We are excited to announce NEW dates for The 2021 Hollywood Fringe Festival!

Official Previews:
August 5th-10th, 2021  

Opening Night Digital Event:
August 11th, 2021

Festival Run:
August 12th-29th, 2021

Awards/Closing Night Digital Event:
August 29th, 2021 

 

Registration will open May 1st, 2021, with lowered registration rates across the board. With ever-changing case numbers and our community’s health and safety as our priority, we will adjust this model if deemed necessary due to updates in city/county/state guidelines. 

These are the three registration types for HFF21: 

1. Livestream from an official HFF venue (in the Fringe Zone)- $175 
2. Livestream from any other location (i.e., from home, a venue outside of the zone, etc.) – $225
3. COVID-safe, socially distant outdoor theatre- $275
   From window display theatre to outdoor COVID-safe immersive work, this category is for those looking to have an audience present in an outdoor setting. This registration type must take place in the Fringe zone and requires proper permitting and an approved safety plan (following city/county guidelines for COVID safety).

Take a look at our 2021 registration types so you can begin planning your creative journey with us. Without the ability to predict the future, HFF is adjusting this year’s Festival model to create a safe and more fringe-y festival season than ever before.

To address the freak in the room, we know that things are rapidly changing, and we are following the progress daily. When registration opens on May 1, the Fringe will also be sending out a COVID-safety packet with more information on each registration type.

We understand that many members of our community are hopeful that we can host live audiences inside our theaters in August. Still, we cannot count on that at this time, nor should that hope be a deciding factor in your decision to participate. That said, if guidelines allow audiences to safely return to theatres, we will begin conversations with our partners on how to best support our transitions to in-person theatre experiences.

We take our community’s safety seriously, which is why we are focusing our efforts this year on creating a digital platform that mirrors your in-person Festival experience. We are all learning to adapt, and we look forward to exploring, creating, and pushing the boundaries of creative expression alongside you. 

We will still have all of your favorite Fringe events (with the bonus of not worrying about parking)! Town halls, Office Hours, workshops, parties, awards, a digital Fringe Central, and even a few new programs, all available to you from the comfort of your home. 

There are many exciting aspects of the digital theater experience: the amount of creativity that comes from the challenge, the broadened accessibility for audiences and performers alike, and the fact that your work can be shared with the world (and still never run out of seats). This year’s Fringe will be our chance to come together as a community and reinvent the wheel.

There is no doubt that some of these adjustments will expand the scope of what Fringe will look like for years to come—won’t you join us on this voyage into the unknown?

Have questions? Check out our FAQ or email [email protected]. 

Fringe on!

The Hollywood Fringe Staff

What happens if I paid a registration fee in 2020?

There are several options for your 2020 festival registration fee.

1. Rollover your registration to 2021 (or 2022, 2023, etc. — your registration fee does not expire). Please let us know by emailing [email protected] and let us know that you would like to produce your show this year (or any other), and we will credit your registration.

2. Donate your registration fee to the Hollywood Fringe, a 501©3 organization. We can provide proof of your donation for tax purposes.

3. Request a refund! Please have the Primary Contact for the registered show (the person who paid the registration fee) login to the Fringe website and visit https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/refund. Click “Request Check” to request your check. On the next screen, please verify your payee and address are correct,, and we will issue your check. Please allow 7-10 business days for your check to arrive via the U.S. Postal Service.

What is an official HFF venue? 

This year only: a venue refers to already established venues/theaters located in the Fringe zone. A list of eligible venues will be available in the May registration announcement, but all of our previous participating venues are eligible. Feel free to reach out to those venues here. 

Booking a venue would be the only way to register for the first registration type. A venue must be booked before registering under that registration type. 

Each venue will come with its own set of capabilities: from an empty stage that you can imagine and run your own livestream experience from, to fully livestream-equipped theatres where you might not touch a button, you’ll find a space that fits your creative and technical needs. Information on what each venue will offer this year will be provided on hollywoodfringe.org starting May 1.

This discounted registration seeks to make this year’s Fringe more financially viable for participants to return to the stages they know and love after a year of closed theaters. This will only be a part of the HFF model this year, and registration fees will return to normal for our in-person Festival in 2022. 

Can I livestream my show from a venue that is not an official HFF venue/ out of the zone? 

Yes! You can livestream your show from a theater outside of the Fringe zone, or any other location under our registration type “2. Livestream from any other location.” 

Please keep in mind public spaces or privately owned locations would need permission and or permitting depending on what city/state/country you are filming from. 

If I book an official HFF venue, can I have an audience during the festival if guidelines change? 

At this time, no. You should not register today if you only want to participate in hopes of live audiences. The decision to pivot to a hybrid model will be made if guidelines change, AND HFF staff and partners decide it is safe for our community. 

Why are all the registration types different costs? 

