The BFF aka The BINGE – FREE Festival of THEATRE – the second annual Santa Monica Fringe Festival – features at least three dozen artists, companies and performances by Santa Monica and Los Angeles based artists.

Productions from the festival touch on a diverse range of subjects and themes from political to personal, love and loss, to sensuality and spirit, hierarchy and hope.

All bets are off, limits on boundaries and form wide open, with productions that range in style from laugh-out-loud comedy to physical/visual theatre, from drama to poetry, from stand-up to one-woman-show, from parody to fairytale. Funny, smart, experimental, mindful, moving, some family friendly – some not! – something for everyone.

The BFF also includes an overflowing toy-box of family-friendly events and productions, to bring all generations together on and off the stage. Inclusive theatre arts workshops for youth and adults are also on offer throughout the fest.

The BFF aims to celebrate the range and depth of the human condition and the idea that theatre arts experiences are vital, transformative, and must be available for all.  On that note, all tickets and admissions to every single BFF event are free to the public. 

Friday October 19
6pm:  Cinderella Topsy Turvy
​A re-imagining of the classic Cinderella tale with upside-down, gender-swapping casting.
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Saturday October 20
10:30am: Enchanted Fairytale Interactive Theatre 
Interactive workshop with story-telling, sing-a-longs, crafts, face-painting, theatre games and acting out a fairytale, (for ages 4 to 10 plus an adult).

October 21
12:30pm: Absolutely Halloween 
The classic Playhouse Halloween musical follows Candy, a sweet young girl who learns some surprising lessons about life, love, laughter, and sugar, from a delightful array of characters who take her on a magical All Hallow’s Eve adventure. (ages 2 and up)

Saturday October 27
12:30pm & 2:30pm: Mustardseed’s Magical Mayhem
Mustardseed’s Magical Mayhem is inspired by the chaotic events from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and is a participatory show for children aged 3-7.

1pm: The Palligator Show
The perfect Pal from the marshes of the friendly planet of Palifornia, the Palligator comes to earth with his adorable female counterpart The Galligator to teach children how to get along in an entertaining and educational format. Guys & ghouls age 5- 10 are invited to come in costume.

Friday November 2
7pm: Monkey, Journey to the West
Based on the Chinese literary classic, this production blends storytelling, dance, movement, acrobatics and strong visuals in a live-action animé, “almost animation” style.