Benjamin B. in "The Anti-Magic Magic Show" at The Hobgoblin Playhouse/Hollywood Fringe Festival 2026 (Photo courtesy of the artist) Illusionist Benjamin B.’s “The Anti-Magic Magic Show” — billed as a magic show for people who don’t love magic shows — is having its world premiere at The Hobgoblin Playhouse as part of this year’s Hollywood Fringe Festival. Benjamin’s performance is lighthearted, clear and informative. Since this is an anti-magic show, the production does not re

Mark Vigeant’s “Out There” at this year’s Hollywood Fringe Festival is a solo show that blends live video with clowning, about a burnt-out engineer hoping for viral fame by livestreaming his survival adventure in Alaska. But when the wild pushes back against his questionable survival skills, his mission soon spirals into chaos. Performed at the Broadwater Mainstage, Vigeant’s acting is raw, unfiltered, honest and memorable. At a recent showing, I really appreciated the way he

Lucas James Nelson’s “Angst” at the Hollywood Fringe Festival follows a man dealing with the physical manifestations of his anxiety and a nonstop voice inside his head. As he learns how to manage it, he begins to understand what it truly takes to live with himself and accept who he is. Performances by Spencer Weitzel as “Anybody” and Theo Fay as “Angst” are smooth, conversational, and grounded in honesty. Both actors have a strong understanding of their characters, delivering