STAGE TAKES - ALON DINA
TOP 5
Being The Perfect Woman
“A lot of work went into Being The Perfect Woman by Diaz, was my first thought, as we walked into the stage seeing a full clothing rack, a table with a record player, couch, poster board, and a live projection; and not a moment was wasted. The show is written in a way that allows us to experience the discomfort of having to be ‘The Perfect Woman’ with Ashley as they try different ‘normalities’ of how society views female. This show was captivating, transformational; what first feels like an influencer get ready with me shortly becomes the raw exploration of identity and self-understanding. A gut wrenching show of depth, one that evolves as the show progresses. No more spoilers, this is a MUST SEE SHOW. Highly recommended, personal and universal. ‘Wow,’ people muttered, as they got up after the show and their reactions rippled the space, ‘Double Wow.’ We were all chilled to the spine.”
Autastic
“Autastic is Jeff Ahern’s deeply personal journey of finding out his son is autistic. A very raw, honest, and profoundly heartfelt show. Whereas other one-person shows had scripts (in hand) this was simply Jeff recounting stories of his son, creating an immediate, genuine connection with the audience. Jeff holds back tears as a slide show of photographs brings up different memories, allowing for emotion to speak for itself. Perhaps one of my favorite shows this season, touching and resonates long after it ends.”
The Miraculous V: The Bizarre Awakening of a Virgin Witch
“The Miraculous V: The Bizarre Awakening of a Virgin Witch is a spell-binding one-person show, blending autobiography, trauma, and fantasy. Shara Kirby introduces herself with a playful, charming persona but does not let the darkness stay out of sight. It is a fun, surprising show, but also one that might make you squirm. It asks the audience to sit with discomfort as much as delight. I need not say more other than SEE THIS SHOW. This is a show that will win the hearts of audiences through laughs and tears, and will stay with us long after the lights have gone down.”
Mama! I Burnt the Chicken!!
“Momma! I burnt the chicken! had its sold out premiere and clearly resonated with the audience. A warm, hilarious, and deeply personal production that will stand out as one of the most engaging and comedic shows of the festival. The set transported us back to the 1990s with the sounds of 90s commercials playing from the TV; the audience even joyfully sang along to the Toys R Us theme song. Nina Childs was so free on the stage, commands with ease and authenticity, and we enjoyed every moment of it. A simple concept that takes the public persona of a churchgoing woman into her private home with her unguarded self, capturing something both specific and universal for a memorable theatrical experience.”
Emily F—ing Dickinson: America’s Favorite Recluse
“What a stellar performance by Shelley Cooper in her show, Emily F—ing Dickinson: America’s Favorite Recluse, a tour-de-force performance! Emily is up on stage, even before the show begins, making us laugh as the theater rolls through its announcements. She gives us a stunning portrait of two extremes, moving seamlessly between ecstatic mania and rock-bottom depression. In this show, Shelley becomes the character, speaking to the audience from her reclusive state while remaining fully present. The performer’s range is astonishing, particularly being able to blend comedy into her darkest moments.”
REMAINING SHOWS (Alphabetical)
Against All Odds
“I feel like I have seen Against All Odds before, but really I remember seeing Larry Meyers at the Hollywood Fringe Festival for his show, ‘Did I Just Join A Cult?’ Both shows were similar in style and extraordinarily entertaining! He sits at a table with a script nearby and just tells stories. Philosophical, mind bending, awakening describes it. Themes of synchronicity and the magic of story. It made me sad that the audience wasn’t filled, I hope more people get to see this wonderful work.”
