Our Picks for the 2018 Hollywood Fringe Festival 3

Our Picks for the 2018 Hollywood Fringe Festival

The 2018 Hollywood Fringe Festival is just about here! This year, like last year and the year before, we went through all 350+ shows and picked out what we’re most interested in.

We separated these into categories that best represent them to us and the reason we would go see it. For example, Cthulhu the Musical we have listed under Horror/Monsters and not Music/Musicals because we’re going to see it for the horror/monster aspect and not because it’s a musical.

Please note, this list is just our recommendations and not the entire Fringe Fest list. For the entire list (with search options), please check that out on the Hollywood Fringe Festival site.

If you see something that sounds interesting, take a chance and explore!

HORROR/MONSTERS

The Craftlesque – The Craft…Lesque takes all the parts you loved from this cult classic movie and turns them on their sides! This parody that rather naturally lends itself to the Musical Theatre Burlesque stylings of Cherry Poppins Productions will take you straight back to the ’90s- where our NEW GIRL meets some not so stable teenage witches and things get….weird. Will BURNT GIRL get rid of her scars? Will MEAN GIRL lose all her hair?? Will PSYCHO GIRL kill someone??? Come join the Cherries as they get light as a feather and stiff as a…um…board…you may even see some sparkle titties along the way!

Cthulhu: The Musical -Music. Madness. And so, so many tentacles.

Detective John LaGrasse is searching for a murderer. Francine Thurston’s uncle vanished without a trace. The only clue to both mysteries is a bizarre statue worshipped by a nightmarish cult. And it’s leading both of them out to sea, and towards insanity. But you know, with singing puppets.

The show is what in a sensible universe would be impossible: a feature-length musical comedy adaptation of one of the least musical or comedic stories ever; H.P. Lovecraft’s cosmic horror classic, “The Call of Cthulhu,” performed entirely with puppets.

Equal parts rock band, and comedic powerhouse, Puppeteers for Fears have sold out theaters up and down the west coast with witty writing, electrifying acting, and anthemic original songs. And Cthulhu: the Musical has been written up as “some next-level puppet shit,” as far away as Italy.

The show runs 90 minutes, with 12 original songs, a dozen original hand-and-rod puppets, and digitally projected multimedia sets. It is not for children. Unless they’re awesome.

Fresh Meat – A dalliance with cannibals and furries whereby one small algorithm goes awry and all hell breaks loose.

Dr. Nympho vs the Sex Zombies – Every family has issues. No issues run deeper than those of the brilliant pathologist and matriarch Dr. Nimfa Delacroix. She was a nymphomaniac in the past but now lives a “normal life” with her nuclear 21st century family. All of her demons must be confronted however when the outbreak of a deadly STD launches in Atlanta, turning its residents into zombies and promises the end of civilization. Can Nimfa unite her family, overcome her past, and save the world?

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde – Faced with a crisis that hits too close to home, Dr. Henry Jekyll takes matters into his own hands and develops a serum designed to eradicate evil from the human psyche. However, during this moral investigation, things take a wicked turn when he uses himself as the test subject.

The most unoriginal, original adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novella, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This two-person comedy will have you questioning your own sanity!

Jane Austen’s Emma Frankenstein – Monsters, music, and a comedy of proper Regency manners! The winner of Sacred Fools’ “Serial Killers” playoffs returns with a full-length musical production. Looking to capitalize on the success of such mash-ups as “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” Jane Austen brings us the story of the Woodhouse sisters and their search for love with the Frankenstein Family.

The Witnessing – A chilling multi-sensory exploration into a shocking paranormal case. Actual footage, photographs, artifacts, and recordings from the investigation bring this terrifying ordeal to life. From THE UNMARKED DOOR – Rolfe Kent (Dexter,Sideways,Up in the Air)& Lola Kelly (Hall & Mirror’s YOU).

Unexplained phone calls, disembodied voices, moving objects and heart-stopping apparitions plagued the Davidsons’ Utah home from 2008 – 2010. Desperate for an explanation, they called upon the renowned Daugherty Paranormal Research Center to help solve the mystery behind the strange disturbances.

