2025 Lineup
FRIDAY
8/8/25
Genny Lim accompanied by J. Raoul Brody – 7:00 PM
Sebastian Boswell III – The Ineffable Experience of Impossible Achievements – 8:00 PM
SATURDAY
8/9/25
Don Bajema Workshop – 10AM
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Lesser mortals – promise of a lake – 7:00 PM
Amanda Moody – Samuel Beckett’s “Not I” – 8:15 PM
LAURAL MEADE – Ms Tucker Will see you now – 8:45 PM
SUNDAY
8/10/25
Melissa Michels – Summer Magic Melodies – 7:00 PM
Mile High Players – hot flashes: a radio play Celebrating Women, Friendship & Fire – 7:25 PM
Geoff Shields – SF82 – 8:10 PM
Don Bajema – “Before you knew me” Tales, Yarns and Confessions – 9:00 PM
Genny Lim
Genny Lim is the 9th San Francisco Poet Laureate, a recipient of two lifetime achievement awards from PEN Oakland and city of Berkeley and a former San Francisco Jazz Poet Laureate, She is author of five poetry collections and Island: Poetry and History of Chinese Immigrants on Angel Island, winner of the American Book Award. Lim's play, Paper Angels, was the first Asian American play aired on PBS’s American Playhouse in 1985 and has been performed throughout the U.S., Canada and China. She has worked with past Jazz legends, Max Roach, Herbie Lewis and local musicians, Jon Jang, John Santos, Destiny Muhammad, Marcus Shelby and Francis Wong.
J. Raoul Brody
Joshua Raoul Brody has been helping and hindering the Fringe of the Woods Festival musically since its onset. This year he will be accompanying Genny Lim, as well as sticking in his musical two cents here and there as he sees fit. He’s done a lot of other stuff. You could read about it on his website if it hadn’t been hacked about 8 years ago. Talk to him — he’s approachable!
Sebastian Boswell III
Sebastian Boswell III returns to the Fringe of the Woods with an all new show featuring amazing demonstrations ESP, clairvoyance, and seemingly impossible physical feats practiced by mystics throughout history. In The Ineffable Experience of Impossible Achievements, Sebastian Boswell III intends to leave the audience awed and inspired. If anyone falls short of experience, they only have themselves to blame. To be cynical in presence of such wonders is a dull and terrible way to live.
The Ineffable Experience of Impossible Achievements is a performance of mental mysteries and physical wonders as practiced by mystics and fakirs throughout history and demonstrated by Sebastian Boswell III, who emphatically insists he is not a magician, but possesses his extraordinary powers as a result of a lifetime of travel and study. Each show, which features amazing demonstrations of ESP, clairvoyance, telekinesis and strange physical feats, will entertain, enlighten and leave audiences amazed at the potential of all human beings.
Who Is Sebastian Boswell III?
"To make the claims I do I am either telling the truth, lying or insane,” says Sebastian. “And I assure you I am not lying."
Lesser Mortals
lesser mortals creates new theatre works invoking a wide array of disciplines and aesthetic approaches. Founded in San Francisco in 1984 by Amy Brosnahan, Ann Fajilan, Tom Ford, and Roger Nieboer (all former drama students at UC Davis), they immediately gained acclaim and recognition for their production of The Ballad of Johnny & Abduhl at Intersection for the Arts. Since then they have performed at venues ranging from the Winnipeg Folk Festival to New Dramatists in New York. They have created large-scale, site-specific works for train stations, art museums and vacant lots. With Promise Of A Lake they return to the intimate scale and form of their first production.
What about the music?
Music has been an essential component of their theatre work from the very beginning. Described by musicologists as “Folk-punk” or “punkabilly” and derided by others as “mish-mash” or “hot mess,” their music aims to capture the vocal stylings and instrumentation of folk music infused with the high energy and urgency of punk. They begin their Open Mic Tour in October, which will eventually bring them to all 50 states. Look for them at an open mic near you.
Performer Bios
Amy Brosnahan works as a judge in Minnesota’s 10th Judicial District, and is enthusiastically devoted to Irish music.
Roger Nieboer began his theatre career at the Magic Theatre in 1983. He continues to write plays and conduct experiments in organic horticulture.
Amanda Moody
Amanda Moody is a quadruple-threat writer, performer, composer, and singer. known for her multi-disciplinary music theater works: the critically acclaimed “Serial Murderess,” “The Winchester Rosary,” and “D’Arc, woman on fire.” An accomplished songwriter, poet and librettist, her texts have been performed by voices as wide-ranging as tenor John Duykers, sopranos Laura Bohn and Pamela Z, and The Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia.
