Tag: Hollywood Fringe Festival

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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.

 

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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!

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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.

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

HFF18 day 7 – see it or skip it (part 2)

You can find part 1 here.

Our next show was one of our most anticipated shows.  As extreme Die Hard fans who live in Montana, we have never had the chance to catch Theatre Unleashed’s annual Christmas present, and were overjoyed by the prospect of getting to see it at this year’s Fringe.

TITLE OF SHOW:  A Very Die Hard Christmas

VENUE:  Studio/Stage

REVIEW:  We came to this show with high hopes and standards, and were relieved that once again, Theatre Unleashed did not disappoint.  Parody shows will either uplift or alienate fans of the original, and we are proud to say that this show is a definite hit.  From the amazing rewrites of holiday songs to the long list of puns included in the show, the action kept us mesmerized for the entire 90 minutes, which flew by like Christmas morning.  We especially liked the use of the Snowman for Patrolman Powell, and the creative casting methods used by this company that defy logic but which always work.  The only person who seemed typecast was Jim Martyka as Hans Gruber, and anyone who has dealt with him knows I mean this in the best possible way.  We just couldn’t think of anyone else in the Company (except maybe Greg Crafts) that could get away with being such a horrible villain.  Kudos to the amazing ensemble cast for always rising to the top of the fringe.

RECOMMENDATION:  Definitely get off your keister and catch one of the two remaining performances on June 21 at 7:30 p.m. or June 23 at 6:30 p.m.  Tickets are running out, so grab them here.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Sex and the Musical

VENUE:  Three Clubs

REVIEW:  We come to our last show of the weekend, another of our most anticipated shows, and Laura Wiley once again delivers a hit.  We are almost as big a fan of Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha as we are of McClane, and to see this amazing prequel was like a drink of water in a vast desert.  Her cast of Sherry Berg (last year’s Buffy) as Carrie Bradshaw, Emily Craig as Miranda Hobbes, Amanda Hootman as Charlotte York and Alli Miller as Samantha Jones was truly inspired.  I mean, in all of Fringe, who is better equipped to play Samantha than Miller?  The original songs were well written and ably performed by this talented cast, who were supported in their roles by Aaron Matijasic as Stanford Blatch, Reagan Osborne as Allen Prince, Cory Robinson as Mr. Big and Nicholas Rubando as the waiter and Carrie’s editor.  This is definitely a contender for Best Musical of HFF18.

RECOMMENDATION:  Don’t miss your chance to see one of the best shows at Fringe.  Catch them on either June 19 or 21 at 11:30 p.m., but be advised, they will sell out.  Grab your tickets today by clicking here.

We’ll be seeing three shows tonight and then taking tomorrow off for the LA Music Critic Awards Winners Showcase.  Details in tomorrow’s reviews.

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

HFF18 day 7 – see it or skip it (part 1)

We somehow survived eight shows on Saturday, and after a few hours of sleep, were back at the Fringe for five more shows on Sunday.  We started out at the place where we had closed out the previous day, The Lounge Theatre.

TITLE OF SHOW:  American Conspiracy

VENUE:  The Lounge Theatre

REVIEW:  Most of us remember where we were when John Hinckley tried to assassinate President Ronald Reagan.  Was it the act of a lonely young man, or a conspiracy?  This play presents a plausible explanation, and does it in such a manner that you will leave the theatre contemplating that question.  Playwright Benjamin Schwartz and director Matt Richey give us a golden opportunity to witness the possible behind the scenes dealings in this matter.  The brilliant cast, including Katelyn Schiller as Jane the waitress, Spencer Cantrell as Alan, Edward Hendershott as the D.O.E. agent, Amy Smallman-Winston as Fran, the diner owner, David Garner as Trent and Hank Doughan as John, make us want to believe the story, and all turn in amazing portrayals of their respective characters.  Remember, the truth is out there, we just have to find it.