Dracula’s Taste Test – Dracula has awakened in the 21st century, his coffin having been shipped to his closest living descendant in Glendale, CA. He has purchased a bar to try and find a place to fit into the modern world, but the permits have not come through and he is unable to open the new venue. To make good on his bookings, the legendary vampire lord presents this show at Fringe. Joined by Erik, the Phantom of the Opera as his musical director, Dracula hosts his friends and battles fiends as they crash the monster bash. Special guest variety artists make each show unique as the audience is guided from seance to sing-a-long with very little murder along the way. Fun! Prizes! You’ll wish you were undead.

Manson’s Girls – The story of the Manson Family murders, told from the perspective of the girls. With a driving, rock score and book/lyrics which explore the psyche of girls, this story is all-too-relevant today, being a parable and warning to any of us who follows the voice of authority without stopping to question. A brand new musical from New Musicals Inc.

Dr. Zomba’s Ghost Show of Terror – A modern day revival of the “Ghost Show” popular in the 1950’s that features spooky magic, comedy, a seance, and a blackout sequence at the end where the audience is fully immersed in the realm of spirits and monsters.
Join Doctor Zomba and his lovely assistant Sirena, and the slightly less lovely Ear-Gore as they perform mesmerizing tricks, contact the dead, and unleash monsters from beyond the grave! First, sign your waiver! We are not responsible if this show literally scares you to death! One lucky audience member will win a real dead body! See Professor Payne and the infamous Mutilator Machine. It thirsts for blood! Will it be yours?! Starring David M Beach as Doctor Zomba!

The Midnight Menagerie – On the eve of his first film’s release, a scorned writer invites the production team responsible for his misery to a midnight dinner complete with a full course of bloody revenge.

Glitch – Six years after Jonathan massacred thirteen students he is giving his first interview. Rachel, an up and coming journalist, is given the opportunity of a lifetime to interview him. When the two meet Rachel discovers that Jonathan is not what the media made him out to be.

Survival Check – When four millennials on a camping trip stumble upon strange artifacts and weapons, they realize that this weekend escape has turned into an escape for their lives! They’ve been thrown into a world with monsters and magic, and they’ll have to role play and battle their way out.

Kiss My Ax – Whoa — that’s a wicked-looking ax — what are you doing with it…?

Members of the Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights (ALAP) took a whack at writing short plays, all incorporating a nasty-looking ax. Some are funny, some are scary, some are… well, decide for yourself…

The plays are:
Lesbian Vixens of the SS Who Stopped Living and Became Ax-Wielding Zombies by Dan Berkowitz
NEEEXT! by Peter Colley
ALEXA by Joe Godfrey
Max Hands by Jonathan Josephson
Terms of Marriage by Brian Raine
Norma Gets the Axe by Rom Watson

Lights Out in the Hermit’s Cave -From the the airwaves of the 1930s and 40s to the stage: we present this old time radio horror double feature.

From Lights Out: “Valse Triste” & From The Hermit’s Cave: “The House on Lost Man’s Bluff”

Join us for an evening of vintage thrills and chills!

IMMERSIVE

What Went Wrong – In this immersive, intimate virtual reality theatre experience, audiences peer inside the memories of a recently broken-up couple and attempt to figure out “what went wrong” with their relationship. But nothing is ever quite as easy as it seems, especially when the human mind and heart are involved…

Welcome to Closure Inc., a brand new start-up with an age-old goal: Helping failed couples figure out where their relationship fell apart.

Using high-tech headsets, Closure Inc. employees can “view” the memories of both parties and then create an objectively analytical report of what went wrong. A lack of intimacy? Neediness? Failure to communicate? All of our client’s most crushing personal flaws will be on display, but at the end of the day they will rest easy knowing what exactly tore apart their love.

Audiences of four take on the role of new employees at Closure Inc., ready to write their very first group report. The job should be an easy one: Nick and Shelby had textbook issues. But when their memories diverge, and a few unexpected guests arrive at the Closure offices, the very nature of love is thrown into question.

Part immersive play, part virtual reality experience, and part corporate nightmare, “What Went Wrong” is a genre-shattering, reality-bending production like no other.

Death and Coffee – A conversation over coffee. Although this show deals with death and grief, it has a PG rating.

