Coronado resident Katie Brady brings home the award for “Most Outstanding Musical” with her modern musical The Test from the 2016 San Diego International Fringe Festival. Ms. Brady’s musical comedy about the college admissions process is described as a “Smash Hit” by San Diego Fringe Chairman of The Board Kevin Charles Patterson.
Playing to near sold-out houses during their Fringe run, the young company of The Test received standing ovations for their portrayal of high school students caught in the pre-college frenzy. Sixteen-year-old Natasha Partnoy was riveting as Mimi, the over-achieving high school senior looking for her true self between the lines of her perfect resume. Ms. Partnoy’s compelling vocals on songs like “All Of The Above” and “A Girl Like Me” produced goose bumps and have been described as “theatrical magic” by Larry Steckling of the San Diego Reader.
“I can’t believe how talented and composed our cast and crew were,” said Ms. Brady. “We had quality folks contributing to every aspect of the production from the actors, to the band to our solid-as-a-rock sound guy Carlton Jones and hilarious music director/cell-phone-come-to-life Tony Houck. The people I was surrounded with, they were the real key to our success.”
Ms. Brady’s writing was also described as “bright, insightful and witty” by Steckling.
Sweet Harriet Productions would like to bring this musical to every high school in the nation. “I think art is a wonderful way to bring important topics into everyday conversation. We worked hard to highlight the good, the flawed and the hilarious aspects of the college admissions process in a non-judgmental way,” says Ms. Brady. “We wanted a show that was poignant and funny and left people humming a tune.”
ABOUT THE COMPANY
The Theatre Arts School of San Diego and Ms. Brady’s company, Sweet Harriet Productions, collaborated to produce the world premier of the The Test. Theatre Arts School of San Diego’s founder and director Courtney Corey, named one of San Diego Magazine’s ‘50 People To Watch in 2013,’ masterfully directed this poignant yet comedic work.
“We predominantly cast high school actors to play these roles… not only can they really relate to the material, but it also provided them a unique opportunity to create a character in a brand new show,” said Ms Corey.
Think this new world of getting into college isn’t stressful? Well, as our main character reminds us, “There’s just not enough room at the top to share. It’s nothing personal.”
ABOUT SAN DIEGO FRINGE
San Diego International Fringe Festival is a project of Contact Arts, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 2003 along with Actors Alliance of San Diego with the purpose building a network of creativity & communication. Contact Arts & AASD aim to connect ideas with social action through progressive performance & community engaged projects.
