Connect with our Access Advisory Board this week at Office Hours!

Wednesday, May 31st 7-10pm at Saint Felix Hollywood.

 

What is the Hollywood Fringe Access Advisory Board? (Formerly known as the Access Committee)

The Hollywood Fringe Festival Access Advisory Board is comprised of experienced fringe producers, community members, and access focused professionals in the theatre industry. They meet on a regular basis to assess our organizational practices and processes, document successful approaches to equity, and identify areas of inequity that need to be addressed. 

 

CURRENT MEMBERS

Dan Lovato, AKA Pastiche Queen (They/Them) is a non-binary latindigenous, interdisciplinary performance artist from Denver, CO currently based in Hollywood, CA. Their work as an actor and slam poet has been featured on AppleTV’s “Dear: Viola Davis”, Facebook’s “Queer Community Leaders of Color Initiative”, and The REDCAT Theater Artist-In-Residency Program. Pastiche’s most recent one-person show at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, “Level One Gygax”, won The 2022 Theatricum Botanicum Wordsmith Award for advancing the artform of storytelling as well as being an Access Scholarship recipient. You can see them most Tuesday’s at Da Poetry Lounge.

 

Diana Elizabeth Jordan is an Award-Winning Actor, Solo Artist, Theater & Filmmaker, Disability & IDEA Influencer and founder & Chief Creative Artivist Of The Rainbow Butterfly Café.  She has been cast in over 60 theater productions, film and television including CBS’s S.W.A.T. She was one of 20 actors selected from over 7,000 applicants for the inaugural Warner Media Discovery Access Talent Showcase. She performed her solo show Happily Ever After (One Woman’s Journey To Find A True Love) at the 2021 Hollywood Fringe where she received a diversity scholarship, Pick of The Fringe and an Encore Producers Award honors. She is an award nominated director, a producer, the founder of two production companies Dreaming Big On A Swing Entertainment and The Rainbow Butterfly Café. Diana is a member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors Equity Association and one of the disabled advocates for Women of Color Unite and serves on The Hollywood Fringe Diversity Committee. Whether portraying a character, sharing a personal story, directing, or producing a project, Diana is committed to celebrating the power of resiliency and disability intersectionality through the transformative power of storytelling. www.dianaelizabethjordan.com @fromtheheartdej on twitter, tiktok and instagram

 

Matthew S. Robinson* is a playwright and director who has made several Fringe shows including “Olivia Wilde Does Not Survive The Apocalypse”, “BlackBalled” and “Mary’s Medicine.” A member of the Fringe Access Committee and Scholarship Panel, he is committed to fostering more inclusion and access to the performing arts throughout the Los Angeles area. www.matthewsrobinson.com

 

Michelle Roshanzamir* is the Executive Director of Donna Sternberg & Dancers and Founder/Consultant at MVR Creative.  Receiving her BFA from CalArts, and MBA (and minor in Theatre/Arts Management) from CSULB.  The work she does centers around helping creators, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit leaders bridge the gap between the vision of what they want to do with the business side to actually make it happen.  She helps leaders develop the business strategy; develop and run programs and events; develop systems and operations; and create a plan of action so you can remove the stress, increase revenue, and bring your vision to life.

 

Natasha Lewin* is a HFF Mentor, part of the ACCESS Advisory Board, as well as the Diversity Scholarship Board. Her 2017 HFF Diversity Scholarship-winning play was adapted into an Oscar-qualifying short film as well as a YA graphic novel memoir.  She can’t wait to see your show! 

 

Peerada Meemalayath* is a first generation Asian American and as an actor, activist, and overall artist, she one day strives to open up her own theater company that focuses on pressing societal issues. Recently, she graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a Theater B.F.A. degree. Though she is mostly trained in the Stanislavski method and Contemporary works, she has also studied classical work such as Shakespeare and Chekhov. She has also studied other performative skills like dance, mask work, movement, voice, stage combat, accents, musical theater, clowning, commedia dell’arte and film acting. These various tools ultimately allow Peerada to create her own work on what she is most passionate about. Peerada strongly believes in adopting theater as a catalyst for social change. Whether she devises new work individually or by collaborating with other artists on narratives that focus on a voice for the voiceless, she ultimately gives back to the world with her art. Overall, as a human being and as an artist, Peerada wants to leave the world knowing that she left a positive impact. She wishes to affect people and to share ideas of equality and love with others. 