Her libretti include, “Bitter Harvest” (Berkeley Symphony Orchestra) and “Caliban Dreams” (West Edge Opera). Key collaborators include multi-media artist John Sanborn, director Melissa Weaver, composers Kurt Rhode, Clark Suprynowicz, Joël Lindheimer, and Jay Cloidt. She has shared stages with Jess Curtis, John Duykers, Amy X Neuburg, Jane Selkye, and Emily Bezar, and has originated singing roles in works by Miguel Frasconi, Rinde Eckert and Paul Dresher.
Moody has been featured in Don Reed’s Redwood Nights/Storytelling Under the Stars, premiering her true tale, “Peer Pressure.” Her new song-cycle, “My Golden Repairs: a song cycle of grief and longing,” is in development with director Melissa Weaver.
Moody performed the role of Mouth in “Not I,” in the Ashland Beckett Shorts Festival, directed by Octavio Solis, and she feels honored to bring her interpretation to the Fringe of the Woods Festival.
Melissa Michels
Melissa Michels is a singer, actress, and mentor. She is a recording artist, (having released a solo album in 2008 under the name Melissa Burke), which she shared in a cross-country tour and one woman show of inspirational music. Melissa has been singing in the studio on some new projects to be released soon! She is a professional singer - a soprano with The Goode Time Carolers of Los Angeles. She is an actress, having performed at various regional theatres such as The North Carolina Theatre, the Carolinian Shakespeare Festival, The WaterTower Theatre of Dallas, Hale Centre Theatre in Utah, and as part of our Fringe of the Woods Festival. She recently starred in an award-winning short film “Love and Joy.” She has a BFA degree in Musical Theatre having studied at New York University, Webster Conservatory, and East Carolina University. Melissa has been a mentor and private vocal and acting coach for 24 years. She also ran a theatre program for 12 years at Syracuse Arts Academy and was Utah Advisory Council of Theatre Teachers “Teacher of the Year” for 2020. She continues to offer private coaching, and now online courses, through her business www.expressyourselfwithmelissa.com. She is also finishing up an MA/PhD program in “Expressive Arts Therapy.” Her goal is to help people to learn to heal and create through conscious use of the arts. Find her online @_melissa.michels_ or under “Express YourSELF With Melissa.”
Mile High Players
Hot Flashes is a witty, sexy, and heartwarming radio play adaptation about four women rediscovering their power, friendship, and sensuality in the face of aging and menopause. When longtime friends reunite, they decide to form a band — the Hot Flashes — celebrating life’s changes with humor, music, and a bit of mischief. Through laughter, flirtations, and the challenges of rehearsal and performance, these women prove that passion doesn’t fade with age — it only grows stronger.
Characters:
Loretta (60s)
The confident, bold leader of the group. Loretta’s wit and charisma light up every room. She’s the spark behind the band and a natural frontwoman.
Kay (40s)
Practical and grounded, Kay brings order to the chaos. She’s the voice of reason but knows when to let loose and enjoy the moment.
Cindy (40s)
Fun-loving and flirtatious, Cindy is the heart of the group’s humor. She’s open about her desires and unafraid to embrace her sensuality.
Esmé (60s)
Wise and warm, Esmé offers thoughtful insights and emotional depth. She’s the glue holding the group together through ups and downs.
Frank (60s)
A charming, playful man who supports the women’s journey with humor and piano skills. He brings flirtation and fun as a guest cameo.
Cast:
Ariel Ogilvie is a Bay Area native with over 35 years of experience in theater, film, TV, and dance. She returned to the stage several years ago and now performs in multiple local productions each year. She’s happy to be joining the Fringe Festival for her third year.
Deb Lowe was born into a showbiz family and discovered her love of acting and singing at a very young age. When she found theater mid-career, she knew she had come home. The stage is her "happy place," and she’s delighted to be back, co-creating with so many local talents in beautiful PMC. Deb is thrilled to be part of the Fringe Festival again this year.
Nichole Gates was a theater student throughout college and has recently returned to acting for pure enjoyment. A PMC resident, she’s happy to be joining the Fringe Festival for her third year
Jennifer Emett’s acting career began in 2009 after studying at Santa Monica College, where she landed two starring roles. She’s appeared in several musicals around Southern California, stage shows here on the mountain, and in various films and music videos. She’s thrilled to be part of the festival again this year.
Stefan Broadley got his start in musical theatre and TV in New Zealand before becoming a rebellious teen musician. He later became a DJ in London and a hit-making music producer in LA. He’s thrilled to join the Fringe Festival—especially since radio plays don’t require memorizing lines!
