Tiananmen Annie

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

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

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

From the moment you walk in the theatre and see the simple but elegantly evocative, highly functional set you know you're in good hands. Ann Starbuck delivers an endearing, honest and heartbreaking performance as she tells the tale of her year as a college student in China culminating in the Tiananmen Square Uprising. This is a beautifully structured piece. Tales from the Tiananmen Square Uprising are the bones. Lighter tales of her year leading up to it provide both comic relief and the building blocks of her skills and growing understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture that allows her to be of great help to CNN as a student translator during the Uprising. Her characters are sharp and well-defined while tinged with the genuine... full review

Ann Starbuck is a masterful storyteller. The story itself is riveting, but Ann brings a whole other life to it with the characters she presents. The simple but inspired set transports the tiny black box stage into an instantly iconic Chinese landscape. The sound design was evocative and poinent- perfectly designed to only add and never distract from the real emotion and story. This story and performance had so much heart and transported the audience right there to Tiananmen Square. Congrats to everyone involved! I hope to see this show take on a longer run or tour. It's a work of art!... full review

I can't stop thinking about this show! I loved seeing Anne Starbuck embody her 21 year old self--a young student yearning for adventure. It's a fascinating story told with precision and wit, feeling and keen observation. I felt like I was there with her watching these incredible events unfold. The stage design and lighting added so much to the feeling tone of the show. There's always a sense of danger lurking, even in the most charming, every-day moments, which keeps you on the edge of your seat. Great show!... full review