Category: Theatre

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Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Monday Mashup Singles and Videos Theatre

Monday mashup 2019: vol. 40

We have reached the end of 2019, making this our final Monday Mashup of the year.  We have enjoyed sharing these singles and music videos with you this year, and we hope you have discovered some great new indie artists.

Still to come is our Ten Great Singles and Ten Amazing Videos for the month of December, as well as our list of the best singles, videos, albums and EPs of 2019.

Unfortunately, the pressure of working two jobs has caught up to this 61 year old lover of all things indie, and Indie Voice Blog must regrettably take a hiatus.  Although we will not be publishing regular weekly blogs, we will still pop in from time to time to share special reviews and other indie news.

This project has always been a labor of love.  Sadly, we don’t have the time or energy to continue at the present time.  We do hope to be back at some point in the future.  We hope that you will continue to seek out indie music in the meantime.

SOLOFEST 2020

The biggest festival of solo shows is almost here at LA’s own Whitefire Theatre (13500 Ventura Boulevard).   From January 4 to March 20, you can catch 80 shows during a 90 day period.  If you love solo shows, this is the festival for you.  For more information, check out the website of the festival director, Jessica Lynn Johnson.  If we were in town, this is where we would be.

NEW SINGLES

We start this edition out with a bang that should propel you into the new year.  Check out the straight ahead rocking sound of Lute and their single, “Victims of the Fall.”  It clocks in at 7:54, and every second of it is worth your attention.  They are living proof that prog rock is not dead.

We totally shift gears on our second single, with the country twang of Francesca Brown, who suffers from the “Hashslingin’ Blues.”  This one will give you food for thought.

Our third single is pure pop from the UK, featuring the upbeat and soulful sound of JASH, who only wants it to be “Us Together.”  We think he’s got a great chance at seeing his dreams come true.

Next up is Watch me Breathe, a band we introduced to you back in August.  We love their latest, “Garden of Eden,” and think this is a band we need more of.

Our final single this week is from a new female folk duo named Jack Rabbit.  Their harmonies are exquisite, as demonstrated on their debut track, “December.”

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

We kick things off with a video that literally debuted a few hours ago, featuring one of our favorite LA songbirds, Katie Ferrara.  As we look back at 2019, consider the words of her song, “Living in Black and White.”

Next is a lyric video from Canadian electro-pop band 12xPretty.  They just want to be “Somewhere Else.”  We’re glad they’re here now.

Our third video belongs to the retro Brit pop sound of Certain Animals.  The cinematography has the quirkiness of Doctor Who, and will definitely make you interested in the “Automaton.”

Video number four is from Michael Hornbuckle, who we have not heard from since we reviewed his album back in 2016.  We are so glad he’s back and simply can’t get enough of “Witches Wore Black.”

We close things out with the amazing classic rock sound of Revolution Saints, who remind us a lot of Journey.  Check out “When the Heartache has Gone” and we think you’ll be a believer as well.  We can’t wait to hear more when their album drops on January 24.

 

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Awards Fringe Shows Hollywood Fringe Festival Reviews See it or Skip it Theatre

HFF19 day 17 – see it or skip it

I only took in three shows on Saturday, out of the seven I had originally planned, giving me time to spend some time talking to friends at the Plunge and actually eat a sit-down meal before hanging with my bestie Kimleigh Smith for a while.  Before we get started on those reviews, I’m sure you’re all anxious to know who won the Larry Cornwall Award for Musical Excellence, so here we go:

SOLO SHOW – Blackboxing

ENSEMBLE SHOW – An yet Another Evening with the Sistahs

Both shows have been extended, and we strongly recommend them both, so grab your tickets on their individual Fringe project pages.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Olivia Wilde Does not Survive the Apocalypse

VENUE:  The Complex (Ruby Stage)

REVIEW:  Another of the Matts, this time Matt Robinson, has come through with an amazing addition to HFF19.  This show is a masterpiece and his hand-selected cast are comedic geniuses in pulling out all the stops to make this the funniest damn show of the Fringe.  Featuring Sean-Michael Bowles as the “hack director” and Emilie Martz as the “snooty actress,” the amazing cast also included Francesca Manzi as Rodeo, Chelsea Langenderfer as Chandler, Everett Dailey as Marcus, Chris Bunyi as Crenshaw, Asia Pitts as Abbot Kinney and Ashley Frances Hoffman as Dr. Kelli Hu  The show was directed by Robby DeVillez, and he was brilliant.  My sides hurt so much from laughing, especially at all the inside jokes.  We will be quoting lines from this show for a long time.