Geoff Shields
“SF82” is the latest chapter of Geoff’s one man show, “JunkDrawer.” Action moves back and forth between his ten years in San Francisco (1982-1992) and the mad New Jersey/NYC upbringing that prepared him to be in that place at that time. A World War Two, AA Dad whose body was still pushing out shrapnel in the 70’s; A Medical emergency in the middle of a play staged in a South of Market abattoir; Working for Blondie and living with The Ramones; Hack actor day job alliances between San Francisco Doormen and Cab Drivers; Conversations at eighteen with Warhol; Living in The Castro at the Height of the AIDS epidemic; L’amour in Calaveras County, The Earthquake, Four babies in a 18 months and The San Francisco Breeders Ball Fundraiser that fed us. They all tie in, and they all lead us to This Night.
Geoff Shields lived in San Francisco for ten years, from 1982-1992. He was born and raised on The Jersey Shore, working in gas stations and on horse farms before finding his way to New York City during his senior year of High School. He found his way into the rock and roll scene of the time, along the way working for The Ramones, Blondie and Shrapnel. Upon the advice of Debbie Harry, who knew an inept roadie when she saw one, he enrolled in Junior College, studying theater. After a particularly vivid dream during an afternoon nap on a New Jersey sofa, Geoff transferred to San Francisco State University, where lots of great stuff happened. He remained in SF after graduating, co-forming a theater company and sealing his fate. This is a show about fate. Mostly the good kind. Some of the other stuff. As Kurt Vonnegut said; “Hold onto your hat…We could end up Miles from Here!”
Don Bajema
Novelist, screenwriter, actor, and performer Don Bajema was born in St. John's, New Foundland, Canada in 1949. He is the author of two highly acclaimed collections of short stories, Boy In The Air and Reach, now published as one volume, Winged Shoes and a Shield, by City Lights. As an actor, Bajema first appeared on stage in the West Coast premiere of Sam Shepard's "Curse of the Starving Class". With a lead role in the 1983 film "Signal Seven", Bajema began a long-time collaboration with groundbreaking independent film director Rob Nilsson. He had a lead role in Nilsson's 1988 Sundance Film Festival Grand Prize winner "Heat and Sunlight" and he wrote and starred in the 1996 film "Chalk," which Nilsson directed. He has appeared in more than a dozen feature films, most recently Carl Franklin's 2002 film "High Crimes". A favorite on the "spoken word circuit", Bajema has toured extensively in the US, Canada and Europe, performing at hundreds of clubs, theaters and universities. He has shared the spoken word stage with the likes of Hubert Selby, Lydia Lunch, Henry Rollins, and Jim Carroll. He is a former world-class track and field athlete who competed in the 1972 US Olympic trials and played football for legendary coach Don Coryell at San Diego State University. He currently lives with his family in New York City.
Laural Meade
BACK THEN NOBODY TALKED ABOUT SEX.
SO SHE MADE THEM LAUGH ABOUT IT.
This tour de force performance serves up the extraordinary life and music of vaudeville legend Sophie Tucker - a comedienne that super fan Bette Midler called “a true vulgarian, a completely charming big-hearted broad.”
Combining the pizazz of Tucker’s risqué songs with raucous audience interaction, writer-performer Laural Meade channels Tucker’s irreverent wit and sexed-up spirit. With charming side-kick Fred Cassidy at the keys.
Come enjoy the singular energy that made Tucker the most sought-after nightclub entertainer of her day.
FRED CASSIDY AT THE PIANO
DIRECTED BY CYNTHIA ETTINGER & MIKE SCHLITT
“WINNER – BEST CABARET OF THE YEAR. Meade aces the material… delivering knockout interpretations of Tucker classics. Arrestingly poignant and indelibly memorable…an incredible turn, a perfect evening.” - ticketholdersLA.com
“Pick of the Month! Meade lets loose her inner Sophie and charms… a powerful singer with A THRILLING VOICE.” - Cabaret Scenes Magazine
“Meade serves up a titillating evening of dirty jokes, clever anecdotes and raucous songs. A WONDERFUL SHOW.” - LAArtsOnline.com
"A hilarious, heartfelt historical romp from a unique voice… POWERFUL, EMOTIONAL AND UTTERLY BEAUTIFUL.” - NohoArtsDistrict.com
“Recommended! Meade, bedazzled and fabulous, brings Tucker back to life. FLIRTATIOUS AND EXTRAVAGANT… and exquisitely intimate. Meade is soulful talent whose willingness to connect with audiences on such a human level serves as a reminder of the power of intimate theater." - StageRaw.com
“Tucker was a unique, hilarious performer and Meade has nailed her. A DON’T-MISS PERFORMANCE.” - Splash Magazines
“IT’S THE RIGHT TIME TO SALUTE THE BAWDY QUEEN OF COMEDY.” - Broadway World