Tag: HFF17

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

HFF17 – see it or skip it (day 4) part 2

Continuing on with Day 4 of our annual pilgrimage to the Hollywood Fringe Festival, part 2 will cover the two shows that took up our late afternoon.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Snatched . . . Stories from down there

VENUE:  Asylum @ Studio C

REVIEW:  I missed this show at last year’s Fringe.  Unfortunately, it was not worth the wait, and left us feeling quite a bit uncomfortable.  While we did enjoy the musical interludes in the story, over all it didn’t connect with us.  Loree Gold may be  a good storyteller, but after hearing her story, it didn’t leave us feeling challenged, or enlightened or even emphatic.  It simply left us feeling like we had sat through a painful vanity piece that was more for the benefit of the performer than the audience.

RECOMMENDATION:   This one is painful – Skip it.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Conversations ‘Bout the Girls

VENUE:  Dorie Theatre at the Complex

REVIEW:  Everything that the previous show was not, this one was.  We loved that the story was set in a lingerie store, and told as if she was training a new employee on the different types of bras and the particular breasts they were made to fit.  Incorporating stories about various women that had breast cancer, and their choices for reconstruction or not struck a particular chord with us, as we have lost friends to this particularly hideous form of cancer, as well as have friends who have overcome it.  Sonia Jackson was a natural storyteller who has crafted a very personal while still universal piece about this disease.  It was wonderfully directed by Jessica Lynn Johnson, the queen of Fringe solo shows.

RECOMMENDATION:  If you or a loved one have suffered from breast cancer, you owe it to yourself or to them to See it.  There is one remaining performance on June 24 at 1 p.m.  We definitely recommend that you catch this show.

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

HFF17 – see it or skip it (day 4) part 1

Sunday was our busiest Fringe day this year, with seven shows on our schedule, including a couple of shows we were dying to see, including Lyla, Turbulence and Buffy.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Lights Camera Lyla! The Second Act

VENUE:  Sacred Fools Black Box Theatre

REVIEW:  Jeffrey Wylie‘s Lyla has become a cultural icon at the Hollywood Fringe Festival,  By popular demand, Wylie has created a sequel that in many ways is even better than the first one.  In a true testament of life imitates art, Lyla signs with a major media outlet and moves to New York to start working on her own show.  However, she discovers that New York has even bigger bullies than Texas.  But have no fear, our heroine learns to stand up for herself and learns that all important lesson – life is easier to cope with if you just stay true to your self.  The show is funny and poignant while giving you even more reasons to love Lyla.

RECOMMENDATION:  You simply MUST See this show.  After a year without Lyla, it was so good to have her home again.  Don’t miss her final performance on June 22 at 5:30 p.m.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Loves Adventures

VENUE:  Dorie Theatre at the Complex

REVIEW:  After hanging with Esther Mira at Fringe Central, and talking about her show, we were looking forward to checking it out.  We were not prepared for how awesome it was.  We expected it to have an 80’s flavor, but we did not expect that the entire show would be done in Elizabethan English!  For a story written more than 400 years ago, it was wonderfully adapted by Mark Hein and Elissa Anne Polansky, who also directed this incredible work of art.  It was a true ensemble piece, with each actor contributing equally to make the show a success.  Hats off to Anagabriela Cordero, Tara Donovan, Chineze Enekwechi, Marian Gonzalez, John Hayden, Edward Hong, Faith Kearns, Marc Leclerc, Sylvia Loehndorf, Travis Moritz and Mira for a great collaborative effort.

RECOMMENDATION:  You should definitely See this show.  It is a hidden gem, but worthy of your attention.  Be sure to catch one of the three remaining shows on June 20 and 22 at 7 p.m. and on June 24 at 5 p.m.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Under the Jello Mold

VENUE:  Ruby Theatre at the Complex

REVIEW:  What more can be said about a show that has already won Pick of the Fringe, and is consistently sold out – only that the hype is true – Jennie Fahn has captured the heart and soul of HFF 17 in a way no one has in several years.  This masterpiece was directed by Tom Cavanaugh and written and performed by Fahn.  Her characterizations are truly memorable and heart-pulling, while her message is crystal clear – love your family and spend as much time with them as you can, because all too soon they are gone.  Don’t be surprised to hear Fahn’s name called a few times at next Sunday’s Fringe Awards.  She deserves nothing less.

