 3 Go”); Jesse Dayton (“May Have to do it”); Craig Cardiff (“Okay Cupid”); Johnny Stimson (“End of Times”); Jon Allen (“Jonah’s Whale”)

BEST SINGLE (Female) – Janiva Magness (“Down Below”); Aja Warren (“Show me the Magic”); Kris Angelis (“A Billion Hearts”); Ashley Delima (“Stay in America”); Manda Mosher (“Please Stand By”)

BEST SINGLE (Group) – Delsinki (“Wishing Upon a Star”); Crimson Calamity (“Fool’s Gold”); SIGNY (“Human”); Halo Circus (“Narcissist”); Feel Alright (“Cool Water”)

BEST SINGLE (INTERNATIONAL) – Reichelt (“Seduced by the Light Side”); tantamsound (“Blue”); The Dreggs (“Feel Alive”); Belle and the Beats (“Soldiers of the Night”); South Village (“Say it Now”)

BEST BLUES ARTIST – Janiva Magness, Meg Williams, Victoria Ginty, Peggie Perkins, Luke Winslow-King

BEST BLUES BAND – Ghalia and the Mamas Boys, The Keeshea Pratt Band, Lee Ainley’s Blues Storm, Barrence Whitfield & the Savages,

BEST BLUES (TRADITIONAL) ARTIST/BAND – Reverend Raven and the Chain Smoking Altar Boys, Johnny Tucker, Miss Freddye, Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps, Peter V Blues Train

BEST BLUEGRASS ARTIST/BAND – Tommy Emmuel, John Flanagan Trio, Becky Buller, Nefesh Mountain, Sideline

BEST CELTIC ARTIST/BAND – Wildeor, Vickers Vimy

BEST COMEBACK ARTIST – Rita Coolidge, Michael Peterson, Fanny Walks the Earth

BEST COMPILATION ALBUM – Worth of Souls; Transference

BEST COUNTRY ARTIST Ruby Boots, McMains, Laura Benitez, Sara Morgan, Kevin Daniel

BEST COUNTRY BAND – Flood County, Steven Casper & Cowboy Angst, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, Southern Halo

BEST COVER ALBUM – Mark Erelli (Mixtape), Frank Hannon (From One Place . . . to Another, Vols 1 & 2); Craig Cardiff (Upstream Fishing All the Words, He Is – Birthday Cards for Bob Dylan)

BEST EDM/DANCE ARTIST/BAND – Computer Magic, Cultural Critic, Oklou, Saux, Amanda Mair

BEST FOLK ARTIST – Em Joy, Bob Crain, John Hufford, Tom Richardson, Martha Reich

BEST FOLK BAND – The Fisherman & the Sea, The Raven & the Fox, Century Thief, The Dreggs, Mala Ruckus

BEST HARD ROCK/METAL ARTIST/BAND – Tiavara, 1099, Animal Confession, Ovtlier, Ascending Dawn

BEST HIP-HOP/RAP ARTIST/BAND – 070 Shake, Mollys Reech, Camp Hope, Discrepancies

BEST INSTRUMENTAL ARTIST/BAND – mmph, Mr. Pong, Jamison Isaak, Fernando Perdomo, Jay Katana

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST – Tom Richardson, Clare Hennessy, Dom Fricot, Kira May, Jon Allen

BEST INTERNATIONAL BAND – Black Mamba, John Flanagan Trio, Fifth Dawn, The Dreggs, Belle and the Beats

BEST JAZZ ARTIST – Kristina Koller, Shirley Crabbe, Patrick Yandall, John Proulx. Dani Ocean

BEST JAZZ BAND – The Brubeck Brothers Quartet, News from Planet Kniffen, Grand Marquis, Susan Krebs Chamber Band, Roberta Donnay & the Prohibition Mob Band

BEST LATIN ARTIST/BANDAdan Jodorowsky, Dexist, Cheo & Ulises Hadjis

BEST POP ARTISTCindy Alexander, Kari Kimmel, Kyler England, Amanda Mair, Michael Malarkey

BEST POP BAND – Thrillchaser, Viv and the Revival, Floods, Only Bricks, For Esme

BEST PUNK ARTIST/BAND – This is Eggland, The Tracys, Typhoid Rosie, Sharp/Shock, Johnny & the Bootlegs

BEST R&B/SOUL ARTIST – Marieme, Ann, Jon Allen

BEST R&B/SOUL BAND – Ghost & the City, TIDES, The Nightowls, Ebb & Flow Band, Into the Ark

BEST REGGAE ARTIST/BAND – Freevolt, Super Hi-Fi, Tribal Seeds, Leilani Wolfgramm, Sly & Robbie meet Dubmatix

