My husband, Brendan, and I moved to L.A. in the fall of 2010 to pursue our dreams of acting and writing, respectively. We first heard of Fringe midway through June the following year. We were dead broke, like so many Los Angeles transplants following their dreams, and I remember thinking, “Hey, I should see if they have any volunteer positions, maybe I could see some shows for free that way.”

June passed and I never got around to it, but I vowed I wouldn’t miss Fringe in 2012. I signed up to volunteer the following spring, and the first volunteer job I did (and roped Brendan into joining me for) was dressing up as a Fringe Freak and marching in the West Hollywood Pride Parade. We had so much fun and realized we’d found an amazing community. I volunteered several more times that Fringe and, yes, I got to see some shows for free.

2013 marked another year of volunteering for Fringe and seeing shows, but with a bit of a shift. Brendan and I wanted to be even more enmeshed in this community and to dust off our producing hats, still crumpled in the moving boxes we brought from Seattle. We decided we would write and produce a show for Fringe 2014. 

Our show plans were well underway as 2014 rolled around and then there was a little wrinkle: I saw that Fringe was seeking a new volunteer coordinator; the ever delightful Liz Steele was moving on. I was worried about a conflict of interests, but I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to become thoroughly entangled in Fringe and help more lucky folks get involved as volunteers. I applied, I interviewed, I expressed my concerns about also producing a show and assured Ben that Brendan would be the primary show promoter, and I got the job!

As Volunteer Coordinator, then Director, I’ve watched the ranks of volunteers expand to nearly 250 dedicated folks, overseen the Volunteer Comps and Discounts program, initiated and led annual Volunteer Orientations, and overseen and grown the Fringe Intern (Fringetern, anyone?) Program. This year my role will expand as I take on the role of Fringe Central Front of House Director. In addition to scheduling volunteers to help out at Fringe Central, I’ll be hiring Concierge and Security staff, maintaining communication between departments (Bryan’s Bar, Concierge, Cabaret, and Security), and making sure Fringe Central is well-staffed, well-stocked, and running smoothly.

I’m as caught up in this web as I could ever have hoped, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Moving to Los Angeles from cozy Seattle has made me realize that it isn’t always easy to find amazing communities of trustworthy, dedicated, and inspiring people. When you are lucky enough to find one, get enmeshed and entangled and caught up in it.

Who are you?

I’m Nathaniel Beaver. Most people call me “Beav”, which is cool by me. I am a fencer, movie buff, director, editor, filmmaker, Lord of the Rings Trivial Pursuit player, and Greek mythology enthusiast.  Oh, and I am from Indiana, proving that there is more than corn in Indiana. After college, I spent two amazing years traveling and working in beautiful New Zealand, before coming back to the US and moving to LA, where I started my production company, Parry-Riposte Films.

How did you get involved with Fringe?

I was here at the very beginning: the very first Hollywood Fringe Festival. I was recruited by Bryan Burgess (of Fringe Central’s Bryan’s Bar). I volunteered and handed out fliers on Hollywood Blvd, and I helped wherever I could. It has grown immensely since 2010! I have met some great artists and worked with many great people over the years.

What do you do with the Hollywood Fringe Festival?

In 2013 I was brought on as the FringeTV Editor. I worked closely with Stacy Jones Hill and James Warfield in cutting together some really funny and creative content. I served as Editor from 2013-2016. This year, I am happy to be a part of the staff once again, this time as FringeTV Director.

What is FringeTV?

FringeTV is the channel that hosts videos covering the festival. As the festival has grown in scope and popularity over the years, so has FringeTV. Our videos are informative, with topics such as the Fringe button, Fringe Central, How to Vote, and Cabaret, to name a few. We also enjoy showcasing artists and interviewing audience members about their Hollywood Fringe experiences, along with some fun parodies and entertaining videos.  Be sure to stay up to date and subscribe to our channel: www.youtube.com/hollywoodfringe.

What are your plans as the new FringeTV Director?

I am very excited to be in this position. I am ready to take on the responsibility and the increased workload. I hope to bring a creative eye to this channel, and a new perspective. I will also be serving as Editor, which will really be a lot more work this year, but I like being able to direct and edit, because once I sit down to cut the piece together, I already have a great idea of what I shot and where it all fits together.

Any challenges that you expect to face?

I think every Fringe is a challenge, whether you are an artist or staff member. June can be quite an intensive month. The challenge for me is to create, shoot, edit episodes and videos on time, along with entertaining our audience. Fringe on!

