OCTOBER BABY Comes to Hollywood Fringe

Brooke Baumer is obsessed with the month of October, from hayrides to pumpkin bread to what she considers the motherload of all holidays...Halloween.

She's so obsessed, at one point she decided that she wanted to time the birth of her second child in the month of October. It didn't go as planned. The both heart-breaking and hilarious story of her efforts and all the obstacles that got in her way, from conception to delivery, are the theme of her brand new solo show October Baby, playing at SacRed Fools Theater as part of Hollywood Fringe this June. As Baumer describes it, what started as a fun idea quickly turned into something much more as everything that could go wrong, both with the pregnancy and her life, did.

"For years, I've joked about the journey with friends and family, but honestly, it was a time that cut me to the core," Baumer said. "Ten months ago, I began sifting through old journals, reliving that raw place and time as a woman and mother. What emerged is a humorous and touching story that I hope will move many a parent in the audience to say, 'I get it!'"

No stranger to the entertainment industry, Baumer has built an illustrious career on stage and screen, most notably for her roles on TV shows like Fresh Off the Boat, Parks & Recreation, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Grey's Anatomy, Cougar Town and The Middle to name a few. She's also performed regularly in regional theatre and is most proud of her previous solo show, the acclaimed 'Maid to Love, which chronicles her escapades as a 10-time bridesmaid.

October Baby started out as a 10-minute storytelling piece. It wasn't until Baumer met award-winning solo show pro Jessica Lynn Johnson that something more came from it. Soon Baumer had an hour-long show with over 20 characters that help share her journey. It made its world premiere on Feb. 19 to a sellout crowd as part of Solofest 2017. Baumer knew then that the next step was Hollywood Fringe.

"I attended one solo show at Fringe 2016 and was blown away by the immense energy and creativity of not only the particular performance I attended, but the entire Fringe scene," Baumer said. "During my drive home, I thought to myself, 'this is what I want to do.' It had been 13 years since I had created my last solo show. It was time to unleash the creative beast once again. I literally began the next day really focusing on fleshing out my piece into a full-length show, with Fringe 2017 always in the back of my mind as the goal date and I'm thrilled to bring this show here."

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