BEST RETRO ARTIST/BANDThe Evening Attraction, The Swinging Laurels

BEST ROCK ARTIST – Malina Moye, Alezzandra, Adrian Underhill, Margaret Glaspy, David Hopkins

BEST ROCK BAND – The Spider Accomplice, Hello Stranger, ROCKET, Fifth Dawn, Black Mamba, Halo Circus

BEST ROOTS/AMERICANA ARTIST – Alison Ferrier, Caitlin Canty, Jenny Van West, Elise Wunder, Gerry Spehar, McMains

BEST ROOTS/AMERICANA BAND – Acadian Driftwood, Under the Oak, County Well, Bay Station, Porlolo

BEST SINGER-SONGWRITER – Average Dez, Caleb Michael, Katie Vincent, Michael McDermott, Jenny Van West, Mike Vitale

BEST MOVIE SOUNDTRACK COMPOSITIONChristiane Kinney with additional music by Seán Kinney

BEST SOUTHERN ROCK ARTIST/BAND – Blackwater Lake, James Scott Bullard, David Fitzpatrick, Allman Goldflies Band

RISING STAR – Jamie Geston, Ray Goren, Rachel Arianna

Last, but definitely not least, is the FAN FAVORITE AWARD.  This one is solely nominated and voted on by the fans.  We received 18 nominations this year.  For the first two weeks, it was a neck and neck battle between Ashley DeLima and Peggie Perkins.  Four days before voting ending the fans of KEITH HARKIN woke up and voted relentlessly until the deadline, making him the winner.  Rounding out the top five were (in reverse order):  HELLO STRANGER, RACHEL ARIANNA, PEGGIE PERKINS, and ASHLEY DeLIMA.

Thanks again for your support.  We are already at work on the second half of 2018, and already have more than 100 submissions.  We will return with our reviews next Tuesday.

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Artists Worth Checking Out Ten Amazing Videos Women in Entertainment

Ten (plus five) amazing videos released in June 2018

Now that we’ve published our Ten Great Singles for June, it’s time to likewise do our Ten Amazing Videos.  We’ve included a bonus five videos since we were unable to feature any of them this month due to our other commitments.  Enjoy these videos.

Our first video is the latest from Stone Stanley.  We love the down-home flavor of “Bitter End” and think you will too.  They recently released their latest album, The Mudstomp Tapes, and we will be reviewing it shortly.  In the meantime, check out the video.

Next up is the latest from DIY queen Shannon Hurley for her single, “I Found You.”  The video is a shot for shot reshoot of Belinda Carlisle’s amazing video for her song “Mad About You.”  Carlisle loved this video, and we think you will too.

Our third video is from one of LA’s finest indie artists, Cindy Alexander.  She recorded “My Favorite Artist” with the assistance of Blue Élan Records labelmate Rusty Young, and debuted it at the LA Music Critic Awards Winners Showcase on June 19.  Here is her vision of the song.

Our next video is from the amazing international band Straw for their song, “On My Mind.”  It is visually stunning, and this beautiful ballad will stay on your mind long after the final note.

Our fifth video is “Certainties,” the latest from Aaron Ball.  He packs his Southern Country Rock sound into this magnificent video, which is sure to get your toes a tapping.  Enjoy.

Music video number six comes from Adam Masterson, who sounds a lot like Bruce Springsteen.  The song is “Runaway” from his recently released new album Delayed Fuse.

Next up is the animated video for “Jettisoned” by KOYO.  This one is different, and we like it.

Our eighth video is from BONES uk for their rocking song, “Creature.”  This rocking song will fire you up and get you ready for the weekend.

Next up is country darling Harper Grae with her latest, “Bloodline.”  We love the rocking country beat that reminds us of Lady Antebellum.  This one is a keeper.

Our tenth video is a rocking one from Lost Worlds for their song “What You Say.”  We love the indie rock sound of this band, and the video is a lot of fun as well.

Our first bonus video is “Heaven’s Deep Blue Sky” from Swedish retro rocker Leo Spauls and features Mike Garson.  It might be a bit disturbing visually, but the song is amazing.  Let us know what you think.

Bonus track number two will take you back to the 70’s, both in its visual representations but also in its sound.  Kick off your shoes, sit back and relax to “Secret Admirer” from Barbudo.

Our third bonus track will take you forward in time about a decade and is very reminiscent of Whitney Houston and Deniece Williams.  Give it up for Sheila and the Kit on their song “Time Again.”

Bonus track number four is from Australian Nicky Rogalsky, and we are developing an “Obsession” for her amazing look and sound.  This one belongs on American radio.  Enjoy the incredible vocals.