 

Royce Shockley* is an award-winning producer, writer and comedian originally from the great state of New Jersey. He’s a founding team member of Pack Sketch Night, and has produced shows such as Black Magic Live!, The Color Collective, The Night Cap with Stacy Rumaker and more! In addition, he’s helped others win awards by consulting or mentoring on their projects for live theater and comedy performances for festivals around the country. Believing that diversity, inclusion, and equality should be the backbone of any organization; he also is a board member for The Ledge Theater, on the Scholarship and ACCESS Committees for the Hollywood Fringe Festival, and is a co-founder of the Blacktoberfest international beer festival. He has a background in political campaigns and working for “The Man” in corporate America, but now is content teaching kids when he’s not on the never ending search for the best burger in LA and being the Managing Director for The Pack Theater. You can follow him on IG @royceshockley.

 

Ruby Marez is not just a triple threat, but a quintuple threat as a comedian, drag performer, actor, writer, and first-generation Latina! Her solo show “The Ramón Show: Spiritual Cheerleading 101” featuring her drag king Ramón has garnered critical acclaim and won multiple awards at the Hollywood Fringe Festival in 2022, including “Best Immersive and Games Show,” “Pick of The Fringe,” and a “Producers Encore Award.” Ruby currently tours this award-winning show to colleges, theaters, and various venues across the United States. And when she’s not entertaining audiences with her solo show, she’s bringing her drag king Ramón, to festivals, comedy shows, and immersive, interactive events. Ruby is also a multi-talented writer, co-writing the original comedic pilot “Year Zero,” which was an I.F.P. finalist, (now known as The Gotham Awards) and went into development in 2018. Ruby’s acting skills have not gone unnoticed either, winning Best Actress for the short film “Corações em Fogo” at the Culture and Diversity Film Festival in 2019. Her sketch comedy duo, Arroz Con Pho, has performed at Second City L.A., in the Los Angeles Diversity in Comedy Fest, and most recently to a sold-out house at S.F.’s Sketchfest in 2023! 

 

Ruby’s creative endeavors span beyond the entertainment industry. She’s also a published writer, with her essay on growing up as both Puerto Rican and Jewish in the Midwest featured in the book “What We Brought Back: Jewish Life After Birthright-Reflections by Alumni of Taglit-Birthright Israel Trips.” Check out Ruby’s and Ramón’s upcoming shows and videos on their websites: www.theramonshow.com, www.rubymarez.com And Follow Ruby and Ramón on IG: @ramonlovesyou & @queenrubes

 

Spencer Frankeberger* is an award-winning producer, director, and actor and a graduate of iO West, Second City Hollywood, and ComedySportz LA. He has an MFA in Film Production from Florida State University and is a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC). He is also a tour guide on the World-Famous Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood and hosts his own theme park podcast @theoreticalthrills.  www.spencerfrankeberger.com IG/TikTok: @spencer101f  

 

TL Forsberg is a critically acclaimed award-winning solo artist (“The Book That Won’t Close”); International touring artist in the Deaf Culture; Speaker on Diversity & Inclusion; American Ambassador for Disability, and an EIPA Certified Interpreter in ASL.

Her life story is featured in the award-winning documentary, “See What I’m Saying:The Deaf Entertainers Documentary,” she plays Olivia on ABC’s “Switched at Birth,” and the Band’s Sytlist in VH1’s reality TV Series ‘SuperGroup.”

As a Diversity Advocate, TL is passionate about accessibility and works as an ASL Theatrical Interpreter. Some credits include: NBC’s “ The Voice,” ABC’s “American Idol,” Theatre West, CSUF Theatre Program, USC Drama Dept, Agape International Spiritual Center and The Hollywood Fringe.

 

Terrell M. Green (MSDMM) is an artist, advocate, and educator based in Los Angeles, CA. Hailing from Philadelphia, PA, Terrell has attended: University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication & Journalism (M.S. in Digital Media Management); Marymount Manhattan College in NYC (B.A in Theatre Performance); The British American Drama Academy at Oxford University’s Magdalen Campus in Oxfordshire, England (Professional Certificate in Shakespeare Performance); and marionette puppetry training in Cork and Dublin, Ireland. For the past 10+ years, Terrell has created arts-integrated youth programming in literacy enrichment, social and emotional learning, sexual and reproductive health, and conflict resolution. Terrell believes that art access is a tool to combat public health issues and uses media and storytelling as data collection metrics. Terrell’s work and advocacy have been featured in American Theatre Magazine, Philly Mag, Philly Gay News, Shoutout LA, Voyage LA, LA Sentinel, Annenberg Media, The Philadelphia Inquirer, WHYY, and Philly’s KYW news radio.

 

*Founding members of our Access Committee: Ella Turenne, Matthew Robinson, Michelle Roshanzamir, Natasha Lewin, Peerada Meemalayath, Royce Shockley, Rufino Romero, Spencer Frankeberger 

 

To apply for the Access Advisory Board, fill out this application: https://forms.gle/7ezHj1ctUgBZVJMA6

In advance of HFF23, we’re here with everything Hollywood Fringe artists and participants need to know about our new arts industry program, Discover Fringe! The Discover Fringe program seeks to connect participating artists with members of the international theatre, film and television industries to take their shows beyond the Hollywood Fringe Festival stages.