Bad Medicine
“I left Bad Medicine by Adam Frost-Venrick so disturbed that I couldn’t write about it, but it was so damn good and hilarious! He plays a doctor, no, a Juris Doctor, wait, I mean he got an online certificate or something of that nature to be able to commit to his experiments. And boy, does he take us on a ride. I almost threw up, but was it cause of the copious amounts of laughter? You will have to find out for yourself…. RECOMMENDED”
Blow The Man Down: A Sea Shanty Concert
“I don’t know how Spencer Frankenberger has time to do a show as he is doing tech for just about every show but he managed to put a cohesive show together, Blow The Man Down: A Sea Shanty Concert is the story of seven sailors adrift at sea. The characters, music, and design fit those of pirate-inspired world. I liked how the concert played like a concept album, with the narrative unfolding through song. One singer had an exceptionally strong voice which added an extra layer to the character dynamics.”
Counting The Hours
“Counting The Hours by Camilo Gonzalez was a short, intense piece exploring a soldiers return from the horrors of war, I think. No, it is of ‘A military colonel about to be promoted to a minister and emperor of a kingdom.’ A portrait of PTSD is what I imagine it is about. The monologue was lengthy and showed his wrestling between power and humanity. The character raged at the death of humanity as machines have become central in the eyes of war, causing destruction around us. The character was sweating, adding to the sense of emotional exposure. Anyway, not a line that stuck with me. At the end a video homage projected on stage with clips of war and of Michael Jackson. ‘Choose people, not machines’ was the message.”
Experience Taught Me Nothing
“Experience Taught Me Nothing by Christine Blackburn is another personal storyteller show, warmly supported by the audience. Blackburn tells the story of taking a bold and risky leap; how she took out her retirement funds to produce her partner’s theater production. It was a rough production, I assumed, as Christine was still holding up her script; underscoring the honesty and rawness of the piece. Her delivery is confident and compelling, and she forms a genuine connection with the audience. She goes over the hurdles of producing and managing a relationship at the same time, with humor and candor.”
Fast Moving Consumer Goods
“The second play, Fast Moving Consumer Goods begins with a call with the suicide hotline that quickly veers into unexpected hilarity. Both offer fresh takes on heavy subjects with the message that human connection is all we need.”
Gilded Spindle
“Gilded Spindle is the ambitious and imaginative project by Wyndwolf Puppets which had its premiere at The 30 Minutes or Less Festival at The Stephanie Feury Theater. The production moved at a fast pace, quickly establishing its medieval world through a series of short and intense stylized scenes. Rapid transitions and frequent blackouts, with the focus on storytelling and visual experiments. I enjoyed watching Adam Frost-Venrick as the king, who brought a commanding yet comedic presence. Zander Raphael did a great job as the puppeteer, watching them move the puppet felt like watching Andy Serkis create Gollum/Smeagol.”
Heartbreak Feels Good (In A Place Like This)
“An interesting concept for Heartbreak Feels Good (In A Place Like This) and I had no idea what kind of a show I was stepping into based on the poster. But we have all heard that saying before, yes, it is from Nicole Kidman’s AMC Intro Video. Levani Ko presents us with preparation for his upcoming audition to replace Nicole Kidman and uses her script to create the show. They know their audience well (mostly actors) and proceed to take suggestions on how to best prepare for the audition and will Yes-And anything the audience desires! I have no idea if they can actually breakdance, but they committed entirely! They worked with the audience to interpret and analyze each word of Kidman’s monologue. This was a fun experience and next show will be entirely different, so I don’t feel bad for any spoilers. Go see this one for a fun time!”
Hooligani
“Hooligani was a gripping, fun portrait of a cold-hearted criminal. Vennessa Verdugo transforms herself Tetyana, a Russian madame with a family empire, willing to tell all for a better sentence. As I clutched my seat, I had to remind myself that this is only a show, a character. The show is filled with imagery and comedic breaks. Verdugo creates different impressions through the stories she tells and entertains exceptionally. Excited to see how this show will grow, or if Vennessa has more characters to bring to life.”
I Wrote You A Play
Part of:
“I Wrote You A Play/Letter From The Grave performed by Jo Dellapina and Jeff Dinnell had its premiere… two separate one act scenes. Nicely written show. Energetic performances. It appeared experimental, like scenes that had grown from a workshop or class.”
