[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of Bless Your Heart, (cabaret edition) from writer/producer Barri Lynn Hollander, at the Hollywood Fringe Festival 2025.
Presented as a ‘cabaret’ version, Barri Lynn Hollander’s Bless Your Heart is a highly promising new musical set in Columbia, South Carolina. It’s an unusual setting for a story about an American Jewish family. But then it’s an unusual place for a Jewish family to set down roots. This becomes a part of the story and adds to the feelings of ‘otherness’ that the heroine, Bardot Bergman, feels.
She is the youngest daughter in a large family filled with her sisters, with very big characters themselves, all pushing for control. We meet them as adults, still living at home, which, in the 1960s in the US or anywhere, was far from unusual. This compelling story of a young woman, busy busting out of her predetermined fate takes off from there.
This performance of Bless Your Heart was only part of the story with only some of the songs, so it’s not as easy to get a real sense of how the entire story would unfold, or where these characters might go. However, the songs are really wonderful and these terrific performers really gave every piece of their considerable talents to flesh out the funny and the fascinating and give these songs the rousing renditions they deserve. I was also really impressed by the musicianship. It was a small band, led by the musical director Julia Hollander, who just happens to be the daughter of the director. What a pleasure it must be to work so closely with family on a story about…family. The whole atmosphere of the piece was fiercely original and has great potential. In fact, I could see this timely story about a young woman searching for her place in the world resonating with those who love theatre as well as those who love musical theatre.
It’s such a pleasure to witness the very beginnings of something in this way. Every actor inspired, excitement in the air, and supporters in the audience. Hollywood Fringe really has a place for every kind of theatre art and Bless Your Heart fit right in!
I am very hopeful that this interesting story populated with beautiful songs gets the attention it deserves and the capital it needs to go to the next step…a full production! I am sure it will win many more hearts, it certainly did with this micro version, it was a house full of very happy people the night I was there! So bravo to all for having the nerve to make something as mind-bogglingly difficult as a musical and to excel in so assuredly!
You can find out more about Bless Your Heart here: https://www.blessyourheartmusical.net/
Bless Your Heart Cast and Crew
The talented cast includes Cindy Robinson (Broadway: Into the Woods. Peter Pan, Carousel), Sean Keller (1st National Tour: Rent, Touring Production: Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story), Elissa Wagner, Nathan Larkins, Bonnie Sludikoff, Abhaya Krishnan-Jha, and Natalia Polo.
Bless Your Heart Live Band
Our accomplished musicians sharing the stage include Brent Schindele (National Tours: The Sound of Music, Jesus Christ Superstar, West Side Story) on keyboard, Jimmy Licata on guitar, and Daniel Markus on drums/percussion.
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