Our final video this month is a lyric video courtesy of Kalyna Rakel for her song, “Who Knew.”  It is fun and the horns and vocals will make you come back time and time again to this delightful song.  See you next month.

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Artists Worth Checking Out Ten Great Singles Women in Entertainment

Ten (plus five) great singles released in June 2018

We’ve been so busy the past few weeks with the Hollywood Fringe Festival and the LA Music Critic Awards (winners for the first half of 2018 will be announced on Friday) that we haven’t had the chance to feature any of the amazing singles and videos that we have received.  We are going to make that up to you with an extra five singles and videos in our monthly list.  Let’s get going.

First up is an absolutely beautiful young lady who goes by the name Ocean Pleasant.  Check out the bubbly tune “All or Nothing.”  We think you’re going to want to add this one to your playlist.

Our next single comes to us via Gayle Davidson, the same genius that turned us on to Wendy Sweetlove.  Her latest amazing artist is Michael Kight, and we know that you will love his debut single, “Clear.”  He could very well be the voice of a new generation of soul singer.

Our third single comes from down under, courtesy of the fine folks at A&R Records.  Check out the new single, “Air,” from the incomparable Inertia.  This one will get you ready for the weekend.

One of our favorite reggae bands in recent years has been Spiritual RezMichael Bernier and Toft Williamham from the band have released an amazing new single, “Feel the Sunshine,” that should get you totally ready for summer.  Please let us know what you think.

Single number five comes from London supergroup, Everything by Electricity.  Check out this amazing synth pop track called “Place to Call my Own.”  We think you’ll want that place to be with you.

You’ve loved her as an actress, now check out her incredible singing.  Here’s the latest single, “Younger,” from the uber-talented Alicia Witt.

Here’s some more reggae, this time from MagnustheMagnus and featuring Madi Banja.  Check out “It Don’t Impress Me.”  We think you’ll be very impressed.

Our eighth single is “Take me There” from Tim Carr.  We love the retro 60s sound of his voice and track.

Our next single is “Lover and a Giver” from emerging singer-songwriter Jordan Siwek, who we think reminds us of early Billy Joel.  Let us know what you think.

Our ninth single will get you “High.”  Check out the latest from Australian Chris S.

Let’s round out the first 10 singles with this one from Joanna Alina.  We think “Breath by Breath” will definitely put some kick in your step.  Enjoy this upbeat beauty.

Our first bonus track is something different from the sister act called Liana.  Check out “Psycho,” but be warned, it’s NSFW.

https://soundcloud.com/theyareliana/liana-psycho

Our second bonus track is “I’m the Wolves” from a group that calls themselves St. Jude the Obscure.  We like it, a lot, and think you will too.

Bonus track number three comes to us courtesy of folk singer-songwriter Wes Allen.  Let us know what you think of his track, “Ask me Now.”

https://soundcloud.com/wes_allen/ask-me-now/

Our fourth bonus track is an indie rock tune that will  spruce up your summer party scene.  Check out “Run to California” from Black and Blue.

Our final single for the month of June is from Mike Vitale, and provides us with the perfect segue for this edition of Ten Great Singles.  We’re “Gone.”

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Awards Hollywood Fringe Festival Theatre Women in Entertainment

Top ten shows at HFF 18 and Indie Voice Awards for Theatre

The 9th Annual Hollywood Fringe Festival has been put to bed (with the exception of those shows selected for encores) and we are safely back in Montana, so it is time to reveal our favorite shows of HFF18, as well as our winners for the Indie Voice Awards for Theatre.  You can find the “official” list of winners that were handed out on June 24 here.

We saw a total of 46 shows during the 13 days we were at Fringe.  So many of them were great, and we wish we could give credit to more, but here are our favorites.

TOP TEN SHOWS

10.  Met Again.  Once again, Theatre Unleashed delivered a breathtaking drama of infinite worth.  The duo of Julia Plostnieks and Michael Lutheran were stunning in their portrayal of a loving couple who had ups and downs during their lives.  This one left us with tears in our eyes.

9.  Blind Spots.  This was the only show we saw at the beautiful Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre, and it was definitely worth the trip.  The show was female written with an entire cast of females, and they demonstrated by their amazing performances that they are definitely forces to be reckoned with.

8.  The Parisian Dream.  Cabaret Versatile is the master at creating interesting shows, and this amazing French Cabaret was definitely one of their best.  It was told through mime, skits, song and dance, and it represented the historic Assistance League Playhouse well.

