Rise a BFF 2026 Free Event

It’s BFF 2026, the 11th Annual BFF Binge Fringe Festival of FREE Theatre, October 13 through November 20, the only FREE Fringe Festival in the nation, offering 37 in-person plays, workshops and family-oriented events, presenting:

VISITING ARTIST!

What happens when Truth, Rage, and Shame meet upon a metaphorical moon? A displaced narrator must face her past to find out. Darkly comedic. Existential. Explosive – a solo play told through 20 characters – exploring artistic risks and rewards, the roots of addiction, power of Denial, and rising to one’s Purpose in spite of it all. Written in rhyme, this ground-breaking next work by playwright/performer Diana Varco (Shattered), gives an unapologetic, vulnerable and charged peek into a rarely talked about experience – foster care. Rise calls the viewer to dive deep into the very concept of rage, judgment and self-sabotage – to find hope in moments that hurt us the most and resilience in the smallest parts of ourselves. Written & Directed by Diana Varco.

Special thanks to generous grants from the We Are Santa Monica Fund, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Arts Commission, and Playhouse PALS. The BFF celebrates the range and depth of the human condition and the idea that theatre arts experiences are vital, transformative, and must be available for all.

FREE as part of the BFF Binge Fringe Festival of Free Theatre. Live-streaming info can be found at SantaMonicaPlayhouse.com. No need to make a reservation If you are live-streaming.