True Stories

Get a taste of "Round Rock" at Fringe Cabaret!

"A bishop. A priest. A woman. A boy." Snatched from today's headlines, "Altarcations" examines lust, absolution, accepting apologies, and whether any place is safe. "Altarcations" is a project of the Pasadena Arts Council's EMERGE Fiscal Sponsorship Program.

Original bluesy pop songs connect the true story of how a boy rebuilds himself from devastating loss by collecting souvenirs and stories of his celluloid heroes, while visiting L.A., in 1977. How? By walking to their actual houses, knocking on their doors, and asking them in person, of course.

Mental illness was never so much fun as in MIXED PERSONALITY DISORDERS, a world premiere solo show by David Michael Taylor. Born into a family of maniacs, raised by the TV, and unprepared for life in the real world, his tale of trauma and triumph makes this the feel-good feel-bad play of the year.

Michael's Daughter is Ciera Payton's one-woman show that highlights her unique papertrail relationship with her incarcerated father. Ciera Payton is an actress and writer from New Orleans, Louisiana. www.CieraPayton.com www.MicahelsDaughter.org

First Love/Worst Love, is an examination of love and its mutability, as expressed through five actors and twelve short stories. Experience love’s peaks and pitches - disappointment, passion, caution, faith, indolence, dread, fury, and, perhaps most importantly of all, hope.

Eric Czuleger is a PCV in Albania. LTB is a new media theatre project that tells his stories. Performed by Deven Simonson, Directed by Sara Perry. Live streamed around the world. It's a microphone, an actor, and an audience. Real stories happening now, experienced live onstage and online.

No Boundarys is about life, death and camping. Mostly life, some death, and a lot of camping. After a long day canoeing in the Boundary Waters, there's nothing better than sitting by a fire under the stars, drinking scotch and telling stories of bears and loons, gamblers, drinkers, and dreamers.

"Round Rock" is the Texas legend of the Sam Bass Gang, a group of notorious outlaws in the late 1800's best known for committing one of the largest train robberies in U.S. history. A story about love and friendship, this Western epic from Aaron Kozak blends rustic charm with a darkly comic style.

Virginia City is a new musical about finding your voice. A young drifter named Sam Clemens lands a job as a reporter in an old west mining town. Inspired by a visit from scandalous showgirl Adah Isaacs Menken, Sam finds his voice and becomes Mark Twain.

This one-man comedy tells the autobiographical story of Majd Murad as he comes to terms with his homosexuality and finds the courage to come out to his Catholic Iraqi family, despite the fear of being killed for his "choice." Voted Best of the Hollywood Fringe 2011.

***SELECTED BEST OF FRINGE 2012*** VOICES IN MY HEAD: A LIFE is a darkly comic coming-of-age story in our media-mad nation starring BILL RATNER - the voice of Flint on G.I. Joe, Robot Chicken & Family Guy; Donnel Udina in Mass Effect, movie trailers, and TV disaster shows.

Anaconda is a play that takes an honest look at the aftermath of bullying and the search for redemption. Two people have the chance to mend the wounds of the past at the expense of their futures. If you had everything you ever wanted, would you risk it all to be forgiven?

An auto-biographical one man show, about an anxious, avocado eating, Christmas carol singing, pill popping, sexually repressed twenty-something who farted. Written by Ehrin Marlow. Directed by Bjorn Johnson

Tonya Meek’s bittersweet comedy, “Flying Standby”, reveals how the determination to escape her alcoholic mother carried her through a turbulent ride of addiction, lost love, and a final desperate flight toward reconciliation. Please extinguish all smoking materials and prepare for take off.