Hollywood Fringe Festival

Participants at Hollywood Fringe Festival June 8, 2013 Los Angeles, CA Photo by Joy Bennett

Last night was my first time at the fourth annual Hollywood Fringe Festival and I can tell you, this is one amazing festival.  Hundreds of performers, musicians, actors, writers, and artists have the opportunity to stage their projects in a supportive and creative atmosphere.  The festival, organized by Director Ben Hill and others, is a low-budget project that, due to the high quality of performing artists in this town, promises to be a wonderfully entertaining.  You can choose from literally dozens of productions, all at a very reasonable  cost, and support our entertainment community in a very special way.   


I have a press pass to the festival and will be covering some of the productions, for a review of my first, the outstanding Frank and Ava, scroll down.  For more information and to purchase tickets, visit hollywoodfringe.org. For more photos from the festival, visit my Flickr page at flickr.com/joybennett

Stars Stefany Northcutt and Rico Simonini of Frank and Ava after performance at Hollywood Fringe Festival June 8, 2013

Yesterday it was my privilege to experience a gem of a production, Frank and Ava.  This 70 minute, two person play, expertly crafted by writer Willard Manus, director Kelly Galindo, and producer  David Svengalis, is the story of the tempestuous relationship between Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner.   Both were huge stars, extremely passionate, but highly insecure.  The two actors not only have amazing physical simliaries to the stars, but captured their mannerisms and the flavor of the times with perfect grace.  This production was polished and assured, and I couldn't think of a better introduction to the Fringe Festival.  Not to be missed!     For tickets to Frank and Ava and many other productions, visit hollywoodfringe.org