Hello! My name is Lois Neville. I’m a Seattle bred, musical theatre-loving gal who would sing and dance my way through this life if I could. With the Hollywood Fringe Festival I have found a community who not only allows me to be my truest self but will add in the harmonies!

I was first introduced to The Hollywood Fringe Festival in 2010. I was asked by my friend Bryan (of Bryan’s Bar, the infamous Fringe Central bar) to put on a bright orange unitard and play a Fringe Freak in one of the first original FringeTV productions “A Family Affair”. I had no idea at the time that a simple favor for a friend would make such a wonderful impact on my life for years to come. The lesson? When your friend calls you up and says, ”We need someone who looks like a 10 year old boy and thought you’d be perfect… Will you put on a unitard and shoot a short commercial with us?”, you save the issue with the comparison for a later date and you say “Yes!”. 

Saying “yes” has remained the theme throughout my time with Fringe. In 2011, I was asked if I wanted to bartend during the festival, said “yes” and June quickly became my favorite time of the year. I got to work and play with the most amazing community of artists, be immersed in theatre, and feel part of something I truly believed in. Yes, please!

In 2015, I was asked if I wanted to take on a little more responsibility. I (of course) said “yes” and took on the role of Sponsorship Coordinator. I started coordinating Hot Spots, Food Trucks, and Drink Sponsorships.

This year I have taken on the role of Sponsorship Director. I get to spend my days talking about the wonderful Hollywood Fringe Festival to equally enthusiastic sponsors and partners.

I deeply love being a part of this magical festival. I get to work with the most amazing humans on the planet and be surrounded by the most supportive, creative and talented community of artists in the world. If you think I’m kidding, come see for yourself. All are welcome! Just say “yes” and come experience The Hollywood Fringe Festival for yourself. I dare you.

Where will the Fringe take YOU?

We have partnered with the City of West Hollywood’s One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival to offer select participant shows with LGBTQ-themes complimentary Festival registration, courtesy of a scholarship received from the City of West Hollywood. We are excited to announce that the winners are:

• BRAVO 25: YOUR A.I. THERAPIST WILL SEE YOU NOW     
• DEAD BOYS
• DEBAUCHERS
• DOG SEES GOD: CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BLOCKHEAD
• #LASTDANCE
• NICKY
• RONNIE BRIXTON – BEST OF BRITISH BOXING
• SEX ANYONE
• THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF DRAG IN A FEW MO-MO
• UPSTAIRS – A MUSICAL TRAGEDY

The Hollywood Fringe Festival is proud to support the LGBTQ community and congratulates this year’s winners!

For more information, including a list of participating venues, please visit www.hollywoodfringe.org/weho_2017.

Q: How did you get involved with the Hollywood Fringe Festival and what made you want to stick around?

A: I first experienced the awesomeness of Fringe during the Opening Night Party of 2016. I was attending as a guest of the incompararable Bella Luna (Fringe’s Cabaret Director). We had arrived early and through some sort of cosmic alignment I was able to get behind the bar and help out. I found a groove quickly and really enjoyed my time there that night. It turned out to be the first night of several that I was lucky enough to spend at Fringe Central. The people and energy of Fringe are amazing and almost as intoxicating as the drinks. There are no friendships quite like Fringeships and I can’t wait for this year.

Q: Tell us about your experience behind bars.

A: I started bartending shortly after I turned 21. I was looking for a job that allowed me flexibility to continue pursuing acting, so I went through a bartending training course and then got a job at a restaurant. During the few years I worked there, I found I really enjoyed the fast paced, friendly, and dynamic work that is bartending. It was the perfect fit for me. I started working at other types of bars ranging from nightclubs to hotels. I’ve held several positions including bartender, manager, loss prevention, auditing, and menu consulting. I am currently working full time at the Hollywood Pantages theatre, a bar that has been my on again off again home for 11 years.

Q: What are you most excited about your new positiion with the festival?

A: This year as Bar Manager I am excited to be more involved with the sponsored drink program, helping Fringers spread their name throughout the crowd by creating memorable libations that are branded for their shows. I also can’t wait to be a part of the experiences and the parties that bring the incredible people of Fringe back again and again.

Q: If you were a liquor, what would you be and why?

A: That’s a tough question, but I’d like to think I’d be an aged rum: flavorful, fun, and mixes well with a variety of things. Plus I’m part pirate, and more often than not, I am why the rum is gone.

I look forward to seeing last year’s Fringers and meeting all the new ones, so come on down to Fringe Central and grab a drink!