RECOMMENDATION:  Do whatever it takes to See this show.  It is one of the best productions at HFF 17.  Tickets are available for June 21 and 24 at 7 p.m., but are sold out for June 22.

 

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

HFF17 – see it or skip it (day 3) part 2

We continue on with reviews of our final two shows of the day.  Both shows were at the incredible Studio/Stage space.  We are so impressed with the work done there by Gregory Crafts and Jenn Scuderi Crafts.  They have crafted a wonderful performance venue that makes the Fringe even better.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Blamed:  An Established Fiction

VENUE:  Studio/Stage

REVIEW:  We were unprepared for the breathtaking beauty of this production, which was a true work of art.  The La Habra Theater Guild has brought serious culture to the Fringe, with an amazing collection of stories about women, dating from the beginning of man to the present.  The stories are told through spoken word, dance and visual arts presentations, and were like manna from heaven in their sheer beauty.  Not only was the ensemble amazing, but they were accompanied by a superb group of musicians, featuring Brian Johnson, Gina Romantini, Trey Everett and Wesley Chavez.  The show was wonderfully written by Callie Prendiville, with choreography by Annie Lavin and music by Wesley Chavez.  Our hats off to the incredible ensemble:  Alanna Bledman, Alissa Schoeman, Annie Lavin, Callie Prendiville, Camille Durgas, Emily Taylor, Erika Schindele, Justine Sombilon, Lillie Muir, Norma Mendoza, Renee Curtis, Rian Dixon and Zoya Martin.

RECOMMENDATION:  You should definitely See this show if you love culture and the arts, especially the sheer beauty of dance.  There are still three shows remaining on June 18 at 9 p.m., June 21 at 6 p.m. and June 22 at 6:30 p.m.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Art & Abolition

VENUE:  Studio/Stage

REVIEW:  Fringe shows have never strayed from being advocates for causes or a reflection of the social mores of the day, but Art & Abolition goes beyond simple advocacy to actually taking action.  First-time fringer Brittanie Richardson, with the help of the solo show master director Jessica Lynn Johnson, has created a masterpiece of storytelling that is a call to action to help stop the exploitation of child sex slaves in countries like Kenya and instead help heal these victims through the arts.  It is lovingly told and beautifully acted.  Even though the material is harsh, Richardson has a way to presenting it so that you leave encouraged instead of ashamed.  It was a stirring show and worthy of attention, and we accept the challenge to do our part to help these young girls in need.

RECOMMENDATION:  By all means, See it, but don’t treat it as entertainment.  It is truly a call to action.  The final performance is scheduled for June 18 at 4 p.m.

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

HFF17 – see it or skip it (day 3) part 1

We were supposed to see seven shows yesterday, but ended up missing the first and the last ones due to tiredness for the former and sickness for the latter.  It was a great day to run into old friends and catch up, especially Cynthia Holloway from the Goddess Freak Ensemble, a band I used to follow in Los Angeles and Theatre Unleashed company member Mandy Muenzer.  We also spent some time reconnecting with Lesley Asistio and getting to know our new friend Sofie Khan.  After a rough start it proved to be a great day of fringing.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Domino is Down

VENUE:  Lounge 1 Theatre

REVIEW:  Not the best show to start our day.  Although the venue was packed with friends and fans of writer/performer Mitchell Reiter, there was a noticeable lack of energy in the space, and that was before the show started.  The show had a good premise, but it did not pan out because the pacing was too slow.  The best part of the show were the interactions between Domino and the bartender, played by Blue Bloods‘ veteran Staci Rodrigues.  Teresa Yates also turned in a brilliant performance as Domino’s cop friend Tommi.