We discounted registration fees across the board because we know this has been a difficult year financially for everyone, and we want to do all we can to allow theatre artists to get back to their first love: the stage! 

Each registration type will take a different level of Fringe participation/interaction, and those levels have been priced accordingly. We have additionally lowered the venue registration costs to support our local venue economy, and ensure that artists have the opportunity to film there at a lower cost.

Is it safe to participate?

The Hollywood Fringe is working with local authorities, businesses and venues to ensure the safest procedures possible for a digital streaming fest.

That being said, if you’re worried about COVID-19 spread, or don’t feel safe enough yet to participate, we recommend that you submit your work from home or another environment that you feel safe in under our registration type “2. Livestream from any other location.”

How many livestream shows can I do from an HFF venue?

There is no limit to the number of shows you can submit. However, your venue will work with you on how many bookings are available in their space. Your venue is responsible for setting the time slots for your show, similarly to how venue spaces operate during an in-person Festival season. 

How many livestream shows can I do If I am not working with a venue?

There is no limit to the number of shows you can submit. However, we recommend that you honor your capacity for safety and marketing purposes and check in with your team about what’s best for your production.

Will there be a printed guide this year?

No. All shows will be listed on the website as in years past, and we will be (re)introducing the Hollywood Fringe app. While we will not have guide ads available this year for marketing, you can still purchase our online ads at a discounted rate. 

What if I have no idea how to livestream but want to participate?

We will have multiple pre-festival events designed to help you navigate this new platform. There will also be informational guides in this year’s participant packet. 

At the beginning of this process, our Fringe staff was in your shoes— we know how daunting this task can seem, but are uplifting our community’s amassed knowledge to walk you through this. The Fringe is a special place: you don’t have to pretend to be an expert. Our Festival supports artists from all walks of life and knowledge bases— come try something new with us!

Additionally, if you’re worried about technical aspects, there are people to hire! Please consider booking a venue where those aspects are taken into consideration or that is fully-equipped to tech your creative vision.

Can I submit a film? 

No. 

Although, just like a live production, you can incorporate filmed segments into your live show. We recommend that you consider those moments an addition to your show, and not the focus.

What’s next?

There will be more additions to this FAQ for the May 1 registration opening. Please email [email protected] if you have any further questions at this time.

Dearest Fringe Family, 

As we embrace 2021 with cautious optimism, we couldn’t be more thrilled to begin sharing our plans for the 11th annual Hollywood Fringe Festival. 

Over the last year we have watched creativity blossom throughout our community in ways we didn’t know were possible. From Zoom theatre to socially-distant immersive experiences, you have shown that artists will find a way to create theatre even in a pandemic, and it is this creativity that will make the 2021 Fringe season possible. Throughout its past, the Fringe community has proven, time and time again, the impact that an annual, grassroots gathering of artists provides its community. The camaraderie, creativity, and connections we witness in the lead-up to the festival mirrors the resilience this moment requires.

In concert with our venue partners, we have rescheduled the festival to August 12-22, 2021. By pushing back our timeline this year, it gives us the greatest assurance that we can gather for a digitally-driven, community-focused Hollywood Fringe Festival. 

We are actively working in conjunction with local, city and state health officials in planning a safe and successful festival. While digital shows will certainly make up the bulk of Fringe this year, the postponement allows for the increased possibility of safely presenting in-person shows according to public health guidelines. We’re hopeful that the delay will allow more time for the public to be vaccinated and restrictions to be loosened.

To ensure that we have the most up-to-date safety and health regulations in mind when we start our Fringe season, we are also delaying the opening of registration to May 1, 2021.

We remain committed to providing excellent resources to our stakeholders, and encourage our community to reach out with thoughts, questions, and concerns to [email protected]. 

 

PLEASE COMPLETE OUR SURVEY 

The Hollywood Fringe exists to serve our community, please help us provide the best support possible by filling out this survey. We are listening.  
 

FRINGE FROM HOME

Though we may not be able to meet in person right now, we will be continuing our digital community space, Fringe From Home, beginning in March.
 

WE WANT TO HELP 

We know that the pandemic’s economic impact has affected our community deeply. Our artists have lost work over the past year and our artistic homes are hurting: from the theaters we perform in, to the watering holes we grab a drink in post-show. 

To help offset the cost of participating in the 2021 Fringe, we are proud to announce that we are creating an artist fund with the proceeds from our upcoming annual fundraiser. More information on how to participate and donate coming soon.
 

With love and support,

The Hollywood Fringe Festival

Dear Fringers, 

What a year it has been. 

While COVID-19 is still a rapidly developing health crisis, we are all beginning to see an end to the days of dark theatres. Just like you, The Hollywood Fringe team is looking to the future and planning with caution, creativity, and hope. 

With the health and safety of patrons and Fringers in mind, we are working towards a digitally-driven 2021 Hollywood Fringe. Expect an announcement in the new year with the full details of our 2021 festival. Until then, we will continue to work in concert with our venues, health department and city. In a safe and perhaps more fringey way than ever, the show(s) will go on! 

