Soo Chyun

I first met Charlene during a Fringe office hour, where an awkward question of mine—“Congrats, when are you due?”—became the perfect introduction to her show’s subject. Instead of embarrassment, she offered me a warm, steady smile and explained that her piece was precisely about these moments. If not for that encounter, I might have missed this extraordinary performance. I’ll admit, I often feel uneasy watching deeply personal stories unfold onstage, worried that I’m observing someone’s pain l... full review

Behind its adorably offbeat exterior, A Funeral at the Peanut Patch offers far more than a whimsical tale about talking roadkill and a peanut allergy. From the very moment the pre-show announcement begins, the production's kind-hearted and deliberate intentions are made clear, wrapping the audience in a gentle but purposeful embrace that carries through the entire performance. At a time when ideological battles rage at the extremes, this play gently invites its audience to consider the histori... full review

There’s a phrase among East Asian women: “We cry tears of blood.” It’s not an exaggeration, but rather a painfully accurate reflection of the lived experiences of women navigating war, immigration, and patriarchal, male-dominated societies. In Thin Blood Memorabilia, Skylar Shen takes that generational grief and transforms it—through astonishing creativity—into something achingly modern, visually stunning, and emotionally hypnotic. Every element of this piece is meticulously crafted. From the ... full review

From the moment the lights came up, Shelley Cooper’s voice gripped the room—lush, expressive, and immediately arresting. In Rag Doll on a Bomb Site, Cooper revives the story of Lotte Lenya, a lesser-known but formidable artist, through a fictionalized pre-show exchange with her husband, composer Kurt Weill. Rather than telling Lenya’s life in a straightforward chronology, Cooper crafts a dialogue-driven narrative that explores a pivotal moment just before a performance. Her vocals fill the bla... full review

Dragonfish is a scream disguised as laughter — a fragmented memory play dragged up from the depths. The performer begins with the physicality of a clown, but soon peels back each layer to reveal raw grief and relentless loss. The piece traces a journey toward the father, but it’s not a simple act of remembering. It becomes a struggle to reclaim a lost presence, to make peace with what vanished, and ultimately, to face the fractured self that remains. The performance pulses with a haunting emot... full review

“Slay Me” draws the audience in with its effortless humor—light, sharp, and disarming. Just when you think you’re settling into a comedy, it shifts, revealing unexpected depth beneath the laughs. Writer and solo performer Veronica Rosas demonstrates a deep understanding of her material, crafting a narrative that lingers in your mind. Without ever being heavy-handed, the show hints at something darker underneath, threading tension and emotion through every beat. Directed by Fringe veteran As... full review

The show opens with a clever prologue that immediately sets the tone for what's to come — a playful fusion of philosophy and humor that draws the audience in. We meet figures like Descartes, Nietzsche, Freud, Hegel, Immanuel Kant, and Pascal. For those well-versed in philosophy, the production offers a treasure trove of references and metaphors. But even without that background, the piece stands firmly on its own as a thoroughly enjoyable and engaging experience. This stage adaptation feels li... full review

And Her Children offers a compelling and skillfully crafted theatrical experience—one that stands out among this year’s Fringe offerings. From the moment the audience enters the space, the production demonstrates a strong command of sound and lighting design, creating a cohesive and immersive environment. At its center is Hailey McAfee, whose performance is both richly textured and strikingly poised, grounding the work with emotional precision. Drawing inspiration from Brecht’s Mother Courage ... full review

Marissa brings essential insight and emotional weight to what it means to live with OCD on a daily basis. Though I’ve known others with OCD, Peacock in the Rubble opened my eyes to lesser-known manifestations, particularly around social anxiety, which made the eventual recounting of the LA Fires all the more harrowing. And yet, through it all, Marissa survives—with humor, community, and the courage to turn her past into a play that embraces both pain and joy. ... full review

This is Real, This is Me is one of the most memorable and polished productions I’ve seen at Fringe this year. The use of stage space and props was remarkably smart—nothing ever felt wasted, and everything served the story. The entire cast delivered gripping, high-energy performances, with fearless character shifts and tightly choreographed scenes that never lost their pace. Tamra Wasserman’s show doesn’t just tell a story—it constructs a whole world, one that extends from the stage to the post... full review