RECOMMENDATION:  Although this was their last performance, they have been granted an extension, so we advise you to be first in line when tickets become available.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Transference

VENUE:  The Broadwater (Black Box)

REVIEW:  Certain Fringe actors have earned their reputation by consistently delivering quality work.  Two of those particular performers are Esther Mira and Lisa K. Wyatt.  They have brought this show to life which was written and directed by the equally brilliant Jim Blanchette. In what might be one of the most challenging roles of their lives, they play a therapist and her client, who is unintentionally “made aware” of her past lives during the therapy.  I will not give away the great story, but suffice it to say that this one is definitely worth your time and money, making it one of the best dramas of HFF19.

RECOMMENDATION:  This was their last performance, but if they do an extension, we strongly recommend that you attend.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Hell’s Kitty

VENUE:  The Broadwater (Main Stage)

REVIEW:  After hanging around the Plunge for a bit, Kimleigh showed up from a long day of work and we shared dinner from the food truck before heading in to the movie.  I had previously met Nicholas Tana at Starbucks and he invited me to see this show because of my history with horror films.  He had also invited Kimleigh, so we thought it would be a great chance to catch a memorable show.  It was that, although not the type of memories you necessarily want to remember.  The show was very campy and dark, and will probably be enjoyed by a much younger demographic.  It also seemed like the cast was not quite up to the challenge, as their were serious vocal issues.  The one shinning star was the over-the-top performance of Maeve Thompson Osgood as Lisa Graves.  Although not a total bomb, it could use some additional rehearsal time and maybe some recasting before going forward.  i truly see the potential in the show, but felt it was not nearly as strong as NMI‘s other entry, The Bully Problem.

RECOMMENDATION:  This was their last performance.

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Awards Fringe Shows Hollywood Fringe Festival Reviews See it or Skip it Theatre

HFF19 Day 16 – see it or skip it

Yesterday was a very bad day for me personally, and because of that I will be unable to attend this year’s Fringe Awards Show and present the Larry Cornwall Award for Musical Excellence.  The past two years have gone to solo shows, and this year would have been different. Since we can’t do it live and are no longer limited to just one award, we’ll do it online, and we are including both solo show and ensemble categories.   Every show that we checked out for this award was marvelous (and we considered more than 30), but we  felt these ten shows were especially amazing in showing the power of music within the context of a play.  We’ll announce the winners tomorrow, but here are the nominations.

SOLO SHOW

Blackboxing

Hollywoodn’t

Keith Moon:  The Real Me

Drought

Jessie’s Messy Mind

ENSEMBLE SHOW

Silent Joy

An Yet Another Evening with the Sistahs

The Last Croissant

Come Back!

Meg Jo Beth Amy & Louisa

Since I will not be at the Awards Show or Closing Party, I wanted to say my goodbyes and thank each and every participant that I met for your kindness and great work.  Hopefully I’ll see you around the Fringe today or tomorrow, but just in case, thanks for making my first year as a participant a memorable experience, even though it was cut short.  Special thanks to Jessica Lynn Johnson for helping me develop my story and directing my show; Greg and Jenn Crafts, Erin Moore and Michael Lutheran for taking care of me at Studio/Stage; Lara Repko, Patrick Daly and Rasika Mathur for being my viewing buddies, and all my fringeships past and present.  Your support over the years, and especially yesterday, are what drew me to and kept me involved with Fringe.  May each of you be blessed in every endeavor.  Here is my sole review from yesterday.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Red, White, Black & Blue

VENUE:  The Broadwater (Studio)

REVIEW:  At Matt Martin‘s insistence, I witnessed a powerful hour of solo shows featuring Adam Meredith in Drowning (written by Leilani Squire) and Blaine Vedros in Black & Blue (written by Ron Fromstein.  This was powerful theater about the effect hope has in keeping us from making bad decisions.  Both shows were skillfully directed by Martin, and gave us plenty of food for thought.  Because of my own personal experiences with the military and domestic violence, these stories left a lasting impression on me.

RECOMMENDATION:  This was their last performance, but if they do an extension, we strongly recommend that you attend.