Arts industry professionals from various organizations have signed up to attend HFF23, network with artists, and in some cases, present a Discover Fringe Award!

There are three types of Discover Fringe arts industry members at HFF23:

1. Discover Fringe Arts Industry: Members from various arts and entertainment organizations who are interested in networking with Hollywood Fringe artists and seeing various shows at the festival.

2. Discover Fringe Awards Presenter: Members from various arts and entertainment organizations who are interested in networking with Hollywood Fringe artists AND are presenting a Discover Fringe Award at HFF23.

3. Discover Fringe Awards Judge: Members from various arts and entertainment organizations who are a part of a Discover Fringe Award committee, and will be evaluating shows that will be considered for Discover Fringe Awards.

All three of these categories will have the ability to request comp tickets for your HFF23 shows, similar to the way press can. It is entirely up to you if you’d like to accept their comp ticket request, but we do highly recommend providing comp tickets for arts industry folks, as many of them are interested in offering opportunities to artists beyond the festival.

When a comp is requested, the primary producer will receive an email! SO CHECK YOUR EMAILS DURING THE FESTIVAL. In that email, there will be a handy link that will take you directly to a comp approval page. Super easy! 

 

Each year at Hollywood Fringe, we celebrate the end of the festival with our Awards Ceremony and Closing Night Party (this year, it’s the evening of June 25th at The Bourbon Room!) Two types of awards are given out: Community Awards (“The Freaks”) & Discover Fringe Awards (formerly Sponsored Awards). Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about each type of award!

 

COMMUNITY AWARDS: The Community Awards, lovingly known as “The Freaks”, are determined by the Fringe community via a voting process. Fringe community members receive ballots in the last days of the festival via email. The productions with the most votes in a given category are announced as nominees hours prior to the ceremony via an email newsletter and website post, and the ultimate winners are revealed at the awards ceremony.

Who gets to vote on Community Awards? You will receive a ballot via email at the end of the festival to vote on Community Awards if you (1) are an HFF23 participant or venue manager added to a specific HFF23 project OR (2) reserve tickets for 3 or more shows on the Hollywood Fringe website OR (3) write 3 or more reviews for HFF23 shows.

Categories for HFF23 Community Awards:

• • • Top of the Fringe Award
    • Fringe International Award
    • Fringe First for World Premiere
    • Fringe Award for Cabaret & Variety
    • Fringe Award for Comedy
    • Fringe Award for Dance & Physical Theatre
    • Fringe Award for Drama
    • Fringe Award for Immersive & Games
    • Fringe Award for Musicals and Operas
    • Fringe Award for Solo Performance
    • Fringe Award for Two-Person Show

 

DISCOVER FRINGE AWARDS (formerly known as Sponsored Awards): Discover Fringe Awards are presented by outside organizations to commend excellence in a number of categories. These awards tend to be more specific than the community awards and may include monetary gifts or an extension to a show’s run. Hollywood Fringe participants must submit themselves for consideration, and winners are announced at the awards ceremony along with the community awards.

How to apply for Discover Fringe Awards:

Each Discover Fringe Award presenter will have different qualifications and requirements to be considered for their awards (which can be found on their individual award pages, located HERE). Some awards will have a form to fill out, and others will require that you contact them directly through the Hollywood Fringe website to submit yourself for consideration. Be thoughtful when you submit your show to be considered for an award, and remember not to overwhelm award presenters with messages or emails – they will do their very best to see as many shows as possible. 

Sample message:

“Hi <NAME>, my name is <NAME> and I’d love to be considered for <NAME OF AWARD> for my show <NAME OF SHOW>. <add information about why your show is qualified and should be considered for the award>. Thank you for your consideration! <NAME>”

You are welcome (but not required) to comp tickets for award presenters/judges. They will request comp tickets through the Hollywood Fringe website, and their title (award presenter, judge, etc.) will be specified with the comp request. 