We will keep you informed as we take steps towards planning next year’s fringe; we look forward to including you on our journey.

We have been so inspired by the HFF community this year. In hard times you have created art, provoked thought, and brought joy to a darkened world. You continued to push forward when the world seemed to pause. We see you, we commend you, and we look forward to your contribution to our 2021 festival.

We remain committed to providing excellent resources to our stakeholders and encourage our community to reach out with thoughts, questions, and concerns to [email protected].

Fringe On!

The Hollywood Fringe Team

Meet Jonathan Cho, a HFF19 scholarship recipient (and recipient of the 2019 Freak Award for Best Solo Show) representing The Hollywood Fringe Festival as a part of Sydney Fringe’s brand new program: Global Fringe

 

What is your show about?

Mr. Yunioshi is a solo show that follows Mickey Rooney as he develops his infamous character for the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The show is written for an Asian actor to perform.

 

What inspired you to write this story? 

I first had the idea for the show when I was doing theatre in Tampa. I’m so grateful to have been a part of the theatre community there and I still consider Tampa my hometown in a lot of ways. That being said, I was one of maybe three Asian performers that I knew of that were auditioning and getting stage time. At the time, there was this one sort of problematic director that had directed a show featuring a pretty rough caricature of a Chinese person by a performer that was not Asian. There was a facebook thread where the director defended his choice calling it “satire.” So a friend of mine posted a picture of Mickey Rooney as Mr. Yunioshi with the caption “SATIRE,” and as a joke I wrote that I would be doing a one man show as Mickey Rooney showing his process in developing that character. The response was largely, “you know that’s not a bad idea.” 

 

What do you think the most important takeaway from your show is? 

My hope is that the show gets people fired up to more actively support Asian artists. I tried to make the point that Hollywood likes to cast “household” names so it sure would help if more people were talking about Asian performers in their houses (or in their virtual houses! on their virtual walls!). Coming from a close-knit and supportive theatre community, I learned how uplifting and helpful the act of championing your fellow artists can be. One thing that’s blown my mind about being in Los Angeles is how instead of only plugging plays, I’m now celebrating friends in movies, TV shows, and video games. If you feel so inclined, please check out and support these Asian artists: Joy Regullano (Supportive White Parents), Brandon Raman (I Can’t Indian Good), Paul Yen (EWP’s Vietgone), Olivia Cheng (Warrior), Jake Choi (Single Parents), Anzu Lawson (Dear Yoko), Feodor Chin (Bulge Bracket), Leonard Wu (Ghosts of Tsushima), and I always feel bad about starting one of these lists because I start to think about who else I could have mentioned.. Oh! There’s also an all-Asian comedy team named Miss Golightly at UCB that I found out about during the run of this show!

 

Tell us about the journey you have been on with this show? 

After I had the initial idea, I didn’t actually start writing until right around the time they revealed the first picture of Scarlett Johannson in Ghost in the Shell. I saw a lot of people calling for a boycott of the movie (which I can certainly understand people wanting to do), but I also felt the problem was bigger than Scar Jo and I started writing the show as a way to unpack my feelings and opinions about the subject. I finished the first version just in time for the New York Fringe Festival.    I was happy with the version that I did in New York, but for the Hollywood Fringe I had grown a bit and was better able to articulate my thoughts. I also had a terrific comedy director named Joe Wagner who helped me talk through a lot of the jokes I was hesitant to make. And a huge thank you to the Hollywood Fringe Diversity Scholarship for helping me on the production side of things! I was very wrapped up with writing and performing and it was nice having a team of people checking in to see if I needed any help (and I did!). I suppose the next step of the journey is figuring out a way for other Asian actors to be able to do the show in their communities. I hope the show can be a showcase for actors like me when I was starting out, a way of saying “Hello! I’m here! Look what I can do!” 

 

What are you most excited about in sharing your show with a global audience? 

I’m honestly really hoping I get to hear the response to the show and whether this is a topic and subject matter that resonates with an international audience. I’m rather keenly aware of the conversations being had about whitewashing and yellowface here in the U.S. and from friends in the U.K. and I’m curious whether this is a conversation that people everywhere want to be having. I think this show does a good job of introducing and dissecting those issues while disguised as a comedy. I just don’t know if people will think the show is as clever and/or funny as I think it is. I sincerely hope so. But I’m mostly just excited for people to see the show and hopefully enjoy it!

 

Do you have a favorite HFF memory? 

I have to say that winning an award with my Mom sitting next to me in the audience was a very lovely experience! That would be my favorite memory followed closely by a thousand smaller memories of meeting so many talented artists and being welcomed so warmly by the Hollywood Fringe community.

 

Check our Mr. Yunioshi and so many more amazing shows from around the world in Sydney’s Global Fringe !