Categories
Hollywood Fringe Festival Reviews See it or Skip it Theatre

HFF19 previews 2 – see it or skip it

Last night was the final night of Office Hours for HFF19.  All five of  the May sessions were held at BLACK, with the finale at Thymele Arts.  Last night was also Fringe Runway, with participants showing off their amazing costumes, followed by a round of live band karoake with the Moon Units.  It was a very interesting evening and signaled today’s start of preview performances.  Before we head out tonight for our first three “official” Fringe previews, we wanted to tell you about another show that we saw back on June 1.  The show opened in May, but will run through Fringe so it is considered part of HFF19.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Roots:  An Evening of World Premiere Shorts

VENUE:  Theatre of NOTE

REVIEW:  This show gave me an excuse to return to where it all started for me in 2010 – the Theatre of NOTE.  I fell in love with this theater and its company then and have tried to see at least one show there every year.  I had run into one of the actresses, Channing Sargent, at Office Hours on May 22, and she talked me into attending.  I am so glad I did, as these four shows were so different yet similar, and each one featured a stellar cast, although they were all directed by Lee Hannah Conrads and stage managed by Aaron Saldaña and Zachary Burch.

The first show was Deadpan by Phinneas Kiyomura, and featured truly gifted actress Jennifer Flack in the role of Winchester, a bride-to-be who gets wasted on her wedding day because she is uncertain about her future.  She was supported by Sierra Marcks as her best friend Heckler, Dan Wingard as Koch, and Brad C. Light as her fiance, Colt.  Patricia Canale also made a cameo appearance  as the parent of Colt.  This one was hysterical from start to finish, with a surprise ending that kept it fresh.

Next up was Big Ones by Lisa Sanaye Dring, and featured Sargent as one of three characters dealing with the aftermath of an earthquake.  She was supported by Tony DeCarlo and David Guerra, and all three turned in a united effort that made this a true ensemble piece.

The third show was Rand! by Bill Robens, and was the most complex and dynamic, and eerily similar to an opera, with Canale leading the charge as Peter the Great.   This was the showpiece of the four shorts, and featured Cat Chengery in the title role, with dynamic support from Alysha Brady as Natasha, DeCarlo as Vlad/Keynes, Kelby Jo McClellan as Rhodia/Hopkins and Jaxy Boyd as Anna/FDR.  Tying it all together were Boyd, Brady, Flack, Light, McClellan and Wingard as the Suitcase People, a dynamic chorus that were stunning to hear. and also contributed some hilarious transitions between the stories.

The final story, The Smell of Something to Eat by Erik Patterson, featured Chengery and Marcks as a couple that hook up only to discover some interesting truths about each other afterwards.  We won’t betray those surprises, but assure you that you will be pleasantly shocked by them.

All in all, it was a wonderful show that had what we truly encapsulated what we call “the NOTE experience.”  The entire show is about 90 minutes long with no intermission.

RECOMMENDATION:  Don’t miss this show.  Remaining shows are June 8 at 6 p.m., June 9, 15, 16 and 23 at 7 p.m. and June 22 at 8:30 p.m.  Tickets are available on their Fringe project page.

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Hollywood Fringe Festival Theatre

Most anticipated shows at HFF19

It’s time once again for our annual list of the shows we are most anticipating at the 10th annual Hollywood Fringe Festival.  Unlike past years, not only are we reviewing shows and screening shows for our Larry Cornwall Award for Musical Excellence, but I am also doing my first solo show.  Needless to say, this is going to be a very interesting Fringe.  Here is our list, in alphabetical order.

Come on Down (The Broadwater) – This one’s directed and written by Jeff Scot Carey, features Emily Clark, CJ Merriman AND Victor Isaac, and was part of Serial Killers at Sacred Fools – what more reasons do we need?  This one is going to be epic.

Crabbe & Goyle are Dead (Studio/Stage) – The Harry Potter legend continues at Fringe with this latest creation from Kitty Keim.  That’s reason enough to see it.

Hollywoodn’t (The Lounge) – This one tells the story of the Hollywood scene before women were allowed to speak up and say no.  It also features writer, performer and lyricist Lisa Verlo.  It’s also part of the amazing Soaring Solo community and is directed by Jessica Lynn Johnson.  Can’t wait for this one.

Klingon Tamburlaine (The Complex) – I am a huge Star Trek fan, and have always love the Klingons.  This one sounds like a sure-fire hit, and the dream show for every nerd at Fringe.

Pockets (The Broadwater) – If ever there was a “sure thing” at Fringe, it would be anything put on by Robot Teammate.  They have brought us the incredible Turbulence and Thug Tunnel and their creativity and musical abilities are among the best we’ve ever seen at Fringe.

Tattered Capes (Studio/Stage) – We think this may well be the best thing Theatre Unleashed has ever attempted.  Written by Greg Crafts and directed by Corey Lynn Howe, this show looks to take TU into uncharted territory, and we have every confidence it will be amazing.

The Duchess & the Stripper (The Lounge) – Every year we look for a historical play, and this one is our selection for HFF19.  It tells the story of the Duchess of Windsor and Blaze Starr, one of the most famous strippers of all time.  It’s also highly recommended by the Cherry Poppins crew.