RECOMMENDATION:  There are still two more performances of this show on June 21 and 23, both at 8 p.m.  Hopefully those performances will be tighter and have more energy.  Unfortunately, based on our experience, we think you should just Skip it.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Three can Keep a Secret

VENUE:  Studio/Stage

REVIEW:  This show was the polar opposite of the previous show, with enough energy to take care of Los Angeles for decades.  Wonderfully written by Gregory Crafts and skillfully directed by Jacob Smith, Three can Keep a Secret delivered like only a Theatre Unleased production can.  This company has consistently delivered amazing Fringe performances year after year, and this year was no different.  If we could only see their two productions, it would still be worth the 2,800 mile round trip from Montana.

The five member cast was perfectly suited for the “choose your own adventure” format, and the audience had a blast being involved in the direction the show took.  Each of the actors deserves kudos for their performance, and we are proud to recognize Graydon Schlicter as Moose, Jim Martyka as Sonny, Carey Mathews as Mason, Mandy Muenzer as Denise and Heather Lynn Smith as Heidi.

RECOMMENDATION:  If you don’t already have tickets to their final performance on June 24 at 6:30 p.m., we strongly encourage you to get on the waiting list and See this show.  You won’t be sorry.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Mexistani!  Growing up Mexican & Pakistani in America

VENUE:  Studio/Stage

REVIEW:  Behold our recommendation for Top of the Fringe!  Sofie Khan delivers one of the best performances we have ever seen at the Fringe.  She is a fireball of energy as she commanded the stage, bringing to life each and every character that has shaped her journey.  The show was everything you want in a Fringe show – great story, amazing acting and memorable characters – with just the right amount of political commentary.  We laughed until our sides hurt, while also learning about some of the hazards of being gay in today’s volatile world.  We salute Khan for speaking out and for delivering such an impressive performance.  By the end of the show, we felt like we had been best friends since childhood.  We are so fortunate we got to see this amazing closing performance.  Please come back to Fringe next year Sofie!

RECOMMENDATION:  If this hadn’t been her final performance, we would have demanded that you go See her show.  Guess you’ll have to wait until next year.

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Fringe Shows Hollywood Fringe Festival Reviews Theatre

HFF17 – see it or skip it (day 2) part 2

So, the first part of our day we attended three shows that were on the dramatic side.  We closed out the night with a pair of musicals at Studio/Stage, both of which were on our list of most anticipated shows.

TITLE OF SHOW:  The Spidey Project

VENUE:  Studio/Stage

REVIEW:  Theatre Unleashed never fails to deliver outstanding performances, whether at Fringe or the rest of the year, and this show is one of their best.  It was flawlessly directed by the playwright and lyricist himself, Justin Moran, and retold the Spider-Man origin story in a delightful and unique way – through music.  The back story of the production is equally impressive, so grab me when I’m out and about and we’ll discuss.

With the current media attention on superheroes, especially those from Marvel, The Spidey Project is particularly timely for this year’s Fringe.  Every performer was outstanding, but several deserve special kudos, among them Travis Nilan, who played Peter Parker/Spider-Man, both in the original one night only performance in New York and again for this run in Los Angeles.  He was totally believable in his portrayal, and made the story come alive.  He was aided in this endeavor by an outstanding supporting cast, including Heather Lake as Betty Brant, Henry Kaiser as Kent Holbrook, Presley Roy as Gwen Stacy, Richard Abraham as Uncle Ben, Margaret Glaccum as Aunt May, Adam Slemon as J. Jonah Jameson and Christopher Jewell Valentin as Flash Thompson.   Kudos also to the amazing choreography of Lindsay Braverman and the tight musical production of musical director Jennifer Lin.  

