Hollywood, CA -- Combined Artform is partnering with artists and venues in Hollywood to launch the Hollywood Independent Theater Festival (HITFEST) opening this September 2023 at the Hudson Theaters on Santa Monica Blvd. and Stephanie Feury Studio Theater on Melrose Ave. The HITFEST is a new festival concept from the company that brought Los Angeles the “Hollywood Encore Producers’ Award” and “Pick of the Fringe,” which features the top shows of the Hollywood Fringe Festival.

The HITFEST will present at least two shows each night on various Mondays through Wednesdays. These evenings are better days to showcase work to the Hollywood entertainment industry, bookers for school events, theaters looking for shows, and other organizations who are scouting for talent. Furthermore, audiences can come see top shows and save money by buying passes for multiple shows.

The HITFEST inaugural selections of shows are from this year’s Hollywood Fringe Festival and Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Upcoming months will feature shows from other festivals. September shows represent a range of ensemble and solo work, dance, comedy, music, and drama. Some of these shows will have short runs, others will just be showcased on certain evenings. New shows and venues will be added each month creating an ongoing, flexible, and scalable festival.

September 2023 Schedule

Location: Stephanie Feury Studio (Main Space)

Smote This, A Comedy About God And Other Serious $H*T
Rodney Gardiner · Ages 13+ · 1hr · United States of America
September 13 2023, 7:00 PM
September 27 2023, 8:30 PM

Comedian and recovering Shakespearean actor, Rodney Gardiner, strives to make sense of his feelings about God. In this one man comedy, Rodney tries to abandon God despite his deeply Christian roots. His story is one of an undocumented black boy growing up in tumultuous 1980’s Miami where racial unrest, an immigration crisis, and the drug war is just another Tuesday. SMOTE THIS is an entertaining web of stories and tangents that explores one black man’s reckoning with tradition, legacy, and religion.

Ticket: $25. Buy Tickets

Homeless Romantic
Tony Bartolone · Ages 21+ · 1hr · United States of America
September 20 2023, 7:00 PM

“An antidote to apathy.” Tony Bartolone tells tales of sleeping on the street and encounters he had with an array of colorful characters. Hilarious and heartbreaking, we join Tony as he rides the bus with no certain destination, analyzes the state of mind of the extremely impoverished and finds strength in the dark alleys and hidden corners of Los Angeles. He explores a part of society most look away from. Equally entertaining and harrowing, Homeless Romantic ultimately injects the audience with empathy and inspires hope in the hearts of cynics.

Ticket: $20. Buy Tickets

Haunting Rights
Theatre Ghosts · Ages 13+ · 1hr · United States of America
September 13 2023, 8:30 PM
September 27 2023, 7:00 PM

Derek, a member of the audience, recently died in the theatre lobby. Johnny died in 1948 during the building’s construction. Johnny wants Derek gone but Derek knows his daughter, a would-be actress, has been coming to this theatre to visit his memory. Fran and Mary, a pair of free-spirited young souls who passed away in 1971; “help” as these four spirits vie for the position of resident Theatre Ghost. There can only be one.

Ticket: $25. Buy Tickets

Joni Mitchell: Take Me As I Am
Rainee Blake · Ages 15+ · 1hr · United States of America
September 6 2023, 8:30 PM

Rainee Blake plays Joni Mitchell in her one-woman show Take Me As I Am, an intimate concert experience of Mitchell’s songs and the stories that inspired them. Be transported back to a night in 1976 after Joni returns home from a solo road trip across America and right before the release of her acclaimed album Hejira. Playing both guitar and dulcimer Rainee performs classic songs like Woodstock, Both Sides Now and A Case of You. “As the iconic Joni Mitchell, Rainee Blake’s performance succeeds in transforming the stage into a time machine. A perfect homage in every way.” Ernest Kearney

Ticket: $30. Buy Tickets

Sonnets from Suburbia
The 6th Act · Ages 10+ · 1hr · United States of America
September 6 2023, 7:00 PM
September 20 2023, 8:30 PM

Lady Penelope, the Los Angeles laureate of iambic pentameter and rhyme, reflects on modern life through her wry, beautifully crafted Elizabethan sonnets, wrestles with her past demons, and refuses to emerge from her comfortable quarantine.

Ticket: $20. Buy Tickets

Location: Hudson Main Stage (Main Space)

Yoniverse
Yoniverse · Ages 16+ · 50 mins · United States of America
September 18 2023, 7:00 PM

“Yoniverse” is a powerful and intimate play that follows the journeys of four South Asian American women as they explore their relationships with their vaginas (or, Yonis), womanhood, and the influences on their identities from growing up around multicultural environments. The storytelling features the women morphing into younger versions of themselves and becoming characters in each other’s lives. The play is a compelling exploration of female experiences, relationships with their bodies, and the power of self-discovery and self-acceptance. It encourages open conversations about sexuality, identity, and the importance of embracing one’s own uniqueness. “Yoniverse” leaves the audience with a sense of empowerment, promoting the idea that every woman’s journey is a powerful and beautiful story of her own.

Ticket: $30. Buy Tickets

Rhythm Delivered
Drumatix · Ages 3+ · 1hr · United States of America
September 26 2023, 7:00 PM

“Rhythm Delivered”, created by Israeli award-winning artist Noa Barankin, is an electrifying, well-crafted and virtuosic tap dance, body percussion and creative drumming performance. The show follows the antics of a group of friends who discover secret items in boxes and turn them into playable instruments until the last box reveals a surprise. With no shortage of plot twists and humor, the show will feature world rhythms, interactive parts that get the audience moving and grooving with the dancers, and the use of technology to create a truly immersive experience. Suitable for all ages, it’s a perfect blend of energy and creativity. Don’t miss it!

Ticket: $30. Buy Tickets

Dream Big
Elizabeth Musgrave & Frank Forte · Ages 18+ · 85 Mins · United States of America
September 26 2023, 8:30 PM

In this dark-comedy drama, a middle-aged woman, who feels she’s failed at her life dreams, arranges a one-night stand before carrying out her final exit plan, only to discover the young gigolo she’s hired shares the same disillusionments as she does.

Ticket: $30. Buy Tickets

Date: various Mondays through Wednesdays in September 2023.

Venues:
Stephanie Feury Studio (Main Space), 5636 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Hudson Main Stage (Main Space), 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90038

Ticket prices will range between $20 to $30 with discounts for senior citizens, students, and SAG/AFTRA and WGA members. Show passes are also available offering discounts on tickets for multi- show packs. See below for a listing of participating venues and shows.

2+ Shows Discount Passes Available.

Ticket Link: www.hitfesthollywood.com

For more details https://hitfest.stagey.net/.