GREASE Helmer Barry Pearl Directs Broadway Vets in POP! THE MUSICAL, Opening Tonight at Hollywood Fringe

The Hollywood Fringe Festival's 2015 season includes the world premiere of POP! THE MUSICAL, an '80s themed musical with an exciting original score from the Los Angeles based writing duo of twin brothers Geoffrey and Sam Rose (aka Roze Broze) and directed by award winning director Barry Pearl, most familiar to worldwide audiences for portraying "Doody" in Paramount's now cult classic film "Grease."

The talented ensemble cast includes: Joshua M. Bott ("Forever Plaid," "Two Broke Girls"), Jenna Coker-Jones (Broadway's "Fame," "The Evil Dead"), Douglas Ladnier (Broadway's "Jekyll & Hyde," "Sweeney Todd"), Matt Steele ("The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," "Duck for President"); Ben D. Goldberg ("Castle," the "For The Record Series"), Haviland Stillwell ("Magic Mike XXL," Broadway's "Les Miserables"), Laura L. Thomas ("Hairspray," "Legally Blonde").

The show is choreographed by James Tabeek, whose Broadway credits include "Mary Poppins," "Beauty & The Beast," "Wicked" and "Taboo."

Like "Grease," "POP!" is a comedic period piece that celebrates an extraordinary decade in the history of pop music. "POP!" tells the story of two struggling musicians who, through a twist of fate, suddenly have a chance of getting a song to Madonna at the height of her fame. Brimming with nostalgia and packed with original 80s style pop music, the score, book and lyrics are a love letter to one of music's most remarkable decades. Learn More at pop-themusical.com.

Music lovers and theatre fans can catch one of three performances only tonight, June 19th, 20th, and 21st at The Hudson Backstage Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood (located between Vine and Highland). Show dates: Friday, June 19 at 8:00 p.m.,Saturday, June 20th at 8:00p.m.; and a matinee performance on Sunday, June 21st at 3:00 p.m. Tickets: $22 on sale at hff15.org/2177.

About the Roze Broze - During the '80s and early '90s identical twin brothers Geoffrey and Sam Rose made their livings in the music business as singer/songwriters and music producers. In Chicago, they fronted the band "Roscoe," then they moved to Los Angeles and formed the bands "Stereo," "Matches" and "Blue Tango," winning best vocal group of the year recognition from LA's historic music club, "The Mint." Among some Rose brothers musical milestones were a top 10 adult contemporary hit, "Nothing But the Radio On," for Dave Koz; "The Ride," a song they wrote and performed for the first Karate Kid movie, and "Be There Now," a Super Bowl commercial jingle for J. Walter Thompson, the title of which has been permanently adopted by Sprint, the "Now" Network.

About Director Barry Pearl - A Carnegie -Mellon University graduate, LA Ovation Award nominee, Drama-Logue, SD Indie Press, SD Playbill award winner for acting and most recently a National Youth Award winner for Best Direction of "13 THE MUSICAL," Barry began his professional acting career over 54 years ago playing Randolph MacAfee in Broadway's "Bye Bye Birdie". Directing credits include: "Oliver!" starring Sid Caesar and Karen Morrow (St. Louis MUNY), three of LA's very successful Improvisation / Sketch Comedy Troupes: "Milknose For The Prosecution," "Short Ribs" and "The Alley Oops," for Actor's Alley Rep.; two cable TV shows: "In The Biz" and "Ask Mr. Traffic;" Sam Bobrick's "The Crazy Time," for The Vagabond Players, "Night Hawks" for Crown City Theatre, a 40th anniversary production of "Grease" for The Gretna Theatre in PA and the recent production of the same show for Cabrillo Music Theatre where he has done four shows as an actor and produced "Happy Days: A New Musical." Last December, he directed a production of "Gift Of The Magi: The Musical" and most recently the award winning and critically acclaimed production of Jason Robert Brown's "13 THE MUSICAL" for Panic Productions at The Hillcrest Centre for the Arts and an immediate remount at the EL Portal Theatre in NoHo. He is best known for playing the role of "Doody" in Paramount's hit film, "Grease." www.barrypearl.com

About The Hudson Theatres - Located at the gateway to Theatre Row Hollywood, the Hudson Theatres have been an LA Theatre landmark for the last 20 years with world premiere hit shows like "Reefer Madness", Julia Sweeney's "Letting Go of God", "Bare the musical", "Divorce! the musical", "Life Could Be A Dream" and "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" written and starring Nia Vardolas that became the smash hit film of the same title.

About The Hollywood Fringe - 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.

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