An autobiographic immersive one-woman one audience member show by Anne Katherine Lesser (…please, call me Annie). Annie Lesser is the creator of Getting to Know You, the Lumpy Cramp Spirit of the Fringe winner 2015, and A(partment 8), Top of the Fringe nominee 2016, winner of the Fringe Immersive Theater award 2017, and Fringe Screamiest Show winner 2017

When Skies Are Gray – The last time the daughter saw her mother, she was in a bed in the nursing facility, clearly declining but still able to talk, eat and move around. She’s come to visit and is shocked to find that the room has been emptied, in the middle lies her mother on a mattress on the floor. This is it. It’s time and all she can do is wait.

This is a deeply intimate and experiential piece about death and the unbreakable bond between a daughter and mother. Select audience members will be able to volunteer as Nurses (and will be given instructions of what to say and do). Signing up for Nurse roles is on a first come first served basis.

Due to the nature of this piece we ask that people show up at least 10 minutes before curtain in order to sign up for Nurse positions and go over the Hospice Rules. If we see you are intoxicated or disruptive you will be denied entry.

The Study – THE STUDY takes place during a psychological clinical test of the flight-or-fight response set in a college lecture hall. The audience’s reactions and answers determine the outcome of each performance; in this immersive, audience-interactive, video game and theatre-inspired piece. Created by Jared Tyrel Pixler and David Evan Stolworthy, the creators of THE VIDEO GAMES, which ran for nearly three years. THE STUDY has a cast of eleven characters, many of which are from the worlds of the creator’s premiere plays; Let Me Out and Roommates. No show will be like the last in this scripted, choose-your-own adventure style play.

Using innovative, interactive elements such as motion sensors, scent diffusers, glow sticks and technology; can the audience make it so everyone escapes alive?

One Last Thing Before You Go – A unique solitary experience on the border between life and afterlife. This show is improvisational, immersive, and interactive. There are different endings depending on your actions or inaction.

Expect near total darkness and a bright light flash, dry ice fog, audio efx including disembodied voices, unusual sounds.

No nudity, no gore, no physical violence, no smoking, no alcohol, no gunfire

Roughly PG-13 rating for adult themes, language, psychological intensity, possible emotional abuse

Ghosts: A Whole New Immersive Theatre – GHOSTS is an immersive theatrical experience based on Henrik Ibsen’s play of the same title. This world premiere is created by international theatre company, Dream Walker, and explores the multiple shades of morality in the 19th century.

The original play, Ghosts, is a scathing commentary on 19th-century morality. Because of its subject matter, which includes religion, venereal disease, incest and euthanasia, it immediately generated strong controversy and negative criticism. Since then the play has fared better, and is considered a “great play” that historically holds a position of “immense importance”

The Stars – The Stars is a 1-audience adventure down Hollywood Blvd, exploring our desires to see and be seen, to know and be known. It is a site-specific commentary, a critique of the Hollywood experience, and a void into which you may shout your most pressing questions.

MAGIC

Coke & Mirrors – The boys are back in town!

Fresh from their sold-out debut at last year’s Fringe Festival, the New Bad Boys of Magic present COKE & MIRRORS, the new story of their rise and fall from Las Vegas headliners to Los Angeles children’s entertainers. It’s magic, comedy, drinking, and definitely NSFW.

COKE & MIRRORS is for ages 21-and-over only. You will need to show your ID.

Caspar Thomas: More Magic and Mentalism – A one-man show bringing close-up magic to the stage. Caspar combines sleight of hand magic with mentalism and incorporates audience interaction throughout, some of which takes place while you are seated and some while you are on the stage. No suspicious-looking boxes, no camera tricks, no stooges!

MUSIC/MUSICALS

The Accidental Club – Mira Dawson, a washed-up rock star, dies of an accidental overdose while celebrating the beginning of her revival tour. She suddenly finds herself hanging out at The Accidental Club, with Janis Joplin, Billie Holiday and Amy Winehouse, winning Angel of The Month. When you win, you get the chance to come back to earth for one night only. She can spend it wherever and with whomever she likes, and decides on one last concert with her faithful fans. Billie warns her not to go, “Get ready for the pain girl.” Janis tells her, “Honey if it feels good, do it!” She believes this is all a crazy dream and that at any moment she’ll wake up.

Throughout the concert, Mira and the other members reveal secrets and impart songs of love, fame, addiction and death. As the clock ticks toward midnight, discoveries are made, and Mira becomes increasingly anxious as she realizes she’s not waking up…. Will she? Will we? Talk backs after the shows to discuss the overdose epidemic in America and how to get help.