The Mayor’s Debate of Tranquility, Nebraska (The Complex) – we have always been a huge fan of Jim Hanna, and his latest projects looks to be as close as we will come to an actual intelligent political discussion until next year.  We also love his marketing campaign.

Transference (The Broadwater) – This one features a pair of our favorite actresses in Esther Mira and Lisa K. Wyatt and is written and directed by the incomparable Jim Blanchette.  That adds up to an amazing time at the theater.

Wigfield (The Hudson) – Last year we almost missed out on the stunning Pamela Eberhardt show The Runaway Clone.  This year we’re jumping on the bandwagon and making her latest show required viewing.  Based on the amazing marketing campaign she has run, this one looks to be even better than last year’s Clone.

And there you have it.  We can’t wait for Fringe to begin, and already have 32 shows on our schedule, including all  of the above.  We’ll be publishing daily reviews, so keep it here for our See it or Skip it articles.

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Reviews See it or Skip it Theatre Women in Entertainment

Cherry Poppins and Celebration Theatre deliver a gem

We have been covering the Hollywood Fringe Festival every year since it was started in 2010, with the exception of 2015.  When we returned to the Fringe in 2016, we discovered Cherry Poppins Productions, an amazing troupe of dancers that were so much more than traditional burlesque.  Every one of them could sing, act, and dance, but they were also amazing people both on and off stage.  We quickly became not only fans of their inspiring and truly entertaining shows, but also friends with most of them, including their brilliant co-founders Alli Miller and Sarah Haworth, as well as their “other halves,” Michael Shaw Fisher and Schoen Hodges.  We had been good friends with Fisher since 2012, based on his brilliant work with Orgasmico Theatre Co (Doomsday Cabaret, Exorcistic, the Werewolves of Hollywood Boulevard).  When he joined forces in 2017 with Miller, Haworth and Hodges on the award-winning Shakeslesque:  To Thine own Cherry be True, we knew that this would turn into the greatest entertainment merger of all time.

During HFF18, we witnessed the mastery of a new rock musical from Fisher called Doctor Nympho vs. the Sex Zombies, which combined the amazing burlesque of the Cherries with the brilliant songwriting chops of Fisher.  It was our most anticipated show of the Festival, and we loved reviewing it.  Imagine our joy to arrive for HFF19 and find out that they were doing the show AGAIN before the festival at Celebration Theatre.  We simply knew that we had to see it again, and see what changes had been made to stage it in a bigger and more traditional space.

Celebration moved to The Lex a few years ago, and we had not had the chance to check out their new digs.  We love what they have done with the space, and felt it the perfect location for the return of Doctor Nympho.

For the most part, this new version included the same cast as last year’s Fringe show, with a few notable differences.  Madeline Heil replaced Rebecca Reaney as Dr. Shatz and brought an entirely new sexiness to the role that only a Ginger can.  Likewise, Natalie Masini took on the role of Fisher’s assistant, Stacy, in place of Shannon Glascow, and truly nailed it.  Everjohn Feliciano joined the cast to round out the Zombettes, and was the perfect addition to originals Haworth, Lauren Avon, Amber Bracken, Meredith Lim, Reagan Osborne and Cory Robinson.  Miller reprised her role as Dr. Nympho with Fisher as her husband, and Kim Dalton and Kristyn Evelyn as their children.  Jeff Sumner was outstanding in his return as Jerry, giving the audience a Tony-worthy performance, while Hodges as Adam, Sarah Wines as Eve, and Brin Hamblin as Virus rounded out the cast, providing some of the finest dancing seen on any LA stage.  In fact, Hamblin is one virus we wouldn’t mind catching.

Of course, none of the brilliant stage work would be possible without Fisher’s amazing book, music and lyric, Haworth’s direction  or Miller and Hamblin’s choreography.  Music Director Sandy Chao Wang and Vocal Director Michael Teoli also contributed heavily to the success of the show.

Let loose and enjoy a thrilling night at the theater with the Cherries and Orgasmico.  This one is worthy of multiple viewings, and never gets old.  Don’t miss your chance to see it again or for the first time.

The show runs through May 26, with performances on May 11, 17, 18, 24 and 25 at 8 p.m. and May 12, 19 and 26 at 7 p.m. at Celebration Theatre (6760 Lexington Avenue).  Tickets are available through this link.  Come get infected.

You can also purchase the original cast recording of the soundtrack for only $10, and relive the music over and over again.

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Reviews See it or Skip it Theatre

The legend of Harry Potter lives on Nineteen Years Later

We never seem to get enough of the “boy who lived,” and the M&W Theater Group has crafted a masterpiece that will enthrall every Potter fan.  This is the third time this amazing work has been run since it began last year at HFF18, and the cast is perfectly suited to make the tradition continue.

