By Ernest Kearney — Coasterthon Catastrophe: An Amusement Park Musical is a rough, dopey, kinda silly, rather tuneful, utterly frantic, sorta fun, 45 minute songfest about a pair of pals left hanging, upside down, at a major amusement park when their roller coaster breaks down.
Performer, Spencer Frankeberger (“Coasterthon Catastrophe” Book/Music & Lyrics)
At the center of this lyrical tempest in search of a teapot is Spencer Frankeberger. If you don’t think you’ve met Spencer at the Fringe – well you’re wrong, you have. Spencer is a presence at the Fringe, oh yeah.
Now the show, featuring himself with Dave Penner and Benny Sully, as a cast of thousands, is a merry mess with catchy melodies. It needs polishing, needs structuring and needs a director directing. Still, Spencer has some solid musical chops and he and his cohorts are engaging.
I’d give this show a Silver Medal if I were in a generous frame of mind – a “real” generous frame of mind. Instead, I’m pinning it with a Gold Medal. And, I’ll tell you why.
Spencer is always putting himself out there.
At the office hours, he works the rooms like this Looney Tune character drawn by Jackson Pollack; conversing and connecting with one and all.
He sees a stack of shows in support of his fellow Fringers, and on top of that, whenever he can, he’ll offer himself up to work box office or clear stages between shows. 
Spencer is getting this GOLD MEDAL, and deserves it, because he represents what is best in Hollywood Fringe; he embodies its essence and exemplifies its strength.
Spencer creates community.
If that’s not worthy of a GOLD MEDAL, then what is?
♦ ♦ ♦
Coasterthon Catastrophe:
An Amusement Park Musical
Chosen for a Hollywood Fringe Festival 2018 Extension
Final Performance
Sunday July 08 2018, 7:00 pm
Venue
6448 Santa Monica Blvd.
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