RECOMMENDATION:  This one is a no-brainer, and deserves one of our highest See it ratings.  Unfortunately, the show is sold out for the remainder of Fringe, but you can sign up for the wait list and more than likely get to see one of the remaining performances on June 21 at 7 p.m. or June 24 at 7:45 p.m.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Nothing Bad: A Werewolf Rock Musical

VENUE:  Studio/Stage

REVIEW:   With the absence of Orgasmico Theatre Company at this year’s Fringe, we were looking to this rock musical to help us get over that loss.  While the production did not ascend to quite that level, it was a worthy effort by first time company They Played Productions.  The show combined elements of Pleasantville, Teen Wolf and Wolfen to create a hybrid musical of the ideal small town with a dark secret.  Hats off to first time playwright and director Erik Blair, who has crafted a wonderful story about coming of age within a “too perfect” community.  He was wonderfully aided in his efforts by songwriter and musical director Dan Sugimoto, and producer Thea Rivera.

Lyndsey Wegner and Lexi Eiserman were perfect in their portrayals of Mayor White and her daughter, Lily White, respectively, both of whom had dark secrets they did not want to come to light.  Their voices were amazingly strong and they brought their respective characters to life in a goose-bump raising way.  They were aided in their performances by an amazing cast of supporting actors, including Jake Saenz as Christopher Cross, Tyler Angier as Luke Diamond, Renee Wylder as D’nise D’Arthur, Tyler Carlson as Dean Swenson, Mathew San Jose as Jake Stone and Danielle Philapil as the Beast.  Jessica Tucker and Rachel Berman were also great in their ensemble roles.

RECOMMENDATION:  Like The Spidey Project, this show is sold out for the duration of its Fringe run.  However, we recommend that you See it, and sign up for the wait list for your chance at the final performance on June 24 at 9:30 p.m.

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Fringe Shows Hollywood Fringe Festival Reviews Theatre Women in Entertainment

HFF17 – see it or skip it (day 2) part 1

Friday was such a wonderful day.  Got up early to work on my first reviews and to tell our story about our journey down to the Hollywood Fringe Festival.  Afterwards, we headed out for lunch and then drove around and visited some of our old haunts, like Fry’s Electronics, before heading down to the Fringe for the first of five shows.  Three of the shows on our evening schedule were included in our Ten Most Anticipated Shows at HFF17.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Quantum Entanglement

VENUE:  Sacred Fools Black Box

REVIEW:   Katelyn Schiller blew us away with her amazing How to be a Virgin (in 12 morally ambiguous steps) last year, so we were really looking forward to her new show Quantum Entanglement.  Unfortunately, it was not what we expected.  In a way, that is good, because the show was beautiful.  The problem was we’re not sure what it is.  To quote Schiller’s character Andromeda, “(we) wanted to give the gift of understanding, but we couldn’t.”  We talked to several other attendees afterwards, and none of them could put a finger on just what we had experienced.  It was a beautiful show, but what was it trying to say?  The best we could come up with was that it was about relationships, and that everyone who sees it will take from it what they need, based on their own experiences with relationships.  That being said, it was definitely one of the most different Fringe shows we have ever encountered, and for that we were fortunate to have seen it.  We would love to hear your take on this show.

RECOMMENDATION:  If you love the unexpected and exciting aspect of Fringe, then this is the perfect show for you.  Remaining performances include June 17 at 2:30 p.m. and June 23 at 6 p.m.  On the other hand, if you only like typical theatrical performances, then you may want to skip this one.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Hot Dates

VENUE:  The Three Clubs

REVIEW:   The title of the show doesn’t really convey the story, but it is definitely a good marketing ploy.  I mean, who wouldn’t want to spend some quality time with a babe as hot as Shiragirl?  She takes us on a time trip through her life, spouting off those dates like they were page markers in the story of her journey.  What makes it even better is that she can sing and dance, as well as act, and she uses all of these things to describe her life.  This is another show that used the creative skills of Deana Barone, while at the same time using brilliant Natalie Mitchell to direct this amazing show.  It also came in at #10 on our “most anticipated” list.  Needless to say you will not leave this show unentertained.  We also encourage you to click the link above and check out Shiragirl’s Facebook page to find out more about the incredible life of Shira Leigh.

RECOMMENDATION:  We think you should definitely See it.  She still has one more performance on June 24 at 6:30 p.m.  It’s definitely worth attending.