Sam Shepard and Patti Smith’s Cowboy Mouth – Set in 1979 Los Angeles when punk, rock and new wave collide, the play is the story of a woman who kidnaps a young man with a wife and kid off the street at gunpoint, with the hopes of inspiring him to be a rock and roll star. But the play has an underlying theme far more universal. Cowboy Mouth is about the importance of taking responsibility for our own creativity, falling in love with the person, not the potential.

Originally penned by Sam Shepard and Patti Smith, Cowboy Mouth was conceived while the two lived together at the Chelsea Hotel in 1971. Passing a typewriter back and forth, they crafted a cautionary tale about using art as deliverance from our own flaws, and relating to someone’s potential instead of who they are.

Sam Shaber: Life, Death, and Duran Duran – Life has three guarantees: you’re born, you die and if your name is Rio, you dance on the sand. New York indie rocker Sam Shaber was born hungry like the wolf for rock stardom. But what if you never get to join the band? Maybe you grow up to sing about life and death instead.

Sam Shaber tells personal stories of rising above the hand you’re dealt in this hour-long, multimedia, musical storytelling show. Each moment of loss is balanced with a vignette of Shaber as her obsessive, pre-teen, Durannie self; piercing her own ear with a push pin, or declaring herself a future worldwide rock star. In the end, the loved ones we’ve lost become a part of us forever. This is what keeps us dancing on the sand.

The People vs Hell Kross – The People VS Hell Kross brings the laughs, social commentary, and 6 original headbangers in an hour-long comedy-musical about British heavy metal rockers wrongfully accused of hundred of wrongful deaths as their music and tours leave death and destruction in their wake. Each song is presented as evidence, and the members of Hell Kross take the stand to explain the lyrical double-entendres. The audience serves as the jury, with different endings for being found guilty or innocent.

Cowboy Mouth – A sexy take on this Sam Shepard, one act play. Set in 1970, Cavale has kidnapped Slim at gunpoint stealing him from his nuclear family. Escaping into the freedom, love and abstract art that Cavale embodies, both characters go on a 1 hour journey through a chemistry based discovery of who they are to each other, themselves and who they want to be in the world beyond the confines of the Chelsea Hotel.

We Need This Musical To Stop Us From Killing Ourselves – We Need This Musical To Stop Us From Killing Ourselves follows Sarah, a struggling singer, and Mitchell, a failing actor, as they contemplate suicide. After some bargaining with their mutual therapist, the two find singular hope in a shared creative outlet in order to stay alive: putting on an original musical… with their therapist. Within only a few days, they create a show, but will they ever actually get to perform it? WNTMTSUFKO: The Musical is a dark comedy that celebrates friendships, musicals, and the bleakness of it all.

MISCELLANEOUS STUFF THAT SOUNDS INTERESTING

Virtual Reality – The New York Times called Virtual Reality, “A deeply funny, finely graded psychological portrait that becomes a tribute to the conjuring powers of theater…. Imagine the testly, silly one upmanship of Abbott and Costello crossed with the menacing ambiguity of Harold Pinter….”

We spent hours trying to come up with something better than that, and we just couldn’t. Bottom line: Strong script, excellent actors, and a director who knows his shit.

Get your ass down here and see this. No, you won’t be wearing fancy goggles to watch this. This is a no-budget midnight show

A Very Die Hard Christmas – High above the city of L.A., a team of terrorists has seized a building, taken hostages, and declared war. One man has managed to escape. An off-duty cop hiding somewhere inside. He’s alone, tired…and he doesn’t like Christmas.

Come get a little holiday cheer in June as Theatre Unleashed brings back one of its most popular shows for a short but wild summer run to celebrate the 30-year anniversary Die Hard. Action, humor, Professor Snape taking people hostage, singing, dancing, the guy from Family Matters, guns, puppets, explosions, the EPA guy from Ghostbusters getting punched in the face, Christmas miracles and familiar holiday friends galore. Maybe even an appearance by the legend himself, Santa Claus! This is much more than a stage version of the holiday classic, its parody at its best. Yippee Ki-Yay, Father Christmas!

