Michael Shaw Fisher

Equal parts Talent, Heart, and fly by the seat of your pants Wit, Katierose is the kind of performer who understands how work a damn room. She instantly created a lasting personal alliance with her audience and brought us into her masterfully conjured world - and I guarantee you, after that ride no one in our audience will be able to ever think about the city of Philadelphia without thinking of Katierose. She’s put herself on the same level as Rocky for me.... full review

On a review board full of glowing superlatives this artist has genuinely earned them. A high octane feast of language, searing introspection, and intellectual gymnastics. THIS is why we go to theatre: to be branded, to get lost in someone else’s dream and be tattooed by an Absolute Moment. Some might say that Ben Moroski is at his peak with DOG but what I find to be an even greater accomplishment is that he’s ALWAYS writing/performing at this heightened level. He’ll accept nothing less of himsel... full review

Finally a fringe show that delivers on its premise! There will be those who get it, and others will be disappointed…but then really when has Rootbeer NOT disappointed? ... full review

Go see it. And here’s why: Ed Goodman has created the single LEAST pretentious one person show I have ever seen. His number one priority is to make sure his show is funny (also insightful, clever and fearless of course but none of that matters to Ed if it doesn’t end in laughter.) “Brainwashing” is also part of Ed’s personal campaign to raise his audiences awareness about the absurdity of the social/political world which they are entrenched – the man, like Mark Twain, he holds no punches and jus... full review

I’d heard this show traveled the country and been really polished before arriving to fringe and damn, it didn’t disappoint!... full review

This is so far my favorite piece yet offered by fringe veterans Ben Schwartz (playwright) and Matt Ritchey (director). American Conspiracy is an excellent ensemble piece where we see how far desperation (personal, financial) can push one family member from another. When does selfishness kick in? Is escape from these forces is even possible? This crisis is embodied beautifully by Spencer Cantrell as he is hopelessly prodded by the endlessly watchable David Garver. Cantrell and Garver together pop ... full review

A silly high school romp that for once doesn't end the way you expected it to. Amidst the numerous pop culture references, "Ashton Kutcher" gets his own song, and the writer/composer Conner Hanney has a ball breaking apart high school teen stereotypes. It becomes quickly clear, however that show was made with love. It has heart which doesn't bog down the committed comedic tone the group is striving for. The real heart isn't even the most evident in the show's overall message but in how the perfor... full review

Levatino is a beast. He might even be insane...but there is no arguing he is one genius bastard. I mean COME ON. A piece like this isn’t just scribbled willy nilly, it’s the product of both vision and methodical dicipline to both historical research and the craft of playwrighting. I would suggest that anyone who fancies themselves the next Mamet or Pinter, take their heads out of their asses and treat themselves to Meantime At Hojo’s and be humbled by the exciting work is being done by American p... full review

If there was an award for the most ambitious production at this year’s fringe, Unreal City would steal the trophy. I think everyone should check it out because I mean damn...they got a cast of like 30 folks out there in the streets of Hollywood busting their asses to create an entire landscape of story! Of course there are different tracks you can take on your hour+ adventure and I regret that so many of those performers I missed... but hey, that’s the nature of the beast. I will say most of the ... full review

It isn’t often when you are treated to the experience of seeing someone speak directly and passionately about something that matters to them. Well let me tell you something, the writer/actor/director Ernest Kearney is ALWAYS passionate, in passing barroom banter, in is previous work, and INGERSOLL SPEAKS - AGAIN is no different. Kearney is walking vehemence, instilling every idea, nay every sentence with significance. He is on a mission. And this is not about politics - as this is NOT a political... full review