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.