Theatre reviewing website LA Theatre Review seeks aspiring writers to cover the 2011 Hollywood Fringe Festival.

Those of you who participated in Fringe 2010 should remember enjoying the excellent coverage via their website and the Daily Rag, a printed chronicle of show reviews.

If you love theatre and command a firm grasp of the critical written word, you may contact [email protected] for more information.

Fringe on!

Ben

And now the spotlight shines on our Food & Beverage Director: Abbie Wagoner…

__

Hello out there in Fringe Land!

If you remember the sangria last summer, then you remember me (though, probably not much else). I became involved with Hollywood Fringe last year as a volunteer/bar manager. I basically walked up to Ben and asked what was needed, and he simply said, “Take balls and run with them…” After a good giggle, I teamed up with the great Bryan Burgess and we turned the Fringe Central patio into a fun and welcoming space for artists and patrons alike.

I’m so thrilled to be involved with Fringe this year as your Food and Beverage Director and I’ve got some exciting plans in store for our new Fringe Central outdoor space at ArtWorks. In honor of our friend and co-worker Bryan Burgess, the bar at Fringe Central will now eternally be called “Bryan’s Bar.” Along with our tented biergarten with full liquor license, I’m in the process of convening food trucks from all over Los Angeles that will park next to our space every day, to ensure full bellies for all!

Accompanying the bevy of food trucks, I plan to have all sorts of interesting fare available in the tent such as cotton candy, delicious organic popsicles, a variety of baked goods, and, of course, all kinds of fried things. You can also look forward to daily cocktail specials, non-alcoholic options, draught beers, bottomless tubs of sangria, and a “Bryan Burgess Special” that is sure to please and inebriate.

I can’t wait for everyone to see the wonderment we’re all working so hard to create in our new space, it will blow your minds. I will see you all in June and until then, feel free to contact me if you’d like to help behind the scenes or if you’re interested in becoming a vendor at Fringe Central.

Fringe on!

Abbie Wagoner

The #hff11 hashtag on Twitter has emerged as the de-facto bulletin board system for the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Every day of the festival (and the months that precede it), dozens of tweets track the progress of participants, venues, staff, volunteers and patrons.

Twitter (and the #hff11 hashtag) is an excellent means of communicating with the community. In addition to twitter.com and every known mobile and desktop Twitter app, tweets appears on the Fringe home page which is viewed by thousands of enthusiastic Fringers every day.

We’ve just added new Twitter integration features to the fringe website. For example, each registration on the site is followed by an official tweet announcing a new participant production. Expect more integration in the near future including the ability to tweet about Fringe tickets you purchase and your personal Fringe schedule.

For those of you in need of a primer on twitter and hashtags – check out this article.

Hope to see you on Twitter this year! Follow us at @hollywoodfringe.

Ben

Join the Fringe staff and scores of your Fringe cohorts for a Hollywood Fringe Town Hall on Wednesday, March 2. We had a few of these last year; they were always a good time with lots of socializing and helpful information to ensure a successful Fringe experience. This year we are hosting our first Town Hall at Theatre Asylum, home of last year’s “Best of Fringe”.

As soon as the Town Hall wraps up, we move across the road for an informal mixer at Three Clubs, a Fringe venue and Hotspot (and one of our favorite hangouts in Hollywood). They are providing an amazing special: $5 on all drinks with your Fringe stamp.

Can’t make it? Fear not, we are recording the whole thing so anyone can listen.

Special thanks to Matthew Quinn, the staff of Theatre Asylum, and all the good people at Three Clubs for hosting the festivities.

Please rsvp on facebook or email [email protected].

Hope to see everyone there!

Ben

WHAT: The Fringe Town Hall

WHEN: Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 7pm

WHERE: Theatre Asylum, 6320 Santa Monica Blvd, Hollywood, CA (SW corner of Santa Monica and Vine)

WHY:

• To answer your questions and listen to your feedback
• To guide you through the Festival registration process.
• To meet venues and book your shows
• To announce new programs and promotions

WHAT: The Fringe Mixer

WHEN: Wednesday, March 2, 2011 shortly after 9pm

WHERE: Three Clubs, 1123 Vine Street (NW Corner of Santa Monica and Vine, look for the “cocktails” sign)

WHY:

• To socialize with staff, fellow, participants and venues
• To check out this legendary bar
• To imbibe drink specials: All drinks $5 with your Fringe stamp

The Hollywood Fringe is all about community – artists, art lovers, art patrons, and good friends. There is one more community that is directly impacted by the Fringe: The Hollywood business community. Apparently thousands of Fringers wandering the streets of Hollywood searching for their next adventure is good for local business.

Last year we launched (one of many) bold experiments in our inaugural Hotspots program. Almost 20 local businesses all around the Fringe Zone pledged promotions to Fringe-goers in this pilot program. Everything from cheap food to cheap drinks to cheap tattoos were available for the lucky Fringers who took advantage of the many promotions offered up to them.

Fringe Hotspots are coming back bigger and better in 2011 and our development team has assembled some materials to attract local businesses to participate.

Do you know a local business in the Fringe zone that may be interested in driving Fringe traffic through it’s doors? Ask them to contact us, we’d love to have them on-board.

Read all about Fringe Hotspots to get the info on what the program is all about.

Fringe on!

Ben