Letter From The Grave
“Matthew Kamm’s ‘Letter From The Grave’ had themes of grief and recovery; characters with history and backstory… Minimalist production with a lot of heart.”
Kittens In Space
“Kittens In Space was a fun, experimental, and comedic piece; one that won the audience laughs through absurdity and physical humor. Themes include talking animals, random encounters, drug trips, and time bending – a wild combo. The creators of this show did a great job in creating the play’s world. A fun, entertaining piece.”
La Mano del Mono
“Interesting, gripping, and unflinching. Aditya Putcha combines many different themes into La Mano del Mono… In true horror fashion, this show will get you uncomfortable and want you reaching out grabbing these characters by the shoulders… ambitious… bold visceral interpretation that isn’t afraid to push boundaries.”
Looking For Backup
“Pinky Jones’s solo piece Looking For Backup is her personal parallel journeys of becoming a real estate agent and an actor… real and genuine and all we could ask for on stage. These types of stories are healing for both the performer and the audience member.”
Mr. Big
“Mr. Big did a staged reading last year… this production gets better every time… thoughtful script, a smorgasbord of philosophy.”
Nancy
“Nancy by Richard Velasquez is a confident, charming, a rough production… raw and vulnerable… very touching tribute at the end… vulnerability will make you shed tears.”
Open-Door Playhouse
“Open-Door Playhouse brings down the house once again, with (Un)Drinkable and Will’s Dramaturg.”
(Un)Drinkable
“Historic, dark, powerful, emotional… chilling and thought provoking… great performances with strong writing and direction.”
Will’s Dramaturg
“A laugh out loud piece… Funny show which combined different time periods.”
The End
“The first play… about a woman who fell and hit her head and was now meeting face-to-face with Death… carried well with wit and charm.”
The Queen of Reading Gaol
“A strong one-person piece… brilliant tribute to Salome and other literary characters created by Oscar Wilde… energetic flow, keeping audiences interested.”
Being The Perfect Woman
“A lot of work went into Being The Perfect Woman by Diaz, was my first thought, as we walked into the stage seeing a full clothing rack, a table with a record player, couch, poster board, and a live projection; and not a moment was wasted. The show is written in a way that allows us to experience the discomfort of having to be ‘The Perfect Woman’ with Ashley as they try different ‘normalities’ of how society views female. This show was captivating, transformational; what first feels like an influencer get ready with me shortly becomes the raw exploration of identity and self-understanding. A gut wrenching show of depth, one that evolves as the show progresses. No more spoilers, this is a MUST SEE SHOW. Highly recommended, personal and universal. ‘Wow,’ people muttered, as they got up after the show and their reactions rippled the space, ‘Double Wow.’ We were all chilled to the spine.”
Autastic
“Autastic is Jeff Ahern’s deeply personal journey of finding out his son is autistic. A very raw, honest, and profoundly heartfelt show. Whereas other one-person shows had scripts (in hand) this was simply Jeff recounting stories of his son, creating an immediate, genuine connection with the audience. Jeff holds back tears as a slide show of photographs brings up different memories, allowing for emotion to speak for itself. Perhaps one of my favorite shows this season, touching and resonates long after it ends.”
The Miraculous V: The Bizarre Awakening of a Virgin Witch
“The Miraculous V: The Bizarre Awakening of a Virgin Witch is a spell-binding one-person show, blending autobiography, trauma, and fantasy. Shara Kirby introduces herself with a playful, charming persona but does not let the darkness stay out of sight. It is a fun, surprising show, but also one that might make you squirm. It asks the audience to sit with discomfort as much as delight. I need not say more other than SEE THIS SHOW. This is a show that will win the hearts of audiences through laughs and tears, and will stay with us long after the lights have gone down.”
Mama! I Burnt the Chicken!!