RECOMMENDATION:  If conspiracy theory is your thing, or you just want to see a stimulating drama, then you should definitely see this show.  They have remaining performances on June 22 at 10 p.m. and June 23 at 6 p.m., but hurry and grab your tickets here, as every show has been sold out.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Jane Austen’s Emma Frankenstein

VENUE:  The Broadwater Main Stage

REVIEW:  Sacred Fools is quickly joining the list of theater companies that consistently deliver great Fringe shows, and this show is definitely one of their best.  We loved the fact that they don’t take themselves too seriously, but know how to deliver a show that is fun for the sake of fun without the necessity of having to say anything.  The use of 80’s sitcom theme songs, and the amazing cast of mashed-up characters make this one of the most fun times we have had at Fringe.  The special guest cameo by French Stewart didn’t hurt either.  Cheers to the amazing ensemble cast for delivering one of the true gems of HFF18.  We can’t wait to see what you bring us next.

RECOMMENDATION:  If you love to laugh, and want a break from all the issue-driven shows at Fringe, then take a moment and enjoy the sheer pleasure of this show.  They still have one final performance on June 23 at 8 p.m. and tickets are available here.  Don’t forget to also check out the other two parts of the Monster Mash trilogy – Dracula’s Taste Test and Crunch.

We had time to grab some lunch at Burgerim before heading over to Studio/Stage for our next show.

TITLE OF SHOW:  God:  The Apologies Tour

VENUE:  Studio/Stage

REVIEW:  Immersive theater is becoming quite the rage at Fringe, but it has never been one of our favorite formats.  Nevertheless, the level of immersion in this show was more of a manageable level, and we did not feel violated.  It was an appealing opportunity to have the chance to have a face-to-face and intimate meeting with the Creator, so we decided to give it a chance.  We are so glad we did, as it turned out to be not one but four opportunities to interact with the God we knew best, or explore the ones we didn’t.  I chose to spend the first session with the main character, but was chosen to also spend time with the mystic and mysterious one.  It was an experience we will not soon forget, and are thankful that we took a chance on this show.  Congrats to Erik Blair, Heidi Appe, Stephy Kamei and Zachary Johnson-Dunlop for an amazing hour of therapy.

RECOMMENDATION:   Don’t miss their final show on June 22 at 8 p.m.  It is time well spent.  Grab your tickets here.

Back with part 2 in just a bit.

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

HFF18 day 6 – see it or skip it (part 3)

You can find part 1 here and part 2 here.

We closed out our Saturday with another Jessica Lynn Johnson-directed show, an Alan Arkin-written and Glenn Morshower-directed show, and a couple hours of fun at the newly-opened Plunge bar at the Broadwater.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Confessions of a Hopeful Southerner . . . in Front of Strangers

VENUE:  Asylum Studio C

REVIEW:  Melinda Grace has a passion to be an actress, and the support of her father to pursue her dreams.  She leaves the comforts of her home in Texas for a chance at fulfillment in the Big Apple,   She gets a full-time job to support herself and starts taking acting classes on doing monologues.  The show takes us through her eight-week class, week by week, as she learns the important lessons about the search for success in the world of acting.  We laugh, we get frustrated, we remember similar events in our own lives, and leave the theater refreshed, encouraged and ready to tackle our own dreams.  This one is a gem, and Jessica Lynn Johnson has outdone herself in her skillful direction and discovery of Grace’s powerful story.

RECOMMENDATION:  Your Fringe experience will not be complete without seeing this show.  She has one remaining performance on June 22 at 7 p.m., and we truly believe you should be there.  Here is the link to get your tickets.

We had intended to see another show, but after seeing seven straight shows between 11:30 and 10 p.m., we needed a break, so we headed to the Plunge, which just opened that day.  We had a wonderful time catching up with David Haverty, Victor Isaac, Marz Richards, Lauren van Kurin and others before heading down to the Lounge for our final show of the evening.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Virtual Reality

VENUE:  The Lounge

REVIEW:  We have been fans of Morshower since he first appeared on the big screen, and got to know him as part of the 2010 Burbank International Film Festival.  We also became Facebook friends, so when he posted about the Fringe show that he was directing, we knew we simply had to see it.  This amazing show, written by the brilliant Alan Arkin, features two of Glenn’s Extra Mile students, Jeff Elam and Matt Tramel, who are simply brilliant.  It takes a special kind of actor to do an entire play in pantomime, and these are two of the best.  Their sense of time, their control of their emotions and their lack of fear at the absurd are clearly demonstrated by their performance.  We felt privileged to be at their closing performance, and look forward to seeing future shows involving these two talented actors.  They made us BELIEVE, and that is the greatest accomplishment that any actor can achieve.