7.  With my Eyes ShutEsther Mira led a strong cast and told the story of two people with Asperger’s Syndrome who were learning how to function in life.  Through incredible dancing, music and physical theatre, they told the story as lovingly as they could, and made us proud to be part of HFF18.

6.  SQUIRREL!!  Jessica Lynn Johnson directed and Sarah Rose Reynolds delivered a stunning and revealing story of dealing with ADHD.  Reynolds even wowed us with her singing abilities, on top of her hilarious telling of her life story.

5.  Stripped.  Another great Johnson directed show featuring Julia Cavanaugh as the exotic dancer with a heart of gold.  Like Reynolds, she has an excellent singing voice, and totally tugged at our heart strings as she told the story of her life.

4.  The Word.  Victor Isaac is a comic genius and he puts it all on display in this comedic romp through the discovery of how to forgive yourself.  This one truly deserved its Fringe recognition.

3.  Doctor Nympho vs. The Sex Zombies.  The triumphant return of the Michael Shaw Fisher rock musical claimed three Fringe Awards, and was truly one of the highlights of HFF18.  Just seeing the entire cast safely navigate the small stage at Three Clubs was an event worthy of recognition.

2.  Play On!  A one-woman musical event, Laura Jo Trexler stole our hearts and our ears with these amazing original songs about the heroines of Shakespeare.  She also showed her stage presence and skills as she brought the songs to life, with nothing but herself and a grand piano.

1. The Women of Lockerbie.  We think it is a travesty that this show was not even nominated for a single award at Fringe.  This amazing cast brought the story of Pan Am Flight 103 to life by showing its effect not just on the passengers but those in the town of Lockerbie, Scotland as well.

INDIE VOICE AWARDS FOR THEATER

We agreed with some of the awards given out by the community, but not all of them, so here are the shows we would have given awards to:

In addition, we would also award these shows:

What were your favorites?  We would love to know.

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Fringe Shows Hollywood Fringe Festival Reviews See it or Skip it Theatre Women in Entertainment

HFF18 day 14 – see it or skip it

Just arrived back in Montana, and realized we hadn’t published reviews for the final day of Fringe.  We had a remarkable time this year, and can’t believe that we have to wait another year before we do it all over again.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Yarn

VENUE:  Broadwater Second Stage

REVIEW:  This show applied for our sponsored award, so I was expecting a play that included music.  Imagine my surprise to arrive and find out it was physical theatre with no words and limited to no music.  Not only that, but it was supposed to be 45 minutes long, and when it reached 55 minutes, we had to leave to attend another show.  It definitely had its moments of slapstick humor, but it seemed like they didn’t know when to quit, and it just went on and on and on.  Needless to say, we were not impressed.

RECOMMENDATION:  If we had known that this was not a play, we would have been better prepared, and probably enjoyed it more.  As it was, the audience seemed to love it, and The Broadwater gave it an extension.  It was not one of our favorites, but at least it has found its audience.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Maddy’s Musical

VENUE:  Three Clubs

REVIEW:  Three Clubs has been running a show called Mimosas and Musicals on Sunday afternoons during Fringe, but decided to change it up for the final day of Fringe.  They brought back their “MadLibs” game show from a couple of Fringes past, and called it “Maddy’s Musical.”  The concept was for the audience to pick a collection of 10 songs (solos, duets and group numbers) and then the cast would have five minutes to create a narrative that would tie those songs together.  The event was hosted by Le Phantom (Nick Rubando) with piano accompaniment and sidekick comedy by Cheedo.  The cast contained original members Kate Bowman, Lauren Byrd, Nathan Ondracek and Reagan Osborne and had guest stars of Alli Miller and Adam Lau.  Needless to say, it was pure chaos and magic, and the audience had a blast.  This is the stuff that Fringe legends are made of.

RECOMMENDATION:  If you ever get another chance to see these guys do what they do best – sing and improv, then you would be well advised to see it.

TITLE OF SHOW:  My Own Private River Phoenix

VENUE:  Asylum Studio C

REVIEW:  For our final show of HFF18, we decided to see another Jessica Lynn Johnson directed show.  This show was the perfect one to close out this year.  Ai Yoshihara was hilarious as she explained how she had fallen in love with River Phoenix when she was nine years old, but had to change her plans when he died at the age of 23.  She began her quest for her very own version of him, and with the support of her family, left Japan to seek him out in America.  She used her unique humor, as well as cute audio-visual clips and fun character impressions to deliver a compelling story.  We had a blast and so did the audience.

RECOMMENDATION:  We would love to tell you that you still have another chance to see this remarkable show, but alas, she did not win an encore.  Nevertheless, it was wonderful and we would gladly see it again.

