Hollywood Fringe Diary

The Fringe Week One Continued… —

SUICIDE LIVE

From playwright Rick Creese—who’s Bright Star was one of the high points of last year’s Fringe—this new comedy about an estranged father and son whose relationship is so tragically dysfunctional, they’re convinced it’ll make a hit reality show! Featuring Geno Creese, the playwright’s own son, and the talented David Freuchting, one of LA’s most unjustly under-used actors. Produced by Pat Creese, directed by Lexi Lee.

Learn more about it HERE.
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THE DESIGNATED MOURNER BY WALLACE SHAWN

If you saw My Dinner with Andre, you’ll remember Wallace Shawn as the actor who wasn’t “Andre.”

But that quirky little film gives you no clue to the twisted comic mind that lurks behind that Hobbit like mug. And so The Designated Mourner might blind side you. A disturbing little comedy about the process whereby a democratic society rots from the core out by drinking the tanker of blue Kool-aid that lulls its citizenry into the fallacy that you make yourself safer by making yourself less free. (Hey, it worked for Germany in 1934. Oops – wait – !)

Learn more about it HERE.

Apartment B-1000

A (PARTMENT 8)

Well here’s one that’s definitely “fringe.” Annie Lesser promises a “fully immersive theatrical experience” for one audience member per performance.

Learn more about it HERE or HERE.

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STRAP ON

This is one of two shows offered up by Jeff Mills and the Proboscis Company which last year staged one of the Fringe’s most interesting shows La La La Strada! Here the audience is the jury who must decide the verdict in a case of criminal “gender fraud” involving two women and one…”Irish tickle hammer?” Was it role playing or deliberate deception? Erica Flor and Madelyn Rose star.

Learn more about it HERE.
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THE CATHOLIC OLYMPICS

A “500 Meter Nun Hurdle”? Oh yeah! Described as an “interactive radio play” with emphasis on the irreverent. Robert Omera directs with the blessings of God.

Learn more about it HERE.

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TOILEY T. PAPER: ROLL MODEL!
A show with a foul mouth roll of toilet paper bad mouthing Hollywood, sounds like a match made in heaven to me. By veteran puppeteer Grant Baciocco (Mystery Science Theatre 3000) He promises: “You’ll never look at a roll of toilet paper the same way again!”

Learn more about it HERE.

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THE BIG SNAKE

Another swipe at the “Reality Show” era, and one can only hope a good sturdy nail in its coffin. Described as an “American farce, a play within a play.” The story of a Hollywood producer who tries to make it big time with a “reality TV show” focusing on a candidate who’s to be fed to a giant snake. Swear, if it’s Caitlyn Jenner who gets served up I’ll name my first son after the producer.

Learn more about it HERE or HERE.

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OBLIVIOUS: A VIDEOGAME THEATRE EXPERIENCE
An interactive show by creator Jenapher Zheng which she refers to as a “videogame game theatre experience”; audience members will engage in “playing” revolutionaries out to topple an oppressive android regime and contribute in the storytelling that shapes the narrative.

Learn more about it HERE or HERE.

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HOW TO BE A VIRGIN (IN 12 MORALLY AMBIGUOUS STEPS)
According to playwright Carla Neuss, “Only 2% of the population is still a virgin by the age of 30—and one virgin wants to talk about it.” Thus begins a journey through the twelve stages of love and lust as Katelyn Schiller and Joshua Bross shows us the hilarious side of having sex on the mind, instead of down there where it belongs. Directed by Payden Ackerman.

There are a few show offerings of prestidigitation and conjuring, but if your thing is being baffled by masters of slight of hand, have I got a show for you –

Learn more about it HERE.

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SIMON CORONEL: ALIEN OF EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY
Last year, Simon knocked my socks off and half way to Nova Scotia with his deconstructionist approach to the traditional “magic act.” A two time award-winner at the magic world championships, if you love sleight of hand then don’t miss his show. However if you go I suggest you bring a pillow and place it between your feet when you take you seat in the audience. It’ll cushion the impact when your jaw hits the floor at Mach 1.Hollywood Fringe Festival 2016

Learn more HERE or HERE.

Written by

An award-winning L.A. playwright and rabble-rouser of note who has hoisted glasses with Orson Welles, been arrested on three continents and once beat up Charlie Manson. His first play, "Among the Vipers" was a semi-finalist in the Julie Harris Playwriting Competition and was featured in the Carnegie-Mellon Showcase of New Plays. It was produced at the NPT Theater in Ashland, Oregon and Los Angeles’ celebrated Odyssey Ensemble Theatre. His following play, “The Little Boy Who Loved Monsters” was produced at The Hollywood Actors Theater, where he earned praise from the Los Angeles Times for his “…inordinately creative writing.” The play went on to numerous other productions including Berlin’s The Black Theatre under the direction of Rainer Fassbinder who wrote in his program notes of Kearney, “He is a skilled playwright, but more importantly he is a dangerous one.” Ernest Kearney has worked as literary manager or as dramaturge for among others The Hudson Theater Guild, Nova Diem and the Odyssey Ensemble Theatre, where he still serves on the play selection committee. He has been the recipient of two Dramalogue Awards and a finalist or semi-finalist, three times, in the Julie Harris Playwriting Competition. His work has been performed by Michael Dunn, Sandra Tsing Loh, Jack Colvin and Billy Bob Thornton, and to date, either as playwright or director, he has upwards of a hundred and thirty productions under his belt, including a few at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater as puppeteer. Kearney remains focused on his writing, as well as living happily ever after with his lovely wife Marlene. His stage reviews and social essays can be found at TheTVolution.com and workingauthor.com. Follow him on Facebook.

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