RECOMMENDATION:  Pray that they get an encore, because you simply must join in the sheer joy of this production.

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

HFF18 day 6 – see it or skip it (part 1)

Saturday was our busiest day of HFF18, with nine shows on our schedule, ranging from 11:30 a.m. to 11:55 p.m.  We knocked out the Friday reviews and then headed down to Fringe – first stop, The Broadwater.

TITLE OF SHOW:  Stripped

VENUE:  The Broadwater Studio

REVIEW:   Julia Cavanaugh is a former exotic dancer who discovered that recovery from emotional trauma is possible, and doesn’t require you to remove your clothes.  She was extremely vulnerable during the show, and shared her hard fought lessons learned with strength and confidence.  Although not quite yet a triple threat, she did have an amazing voice, and supplemented her impressive acting skills with that beautiful singing voice.  The show was humorous and powerful, and left this reviewer wanting to know more.  We will definitely be looking for bigger and better for Ms. Cavanaugh.  This was the first of five shows we reviewed on Saturday that were directed or assisted by the Queen of the Solo show herself, Jessica Lynn Johnson, and it was great to see her impressive students, and have the chance to hang out with her at the first three shows.

RECOMMENDATION:  This was one of the best solo shows we’ve seen this year.  Don’t miss your chance to check it out.  She has one show remaining on June 21 at 9:30 p.m.  Grab your tickets here.

TITLE OF SHOW:  My Calico Soul

VENUE:  The Broadwater Studio

REVIEW:   Steve Brock is many things – singer-songwriter, actor, bisexual, autistic, talented, but what he definitely is not is timid.  He confidently tells his story in song and speech, and draws the audience in with his sweetness and charm.  He was honest about his labels – those imparted on him and those he assigned himself.  He led the audience through his life story, and even had a talk back session at the end so that the audience could ask question about anything they did not understand.  Although there were some technical issues, Brock handled them with grace, and did not let them interfere with his show.  His voice is sweet and he writes beautiful songs, especially the title track that he uses to open and close the show.  All in all it was a most worthy effort.

RECOMMENDATION:  You should definitely check this one out, especially if you like to see how hard work and perseverance wins out over obstacles.  His remaining shows are June 22 at 9:30 p.m. and June 24 at 4 p.m.  You can buy your tickets here.

TITLE OF SHOW:  #METOO

VENUE:  Asylum Studio C

REVIEW:   Star Stone brings one of the most timely of topics to the Fringe stage – #metoo.  Her performance breaks chains and shatters taboos about eating disorders, alcoholism and unwanted sexual advances.  Her courage is manifested in this show, and the 25 characters you will meet explain the struggles she has endured, and eventually conquered.  You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll get pissed off, but ultimately you will be proud of her accomplishments in the struggle for female empowerment and the right to say “No.”  Consent is far too often a difficult thing to obtain, but men in general need to understand that it is a mandatory part of any sexual encounter.  Stone reminds us of this, and helps liberate us from the belief that men always get their way – by any means necessary.  We reject that notion, and vow to always obtain consent, whether it has been granted before or not.  Men have no right to assume that just because she doesn’t say anything, it’s all right to proceed.  Let us treat each other like we want to be treated, and allow true love to grow and healing to begin.

RECOMMENDATION:  Every man in Los Angeles needs to see this show and learn the truth, and every woman needs to come and be uplifted with this positive message.  The final show is June 22 at 8:30 p.m.  Get your tickets here.

We’ll be right back with part 2.