FREEBIRD GOES TO MARS Returns To LA For Hollywood Fringe Festival

Freebird Goes to Mars, the original one-woman show created by and starring actress Betsy Moore (While the Trees Sleep, official selection of Cannes Film Festival 2016), will return to Los Angeles for a special limited engagement as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival for a five performance run at The Lounge Theatre (Lunge 2) (located at 6201 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90038).

Named "Best Avant-Garde Production" during it's Off-Broadway premiere during the 2017 United Solo Festival and selected as one of the five BOLDEST moments in theater by LA Weekly during Son of Semele's 2015 Solo Creation Festival, Freebird Goes to Mars introduces audiences to Betty, aka "Freebird." A recovered alcoholic, every-mom from middle America, Betty makes a precarious living as a Walmart cashier and is an example of someone on the losing side of the economic divide in America today. Following the unexpected election of Donald Trump, Betty's journey to the red planet helps illuminate the hopes and fears of America's working poor.

The idea for this quirky solo show first came to Betsy Moore following a vacation where she had the pleasure of meeting a dear friend's mother, who would happily sit talking for hours, with her cigarette in one hand and diet coke in the other. In it's first iteration Freebird Goes to Mars was a monologue taken verbatim from these conversations, a la Anna Deavere Smith. Exploring the character more deeply, Ms. Moore developed the rest of the material through improvisation.

"Realizing Betty had become a larger than life presence I knew she needed a larger than life mission..." says Moore. "So we sent her to Mars!"

"I aimed to create something that can speak to everyone," Moore continues. "You may be like Betty, you may know a Betty, or you may just be familiar with the stereotype. But its my hope that the more an audience gets to know her, the more those stereotypes disappear, leaving them in the moment with an authentic characterization that demonstrates how sophistication is completely separate from intelligence or worthiness - with the added bonus of having a few good laughs along the way."

Tickets, coasting $15 each, can be purchased online at www.hollywoodfringe.org. Performances of Freebird Goes to Mars will take place at The Lounge Theaters (Lounge 2) (located at 6201 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90038) according to the following schedule: Wednesday, June 13 at 8:00pm; Saturday, June 16 at 2:00pm; Wednesday, June 20 at 10:00pm; Friday, June 22 at 6:00pm; and Sunday, June 24 at 4:00pm.

BETSY MOORE (Performer/Co-Creator). After earning her BA in theatre arts, Betsy Moore performed with Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Her career in Southern CA started with the role of Connie in Tony 'n Tina's Wedding, leading to several stints in improv theatre. Work with experimental writer/director John Sinner led to successful productions at the New York and Amsterdam Fringe Festivals. Among her recent films, she is especially proud of her work in Sissy, a stunning short directed by Bonnie Root, and was awarded best supporting actress for her work in Light as a Feather. She played Joan in groundbreaking Bill and Joan at Sacred Fools followed by several performances at Son of Semele including the well reviewed and honored Love and Information.

ILANA GUSTAFSON (Director/Co-Creator) is a Los Angeles-based performer, writer, and director. She has toured her original work in the U.S. and Europe as both a solo artist and as a collaborator with such ensembles as ARTEL, City Garage, and Theatre Revelation. She is one half of the female clown duo, Duckbits, and a co-founder of commedia dell'Arte troupe, Studio Zanni. She is honored to work with Betsy on Freebird Goes to Mars and share this story that uses the witty humor of this everymom character to explore our shared humanity.

The Hollywood Fringe Festival is an annual, open-access, community-derived event celebrating freedom of expression and collaboration in the performing arts community. Each June during the Hollywood Fringe, the arts infiltrate the Hollywood neighborhood: fully equipped theaters, parks, clubs, churches, restaurants and other unexpected places host hundreds of productions by local, national, and international arts companies and independent performers.

Participation in the Hollywood Fringe is completely open and uncensored. This free-for-all approach underlines the festival's mission to be a platform for artists without the barrier of a curative body. By opening the gates to anyone with a vision, the festival is able to exhibit the most diverse and cutting-edge points-of-view the world has to offer. Additionally, by creating an environment where artists must self-produce their work, the Fringe motivates its participants to cultivate a spirit of entrepreneurialism in the arts.

The Hollywood Fringe Festival is a non-profit company. The festival gives 100% of box office revenue back to participating artists and venues-that's over 1.8 million dollars since the inaugural festival in 2010. Donations are essential for both day-to-day festival costs as well as the growth of festival programs and resources. To help sustain Hollywood Fringe, you can donate here.

To post a comment, you must register and login.