Tues, July 28, 10pm — Fans of the DC Capital Fringe Festival selected 4:48 Psychosis as Favorite Play in the 2009 Fringe Festival and awarded Diamond Dead (Continued…) laurels as the Festival’s Favorite Musical in an exclusive DC Theatre Scene poll.
In an extremely tight race, voters selected Headscarf and the Angry Bitch over Children of Medea as their Favorite Solo Show from the festival which closed Sunday night, after offering 122 shows in 18 days. They also selected The Bea & Bug, Writing Stories, Wowser Bowser! as the Favorite Family show and Lila: The Love Story of Radha and Krishna as their Favorite Dance Performance.
The polls featured those shows which received the rating of 5, the highest possible numerical evaluation from their DCTS reviewers. Voters were also permitted to select among the four plays which DCTS had not reviewed.
4.48 Psychosis, Sara Kane’s last play, won awards for best play and best drama from the Fringe Festival itself as well as from DCTS for producer Factory 449. DCTS reviewer Tim Treanor called Psychosis “an awesome play, awesomely done.” Treanor observed that he could not “recall the futile run from the desert of the self more convincingly portrayed.”
A Tactile Dinner, banished? Productions’ oddly endearing presentation of a “Futurists” meal featuring sounds and smells finished about ten points behind Psychosis. Missing Pages, Susan Austin Roth’s compelling story of a World War II veteran confronting Alzheimer’s, was third.
Like 4.48 Psychosis, Headscarf and the Angry Bitch received an award from the Capital Fringe Festival, for best solo production, in addition to being selected by DCTS readers. Of Headscarf and writer-performer Zehra Fazal, DCTS reviewer Anna Brungardt observed, “she’s charismatic and possesses a spastic, almost frantic energy that is endearing and painfully hilarious all at the same time.” Headscarf finished a mere four votes ahead of Children of Medea, Sue Jin Song’s stunning evocation of the Greek myth to describe a Korean family growing up in America.
Diamond Dead, (Continued…), Landless Theatre Company’s undeniable proof that the dead can rock, finished 16 points ahead of Shawn Northrip’s musical reconstitution of Titus Andronicus, Titus X. Of Dead, reviewer Treanor said, “the songs are superb, and superbly executed…The music is beautiful and the lyrics are witty.”
The Bea & Bug, Writing Stories, Wowser Bowser! won the family-friendly category in a landslide, capturing newly two-thirds of the vote. “The show had the audience participating right from the get-go,” DCTS reviewer Joel Markowitz said. “The entire cast was wonderful.”
Lila: The Love Story of Radha and Krishna dominated the dance category, picking up nearly 40% of the vote. DCTS Reviewers Greg Mazullo and Philip Fletcher called it a “riveting evening” and “a must-see performance.”
The poll demonstrated, among other things, that local theatergoers have developed a significant interest in the Capital Fringe. More than fifteen hundred votes were cast on the DC Theatre Scene website in less than forty-eight hours.
Related:
Guide to the DCTS Capital Fringe reviews
Fringe Musical Scene Stealers, Part 1
Zehra (who also won Best Solo Performance from the Capital Fringe) and her team would also like to thank everyone for supporting “Headscarf and the Angry Bitch.” We had a fantastic run at Fringe in both our venues (Warehouse Next Door and Source), and we could not have done it without the wonderful turn out and coverage by the community and support from the Fringe and Source.
Thank you!
On behalf of Landless Theatre Company and Diamond Dead, I would like to echo all of the sentiments eloquently voiced by Mr. Hammerly. Thank you Joel and DCTS for working so hard to promote all of the Fringe Musicals.
A huge thanks to all you crazy zombie fans who voted for us this year on DCTS, and in 2008 for Best Musical Pick of the Fringe. There can be no comparison between Diamond Dead, TitusX, Dizzy, Captain Squishy, Usher, Please Listen and all the great Fringe musicals – everyone will have their favorite. You rabid zombies out there certainly send the message that DC appreciates “different” experiences.
On a personal note, I want to thank my partner-in-crime Melissa for believing Diamond Dead, convincing me to “resurrect” the show in 2008, and putting your heart into directing (even when you scared us:). Looking forward to the NY Fringe zombie adventure (August 20-24 at Dixon Place).
Andrew Baughman, Producing Artistic Director
Landless Theatre Company
ONE MORE CHANCE TO SEE DIAMOND DEAD BEFORE NYC!!!
This Friday, July 31 at 8:00 PM
Frederick Cultural Arts Center, 15 W Patrick St, Frederick
Tickets $12 (Includes a free drink 21+)
http://www.deadrockproductions.com
On behalf of the cast, crew and Factory 449, I would like to thank everyone who attended and/or supported our inaugural production of “4.48 Psychosis” at this year’s Capital Fringe Festival.
We are very proud of our first production and extremely grateful for the wonderful praise from audiences and critics at The Washington Post, Washington City Paper and here, at DC Theatre Scene.
This recognition combined with awards for “4.48 Psychosis” (Best Drama & Best Overall Production from the Capital Fringe Festival and Favorite Fringe Play from DC Theatre Scene) and our desire to have more people see the production, have prompted Factory 449 to remount the show this Fall at another venue.
Thank you, DC Theatre Scene, for your generous support and coverage of Factory 449 and “4.48 Psychosis.”
Rick Hammerly, Co-Artistic Director/Producer
Factory 449: a theatre collective
“4.48 Psychosis”
Lila:
What a moving (and dancing) experience! Well-choreographed, graceful, fluid, and rythmic.
This performance is worthy of the Kennedy Center stage.
Thanks so much for voting Lila favorite dance show! We loved the Fringe experience and look forward to performing there next year.