By Ernest Kearney — Well, 2021 was strange in every way: The UN declared it the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, a mob of goose-stepping “Americans” cretinized political lunkheads and MAGA sophomoraniacs, who congressional Republicans mistook for “your average tourists,” and who attacked the nation’s capital, Covid-19 vaccinations, worldwide, topped 100 million.
But added to that: “Keeping up with The Kardashians” was cancelled, perhaps, indicating America has finally grown bored with making stupid people famous, Democrats won control of the Senate (narrowly,) skateboarding made it into the Olympics, Greenland experienced its first heatwave, the world doesn’t seem to be noticing that Chinese Muslins are disappearing, and the twice-impeached Donald Trump still isn’t in federal prison.
And then there was the Hollywood Fringe Festival…

That there even was a Hollywood Fringe is a testament to Ben Hill, Lois Neville, Ellen Den Herder, Bella Luna, Stina Pederson, Alex Prehm, Corwin Evans, Dave McKeever, the ranks of support workers and volunteers, and especially to the creative souls of Los Angeles itself.
This year the TVO crew saw 30 shows out of which, four were “virtual performances.” Click HERE for a list of those shows and a tally of TVO medals bestowed. And now…
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THE TVOLUTION 2021 FRINGE AWARDS…

BEST OF THE FRINGE AWARD
I HEAR SO EXTREMELY LOUD
Written and performed by
Ava Hase
Directed by
Oscar Falcon

BEST SOLO SHOW (FEMALE) AWARD
BLACK WOMAN IN DEEP WATER
Written and performed by
Makena Hammond
Directed by
Jane Fleiss Brogger

BEST SOLO SHOW (MALE) AWARD
THE LAYERS OF TOM LEHRER
Written and performed by
Allan Murray

BEST MUSICAL, OPERA & CABARET AWARD
LA DIVINA: THE LAST INTERVIEW OF MARIA CALLAS
Written and performed by
Shelley Cooper

BEST ENSEMBLE AWARD
GIDEON & THE BLUNDERSNORP
Written by
Michael Gordon Shapiro
Directed by
Matthew Toronto
Produced by
Elise Dewsberry
Featuring:
Dan Amerman, Maggie Ek, Ember Everett,
Tyler Stilwill, Jeremy Lee Staple,
Emily Jones, Casey Alcoser,
Deborah Apodaca, Jenna Luck and Kaylor Toronto

BEST COMEDY AWARDS
THE LAYERS OF TOM LEHRER
and
GIDEON & THE BLUNDERSNORP

BEST DRAMA AWARD
LIES, ANGER AND FORGIVENESS
Written and performed by
Barbara Saba
Directed by
Debra Deliso

BEST IMMERSIVE THEATRE
GATSBY AN IMMERSIVE ILLUMINATION – CHAPTER 1: EAST EGG
Created by
Kristen Boulé & Tiffany Asta
Production Design by Madylin Sweeten
Technical Director Nick Foran
Music Composed by Michael Teoli
Performed by Leslie Baker & Paul Kriebich
Costumes by Jen Derosa
Featuring:
Chris Lanehart, Sarah Schulte, Colin Willkie,
Ren Montoro, Bill Posley and Devon Michaels

BEST ACTOR
in
THE EASTER BUNNY
Written & Performed by
Tommy Jeff McAteer
Directed by
Mario D’Alimonte
Produced by
Joanne Byrne

BEST ACTRESS
STRONG LIKE HONEY
Written & Performed by
Alma Collins

BEST DIRECTORS
Jane Fleiss Brogger
for
BLACK WOMAN IN DEEP WATER
Oscar Falcon
for
I HEAR SO EXTREMELY LOUD

DANCE & PHYSICAL THEATRE
EGG
Conceived & Performed by
Erin Fowler

BEST INTERNATIONAL SHOW
THE REICHSTAG IS BURNING
Written & Performed by
Joanne Hartstone
Designed by
Tom Kitney
Produced by
Hartstone-Kitney Productions & Black Box Live (Australia)

THE ESSENCE OF FRINGE AWARD
TOSHANISHA – THE NEW NORMALS
Produced & Created by
Aroji Otieno / Bold Theatre (Kenya)
Ivam Cabral and Rodolfo Garća Vázquez
in collaboration with Os Satyros (Brazil)
Directed by
Rodolfo Garća Vázquez
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AND A PERSONAL NOTE….
I missed a number of performances this year. There were reasons for this. Shows were cancelled and could not be rescheduled, and on occasion the distance between venues defeated my best efforts to keep to my timetable. Also, I experienced a record number of productions that ran over their stated playing time resulting in my coming in late to shows or missing them altogether. To those shows I offer my sincere apologies and an honorable mention:
EXPERIENCING LOVE ON THE SPECTRUM
JUSTICE? OR… JUST ME?: THE BITE
IN THE MIX
THE DEFINITION ASSOCIATION
NOBODY NEEDS ANOTHER HAMLET
SO THERE IT ENDS “THE FRINGE IN THE TIME OF PLAGUE,”
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WHO BRAVED
THE THREATS TO BODY AND SOUL FOR THE SAKE OF THEIR CRAFT
AND THE LOVE OF THEIR ART.
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LET’S DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
(BUT HOPEFULLY WITHOUT THE MASKS…)
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