Hollywood Fringe Festival features local playwright premier of Funeral Potatoes
Listen to this articleLos Angeles CA — Boomstick Theater makes their Hollywood Fringe festival debut with FUNERAL POTATOES, written by Kiri Callaghan, directed by Jo Ann Mendelson, featuring Whitney Montgomery & Lauren Cook, opening June 7th running through June 29th at the Asylum, Studio C – 6448 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles CA 90038.
Upon finding out she has only a month left to live, Kismet stares back at the 23 years of her life through the memories with her best friend, wondering what was the point of it all if it’s going to just end now.
A play in one-act, FUNERAL POTATOES is a love letter to friendship, a dark comedy about the things we cannot change, and an examination of what makes life worth it when you’ve spent your short time on this planet preparing for a future you won’t have.
FUNERAL POTATOES
Presented by BoomStick Theater
Written by Kiri Callaghan
Directed by Jo Ann Mendelson
Starring Whitney Montgomery & Lauren Cook Produced by: BoomStick Theater
Stage Manager: Kim Iosue
Lighting Design: Pam Noles & Kim Iosue
WHERE: Asylum, Studio C — 6448 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles CA 90038 WHEN: Friday June 7th, 7:30pm
Saturday June 15th 7pm
Sunday June 23rd 3pm
Friday June 28th: 11:30pm Saturday June 29th: 1:30pm Run time: 25 min
TICKETS – $10.00 – www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/6202
ABOUT THE WRITER
Kiri Callaghan Kiri Callaghan is a world-hopping playwright, author, poet, and performer based in the Los Angeles area. Dedicated to telling stories across multiple mediums, including song, film, and written word, she is delighted to see Funeral Potatoes being brought to life once more by the amazing folks at BoomStick.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Jo Ann Mendelson Funeral Potatoes is Jo Ann’s first production with Boomstick Theatre Company. An actor for over 15 years, Jo Ann received a BA in Theatre Arts from Loyola Marymount University in 2008 and an MFA in Acting for Television Film and Theatre from
California State University, Los Angeles in 2018. As a Fight Director, Jo Ann has worked in independent films and all over the Los Angeles 99-seat theatre community and while also working as a Stage Combat Instructor with Dueling Arts International since 2013. SAG/AFTRA.
ABOUT THE ACTORS
Whitney Montgomery (Kismet) Whitney Montgomery is excited to be working with fellow Loyola Marymount alumni on this project, and is happy to be back on stage once again with Lauren! She is currently working at the Fountain Theatre in their new play development series, and catch her as a (maybe) nice church lady on ID Channels “Betrayed.”
Lauren Cook (Vera) Lauren is an actress and producer who can be spotted working all around LA or running things over at Some Assembly Required, the media company she Co-Founded. She is excited to be a part of Boom Theater’s first production and she thanks the whole team for their work. She sends lots love to Joanna and Whitney and would like to dedicate this performance to Jessica Paolini.
ABOUT THE PRODUCERS
BoomStick Theater provides unique, original, and diverse storytelling in theater for the Los Angeles community. We are dedicated to producing and giving a platform to original and lesser known works from the Los Angeles community. Boomstick is committed to diverse storytelling in all forms of theatrical expression.
BoomStick Theater was founded in 2018 by Jackson Kendall & Lennon Hobson out of mutual love of theater and interest in giving a home to artists all over Los Angeles. Both professional performers and graduates from Loyola Marymount University, Jackson & Lennon became friends thanks to a strong shared passion for exciting and cutting edge theater. Jackson Kendall is a professional actor and producer. Lennon Hobson is a professional dancer, choreographer, producer, and actress.
The BoomStick Fringe producing team is also being lead by Lachlan McKinney & Lauren Sperling, both of whom are Hollywood Fringe veterans. Lachlan McKinney is a professional Shakespearean actor & voiceover artist. He has performed at both the LA & NY Fringe Festivals. Lauren Sperling is a professional actress, dancer, & singer who has been working in LA for almost 2 decades. This will be her fifth show at the Hollywood Fringe Festival & third time producing for the festival as well. Her past Fringe credits include: Buffy Kills Edward (Willow/ Rosalie), The Video Games (Princess Peach/Yuna), The Princes’ Charming (Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Xena, Leia), and Catalyst (Tinkerbell).
