Stage Takes (he/him)

I left Bad Medicine by Adam Frost-Venrick so disturbed that I couldn’t write about it, but it was so damn good and hilarious! He plays a doctor, no, a Juris Doctor, wait, I mean he got an online certificate or something of that nature to be able to commit to his experiments. And boy, does he take us on a ride. I almost threw up, but was it cause of the copious amounts of laughter? You will have to find out for yourself…. RECOMMENDED ... full review

What a stellar performance by Shelley Cooper in her show, Emily F—ing Dickinson: America’s Favorite Recluse, a tour-de-force performance! Emily is up on stage, even before the show begins, making us laugh as the theater rolls through its announcements. She gives us a stunning portrait of two extremes, moving seamlessly between ecstatic mania and rock-bottom depression. In this show, Shelley becomes the character, speaking to the audience from her reclusive state while remaining fully present. The... full review

Autastic is a Jeff Ahern’s deeply personal journey of finding out his son is autistic. A ver raw, honest, and profoundly heartfelt show. Whereas other one-person shows had scripts (in hand) this was simply Jeff recounting stories of his son, creating an immediate, genuine connection with the audience. Jeff holds back tears as a slide show of photographs brings up different memories, allowing for emotion to speak for itself. Perhaps one of my favorite shows this season, touching and resonates long... full review

The Miraculous V: The Bizarre Awakening of a Virgin Witch is a spell-binding one-person show, blending autobiography, trauma, and fantasy. Shara Kirby introduces herself with a playful, charming persona but does not let the darkness stay out of sight. It is a fun, surprising show, but also one that might make you squirm. It asks the audience to sit with discomfort as much as delight I need not say more other than SEE THIS SHOW. This is a show that will win the hearts of audiences through, laughs ... full review

I don’t know how Spencer Frankenberger has time to do a show as he is doing tech for just about every show but he managed to put a cohesive show together, Blow The Man Down: A Sea Shanty Concert is the story of seven sailors adrift at sea. The characters, music, and design fit those of pirate-inspired world. I liked how the concert played like a concept album, with the narrative unfolding through song. One singer had an exceptionally strong voice which added an extra layer to the character dynami... full review

Mr. Big did a staged reading last year, at this festival, and also had a run at the Hollywood Fringe Festival over summer; this production gets better every time. Based on a story by Woody Allen, the play is adapted to the stage by Brian Knudson I really like the charm and charisma of both performers. Sue Gisser was wonderful with the multiple characters she played. A thoughtful script, a smorgasbord of philosophy; this time opened with an intro by (someone playing) Groucho Marx.... full review

I feel like I have seen Against All Odds before, but really I remember seeing Larry Meyers at the Hollywood Fringe Festival for his show, “Did I Just Join A Cult?” Both shows were similar in style and extraordinarily entertaining! He sits at a table with a script nearby by and just tells stories. Philosophical, mind bending, awakening describes it. Themes of synchronicity and the magic of story. It made me sad that the audience wasn’t filled, I hope more people get to see this wonderful work.... full review

Momma! I burnt the chicken! Had its sold out premiere and clearly resonated with the audience. A warm, hilarious, and deeply personal production that will stand out as one of the most engaging and comedic shows of the festival. The set transported us back to the 1990s with the sounds of 90s commercials playing from the TV; the audience even joyfully sang along to the Toys R Us theme song. Nina Childs was so free on the stage, commands with ease and authenticity, and we enjoyed every moment of it.... full review

I Wrote You A Play/Letter From The Grave performed by Jo Dellapina and Jeff Dinnell had its premiere at The 30 Minutes or Less Festival; two separate one act scenes. Nicely written show. Energetic performances. It appeared experimental, like scenes that had grown from a workshop or class. Matthew Karam’s “Letter From The Grave” had themes of grief and recovery; characters with history and backstory. So I was a bit confused as to why the second scene started at a bar, but turns out they were unrel... full review

Gilded Spindle is the ambitious and imaginative project by Wyndwolf Puppets which had its premiere at the 30 Minutes or Less Festival at The Stephanie Fuery Theater. The production moved at a fast pace, quickly establishing its medieval world through a series of short and intense stylized scenes. Rapid transitions and frequent blackouts, with the focus on storytelling and visual experiments. I enjoyed watching Adam Frost-Venrick as the king, who brought a commanding yet comedic presence. Zander R... full review