We’ll be back tomorrow with our Best of HFF18 list, including our own award selections.

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Fringe Shows Hollywood Fringe Festival Reviews See it or Skip it Theatre Women in Entertainment

HFF18 day 13 – see it or skip it

As we wrap up our coverage of HFF18, we find ourselves slowing down and more fully savoring the beauty and talent of the available shows, and Saturday was a perfect example.  We had originally packed our schedule but ended up only seeing two of those shows, opting instead to check out a couple of additional shows that had a lot of buzz and for which we were personally sought out to attend.  It proved to be the perfect remedy for our last full day of fringing this year.

Because of the Cultural Event happening on Hollywood Boulevard, the street was closed between Highland and Western.  We decided to come around the north end, travelling down beautiful Laurel Canyon Boulevard and then south on Santa Monica.  It only added about 20 minutes to our trip, so we had time to stop at Eat This and enjoy their breakfast special with scrambled eggs, mixed with bacon and cheese.  So worth it.  From there it was over to The Lounge Theatre to start our day with a pair of Jessica Lynn Johnson solo shows.

TITLE OF SHOW:  SQUIRREL!!

VENUE:  The Lounge Theatre

REVIEW:  Soaring Solo and Johnson are becoming synonymous with quality Fringe shows, and this one was no exception.  Sarah Rose Reynolds is a force of nature, a comedic actress who can sing and does both with an unforgettable flair.  She wears her ADHD like a badge of honor, and gave us not only an incredibly funny and refreshing show, but revealed herself to be a wonderful human being as well.  It was also amazing how our two worlds intersected, as we discovered we had several friends in common, including The Groundlings’ Tracy Newman and indie music queen Abby Posner.  We even had the same taste in Fringe shows, as we met up later in the day for another amazing musical treasure at Three Clubs.  Reynolds earned herself an encore, and will be back next weekend.

RECOMMENDATION:  Reynolds only performed three shows during Fringe, two of them before we arrived in Los Angeles, so we were privileged to get to attend her closing show.  Thank goodness for you LA that you will have one more chance to see her next Saturday, June 30 at 5 p.m.  Get your tickets now because she is almost sold out, and you don’t want to miss this masterpiece of solo theater.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Wild at Hart:  A Tale of Trauma & Triumph

VENUE:  The Lounge Theatre

REVIEW:  This show was the 14th one we reviewed for our Larry Cornwall Award, and it was a true image of beauty.  Kamakshi Hart has a beautiful voice, whether chanting her mantra or singing out show tunes.  Her story, although full of pain and trauma, is told so beautifully that the audience can’t help but be uplifted by her unquenchable spirit and her ability to triumph over that tragedy.  Of all the #metoo stories at this year’s Fringe, hers is the most touching and powerful.  Johnson has once again left her mark upon an actor with this compelling tale of incest, rape, and abuse and the ultimate freedom obtained through dealing with that trauma and learning how to help others faced with similar pain.  Hart’s ability to bounce back and conquer her shame is an encouraging story and model for us to emulate.  We are so thankful that we had the opportunity to take that journey with her and to be able to apply it to our own personal battles.

RECOMMENDATION:  Like Reynolds’ show, this one was only performed three times.  We hope for your sakes that it is extended.  If it is, do whatever it takes to see this one.

We threw out our schedule for the rest of the day, and decided to check out a couple of shows that we had really wanted to see.  Rasika Mathur joined us, along with Johnson and Reynolds for our next show at Three Clubs, one of the best venues for Fringe.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Stages:  Girl Meets Boy, Boy Meets Boy, Girl Meets Drink

VENUE:  Three Clubs

REVIEW:  Emily Goglia is one of the most gifted voices and talents we have ever experienced in our eight years of doing Fringe.  You’ve probably seen her on NBC’s Grease Live! or if you’re a fan of a capella music, on The Sing-Off as the lead singer of Element.  At any rate, she is a voice that you will never forget, and we are privileged to get the chance to see her perform so intimately on the small stage of the Hollywood Fringe.  When she’s not singing in Los Angeles, she tours the world with the USO show, entertaining our troops.  Stages is a work of art and beauty, capturing the essence of the five stages of grief with a powerhouse performance that has literally taken Los Angeles by storm.  You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll drink plenty of alcohol, and anxiously await the chance to do it all again.  We’re just sad that we didn’t discover the amazing talent earlier, but now that we have, we will tell the world about her.

RECOMMENDATIONS:  Be on the lookout for the next chance to catch her, as this was her closing performance.  By any means necessary, don’t miss her next show.

