The BFF: The Binge FREE Festival of THEATRE

This October, Santa Monica Playhouse is proud to present The BFF: The Binge FREE Festival of THEATRE – the second-annual Santa Monica fringe festival – a two-week long theatre celebration October 16 to 29, featuring Los Angeles and Santa Monica based artists with original shows that touch on a diverse range of subjects and themes, from political to personal, love and loss, to sensuality and spirit, hierarchy and hope. All bets are off, limits on boundaries and form wide open, with productions that range in style from classic comedy to mime, from drama to poetry, from Shakespearian to one-woman-show, from parody to fairytale – something for everyone – and all events are free to the public.
The BFF will also include an overflowing toy-box of family-friendly experiences and productions to bring all generations together on and off the stage. Inclusive theatre arts workshops for youth and adults will be on offer throughout The BFF exploring comedy improv, Shakespeare, and movement for the stage.
The BFF aims to celebrate the range and depth of the human condition and the idea that theatre arts experiences are vital, transformative, and must be available for all. In that spirit, all tickets and admissions to every single BFF event are free to the public, made possible in part by grants from the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Arts Commission, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, and Playhouse PALS.
Featured family-friendly performances and events include the acclaimed, “ABSOLUTELY HALLOWEEN”, a heartwarming musical tale of the aptly named “Candy,” who learns some surprising lessons about life, love, laughter and sugar, from a delightful array of colorful characters who take her on a magical All Hallows’ Eve adventure (“Absolutely Halloween is Absolutely Great!” showmag.com.); the immersive parent-and-me Enchanted Fairytale Interactive Theatre where families participate in story-telling, crafts, and acting out a fairytale; and the Find Your Funny Comedy Improv Workshop for Youth, ages 7 to 12, led by Carolyn Marie Wright.
Featured evening performances for adults include innovative, unusual new piece of physical theatre with heart, humor and a touch of absurdity: “Red Sand” is at once non-linear, chaotic, cathartic, and undeniably relatable. Presented through a series of revolving stories and using an evocative dreamscape of sights, sounds, and sensuality, directed by Serena Dolinsky (“Riotously takes the audience on a surreal and wildly manic and visual journey…not soon to be forgotten!” Tolucan Times); A Love Affair follows the the roller-coaster-ride of a 38-year (and counting) marriage, from the romantic naiveté of a 1950’s honeymoon, to the loving annoyances of daily life in the Coming-of-New Age ’90’s (“Jerry Mayer is surely one of the funniest writers alive, and he is in his best form here.” The Good Life) Written by Jerry Mayer, directed by Chris DeCarlo; the all-male, late-night encore performance of PRIDE production”Beauty and The Beast”, as well as shows and workshops by Tony Cronin, Carla Delaney, Deana Barone, Kiki Yeung, Lynne Jassom, Bryan Ferguson, Paul Linke, Wendy Hammers, Obi Ndefo, Warren Sata, Bill Berry, Shelley Fisher to name a few.
For further information on The BFF, including a full calendar of events, performances and workshops, please visit SantaMonicaPlayhouse.com/The-BFF-2017.html and call the Playhouse Box Office at 1-310-394-9779 ext 1 to reserve. All tickets are free, but reservations are required.