“Momma! I burnt the chicken! had its sold out premiere and clearly resonated with the audience. A warm, hilarious, and deeply personal production that will stand out as one of the most engaging and comedic shows of the festival. The set transported us back to the 1990s with the sounds of 90s commercials playing from the TV; the audience even joyfully sang along to the Toys R Us theme song. Nina Childs was so free on the stage, commands with ease and authenticity, and we enjoyed every moment of it. A simple concept that takes the public persona of a churchgoing woman into her private home with her unguarded self, capturing something both specific and universal for a memorable theatrical experience.”
Emily F—ing Dickinson: America’s Favorite Recluse
“What a stellar performance by Shelley Cooper in her show, Emily F—ing Dickinson: America’s Favorite Recluse, a tour-de-force performance! Emily is up on stage, even before the show begins, making us laugh as the theater rolls through its announcements. She gives us a stunning portrait of two extremes, moving seamlessly between ecstatic mania and rock-bottom depression. In this show, Shelley becomes the character, speaking to the audience from her reclusive state while remaining fully present. The performer’s range is astonishing, particularly being able to blend comedy into her darkest moments.”
REMAINING SHOWS (Alphabetical)
Against All Odds
“I feel like I have seen Against All Odds before, but really I remember seeing Larry Meyers at the Hollywood Fringe Festival for his show, ‘Did I Just Join A Cult?’ Both shows were similar in style and extraordinarily entertaining! He sits at a table with a script nearby and just tells stories. Philosophical, mind bending, awakening describes it. Themes of synchronicity and the magic of story. It made me sad that the audience wasn’t filled, I hope more people get to see this wonderful work.”
Bad Medicine
“I left Bad Medicine by Adam Frost-Venrick so disturbed that I couldn’t write about it, but it was so damn good and hilarious! He plays a doctor, no, a Juris Doctor, wait, I mean he got an online certificate or something of that nature to be able to commit to his experiments. And boy, does he take us on a ride. I almost threw up, but was it cause of the copious amounts of laughter? You will have to find out for yourself…. RECOMMENDED”
Blow The Man Down: A Sea Shanty Concert
“I don’t know how Spencer Frankenberger has time to do a show as he is doing tech for just about every show but he managed to put a cohesive show together, Blow The Man Down: A Sea Shanty Concert is the story of seven sailors adrift at sea. The characters, music, and design fit those of pirate-inspired world. I liked how the concert played like a concept album, with the narrative unfolding through song. One singer had an exceptionally strong voice which added an extra layer to the character dynamics.”
Counting The Hours
“Counting The Hours by Camilo Gonzalez was a short, intense piece exploring a soldiers return from the horrors of war, I think. No, it is of ‘A military colonel about to be promoted to a minister and emperor of a kingdom.’ A portrait of PTSD is what I imagine it is about. The monologue was lengthy and showed his wrestling between power and humanity. The character raged at the death of humanity as machines have become central in the eyes of war, causing destruction around us. The character was sweating, adding to the sense of emotional exposure. Anyway, not a line that stuck with me. At the end a video homage projected on stage with clips of war and of Michael Jackson. ‘Choose people, not machines’ was the message.”
Experience Taught Me Nothing
“Experience Taught Me Nothing by Christine Blackburn is another personal storyteller show, warmly supported by the audience. Blackburn tells the story of taking a bold and risky leap; how she took out her retirement funds to produce her partner’s theater production. It was a rough production, I assumed, as Christine was still holding up her script; underscoring the honesty and rawness of the piece. Her delivery is confident and compelling, and she forms a genuine connection with the audience. She goes over the hurdles of producing and managing a relationship at the same time, with humor and candor.”
Fast Moving Consumer Goods
“The second play, Fast Moving Consumer Goods begins with a call with the suicide hotline that quickly veers into unexpected hilarity. Both offer fresh takes on heavy subjects with the message that human connection is all we need.”