TITLE OF SHOW:  The Girl who Jumped off the Hollywood Sign

VENUE:  Lounge 2 Theatre

REVIEW:  Joanne Hartstone comes to us from her native Australia, where she has already won two awards at the 2017 Adelaide Fringe.  This show was #5 on our list of “most anticipated” shows at HFF17, and it definitely did not disappoint.  We have always been fans of Hollywood’s Golden Age, and it became quickly obvious that Hartstone had done her research in crafting this timeless story.  This show was also the first one we reviewed that had submitted to be considered for our first Larry Cornwall Award for best use of music in a non-musical show.  Hartstone set the bar for the competition quite high.  In the words made famous in the “Men on Film” skits from In Living Color, it earned “two snaps and a trip around the world.”  Hartstone’s voice is amazing as she performs songs by Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe, The Andrew Sisters and Jean Harlow, to name a few.  Hartstone would have been a star with them had she lived back then.  We are thankful she decided to bring us this amazing show from down under.

RECOMMENDATION:  You simply must See it.  Hartstone has several remaining shows on June 17 at 6 p.m., June 18 at 4 p.m. and June 22 at  8 p.m.  Don’t miss it.

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Fringe Shows Hollywood Fringe Festival Reviews See it or Skip it

HFF17 – see it or skip it (day 1)

TITLE OF SHOW:  Robot Monster the Musical

VENUE:  Main stage of Sacred Fools Theatre

REVIEW:  This was a workshop performance of a new musical based on what is often considered one of the best “bad” movies from the 50’s.  This production, directed by Derek Long (who also provides the voice of Ro-Man XJ2, could use a little pruning, as it is too long for the story.  The show does have its moments, such as every scene involving little Johnny (Dana DeRuyck), but could use a little more structure, especially for those of us not familiar with the movie.

Although he doesn’t speak, hats off to Rich Silverman, the actor in the gorilla suit, who sweated up a great performance as Ro-Man.  It was his first time ever on stage.  Cheers also to Jamie Miller, who did a good job as big sister Alice and Stephanie Thomas as little sister Carla, as well as Don Margolin, who played the professor to perfection.  Andrew Villarreal and Val Peterson, Roy and Martha, respectively, were a little too much over the top, even for a campy B-movie.  Their overacting was a little distracting, taking away from an otherwise good performance.

RECOMMENDATION:  Unless you are a huge fan of campy, bad films and their musical adaptations, you should probably just Skip it.

We were going to see a couple more shows, but the journey caught up with us, and we decided to head down to Fringe Central to grab a drink and look for old friends.  We were joined by the lovely Laura Wiley, creator and producer of Buffy Killed Edward, and Esther Mira, who plays Lady Bashful in Loves Adventures.   Lucky for us, it was also Fringe Cabaret night, so we got to see portions of seven shows as we mingled with Laura and Elissa.  Among the shows previewed were The Joe and Joshua Show, Easy Targets, Psychosical, Incantesimo, 13th Grade, Lights Camera Lyla The Second Act and Missmatch.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Hey Hollywood, my Hustle has ADHD

VENUE:  Lounge Theatre 2

REVIEW:  We closed out our first day of Fringe with this delightful solo comedic romp, and it was the perfect choice.  I must admit that we chose this show because it was directed and developed by Deana Barone, who we fell in love with at last year’s Fringe.  Rasika Mathur was simply amazing in her writing and her performance.  She took what could have been a boring personal drama, and made it into a delightful immersive experience that kept the audience in stitches.  As you can imagine from a show about ADHD, it was delightfully disjointed, changing topics rapidly while telling an interesting story about an artist discovering the cause of her “affliction.”  Barone and Mathur brought a myriad of colorful characters to life, and the hour just seemed to fly by.  This was a Fringe show delivered with perfection, and we are so happy that we were able to see it.

RECOMMENDATION:  By all means, See it.  There is only one remaining show, and we strongly recommend that you make plans to see it on June 24 at 10 p.m.

