​Welcome to the Binge! Your new BFF!

THE BFF 2020 SCHEDULE IS HERE!

The BFF aka The BINGE Fringe Festival of Free Theatre - the annual Santa Monica Fringe Festival - features artists, companies and performances by Santa Monica and Los Angeles based artists.

The BFF Festival will be a little different this year. We're sure all of you know why. Despite the challenges of this worldwide pandemic, we want to embrace an optimism for the future - and this means continuing to produce theatre that aims to connect us, celebrate our strengths and differences, and enrich our lives. We hope you will join us for this year's online live-streaming theatre festival. For The BFF 2020, we've invited past BFF artists to present a series of shows that had audiences raving with laughter and tears. We're sad and disappointed we are not able to invite in new artists and new audiences into our theatres, and know that online live-streams can never replace the human connection that comes from shared space that is so intrinsic and vital to theatre, but safety and health come first. We look forward to seeing everyone in person at The BFF 2021.

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. 

The Festival touches on a diverse range of subjects from political to personal, love to loss, sensuality to spirituality, hierarchy to hope. ​All bets are off, limits on boundaries and form wide open, with shows that range in style from classic comedy to poignant drama, from Shakespearian to one-woman-show, from slam poetry to stand-up comedy and improv, from parody to fairytale - something for everyone - and all events are free to the public.

See the listing of shows below
All shows will be live-streamed and access is free!

Access to shows are FREE!  
Click the show logo to be taken to the livestream! 
If you'd like to make a donation to support the BFF, so we can continue to offer festivals like this, that's awesome!

Donate Here

Thank you for your support and generosity!

THE BFF 2020 PRESENTS:

OCTOBER 19, 2020 AT 6:30PM. In 2016, Heather Keller, a healthy young vegan runner, was diagnosed with breast cancer and her life changed forever. This is her heartbreaking, inspiring and ultimately uplifting story. Winner, 2017 Hollywood Fringe Encore Award. Join Heather for a post-show Q&A via Zoom.

OCTOBER, 21, 2020 AT 5:00PM. Actress (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Comic (Oprah), Acclaimed solo artist (Ripe) and nationally touring speaker Wendy Hammers had Cancer. Pancreatic. A year later, she didn’t. I Broke Up With Cancer is her inspiring story. The conversation continues with a Zoom Q&A session with cancer survivor/thriver Wendy Hammers. You can ask all the questions you want to and even a few that you are afraid to ask.

OCTOBER 25, 2020 AT 1:00PM. "A winning blend of vaudeville, English pantomime and music hall." DRAMA-LOGUE. Join Alice as she accepts a party invitation to return to the Wonderland of her youth. Will Alice prevail or are the Cards stacked against her? Will the Queen suffer a heart attack? Will the surprise tea party come off with civili-TEA or hostili-TEA. Help Alice set things aright in this zany musical comedy for kids ages 2 to 102.

OCTOBER 26, 2020 AT 5:30PM. In her breezy, humorous style, comedienne and bestselling author Marilyn Anderson provides tons of money-saving tips on how to save thousands of dollars on entertainment, shopping, restaurants, health, beauty, home décor and more, and this year, it’s “How to Live Like a MILLIONAIRE When You’re a Million Short…EVEN WHEN YOU’RE STUCK AT HOME!” Marilyn’s book was featured in Forbes and USA Weekly and was awarded Best Book on Saving Money & Living Well of the Year. All ages.

OCTOBER 28, 2020 AT 6:00PM. Sometimes you need to (literally) lose a part of yourself in order to discover who you truly are. Actress Jannica Olin was the stereotypical blonde blue-eyed Swede. Her long hair had always been a big part of her identity. Until suddenly, she lost it all. In (IM)PERFEKT, Jannica takes us on a journey of exploring and uncovering that which we think we are, have to be and maybe, ultimately aren’t. Join Jannica for a post-show Q&A via Zoom.

OCTOBER 30, 2020 AT 5:30PM. On the heels of Carla Delaney's masterful one woman show "Voices" comes her newest offering about spiritual abundance and material scarcity. When Casey accidentally stumbles into a new-agey "Bank of the Future", operating like Mary Poppins' carpet bag, she begins to realize her self-worth is at the root of her net worth. This is a sneak peek, first look staged reading, the show will officially open Spring 2021. Join Carla for a post-show Q&A via Zoom.

NOVEMBER 1, 2020 AT 2:00PM. They say the best things in life are FREE! Enjoy this free Family Theatre musical for all ages - written by and starring Shelley Fisher. From the far away planet of Palifornia where everybody gets along (most of the time) The Palligator comes to earth to teach children how to get along in a simple, entertaining and educational format. Addressing issues such as diversity and bullying, to name a few, the project was created by lifetime credentialed educator Shelley Fisher. Featuring Shelley Swampjelly, the earth emissary for the entire Palligator family, Missy Peikin, the Missygator and cheerleader of the swamps, and the Palligator himself, the performance showcases 11 original songs plus brand new score and images that will enable kids of all ages to better understand that ‘everybody’s different and everybody fits’.

NOVEMBER 4, 2020 AT 5:30PM. Cindy is a personal trainer and aspiring actress. She meditates and takes yoga. Still, she's a hot mess. Having suicidal thoughts, Cindy's best friend suggests she get a cat. Four cats and many years later, Cindy, for the first time in her life, experiences purpose, meaning and unconditional love. And then, the unthinkable happens and all is lost. Can Cindy rally to rescue the one who needs it the most, her Self, or will she stay frozen in her grief, like a hairball that just won’t let go. Come and find out!

NOVEMBER 6, 2020 AT 6:30PM. ROSE PETALS AND ASHES (formerly "The Brick") is one man's adventure through baseball, cockfighting, Russian Soldiers, The Berlin Wall, alcoholism, drug addiction, stealing Steve Martin, attempted murder, actual murder, mint & chip ice cream, mother and son, heaven and hell, three nuns, two crows, one guitar and finally, redemption. Featuring 10 original songs.

NOVEMBER 8, 2020 AT 6:00PM. Three different women. Three different stories. One common denominator... HIV positive. "A clever, entertaining & moving performance on not only the rising statistics but also the wide variety of victims. Rahvaunia has deftly & with vivid grace brought these stories to her audience to educate, illuminate & define what HIV means in so many peoples’ lives. A subject as serious as this could be stodgy, it could be overly serious or hard to watch. “tHis Is Very IMPORTANT” is none of those things. You will laugh, learn, possibly cry & be inspired. She will captivate you with her talent, storytelling and memorable, real characters. – Samantha Simmonds-Ronceros (NoHo Arts District)

The BFF is sponsored in part by grants from the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Arts Commission, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, and Playhouse PALS.