Tiananmen Annie

When she was 21, Ann Starbuck went to China and here she revisits that adventure and brings us along. It was 1988, the country was under Mao’s punitive Communist rule and this gal was alone, hardly spoke Chinese and, in spite of a number of panic attacks, loved being there and seeing the Great Wall and other famous sites. As a student she was protected from the harsher rules her new friends lived under yet, being an intrepid traveler, she managed to become part of the local people’s lives. A job as gopher for a CNN camera crew brought her into the heart of the student uprising and the 1989 protest in Tiananmen Square that ended in a massacre by the Red Army. She portrays a number of characters, Chinese and American in a charming effortless w... full review

I've seen many shows at the Fringe, and this one has to be one of the best. The characters that Ann Starbuck brings to life, the themes, the visuals she creates with just a few simple movements, and the emotional roller coaster -- from laughter to tears -- fantastic. I brought three guests, and we were all delighted and grateful. Thank you Ann Starbuck for creating such a piece! ... full review

Tiananmen Annie was one of the most moving performances I've seen. The story is fascinating, and the storytelling is superb. Don't miss this show!... full review

This was not a show I had meant to see. But, a gap opened in my schedule and this play was a convenient plug. Now I have seen some amazing work at this Fringe. There were a few shows where I was almost tempted to stand and join the ovation they received. At “Tiananmen Annie” I lead the ovation. This is excellent, excellent work.... full review

Wow! I saw just a little bit of this tonight at Pick of Fringe, and I was on the edge of my seat the whole 8 minutes. Anne Starbuck is a masterful storyteller. She managed to ignite my imagination, break my heart and make me laugh - all with a deceptively easy charm. Her vulnerability and warmth is palpable and extremely compelling. See this show. I'm gonna. ... full review

I have always been fascinated with Tiananmen Square. Not only did Tiananmen Annie further my education about the Square and the massacre, it also deepened my fascination, beautifully connecting her personal account with the stories we've previously learned! The incredible stories are combined splendidly with the heartfelt performance that made it seem personal for everyone in the audience!... full review

It was a wonderful show! I was captivated, my emotions going from laughter to tears. It made me want to know more about this history. Thank you Ann Starbuck for giving us such an enjoyable piece.... full review

Not only was this one of the most amazing theater experiences I had a Fringe, this is one of the best shows I've seen in a long time. Annie Starbuck is so honest in her relating of her time leading up the the Tiananmen Square Massacre. The stories she tell are funny and sad and scary and above all real - not only then but today. You'd be a fool to miss this beautiful piece of art.... full review

When I heard about TIANANMEN ANNIE at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, I knew I had to see it since I visited Tiananmen Square in 2008 just prior to the Beijing Olympics and knew the immense emotional power of the place. As a college student and member of the Baby Boom generation, examining our society and working toward social revolution via protesting was always important to me. So when I went to China, I took along my I Love Tweety tee-shirt so I could take a picture of myself proudly wearing an American icon when I was standing in the middle of the place where students were willing to speak up and even die to take a stand against oppression, creating a worldwide revolution in the process. After all, the Berlin Wall fell just five mon... full review

What a wonderful piece of story telling! Ann Starbuck's powerful and evocative narrative is told with blissful simplicity and honesty - gliding effortlessly from character to character, and encapsulating their atmosphere and emotions strikingly. The set is elegant. The balance between comedy and pathos is very tasteful. And the insights into such a potent time in contemporary history are profound and affecting. A lovely piece of work. Good luck at the NY Fringe! ... full review