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Hollywood Fringe Festival

HFF17 – the journey begins

It’s finally here – time for our annual pilgrimage to the Hollywood Fringe Festival.  This year we decided to take a slow and easy path down from Montana, and spent three days traveling and sightseeing along the way.

We left Missoula at 3:33 p.m. on Tuesday, June 13.  The drive was wet, as we had rain through most of Montana.  We stopped for gas in Idaho Falls, plus a pit stop (or two) along the way, before hitting the outskirts of Salt Lake City just before 10 p.m.  As promised we stopped in Centerville at the northernmost In-n-Out Burgers and had dinner, before driving the final 30 minutes or so to our Airbnb for the night in Sandy.

We got up early on Wednesday and drove down to Zion National Park in southern Utah.  Words cannot describe the beauty we saw as we toured Kolob Canyon in the northern part of the park, before headed to the main area of the park further south.  It was a popular destination, as we had to park in the town of Springdale before catching a shuttle into the park.  Once inside the park, we took the shuttle up to the Grotto and hiked back down to Zion Lodge, about two miles.  It was a popular destination, and the pay-off for the hike came about 1.5 miles in when we reached to western rim where the temperature dropped about 20 degrees and we could walk under the small waterfalls.

After grabbing some dinner in St. George, we continued our journey to Vegas, where we spent the night at the Four Queens hotel on Fremont Street.  The hotel was nice enough to give us earplugs, so we got a decent night’s sleep after exploring the Fremont Street Experience, and of course, losing a few dollars in the slot machines.

Thursday morning we got up and had breakfast in one of the hotel restaurants before striking out on the final leg of our journey.  We made good time until we hit the 210 freeway, where traffic was heavy all the way to Pasadena.  We got to Burbank about an hour before we could check into our Airbnb, so we stopped at In-n-Out for dinner.  The house is lovely and the hosts are a wonderful bohemian couple with a toddler, who couldn’t be nicer.  We gifted them with a six-pack of Montana microbrews and took a short nap before heading down to the Fringe for our first night of shows.

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Artists Worth Checking Out LA Music Critic Awards Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2017: Vol. 22

Happy Monday.  It was a busy week of reviewing, and we still have a few more to do.  We are also busy preparing for the Hollywood Fringe Festival and our winners showcase for the LA Music Critic Awards.  We’re happy to be able to share some news with you and kick off another week.

HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL KICKS OFF PREVIEW WEEK

The 8th Annual Hollywood Fringe Festival kicked off its preview week, and the majority of the previews were sold out.  According to my sources, the first four days of the week have been a huge success.  Not only that, but the Festival received a huge slice of press when the Los Angeles Daily News did a wonderful article on the Fringe.  Can’t wait until the 15th when our Fringe adventure begins.  #HFF17

CRIMSON CALAMITY FIGHTING FOR CHANCE TO OPEN

Our dear friends at Crimson Calamity have come a long way in the past year.  They are part of the 2017 Stadium of Fire competition and have managed to earn a spot in the Top 25.  If they reach the top 10, they will be considered for an opening spot for Little Big Town.  As of this morning, the band is at #11, and the contest ends tomorrow night.  Can you help them make it over the top?   By the way, the video they’re using is super hot.  Check it out when you vote.

NEW MUSIC

Check out “All About Love,” the new single from LA’s transplanted Danish artist Ronny Morris.  It has such a sweet dreamy feel that is perfect for your evening chill time.  What do you think?

https://soundcloud.com/ronnymorrismusic/ronny-morris-all-about-love

MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first new video this week is from Superet.  With the return of Twin Peaks, it seems like the perfect fit.  Let us know what you think.

Los Angeles country sensations Honey County recently debuted their new song “Love Someone” on Radio Disney Country.  Here’s the music video of the song – we love it!

Another of our favorite indie bands, Fort Atlantic, has just released a lyric video for their single, “Just Hold On.”  We love the sound and believe these guys belong on the radio.

