Fly Your Freak Flag: Hollywood Fringe Kicks Off

There’s a lot  to be excited about in Los Angeles this week if you like to go out and see brand new, never before seen work. RADAR LA opened up last night and the LA Film Festival makes it’s bow tomorrow.

Tonight, however, belongs to the Freaks. The Fringe Freaks, that is. The second annual Hollywood Fringe Festival opens up its 11-day run of uncurated, anything goes plays, one man shows, comedy, magic and dance. No venue is safe during the fringe, as theatres, clubs, bars, and even street corners are fair game for putting on a show.

Turnstyle will be covering the festival, starting with Thursday’s edition of The Spot, which features Fringe performers Lost Moon Radio. We’ll have reviews of shows and interviews, including one with festival director Ben Hill and publicity director Stacy Jones.

Only in its second year, The Hollywood Fringe is part of the worldwide Fringe Festival movement, the grandaddy of which is held in Edinburgh, Scotland every August. The Hollywood festival doesn’t feel like a sophomore effort, which may have something to do with the fact that the team behind the Fringe began planning the event in 2007, taking the slow and steady approach to launching the festival in 2010.

You never quite know what you’re going to get as part of a Fringe show, and that’s the adventure. Anyone who can mount a show is welcome to do so, and performers come from all over the world to set up shop.

Here’s a look at some of the shows that have piqued our interest:

Lost Moon Radio- the 10th edition of the show that mixes sketch comedy and musical numbers under the guise of a show hosted by “DJ Jupiter Jack, a fried-out remnant of the 1960s who, against all odds, maintains a radio program he claims to transmit from ‘the Lost Moon of Jupiter.’” [Find out more on this week's edition of The Spot.]

4 Clowns- “4 Clowns is a journey into what it means to be a human being. Follow 4 clowns who represent the 4 clown archetypes; the sad clown, the mischievous clown, the angry clown and the nervous clown, as they get together to lament and reminisce about their past.”

The Barking Pig- “Victor is coming to the Barking Pig to kill one of the tavern’s seven patrons.” Writer-Director Michael Shaw Fisher promises this to be the most “bawdy, dastardly” productions at this year’s Fringe.

Lucky- a “pseudo-solo musical” about a “drunk & pregnant burlesque chick” who hits “rock bottom”.

How To Survive A Zombie Apocalypse- From the United Kingdom comes the family friendly zombie survival seminar.

Julius Caesar: The Death of a Dictator- gangbusters theatre company presents Orson Welles’ adaptation of the Shakespeare play.

How can I resist?

In addition to the live performances, the Fringe this year will be showcasing a selection of feature and short films. The 2011 Hollywood Fringe runs June 16-26th with the pay what you can opening night party taking place tonight at Fringe Central, the ArtWorks Theatre & Studios, 6569 Santa Monica Bvld.