The First and the Last – The First And The Last is a play that explores the consequences of sin, and the limits of forgiveness. God has made a deal with the Devil. In exchange for Lucifer’s surrender at Armageddon, God will allow Lucifer to keep one soul for himself in Hell. Lucifer has gathered some of history’s most notorious traitors such as Benedict Arnold, Cassius and Brutus, and even Judas Iscariot himself to decide who will be chosen to remain in Hell for eternity. The twist? The traitors must decide amongst themselves. With shades of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot mixed with Twelve Angry Men, The First And The Last begs the question “Are some people too far gone from forgiveness?”

Just One Moment – In the Afterlife Assistance Center, those who have not yet been processed take the calls from both the living and the departed while awaiting their own results. Anna, a recent accidental arrival, and Ryan, an abused teen hellbent on reincarnation, find forgiveness and compassion in the unlikeliest of places when everything they once believed in turns out to be not what they expected.

Beatniks – It’s 1950s Manhattan, and the Village is buzzing with creativity. Jazz music is floats through the air while beat poetry adds to the rhythm of the city. “Beatniks” follows the interconnected journey of writers Diane di Prima, Joyce Glassman, Elise Cowen, Hettie Jones, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and more as they rebel against conformity through their artistic visions. This high energy musical gives audiences a look into the lives of several literary icons who rebelled against the conformity of 1950s America. Through their revolutionary poetic expression, these writers conveyed the ideals of a generation that longed for authenticity and self-exploration.

Shilo Kloko – When a puppet is moved by a human puppeteer, who is moving the puppeteer?

In this interdisciplinary performance piece, a relationship between puppet and puppeteer shifts fluidly throughout the piece, without keeping the conventional puppet-master hierarchy. As if reflecting our ever-changing emotion, social status, or imagination, puppetry introduces its diverse role; a manipulated object, friend, slave, missing soulmate, threat, psychological mirror, and a ritualistic vessel.

The work flows and crosses various elements; from animation and toy theatre to body movement, unconventional and traditional puppet styles, live music and choir… to weave serious, emotional, and comical moments all together.

Les Bancs – We are a group clowns. Educated clowns.

Join us for the Les Bancs Clown Troupe world premiere. Les Bancs is a group of educated clowns from California State University Long Beach. We explore socially relevant and topical issues of today through short bits of physical comedy. We hope to leave our audiences with feelings of joy, enlightenment, laughter and really ask them the question “What is a Clown?”

Final Preparations – Poe is a former art student who has been making a living bringing “life” to the dead with makeup. As the last step in preparing the bodies for burial, Poe is usually working late nights at the mortuary. This night, though, his “canvas” is a little girl; a child prodigy that was a world class pianist. What starts as just another day on the job becomes a reflection on art, until things take a few horrifying turns.

Attack of the Retro Sci-Fi Futurist – You know his voice as the singer of the iconic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles TV theme song. Now, James Mandell is back as the Retro Sci-Fi Futurist. And he’s turned the story of sci-fi futurism into a multimedia event.

Performing live with original music videos, infernal electronics and comic flourish, he chronicles the birth of this amazing genre, with rare footage, bold predictions from the past and galactic expectations for the future.

WHO were those pioneering visionaries and how did their predictions fare from 120 years ago?
WHY do you need a secret decoder ring if you already have a Cadet Academy membership card?
And WHERE’S that damn Flying Car we’re all supposed to be tooling around in by now!?

House of Tales – China is a two-syllable word with extreme complexity. History, philosophy, ideology, politics — we would be stuck having these intense and serious conversation for years. Even though we are Chinese, believe me, we don’t like that either. As an young ensemble theater company mostly consists of Native Chinese, we would like to share with you some mythical and fantastical stories that have been with us for centuries.

From Toilet to Tinseltown – Moaning Myrtle, everybody’s favorite ghost from the Harry Potter series, was forced to leave her toilet at Hogwarts years ago. After failing in the UK for a bit, she decided to come to LA for her shot at fame … or something like it. This is her one woman show, her chance to finally be seen (figuratively, of course).

Escape From Godot – Enter the theater and take your seat for a performance of a very famous play that has been called “important,” “the quintessence of existentialism,” and “a meaningless trudge between the cradle and the grave.” You have 60 minutes to escape.

Part game, part performance and all absurd. Playfulness encouraged. Bowler hats optional. Are you feeling Lucky?

Meanwhile, Back at the Super Lair – Award-winning theatre company The New American Theatre presents this black comedy and the Los Angeles premiere by award-winning playwright Greg Kalleres (Honky). In “Super Lair,” crime-fighters Human Fly, Silver Streak, Rhino Man, and Leopard Woman are roommates in a municipally funded apartment. Subjected to the investigations of a city-appointed efficiency expert, their mere existence is called into question while they battle a bureaucrat as well as a brand-new super villain.