Gilded Spindle
“Gilded Spindle is the ambitious and imaginative project by Wyndwolf Puppets which had its premiere at The 30 Minutes or Less Festival at The Stephanie Feury Theater. The production moved at a fast pace, quickly establishing its medieval world through a series of short and intense stylized scenes. Rapid transitions and frequent blackouts, with the focus on storytelling and visual experiments. I enjoyed watching Adam Frost-Venrick as the king, who brought a commanding yet comedic presence. Zander Raphael did a great job as the puppeteer, watching them move the puppet felt like watching Andy Serkis create Gollum/Smeagol.”
Heartbreak Feels Good (In A Place Like This)
“An interesting concept for Heartbreak Feels Good (In A Place Like This) and I had no idea what kind of a show I was stepping into based on the poster. But we have all heard that saying before, yes, it is from Nicole Kidman’s AMC Intro Video. Levani Ko presents us with preparation for his upcoming audition to replace Nicole Kidman and uses her script to create the show. They know their audience well (mostly actors) and proceed to take suggestions on how to best prepare for the audition and will Yes-And anything the audience desires! I have no idea if they can actually breakdance, but they committed entirely! They worked with the audience to interpret and analyze each word of Kidman’s monologue. This was a fun experience and next show will be entirely different, so I don’t feel bad for any spoilers. Go see this one for a fun time!”
Hooligani
“Hooligani was a gripping, fun portrait of a cold-hearted criminal. Vennessa Verdugo transforms herself Tetyana, a Russian madame with a family empire, willing to tell all for a better sentence. As I clutched my seat, I had to remind myself that this is only a show, a character. The show is filled with imagery and comedic breaks. Verdugo creates different impressions through the stories she tells and entertains exceptionally. Excited to see how this show will grow, or if Vennessa has more characters to bring to life.”
I Wrote You A Play
Part of:
“I Wrote You A Play/Letter From The Grave performed by Jo Dellapina and Jeff Dinnell had its premiere… two separate one act scenes. Nicely written show. Energetic performances. It appeared experimental, like scenes that had grown from a workshop or class.”
Letter From The Grave
“Matthew Kamm’s ‘Letter From The Grave’ had themes of grief and recovery; characters with history and backstory… Minimalist production with a lot of heart.”
Kittens In Space
“Kittens In Space was a fun, experimental, and comedic piece; one that won the audience laughs through absurdity and physical humor. Themes include talking animals, random encounters, drug trips, and time bending – a wild combo. The creators of this show did a great job in creating the play’s world. A fun, entertaining piece.”
La Mano del Mono
“Interesting, gripping, and unflinching. Aditya Putcha combines many different themes into La Mano del Mono… In true horror fashion, this show will get you uncomfortable and want you reaching out grabbing these characters by the shoulders… ambitious… bold visceral interpretation that isn’t afraid to push boundaries.”
Looking For Backup
“Pinky Jones’s solo piece Looking For Backup is her personal parallel journeys of becoming a real estate agent and an actor… real and genuine and all we could ask for on stage. These types of stories are healing for both the performer and the audience member.”
Mr. Big
“Mr. Big did a staged reading last year… this production gets better every time… thoughtful script, a smorgasbord of philosophy.”
Nancy
“Nancy by Richard Velasquez is a confident, charming, a rough production… raw and vulnerable… very touching tribute at the end… vulnerability will make you shed tears.”
Open-Door Playhouse
“Open-Door Playhouse brings down the house once again, with (Un)Drinkable and Will’s Dramaturg.”
(Un)Drinkable
“Historic, dark, powerful, emotional… chilling and thought provoking… great performances with strong writing and direction.”
Will’s Dramaturg
“A laugh out loud piece… Funny show which combined different time periods.”
The End
“The first play… about a woman who fell and hit her head and was now meeting face-to-face with Death… carried well with wit and charm.”
The Queen of Reading Gaol
“A strong one-person piece… brilliant tribute to Salome and other literary characters created by Oscar Wilde… energetic flow, keeping audiences interested.”