Closing out this Monday is “User,” the latest video from six-time winners of the LA Music Critic Awards, The Spider Accomplice.  The band will be performing on June 20 as part of the Winners Showcase on the Hotel Cafe’s Second Stage.  We strongly encourage you to attend.

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Fringe Shows Hollywood Fringe Festival Theatre

Ten most anticipated shows at 2017 Hollywood Fringe Festival

We have been covering the Hollywood Fringe Festival since its inception in 2010, with the exception of 2015 when work prevented us from being there.  During that time, we have seen a boatload of shows, most of them good, with some great and some not so great ones thrown in.  We look forward to the schedule being announced on May 1, so that we have time to comb through the offerings and formulate our schedule to best view as many of the shows as we can.   We truly love the new Scheduler feature on the Fringe website which has made creating this year’s schedule much easier.

This year are also privileged to be able to present our first award, the Larry Cornwall Award for Musical Excellence, which will honor a non-musical fringe show that best incorporates music into the show.

Based on our experience with certain companies and actors, we seek them out because they have traditionally given some of the best performances, and this year is no different.  Here are our Top Ten most anticipated shows at this year’s festival.  We are including the venue name in our description.

10.  Hot Dates (3 Clubs).  We picked this show because of the title, and because we absolutely love Deana Barone.  We know that Barone always brings out the best in her clients, and this show just sounds like a lot of fun.

9.  Chemo Barbie (Studio C).   Like the previous show, we picked this show in part based on our previous relationship with the director, Jessica Lynn Johnson, who has directed some of the best theater we have seen at the Fringe.  We do love solo shows, and Johnson’s clients have some of the most compelling stories.

8.  Nosferatu (Studio/Stage).   Who doesn’t like a classic horror story?  We are intrigued by the twists in this particular production, such as a female in the lead role, but we have total faith that Michelle Holmes will deliver a stunning performance.  This should be a great show.

7.  Lovesick (Sacred Fools).   This is another Jessica Lynn Johnson show, and it truly has us pumped for the Fringe.  Although we are not familiar with the work of Gabriela Demarco, she has demonstrated in her marketing that she has great potential.  We look forward to another great show here.

6.  Under the Jello Mold (Ruby Theatre).   Director/producer Tom Cavanaugh is another Fringe veteran that has consistently brought great shows to the Fringe, and we have no doubt that this will be another hit.   This is also one of the shows being considered for the Cornwall Award.

5.  The Girl Who Jumped Off the Hollywood Sign (Lounge).  The fact that this show has won awards at other fringes was a compelling reason to add it to our list.  We also love the Golden Age of Hollywood, and look forward to their interpretation of that time.  Last but not least, this show is also up for the Cornwall Award.

4.  Nothing Bad:  A Werewolf Rock Musical (Studio/Stage).   What would Fringe be like without a horror-themed rock musical?  Michael Shaw Fisher and his company are not doing one this year, so we had to find another one to take its place,  This one looked good for a number of reasons, and we are truly looking forward to being “rocked.”

3.  Three Can Keep a Secret (Studio/Stage).   Theatre Unleashed has consistently delivered great shows, so this one was a no-brainer.  We love Greg Crafts and look forward to seeing one of his own plays.  We are also looking forward to the remount of his previous show, The Spidey Project, which will give TU another opportunity to do what they do best – sing.

2.  Turbulence (Sacred Fools).   We fell in love with Robot Teammate last year when they delivered one of the best shows in Thug Tunnel.  We are confident that they will do it again with this show.

  1. Shakeslesque (3 Clubs).   Our most anticipated show this year is another no-brainer.  Cherry Poppins delivered a mega-hit last year with their show, and have consistently offered LA some of its best entertainment value over the past year, with consistent sold-out shows.  Not to mention the fact that the infamous Mr. Fisher is in the cast of this show, and the incredible talents of the Cherry Poppins ladies, especially Alli Miller and Sarah Haworth Hodges, this show is a can’t miss opportunity to see how the stories of Mr. Shakespeare translate into burlesque.

See you at the Fringe!