Psychodelicate’s Magical Mystery Comedy Show – Psychodelicate an interdimensional traveler/Psychonaut/Mystic/Clown is Here Now to spread the Good News of the Multiverse, to open hearts and expand minds through interdimensional travel demonstration and practicum. To fulfill on her mission, she’s hosting a variety show, interspersed with lessons from her travels through the multiverse. We will invite you to inquire into the nature of reality and discover the ability to create new ones! It will be fun! May cause mind altering experiences.

Glowing flow toys, Hula Hooping, juggling, Fractal Heckeling (electric sheep a fractal art screen saver), comedy, clowning, Quantum Physics Theories, Metaphysics, Geometry, Philosophy, Ontology, Existential Detecting, Gnosticism, Mindfulness, Breathwork, sound bath. Magical Circus, World class performers.

Foxhole Stories: Twist, Pull, Smoke, Run-Motherfucker-Run! – Fans of military drama, brutal realism, and thought-provoking theater will delight in this stunning new addition to the Theater of War genre. Playwrights Matthew Domenico and Katherine Connor Duff, along with director Chris Game, are proud to present the world premiere of The Foxhole Stories: Twist, Pull, Smoke, Run-Motherfucker-Run! to the 2018 Hollywood Fringe Festival.

The Foxhole Stories is a play series that encompasses every phase of the American-Veteran experience for the stage.

Twist, Pull, Smoke, Run-Motherfucker-Run is based on the conversations that Mr. Domenico had with two Marines from his former unit. He spoke with them not only about their common memories of Afghanistan, but about their experience acclimating back into civilian life. These two marines inspired this play. Twist, Pull, Smoke, Run-Motherfucker-Run! is the story of a combat veteran who evades his concerned girlfriend’s questions about his tour in Afghanistan, and instead argues with his relentless, ever-present PTSD. From Veteran to dependent alike, this project is driven by a cast that has all been touched personally by the Military community. This piece demonstrates the difficulty of living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and, simply and brilliantly, exposes a veteran’s innermost thoughts.

The Universe (101) – Imagine what happens when you put a Quantum Clown and a Psychic Comedian in the same room! Join two great internationally acclaimed variety acts Norbut Yetso (Matthew Godfrey) and Evanion the Great (Ian Harvey Stone) as they join together for a trip across the realities in ‘The Universe (101)’.
Norbut has constructed a Modest Hadron Collider which unexpectedly pulls the great Mind Reader and Psychic Evanion from 1865 to the present, creating a paradox that needs to be solved before we all wink out of existence! Expect mayhem, mirth, audience interaction and grand feats of mental mystery as our two erstwhile heroes battle to save the Universe as you know it!

The Big Picture – A worldly/otherworldly wild card takes you on an inner and outer journey, turning the world inside out and upside down. It’s been a long and winding storied road with a few bumps along the way. This fool without borders is a one of a kind multidimensional being whose life is just as much the performance.

We are strange creatures. Have to somehow channel into the Universe to make sense of it all. Does anyone really know what’s going on?

This show is a visual and aural extravaganza! It has some 60’s renaissance spirit. It is part standup comedy, part mixed up experimental cosmic trickster stuff with prop comedy, freestyle improvised foolery, playing with toys, juggling, fiddling with gadgets, musical nonsense, surprises and spring shoes etc.
He was the original ‘Fool on the Hill’ character in the Beatles/Cirque du Soleil ‘Love’ show for two years in Vegas at the Mirage Hotel & Casino.

Hercules Insane – Juno, Queen of the Gods, is pissed. Bad enough her husband Jove has a habit of seducing mortals. But intolerable such an infidelity has spawned the semi-divine hero Hercules. By dispatching countless monsters to eliminate Jove’s bastard, Juno has unintentionally furnished him serial triumphs to cement his fame. And now Hercules has invaded the underworld to conquer death itself. But the Queen of the Gods has one last trick to try. Calling on the Furies and employing darkest magic, she curses her hated stepson to lose his mind. When Hercules returns triumphant from the underworld, hefinds Greece has been conquered in his absence by usurping warlord Lycus. Learning his wife and children are captive, Hercules springs into action against the occupying tyrant. But his certain victory may prove short lived. For when Juno’s curse takes hold Greece will face a threat more formidable than any conquering army: the unstoppable wrath and violent rage of a Hercules gone insane.

