Elissa Luma (they/them)

It's in the name! This show is GOOD (y)!! Elena is the master of engaging the audience, I was fully in, and the first half hour is almost completely silent. She just oozes mischief and you can tell that she is having an absolute blast up there, making it easy to join in with her on the fun. One of my fave shows this Fest! ... full review

Really loved the spooky vibe. Jackie is so good at commanding attention, every little face she pulls speaks to the character's interiority. She really is incredibly charming, with a very old-school feeling showmanship. The ghost reveal was done SO WELL! The accordion broke, but honestly the fact there was an accordian repair man in the audience and another audience member had a screwdriver and that wasn't planned, added to the magic/spooky vibe. ... full review

Cara has such a confident and easeful stage presence, the show feels like late night gossiping with your bestie. She can take the hairiest, left-leaning lemons and make sweet sweet lemonade! I had fun the whole way through!... full review

Maybe one of the best entrances I've seen? Beautiful and mesmerizing aesthetic. RM creates a really specific, fun world and makes easy connections with people throughout the room. ... full review

A show about their often sweet, sometimes banal married life, Couplet takes the most small and specific moments and spins them into the most hilarious, fun, catchy songs. I'm one to roll my eyes at couple acts, but there is something different and quite charming about these two and I think it's that they genuinely, truly love being together. If monogamy is looking for an ambassador, I got a couple for ya ... full review

Veronica takes you on a journey into the mind of a new mother who has not slept in what feels like 34 years. It's enough to make anyone mad as a hatter, and she mines her frazzled psyche for all that it has left to offer, which is raw, hilarious, completely unexpected, absurd, tender, gross and daringly vulnerable in a way that few other performers are strong enough to be. ... full review

You will fall in love with Rachel and her love for her mom. She makes their relationship very present and real, with playful and imaginative flourishes throughout. The magic file cabinet was genuinely delightful, and the (spoiler alert) death scene was so emotionally real and beautifully conceived... I realized then that the tissues handed out in the beginning were no gimmick!... full review

Emma's world-building is highly immersive, topical, and relatable. They also have an outstanding set of pipes!... full review

Edib has amazing stage charisma. The twinkle in their eye carries you through a variety of alternately charming, silly, wry, absurd bits and all the while the laughs keep rolling in. The set and costumes were great, and the Syrian culture and experience that is central to the show is beamed out into the audience with an infectious love. ... full review

This show feels like girlhood! Hanging out in the basement at a slumber party, doing a talent show with your friends. So fun!... full review