Saturday, July 22, 2023

Fringe 2023 - Top 10 - #5 - Ha Ha Da Vinci


Ha Ha Da Vinci
Phina Pipia

Hailed as “Terrific" by the New York Times, this award-winning performer combines illusion, music, and theater to weave a story overflowing with the delightfully unexpected.

Venue: Southern Theater
Tagged for: Magic, Puppetry, Kid Friendly, Musical Theater, Physical Theater, Solo Show, Original Music, Historical Content, Audience Participation
Content Warnings: Flashing Lights, Loud Noises

Just looking at the trailer Phina Pipia developed for our Fringe,

and then a local public TV spotlight of the time she was at the San Diego Fringe

I’m already guessing I’ll have to keep an eye on how many times I’m tempted to use the words “delightful,” “enchanting,” or “charming” when I write about this show after I finally get a chance to see it.

I mean, there’s a tuba.  
And puppets.  
And magic.  
I don’t think we’re getting all three of those together anywhere else this year.

And her bio is just… well… here…

“Hailed as “impossible to resist,” by the Montreal Gazette,
“terrific,” by the New York Times, and
"imaginative, intelligent, and strangely mesmerizing" by the San Diego Union Tribune, " Phina Pipia's performances hook audiences from the first moment.”

Her critically-acclaimed solo show, Ha Ha Da Vinci, was developed in residence at the world-renowned Centrum Foundation for the Arts in Washington State, and was named Best Solo Show at the San Diego International Fringe Festival and Top Pick by PBS San Diego, won the Creative Development Award at Vancouver Fringe, and was given the Critic's Choice Award for Best Solo Musical at the Orlando Fringe by critics at the Orlando Weekly and Orlando Sentinel.

As a professional dancer, Phina worked in New York City with choreographers Julian Barnett and Cori Kresge.

She performs as one half of the double sousaphone duo, The Pipia Sisters;
and toured with the mentalism show, The Psychic Dynasty;
and co-directed performance company, Generation Goat Rocket, staging original musicals both in the United States and internationally.

As tuba player, Phina Pipia is the driving force behind several west coast and touring bands, and her songwriting and solo work seen in her recent album, Outside of the Movies weaves unexpected lyrics and captivating melodies which frequently move audiences to both laughter and tears.

Her new album, Normal Times interweaves electronic beats, brass melodies, and folk vocals and is scheduled for release in November.

Phina has studied under renowned choreographer Kazuko Hirabayashi, dancers Stephanie Tooman and Megan Williams, vocal instructor Thomas Goodheart and Anneliese Von Goerken, magician Joey Pipia, tubist Bill Park, and physical theater professional, Avner Eisenberg.”

Honestly, you had me at “Generation Goat Rocket

UPDATE 8/3: Phina Pipia did a Fringe preview (complete with tuba and Mona Lisa-inspired magic trick) on Fringe Eve, the night before the festival began:


 

Here's some handy links to this year's Top 10, and Top 11-20 Lists, plus the full list of all returning favorites at this year's Fringe, plus a link to all the 2023 Minnesota Fringe Festival coverage.   

 

 

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