Janya Govani’s “Convenience”, making its world premiere at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, explores a modern woman’s psyche. An intimate journey through the tumultuous inner world of its protagonist, it reveals the complexities and pressures that characterize contemporary life. Govani, born in Rajkot, Gujarat, India, brings a rich cultural heritage and extensive training in theatre, dance, and music to this avant-garde performance. The production’s use of multimedia and experimental techniques pushes the boundaries of conventional theatre,... Read more →
Gregg Ostrin’s “The Spy Who Went Into Rehab” is a subversive comic exploration of toxic masculinity through the lens of a James Bond-like character. The play blends humor and social commentary. Set in a rehab center, the story follows a spy who embodies the outdated machismo of the 1960s as he confronts his addiction and behavioral issues. This setting becomes a crucible for transformation. Here, the protagonist must engage with a diverse group of self-aware,... Read more →
Dylan Jones’ solo show, premiering at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, takes a deep look at identity and womanhood. Directed by Amanda McCraven and co-created with Allan Wasserman, the production unpacks the complexities of self-perception and societal expectations through the lens of iconic female figures and mythical sirens. Jones’ invocation of acting legends such as Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck, and Greta Garbo serves as a critique of the idealized images of women that have dominated cultural... Read more →
Gabriella DeMarco’s one-woman show looks at ambition, identity, and the transformative power of personal spaces. Directed and developed by Jessica Lynn Johnson, this production merges humor, pathos, and a touch of surrealism. The narrative centers around a high school dropout who aspires to become a real estate mogul and Airbnb Superhost in the desert. DeMarco’s character embarks on a journey filled with obstacles ranging from financial struggles to the chaotic realities of home renovation. The... Read more →
“Foxy Ladies Love Boogie 70’s Explosion!” directed by Fritz Brekeller, is an audacious and nostalgic journey through the 1970s that celebrates the era’s iconic music and formidable women. Premiering at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, this rock musical revue captures the essence of the decade known for its cultural upheavals, musical innovations, and flamboyant fashion. Brekeller navigates through over 70 musical numbers, ranging from the heartfelt melodies of Karen Carpenter to the electrifying disco anthems of... Read more →
Miranda Rose Hall’s “The Sandwich Ministry” combines themes of community, resilience, and the fragility of human connections against the backdrop of a small town ravaged by a once-in-a-century storm. Directed by Katie Lindsay, the play shows how communal efforts in times of crisis can both unite and strain relationships. As the three central characters gather to prepare food for their displaced neighbors, Hall dissects the dynamics of friendship. She shows how external pressures can augment... Read more →
"TehrAngeles," a musical written and directed by Nakta Pahlevan, explores the Iranian diaspora experiences in Los Angeles during the 1980s. The narrative centers on Zohreh and her daughter Sima. Their lives intertwine with a diverse cast of characters. Each character reflects the challenges and hopes of refugees in a new land. Pahlevan's crafting of the story, co-directed with Afshin Katanchi, offers a compelling portrayal of cultural displacement and identity. Representing the Iranian refugee experience, the... Read more →
In the quiet chambers of modern consciousness, where the din of digital connectivity often drowns out the murmur of inner voices, Lisa Adams' virtual exhibition, "Whispers of Solitude," emerges as a compelling counter-narrative. Curated to explore the nuances of solitude, the work reveals Adams' profound engagement with isolation, both as a physical reality and a metaphysical contemplation. Adams' canvases are arenas where the personal and the universal collide and coalesce. In works like "A Year... Read more →
Nick James' "Unsavory Fellow" refracts ambition and delusion through the lens of dark comedy. This one-man show dissects the life of a man chasing grandiose dreams in Hollywood, a narrative as captivating as it is cautionary. With aspirations of supermodeling, gigolo ventures, and acting, James’ story unmasks the inherent absurdity and relentless drive within the entertainment industry. The performance thrives on its dual nature. It blends humor with stark reality to highlight the fragility of... Read more →
Arden Teresa Lewis’ documentary “Leveling Lincoln” explores a pivotal yet overlooked moment in American civil rights history. It focuses on the events leading up to the landmark case Taylor vs. Board of Education of New Rochelle, New York. Lewis uncovers the systemic segregation in the supposedly progressive Northeast. Nominated for a Daytime Emmy, the film documents the grassroots efforts that led to the desegregation of schools in New Rochelle. “Leveling Lincoln” stands out for its... Read more →