Incredibly well-written by Kena Worthen (who also portrays Rose Granger-Weasley), Nineteen Years Later is an alternative (and more believable) sequel to the original, and is everything that “Cursed Child” is not.  If you’re like most Potter fans, you detest the stupidity of the “Cursed Child.”  Rest assured you now have a story that works, is much more plausible, and will keep you cheering as the legend lives on.

The only drawback is its length (nearly two and a half hours), but if you can survive Avengers: Endgame, then this one is a piece of cake.  We can promise you that you will be so engaged in this one that the time will fly by and you will never be bored.

The lighting design of Greg Crafts perfectly fits with the sound design of Graydon Schlichter, and the show is well controlled by stage manager Lizzy Hayes.

The cast was led by Frankie Zabilka (Albus Potter), Ryan Lefton (Scorpius Malfoy), Andrew Thomas (Harry Potter), Michael Lutheran (Ron Weasley), Kyle Maraglio (Draco Malfoy), Michelle Grey (Hermione Granger-Weasley) and Justin  Eliot Huff (Neville Longbottom), who brought their individual characters to life as if they’d been portraying them for their entire careers.  The villains were admirably portrayed by Erin Astin (Keres McGuffin) and Tianna Cohen (Cecilia Sinclaire), who almost made you love them as much as the good guys.  Zion Bell (James Potter) Malissa Marlow (Ginny Potter/McGonagall), Tiffany Bobbs (Stella Towie), Ayla Dumont (Lily Potter), Rob Hixon (Frank Longbottom), Bella Phillips (Julianne Rycroft), Jade Rosenberg (Kaylin Blackwell), and Rachel Strysik (Kendall Betcher) rounded out the magnificent cast.

Without giving away the story, suffice it to say that this one is truly worthy of the JK Rowling “Stamp of Approval,” and has great inside jokes to anyone who has seen all of the movies.  They even entertain us with a great game of trivia during the intermission.  This one is worthy of multiple viewings.  Unfortunately, the final performance is TODAY at 5:30 p.m., so grab your tickets before they sell out.  You can purchase a ticket here.

 

Categories
Reviews Theatre Women in Entertainment

You will never forget ‘The Book of Us’

Artwork by Alissa Wynne

Missoula has had a great arts community for many years, and with the arrival of the Cadmium Company, that legacy will surely continue.  The newly-formed theater group is composed of University of Montana students and alumni.  Their current production is The Book of Us, a new play by local playwright and University of Wisconsin-Madison PhD student Joshua Kelly.

The play is wonderfully directed by recent UM MFA graduate Natasha Conti, who we reviewed during her amazing performance in The Madwoman of Chaillot at the University’s Masquer Theatre.

The play is being performed in the basement of a private residence which has been configured into a black box theater very similar to the Masquer, with audience members watching from both sides.

”The opportunity to do a boutique house show – and to bring Kelly’s second full-length play to life – was one that couldn’t be passed up,” Conti said.  “The intimate nature of a show on location means the audience members are literally inches away from the actors. There’s no room for pretense, and that kind of theatre is fascinating.”

The play  examines the relationship between a young writer, his steadfast boyfriend, and his intermittent girlfriend.  Zachary French turns in a Tony-worthy performance as Xavier, the young writer, who must re-evaluate the nature of his relationships with Jacob, played by Thain Bertin, and Hadley, played by Brit Garner.  Jasmine Sherman portrays Jacob’s sister, Jennifer, in a supporting role.

The performances of the ensemble are equally breathtaking, but it is the riveting performance of French that is truly memorable.  Nevertheless, every cast member truly shines in their respective roles, and as a result, the audience will have a treasure trove of amazing  moments to look back on.

Annika Hanson composed the music and does an outstanding job of playing background guitar, adding the perfect musical backdrop for the play.  Stage Manager Aaron Turner was likewise outstanding in his technical support.

The play continues at 8 p.m. on July 13 and 14.  Tonight is sold out but there are still tickets available for Saturday.  Tickets are a suggested $5 donation at the door, and reservations are available by emailing cadmiumcompany@gmail.com.  The lobby opens at 7:30 p.m. and seating begins at 7:45 p .m.  There is no late seating.

Audience discretion is advised as the play contains adult themes, language, and nudity.   Seating is limited so audience members are encouraged to reserve seats early.  You don’t want to miss this play.

Categories
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 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:

In addition, we would also award these shows:

What were your favorites?  We would love to know.

Categories
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.