Hollywood Fringe Spotlight - Part 2: THE POKEMUSICAL and [title of show]

Hollywood Fringe coverage continues with a look at a musical satire based on the world of pocket monsters and a popular musical about four friends writing a new musical. And in big news, the brand new Hollywood Fringe Festival App is now available for free download on both the Apple and Google Play stores. Once you download the mobile app you can purchase tickets on your phone to over two hundred festival productions, as well as browse shows by location, time or category. You can also create a unique profile, manage a list of favorite shows and customize your schedule on-the-go, plus there's a map and navigation for all Fringe venues, access to show reviews and a news feed of the latest Fringe events. Now that's pretty cool.

THE POKÉMUSICAL
June 10, 14, 15, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28

THE POKÉMUSICAL is a 90-minute lovingly satirical exploration of the world of pocket monsters and is the brainchild of two Baldwin Wallace University students. So how did THE POKÉMUSICAL get started? Alex Syiek, bookwriter and lyricist, conceived the show last year and teamed up with composer Andrew L. Cooper to present a new side of the Pokémon story - one with song and dance. The satire played its first run in Berea, OH this past spring and will now receive its west coast premiere at the Elephant Space of Theatre Asylum as part of the 2013 Hollywood Fringe Festival. Alex's sister, Joanna Syiek, will direct this iteration of THE POKÉMUSICAL and musical direction is by Jennifer Lin.

Joanna says, "We felt THE POKÉMUSICAL would be a perfect addition to the Fringe because it features a nostalgic revisiting of the early Pokémon craze, lightning-paced storytelling, 11-o-clock numbers about pocket monsters, and all in all a heartfelt story at its core. The musical follows the first journey of Ash, Misty, Brock, Pikachu and the rest of the crew from the original games and anime as they traverse Kanto, this time with song and dance in tow, exploring what it truly means to be the very best. THE POKÉMUSICAL delves into the everyman journey through the eyes of a 10 year old boy with a dream. It's a story that reminds us all that good things come to those that take life by the Pokéballs."

THE POKÉMUSICAL opens on June 10 at 10PM with performances most Fridays, Saturdays and Wednesday evenings through June 28. General Admission is $10. Performances take place at the Elephant Space, Theatre Asylum, 6322 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90038. Click Here for tickets and information or visit www.colorandlighttheatre.org.

[title of show]
June 7, 9, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 26, 29, 30

[title of show] is an 90-minute musical chronicling the adventures of Hunter (writer), Jeff (lyricist) and their awesome lady friends, Heidi & Susan, as they take their hit show from the NY Musical Theatre Festival, to an off-Broadway run, and finally to Broadway! And now, Village Idiom Productions brings the play-within-a-play hit musical to the Hollywood Fringe Festival in a co-production with Theatre Unleashed.

Why bring an established show to the Fringe? Director Corey Lynn Howe says "[title of show] speaks to every young professional trying to realize a dream while also struggling to maintain the balance of being a responsible adult...and it's funny as hell!" That's why the show received a Tony Award nomination in 2009 and why the folks at Village Idiom Productions thought it would fit right in with the spirit of the Hollywood Fringe Festival.

Jeff and Hunter, two struggling writers, hear about a new musical theatre festival. However, the deadline for submissions is a mere three weeks away. With nothing to lose, they decide to try to create something new with the help of their friends Susan, Heidi and Larry on the eighty-eights. With the cast in place, Jeff and Hunter begin a conversation on what they should write. Eventually, Jeff suggests they write about...what to write about! They make a pact to write up until the festival's deadline and dream about the show changing their lives. [title of show], taken from the space on the festival's application form which asks for the [title of show], follows Hunter and Jeff and their friends on their journey through the gauntlet of creative self-expression.

"It's an adventure; four friends, stuck on their own respective versions of a creative plateau, looking to take that much desired step up, find their momentum and eventual success simply by telling their own story," Howe said. "It's a beautiful telling of how we make our own happiness and success in life, all the while, battling to overcome self-doubt as the biggest and most consistent antagonist." Howe's cast includes Travis Dixon as Hunter, Christopher Maikish as Jeff, Heather Lake as Heidi, and Julia Plostnieks as Susan, with Jim Blackett as Larry & music director.

Performances are June 7 & 9 at The Elephant and June 13 - 30 at Theatre Asylum, 6320 Santa Monica Blvd. Tickets are $12. Click Here for tickets and more information.

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