Heather Fink’s solo performance “Quicksand” is about personal tragedy and resilience. The play is a raw, unflinching examination of the most challenging aspects of human existence - caregiving, grief, and the search for meaning amidst chaos. Fink, an accomplished comedian and filmmaker, brings her many talents to the stage in a narrative that moves back and forth between dark humor and touching reflection. “Quicksand” stems from a personal event: Fink’s father suffered a paralyzing stroke.... Read more →
Stefan Marks’ “Ophelia” blends existential themes with whimsy and poignancy. It is a narrative about time, memory, and the human condition, where Marks explores the complex interplay between past and present, reality and illusion. The play’s protagonist, a middle-aged son coping with his mother’s advancing dementia, becomes a vessel for our journey through fragmented memories and elusive truths. Marks’ writing stands out with its emotional depth and intellectual rigor. The play’s structure, with its non-linear... Read more →
The "Carter 1960-1980" exhibition at Champ Lacombe Gallery offers a long-overdue retrospective on a pivotal period in the career of the British sculptor John Carter. It highlights Carter's emergence as part of the influential "New Generation" group of sculptors in the 1960s London art scene. This movement, spearheaded by Anthony Caro's tenure at St. Martin's School of Art, ushered in a radical rethinking of sculpture. Rejecting traditional materials and modes, the New Generation artists experimented... Read more →
“Me, Myself, and Why (Am I Here?)” examines self-confrontation and existential crisis. Written, produced, and performed by Maria Margaret Wilson, the play unravels the layers of personal identity and the cumulative impact of life’s experiences. With a background in comedy and improvisation, Wilson infuses her narrative with a delicate balance of humor and gravity. The play’s premise—a 38-year-old woman grappling with her inner “baggage” as she approaches middle age—serves as a metaphor for the universal... Read more →
Written and performed by Gerry Fishman, directed by Francisco Roel, “Coming of Age at 65” is a poignant exploration of late-life rejuvenation and the complexities of familial relationships, performed with a blend of humor and introspection. Fishman’s narrative delves into the intricacies of his relationship with his father, his bond with his children and grandchild, and the personal demons he has battled. These themes are personal and relatable. They offer the audience a mirror on... Read more →
"DEAR AUNTIE B," directed by Sally Hughes and written/performed by Becca Lustgarten, explores love and grief through the lens of Auntie B, an Upper West Side advice columnist faced with a life-changing crisis. The play navigates her public persona and private turmoil, using her role as a cultural commentator and dating guru as a facade that slowly unravels. Hughes balances the contradictions within Auntie B’s character—her outward flamboyance and inner vulnerability. This duality is central... Read more →
"H*tler’s Tasters", directed by Sarah Norris and written by Michelle Kholos Brooks, stages youth, power, and survival against a backdrop of dark comedy. It occurs during the oppressive regime of the Third Reich. Set in the claustrophobic confines of Hitler's Wolf’s Lair, the play uses the historically based yet largely unknown story of young German women conscripted as Adolf Hitler’s food tasters. The story threads a delicate balance. It explores the absurdity of these young... Read more →
“GRIT,” a one-woman show written and performed by Lisa Natale, explores resilience and personal transformation with courage and grit. Her narrative examines the complex interplay between her evolving relationship with her body and the broader societal narratives surrounding trauma and recovery. Through a skillful fusion of dance, music, and monologue, the show enacts the visceral realities of domestic violence and sexual trauma. In so doing, it maps a cathartic journey towards empowerment. Natale’s performance is... Read more →
Mayuri Bhandari's "The Anti 'Yogi'," set to premiere at the 2024 Hollywood Fringe Festival, is a compelling theatrical critique of Westernized yoga culture. Through the lens of an Indian artist, Bhandari unveils the complexities of cultural appropriation and identity within the realms of spiritual disciplines that have been commodified in the West. The performance combines dance, dramedy, and poetry to navigate the personal and cultural tensions encountered by an Indian yoga professor. This approach not... Read more →
Bryan Ali Sanchez's show, "Siempre Presente / Ever-Present" at Albert Projects, explores stories of the working class. He does so with a focus on resilience and emotional depth. He comes from San Diego's Barrio Logan and has a Mexican American background. His work reflects his own experiences and as well as shared memories. Sanchez's technique generates two dynamics: motion/stillness and transparency/opacity. These dynamics reflect the complex nature of struggle and perseverance. His work is physical.... Read more →
Jainisha Vira, an aspiring graphic designer, presents a vibrant fusion of traditional Indian art styles with contemporary digital techniques. Her portfolio reveals a deep engagement with her Indian cultural heritage, notably in her investigation of Warli and Phad painting styles. These traditional Indian art forms are characterized by their distinctive approaches to storytelling and visual representation. Warli focuses on simplicity and monochrome; Phad narrates elaborate religious tales through colorful scrolls. Her work, however, doesn’t just... Read more →