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 Shut. Esther 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:
- Top of the Fringe: The Women of Lockerbie
- International: The Parisian Dream
- Fringe First (World Premiere): Stages: Girl Meets Boy, Boy Meets Boy, Girl Meets Drink
- Cabaret & Variety: Dracula’s Taste Test
- Comedy: Emma Frankenstein
- Dance & Physical Theatre: With My Eyes Shut (we agree with this one)
- Ensemble Theatre: Met Again
- Musicals and Operas: Play On!
- Solo Performance: The Word (and this one)
- Immersive Theatre: God: The Apologies Tour
In addition, we would also award these shows:
- Drama: American Conspiracy
- Best Original: The Runaway Clone
- Best Adaptation: Sex and the Musical
- Best Waste of Time: Night of the Rootbeer
What were your favorites? We would love to know.