Matt Ritchey

Upbeat and funny, LYME DISEASE (and NOT "Lyme's" - which, ironically, I heard someone say on TV a few hours after I watched this show) THE MUSICAL had great performances, terrific music, and a heartbreaking topic (don't worry, it IS a comedy). How can you not like a show narrated by a six-foot tick? GREAT EXPECTATIONS should have been narrated this way!... full review

Listen up. Mitchell puts on the consistently best and unique one-person shows at Fringe: always quality, always engaging, always entertaining. But he does more in TOUGHEST. In embodying and telling the fascinating story of Mike Royko, he not only gives a great history lesson, but he is grounded and connected in a new way. Instead of a Mark Twain style characterization, Mitchell IS Royko. Because Royko was us. The best of us. And so is Mitchell. See this. It’ll be one of the best things at Fringe.... full review

If there were to be a King of Hollywood Fringe musicals, it would have to be Michael Shapiro. 2019’s THE BULLY PROBLEM was a phenomenal Broadway-class project and his new Call to Adventure, GIDEON ANDTHE BLUNDERSNORP, follows perfectly. Shapiro’s shows always nail all the vitals – perfect casting, great directing and choreography, and (most importantly) laser-precision crafted story. With likable characters, funny dialogue, beautiful character- and story-driven songs, and a vulnerable and sweet h... full review

Congratulations to Gordon Matheson on a very successful standing ovation opening night of his very first musical! NO MATTER WATT is Matheson‘s musical love letter to the people and places that aided him during his journey through recovery. The show starts off with a great dramatic song about the emotional tortures of hitting rock bottom. We then meet the main character’s confidants and fellow Group members as they confide in the audience and one another about their stories. A loose thematic show ... full review

A super-fun (pun intended, obviously) romantic action piece about insecurity and deep love. I didn't see TC until Extensions and I now understand why it won BEST DANCE AND PHYSICAL THEATER - the use of shadowplay and combat sequences may not have been crucial to the plot, but they WERE crucial to the production. TATTER CAPES had a cinematic vibe while employing tried-and-true theatrical conventions, adding up to a unique yet comfortably familiar experience - cast (especially Dixon, Mercedes, and ... full review

Fantastic. I'm an acquaintance to baseball - I love being at a live game and I'll get into whatever happens to be on TV, but to appreciate BATTER UP, you need only be passionate about something - anything. Brett does a fascinating and hugely entertaining job of showing his "stupid human trick" of his freakishly good memory, but it's not the goofy act of memory that shines through - it's that the deep, deep love of everything baseball is attached to it. The drama comes from the in-show games hopin... full review

FERTILE is a study in how to do character work in a solo show right. Not only is the structure of the show tight and moves flawlessly, but Heather Dowling creates scenes between two (or three) distinct people and takes her time shifting from one to the next as they communicate. Her timing is perfect and her characters are always honest and never rushed. The show is a terrific blend of comedy, tragedy, drama, and inspiration and Heather is a tremendous performer. Can't wait to see her next proj... full review

I am woefully late in writing this review... "The Journey of the Little Prince" was a perfect show for this Fringe... or any Fringe! I'd forgotten most of the original story and this production did a wonderful job of hitting me from a completely different angle than the story did when I was a kid... because that's what it's about: being a kid. Or rather, STAYING a kid and not letting becoming an adult stunt your growth. Sweet performances, a very unique design element, and a wonderful mess... full review

I love this show. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this show! My choice for Top of the Fringe! It's funny, insightful, the musical is fantastic, the performances are not only great but are crisp, specific, and perfectly stylized. Huge credits to not only the cast but the director for this. The songs are super catchy and Joy is simply adorable. A great look at cultural differences made with love, understanding, and heart. ... full review

Two high-quality scripts elevated by incredible performances and delicate direction. Adam Meredith and Blain Vedros are both captivating as a veteran suffering from PTSD and trying to get his life on track, and as a man wrestling with his past actions and struggling to forgive himself.... full review