TITLE OF SHOW:  The Parisian Dream

VENUE:  The Assistance League Playhouse

REVIEW:  The venue was one of the most beautiful we have ever seen, and perfect for this amazing show by Cabaret Versatile, who we had not experienced since 2012.  Director Lola Ohlala has assembled a remarkable troupe who truly understand and demonstrate the beautiful art of French cabaret, and took the audience on a sweet journey to Paris.  The dancing by troupe members Natalie J. Davis, Ohlala, Sarah Marquelle Krueger and Julianne Kusmierczyk, and British newcomer Georgie Leahy was breathtaking, while Krueger and Ohlala also mesmerized us with their singing voices.  They were supported by the acting of Evan O’Brien and Aaron Stiles, who truly complemented the troupe with their comedic mime.  This was a true Fringe event and must be experienced.  We will treasure the memories of this performance until the next time they return, which we hope will not be another six years.

RECOMMENDATION:  If you EVER get the chance to see Cabaret Versatile, we highly recommend you jump at that opportunity – they will give you a show that you will never forget.

 

Categories
Fringe Shows Hollywood Fringe Festival Reviews See it or Skip it Theatre Women in Entertainment

HFF18 day 12 – see it or skip it

Friday was a chance to take in a couple of musicals, and to finally get Scott Golden off my back.  He’s been riding me for two years because I had not seen any of his shows, so I finally bowed and went to see him at The Broadwater, Second Stage.

TITLE OF SHOW:  The Runaway Clone

VENUE:  Broadwater, Second Stage

REVIEW:  OMG – Scott Golden can sing, and act, and so can the rest of this amazing cast.  Pamela Eberhardt has written a masterpiece of comedic musical theater, as well as stealing the show with her fabulous portrayal of Laura, maker of clones.  This show was truly one of the best parts of HFF18, and The Unknown Artists deserve all the recognition they can get.  The harmonies created by the amazing cast, which included Golden, Emily Clark, Jeff Scot Carey, Quinn (Eberhardt), Peter Carrier, Shannon Gerrity, Parissa Koo, Adriana Colón, Lucas Alifano and Lindsay Zana was only topped by the incredible voice of the cherry on the top, Katherine Washington as the Runaway Clone.  We attended the show with several of the Cherry Poppins gang, and like me, they were all in awe of this performance.  Hats off to this entire ensemble cast for helping us truly escape the madness of this world and getting us lost in The Agency and a world of clones.

RECOMMENDATION:  This was their closing show, but you can be sure they will receive an encore extension.  Make sure you rush to the Fringe site and get your tickets as soon as they go on sale.

We met one of our nearest and dearest friends, Rosine Avedissian Correa and her husband, Ronnie, for drinks at the Plunge and had a chance to catch up before heading over to the Main Stage for the second musical of the night.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Parallel Worlds

VENUE:  Broadwater, Main Stage

REVIEW:  Parallel Worlds is unlike anything we have ever seen at Fringe before.  It is a unique blend of film, stage play and rock concert that shatters the boundaries that limit so many other Fringe shows.  The premise is simple – a rock band is brought in and commissioned to write a soundtrack for a film, but their music creates a parallel world where the story line of the film changes.  Elise Testone from American Idol gives a powerful performance as Tabitha and Casey Lee Hurt does likewise as Miles.  They are the lead singers in an incredible band that features Angelica Abrams on keys and backing vocals, Shareef Addo on bass, Fabrizio Cavallaro on drums and Braden Lyle on guitar.  Shawn Reaves as J.B. and Marci Miller as Ella are our on-screen lovers, and their performances are breathtaking to behold.  Quite frankly, this show is too big for Fringe, and deserves more time to allow the audience to be swept up into their world.  It is a world worth visiting, and we would love to see just how far this one can go.

RECOMMENDATION:  We strongly encourage you to visit their website, and be on the look-out for their next performance.  It could very well change your life.

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Fringe Shows Hollywood Fringe Festival Reviews See it or Skip it Theatre Women in Entertainment

HFF18 day 11 – see it or skip it

Hard to believe that our annual Fringe experience is rapidly drawing to a close.  It has been a whirlwind two weeks, and we have loved every second of it.  We even found some time to take in another movie yesterday, checking out Hotel Artemis before heading off for another night of Fringe fun.

Our first stop was Studio/Stage for the highly anticipated Esther Mira show, With my Eyes Shut.

