FRINGE’S SEASON OPENS WITH A SIZZLING HOT MUSICAL

FRINGE’S SEASON OPENS WITH A SIZZLING HOT MUSICAL

Fringe Theater presents the wickedly funny one-man show DIVA! Live from Hell December 29 – Jan 15 in the Key West Armory, located at 600 White Street. This cabaret style musical, written by S.P. Monahan and Alexander Sage Oyen, is a fast-paced story of the rise and fall of Desmond Channing, Theater-Major-Gone-Bad.  

If you’ve had enough of the jolly old man in the red suit, make plans to visit the domain of the other guy in the red suit! DIVA! Live from Hell is the perfect antidote to too much goodwill. It is clever, outrageous, and deliciously mean-spirited.  

“I loved the demented comedy of the show, and it’s premise intrigued me” says the play’s director, and Fringe’s Managing Artistic Director, Rebecca Tomlinson. “The show is about being condemned to the same story line until you figure out what you’re doing wrong. I think most of us can relate to that! The question is can Desmond find his redemption?”

DIVA! Live from Hell tells the coming-of-age tale of Desmond Channing, the drama club president whose high school stardom is unprecedented until the handsome and talented Evan Harris transfers in from New York City. What’s a drama queen to do? 

Zach Franchini commands the role of Desmond Channing with such authority that it’s hard to believe DIVA is his first main stage show. Zach was a Business Admin major at UT Austin and a former business consultant. “My partner worked with the Fringe, and I thought that sounded like fun. So, during lockdown I started sending in video monologues for Fringe Fridays. And one day Rebecca called me and said Let’s do a show!”   

Roberta Jacyshyn serves as the show’s pianist and Music Director. Locals will recognize her from happy hour at the Curry Mansion and Fringe’s recent Holiday Cheer program at the Gardens Hotel. Roberta retired to Key West after 35 years in Colorado where she worked as a music educator and music director /pianist for more than 80 productions. Rounding out the show’s supporting ensemble is Wende Shoer, hell’s stage manager.

DIVA! Live from Hell runs December 29 – January 15 at the Key West Armory, located at 600 White Street. Doors open at 6:30pm, and the show begins at 7pm. Tickets are $35 and $50 in advance. Tickets can be purchased at www.fringetheater.org or by calling 305-731-0581. 

DIVA! Live from Hell is sponsored by Cory Held and Jeffrey Grosky at Preferred Properties. DIVA contains adult themes and adult language. COVID protocol:  Masks Required.

Fringe Theater is Key West’s community-focused theater. Its mission is to enrich, educate, and entertain through its mainstage, education, and outreach programs. For more information, email [email protected].

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