2023 Discover Fringe Awards: (view them all and apply here)

• • • 2Cents’ Immersive Worlds Award, presented by 2Cents Theatre’s Loose Change
    • Best of the Broadwater, presented by The Broadwater
    • Ella Turenne Award, presented by Hollywood Fringe Access Advisory Committee
    • Springboard Award, presented by Fringe Management LLC
    • Hollywood Encore Producers’ Award, presented by Combined Artform
    • International Fringe Encore Series, presented by SoHo Playhouse
    • Jaxx’s Cultural Arts Envoy Award, presented by Jaxx Theatricals
    • No Room in the Green Room Award, presented by Make Believe Stage Productions, LLC
    • O Face Award for Most Orgasmic Production, presented by Orgasmico Theatre Company
    • Soaring Solo SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD, presented by Soaring Solo LLC
    • Splash Award, presented by Namba Performing Arts Space, Inc
    • The Loud Karma Emerging Women and Nonbinary Playwright’s Award, presented by Loud Karma Productions, LLC
    • The Theatre Theater Playwright Award, presented by Theatre Theater Podcast

This year, we are thrilled to help share art across the globe and create opportunities for artists to expand their reach. Through exciting collaborations with partnering Fringe Festivals, we are providing opportunity for their artists and ours. Each of these awards will include a performance opportunity in person at the following partner festivals:

• • • The Catania Off Fringe Festival Exchange Award, presented by Catania Off Fringe Festival in Catania, Italy
    • The San Diego International Fringe Festival Exchange Award, presented by San Diego International Fringe Festival in Tijuana, Mexico and/or San Diego, California
    • The Sydney Fringe Festival Exchange Award, presented by Sydney Fringe Festival in Sydney, Australia

VIEW ALL DISCOVER FRINGE AWARDS AND APPLY HERE!

So you have put in a huge amount of work to create your masterpiece play.  Now comes part two – creating a marketing plan that will get an audience to your show.  Many of you are gifted, talented writers/directors/actors with limited time to devote to the marketing of your production. 

Nohoartsdistrict.com has been marketing Los Angeles theatre for 20 years and has been the media sponsor for the Hollywood Fringe for 13 years.  Hollywood Fringe has asked us to provide a few marketing tips that may help you!

You are looking for like-minded folks to share your show page on the Fringe site and spread the word with positive reviews.

Let’s start with like-minded folks. Perhaps the topic of your play could bring you a specific audience.  If your play is about a celebrity like Marilyn Monroe, check out fan websites, blogs, and podcasts.  Also, check out Facebook groups, and search Marilyn Monroe hashtags on Instagram. 

Once you have done your research, make a list of your “prospects,” including contact info.  There is a high probability that the groups that you have researched will have an interest in your play.  Groups are always interested in sharing things of interest to their own membership. These groups can help you in many ways, such as placing your AD on their website or in their membership Enews.  Since you need to look at this as an exchange of services, what can you offer the group for their help in marketing your show?  Here are three things you can offer:

• Provide the group with free tickets for a raffle for their members

• Allow the group to distribute their organization materials at your play

• Offer a free acting class on Zoom to their members

Your friends can also be your sales force.  Ask each friend to email 10 of the friends/family information on your play.  Give them a  “family/friend” ticket discount.  Provide friends and family with artwork for their social media platforms.  Ask your friends if they would let you do an Instagram takeover of their Instagram account

Lastly, printing can be expensive.  Ask your local printer for 500 postcards/flyers, and in exchange, the printer can put his/her name on the back of the postcard, “printing provided by AB Copy.”  Unless you have gotten free flyers/postcards, distribution is time-consuming and expensive.

Be sure to take advantage of Hollywood Fringe’s great workshops and networking events.  You will meet hundreds of show producers who have the same challenge that you have of getting an audience.  Do a cross-promotion with the other show producers.  Have them hand out your show postcards at their show, and you do the same. Sharing Fringe audiences works!

We hope the above items will increase your audience. However, if the above marketing items don’t work for you, nohoartsdistrict.com has created an affordable AD package for Hollywood Fringe producers.  We know money is tight, which is why we discounted the ad package NoHo Fringe AD Package. Check out pg 35 in the Participant Packet! 

NoHoArtsDistrict.com has been a valued partner and friend of The Hollywood Fringe Festival from the beginning. Their love for independent artists is genuine, and the dedication their team shows in supporting arts and culture in Los Angeles is unmatched. – Lois Neville, HFF Co-Executive Director

 

You are invited to design the 2023 Hollywood Fringe Festival guide cover, which will be distributed throughout Los Angeles County throughout the festival! Submit your design ideas anytime between Friday (3/3) and Monday (3/6) at 12 pm PT to be included in the qualifying round. To enter the contest, visit the link here!

The winner will receive approximately $550 after the commission taken by 99Designs. Additionally, the winner is eligible for an additional prize of $1,300 to pull elements from their winning guide design to create the official T-shirt, iPhone app icon, and button for HFF23. To get started, create a (free) account on 99Designs.com.

Know an artist who might be interested? Please share the contest with friends!

Curious what past branding has looked like? Check out our most recent printed guide & previous design winners!  

Digital file of our 2022 printed guide

Digital file of our 2019 printed guide

2018 contest

2017 contest

2016 contest