TITLE OF SHOW:  With my Eyes Shut

VENUE:  Studio/Stage

REVIEW:  In the past two years, Esther Mira has impressed us with her abilities and acting, and become a good friend.  In this production, she was able to more fully show her multiple skills, and we found ourselves carried away by the sheer beauty of her performance.  This was a most amazing production, and showed autism in a very positive light.  Not only was Mira brilliant, but her director Tara Donovan stepped in and assumed one of the roles.  Craig Shields, who doubled as the music director, continued his outstanding portrayal of Cole.  The music and dancing were first rate, and moved the story along nicely.  It was so easy to get swept up in this show,, which is definitely one of the best productions of HFF18.  This one deserves recognition at the awards, and another run.

RECOMMENDATION:  Unfortunately, this was the closing performance, and Mira is on her way to Europe for a vacation.  Hopefully they will earn an extension so that everyone will be able to see this masterpiece upon Mira’s return.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Charlotte’s World or the Lone Terrarium

VENUE:  Theatre of NOTE

REVIEW:  During the Fringe’s first few years, the Theatre of NOTE was one of its central venues, and the place where Kimleigh Smith took the Fringe by storm with her amazing T-O-T-A-L-L-Y, winning three of the top awards at the 2011 Fringe.  Since then, the venue line-ups have not been as strong, and we have not attended a show there in the past two years.  Fiona Lakeland, who brought us the amazing show Stranded, reached out and invited us to her new show, and we are so glad we said yes.  Like her previous show, this one was another work of art, encompassing beauty, belief and child-like faith in the story of Charlotte and her desire to fly.  Lakeland’s performance was breathtaking, and we were quickly caught up into Charlotte’s World.   We really love the closing rhymes she so skillfully constructed, which left us with a surplus of faith in our own abilities to accomplish our dreams.  Well done!

RECOMMENDATION:  The show has one more performance, and we highly recommend that you see it on June 23 at 3 p.m.  You will not be sorry.  Get your tickets here.

After the show, we returned to the Plunge at the Broadwater for a few drinks and the chance to mingle with our fringeships.  It was a fun night which resulted in getting an invite to see The Runaway Clone today, a show which we had really wanted to see.  In addition, we got the chance to meet the owner of the bar, Patrick Duffy (who played Bobby Ewing on Dallas).  Duffy is from Montana, so we had a lot to talk about.  He is an amazing man, and we were big fans back in the day.  We wish him and the bar much success.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Fringe Shows Hollywood Fringe Festival LA Music Critic Awards Reviews See it or Skip it Theatre Women in Entertainment

HFF18 day 10 – see it or skip it

We took Tuesday off from the Fringe for the LA Music Critic Awards Winners Showcase at the Mint.  It was a glorious event, featuring the music of Pam Taylor, Alexis Keegan, Pi Jacobs, Great Willow, The Khourys, Rusty Young, Cindy Alexander, Ted Russell Kamp, Shiragirl and ROCKET.  The music was hot and we had a blast, and managed to raise $500 for the work of the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund.  Both Shiragirl (“Summers Coming”) and Alexander (“My Favorite Artist”) debuted brand new singles that will be released on Friday.  You should have seen Young’s face when we presented him with the 2018 Icon Award.  It was priceless.  We strongly advise you to check out the sounds of these award winning artists, and don’t forget to vote for your Fan Favorite with our current nominations for the first half of 2018.  Voting ends on Wednesday, June 27.

Very  special thanks to Patrick O’Heffernan of Friday Music Live, Jen Lyneis of Ue3 Promotions and Kirk Pasich of Blue Élan Records for your sponsorship of our event and your assistance in putting on this show.  We could not have done it without you.

On Wednesday we returned to the Fringe for a couple of shows, the first of which was at Studio/Stage.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Yellow Wallpaper

VENUE:  Studio/Stage

REVIEW:  This was a difficult play to review.  On the one hand, the ending left us with more questions unanswered than we had before it began.  On the other hand, the acting of Tatum Langton as Jane was truly wonderful, given the script she was given.  This adaptation shifted the focus from Jane and her descent into madness as described in the original short story, and instead focused on her family.  This shift did not play out well, leaving the audience literally “in the dark” about exactly what was happening.  It did cast a light on the horrible way that people suffering from mental illness have been treated in this country.  Even though it was set in the 1950’s, that same attitude is still prevalent today.  If nothing else, the play reminds us that we need to take better care of those suffering from mental illness, and do what we can to find a true cure for their ailment.

RECOMMENDATION:  We cannot truly endorse this play.  Although it has its moments, overall we think you should just skip it, as there are so many other plays to consider at this year’s Fringe.  Read the short story instead.