The School of Night is proud to present a Senecan spectacle of poetic bombast, gut-wrenching tragedy, gladiatorial
combat, supernatural horror, rousing adventure, live human sacrifice, toxic masculinity, feminine fury and murderous
madness. Are you not entertained?!

Man Is Wolf – Man is Wolf: One man trying to maintain great restraint in terms of his sexual inclinations, and another man who has shown no restraint. The play explores different angles of sexual abuse and violence.

The play takes place in a motel in Idaho, where Dale gives Grey shelter from an incoming storm after his high school wrestling match. Dale is a fan of high school wrestling and is fully aware of Grey, an accomplished high school wrestler. The place takes in real time, as Grey waits for his parents late arrival. Dale looks to escape his life of isolation, and Grey looks forward to a promising future, however, the two men’s past come into collision, resulting into an unexpected conclusion.

A Beast/A Burden – Before Chris Burden became known to millions with his “Urban Lights” and “Metropolis II” exhibits at LACMA, he spent his early years as the most controversial and subversive performance artist in the United States, putting himself and others in uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous situations for his art. “A Beast/A Burden” covers five incredible and influential months in the life of the young artist (October 1971-February 1972) as he forms the basis for his ever-present mythic stature in the art world. With Burden himself as the meandering and sometimes unreliable narrator, the show evaluates the nature and purpose of art, the place of ‘self’ in an artist’s work, and the way creatives evolve over time into who they’re meant to become.

A historical dramatization loosely based on the biography collection “Chris Burden” by Fred Hoffman, John Berger, and Kristine Stiles, and the documentary “Burden” by Richard Dewey and Timothy Marrinan.

Hush – Hush. Look all you want, but don’t say a word.

If you think dolls are just for children, let us disabuse you of those notions.

Step into the walls of Madcap Creative’s dollhouse for an evening of erotically charged performance art with a taste for fetish.

Meet our collection of human dolls, all crafted to tease and please. Don’t be surprised if a girl beckons for you to undress her or brush her hair. It’s all play in Madcap’s dollhouse.

Watch as our girls contort, shimmy, strip and reveal fantasies you didn’t know you had in this interactive performance.
This is the world premier of Hush, an artistic exploration of lust and pleasure. Hush will engage the senses and send you spiraling into a world of the provocative and unusual, different every time you see it.

A Life Behind Bars – “A Life Behind Bars” is an unapologetic, dark and funny look at what can happen when you reach for the stars but grab for the bottle instead. From a NYC Health Inspector, to a Brooklyn “new money” hipster, to a Hell’s Kitchen-Andrew Lloyd Webber-loving piano bar denizen, to his own alcoholic celebration and fall, “A Life Behind Bars” shines an incredible light on two decades of NYC bartending with an incredible message of survival.

Winner of the 2018 NYC Bistro Award for ‘Outstanding Solo Play,’ the 2018 Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs Award for ‘Best Spoken Word Artist,’ the 2018 ‘Martha Hill Newell Playwright Fund Award’ and the 2016 United Solo Festival Winner for ‘Best Autobiographical Show.’

19 Years Later: A Harry Potter Parody – We join Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermoine Granger Weasley 19 years after we left them. They all have children headed to Hogwarts. But things are amiss, wizards are disappearing and turning up dead. All must overcome old rivalries and create new friendships if they are to figure out who is behind this and stop them.

Hoodwinked – The play is a collaborative piece about the effects of Cults. All cults are explored through a writing process from the cast of 12. The exploration is funny, fierce and full of the unexpected. Hoodwinked is the producing show for The Loss Angels LGBT Center.

Hypnosis and the Performer – Would you like a way to step effortlessly into character? A way to access deeper sources of creativity and develop a rich and intricate history which you can tap into whenever needed? Or would you like a way to calm your nerves before auditioning and performing?

David LM McIntyre, CHt has developed tools in his practice as a certified hypnotherapist which he will share with you in the short but informative workshop.

The Tony Martini Variety Hour – Ex-Vegas lounge legend, Tony Martini hosts his very own variety show featuring LA’s top specialty acts and surprise guest stars!