After viewing this play, we decided to head down and check out the Fringe Pride event at that LGBT Centre.  The space was lovely and there might have been more of the community in attendance if the Broadwater Plunge hadn’t decided to have their Grand Opening at the same time.  Parking was impossible, though, and we managed to get a ticket from the most obnoxious female cop.  Oh well, welcome to Los Angeles!  Back to the Fringe.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Mulatto Math:  Summing up the Race Equation in America

VENUE:  The Lounge Theater

REVIEW:  One of the joys (although it can be difficult at times) of sponsoring an award at Fringe is screening the shows that have applied.  We have had mostly great shows to screen so far (making our selection difficult), and Mulatto Math definitely falls in that category.  From the amazing original music of writer/performer/star Monique DeBose to the equally amazing accompaniment of Dwayne Augustine on double bass, this show was a thing of beauty.  DeBose is mixed race and grew up in California, although her black father was from the segregated South.  As someone who was born in North Carolina and raised in Virginia, both pre and post segregation, I could easily relate to her story of being trapped between two worlds, never fully integrated into either, but drawn to her father’s side.  Her conclusions, based on her own math formulas, were interesting and totally understandable, reminding us that we still have a long way to go for all races to feel truly free.  Hopefully this play will serve as a catalyst to better days ahead.

RECOMMENDATION:  Definitely go see this show.  There are two performances remaining, June 21 at 6 p.m. and June 23 at 10 p.m.  Grab your tickets here – don’t miss it!

Categories
Fringe Shows Hollywood Fringe Festival LA Music Critic Awards Reviews See it or Skip it Theatre Women in Entertainment

HFF18 day 8 – see it or skip it

Monday was a busy day, with 13 reviews to write, as well as three more shows to take in.  The reviews took a while, but I still had time to make a stop at Tom’s for a world famous pastrami sandwich before heading down to Three Clubs for our first show.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Night of the Rootbeer

VENUE:  Three Clubs

REVIEW:  Believe the hype – this is complete and utter nonsense.  If you love shows that are a complete waste of time, then this one is for you.  JJ Mayes gathers his best 20 best friends for a night of rootbeer, debauchery, posing and . . . who cares!  It was massive fun to watch these gifted actors act like complete and utter fools, and consume massive amounts of rootbeer.  At least one thing was accomplished . . . we finally know the source of Michael Shaw Fisher’s depravity – it’s the rootbeer!

RECOMMENDATION:  If you have nothing better to do, then see this show, but you have to get down on your knees with Scott Golden to get an invitation.  Two more shows on June 20 at 11:30 p.m. and June 23 at 2:30 p.m.  Don’t forget to make a donation at the door so they will let you leave.

TITLE OF SHOW:  From Toilet to Tinseltown

VENUE:  The Hobgoblin Playhouse

REVIEW:  If you are a hard-core Harry Potter fan, then this is definitely NOT the show for you.  Moaning Myrtle takes us from the bathroom at Hogwarts and embarks on a journey culminating in the comedy clubs of Hollywood.  FYI, Myrtle is a potty mouth, but she’s so damn funny.  This was the perfect follow-up to the nuttiness that is Night of the Rootbeer.  We laughed ourselves silly, and thoroughly enjoyed the ride.  The Hobgoblin may be out of the way, but in this case it was definitely worth the trip (and the parking charge).

RECOMMENDATION:  This one should definitely be on your list.  For a good time, call Myrtle.  Don’t miss her final show on June 23 at 5:30 p.m.  Get your tickets here.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Blind Spots

VENUE:  Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre

REVIEW:  Finally, a true play that is s well-crafted drama.  We were beginning to suspect that there was no true culture, and then we saw Blind Spots.  Thank you Colette Freedman for creating such a moving and stirring play, and for daring to do it without a single male!  Constance Dalton-Pawie has directed a masterpiece of theater, which is one of the best shows at HFF18.  Her delightful cast (Tamara Burgess, Koni McCurdy, Lindsay McGee, Michelle Pedersen and Veronica Wylie) work well as an ensemble.  The chemistry between these players is very evident, and makes the show seem like a documentary on free speech.  It was the perfect way to end a day of Fringe craziness.  We definitely see whatever this amazing team puts together next.

RECOMMENDATION:  You don’t want to miss their final show on Friday, June 22 at 7 p.m.  This one is the one that you will remember and treasure long after Fringe is over.  Get your tickets here.

If you need a break from the Fringe, come join Indie Voice Blog as we celebrate the LA Music Critic Awards with a winner’s showcase at The Mint on Pico Boulevard.  Doors open at 6 and there will be live music and awards all night, featuring the music of Lexie Rose, Pam Taylor, Alexis Keegan, Pi Jacobs, Great Willow, The Khourys, Rusty Young of Poco, Cindy Alexander, Ted Russell Kamp of CALICO the Band, Shiragirl and ROCKET.  Tickets are only $13 at the door.  Please join us.