NEWS RELEASE

September 1, 2018

EstroFest Comedy celebrates 20^th anniversary with four shows at Geva Theatre during Fringe Fest

Popular sketch-comedy troupe EstroFest marks its 20^th anniversary this year, and is celebrating with four shows — featuring hilarious sketches and outrageous videos — at Geva Theatre Center during the Key Bank Rochester Fringe Festival, on the heels of last year’s sold-out run.

Tickets are $20 and are on sale now at rochestefringe.com. EstroFest will be performing in the 180-seat Fielding Stage Theatre at Geva, 75 Woodbury Blvd., Rochester. Details are online at estrofestlaughs.com. The Fringe 2018 dates and times are:

Saturday, Sept. 15 at 8 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 16 at 2:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 21 at 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m.

EstroFest is Dresden Engle, Andrea Holland, Norma Holland, Allison Roberts, and Freyda Schneider, who produce original and universal material that is often compared to Saturday Night Live (… but funnier). The male guest for this year’s Geva shows will be actor Rick Staropoli.

“EstroFest was a blast!” said Frank De Blase of City Newspaper, of a recent EstroFest Fringe show, writing in his review: “I and the sold-out crowd snorted, guffawed, chortled, busted up, cracked up, and laughed our heads off.” Critic Jack Garner said, “EstroFest gets you laughing and gets you thinking … the talented women of EstroFest get more creative, wackier, and funnier all the time.”

These entertaining women write, direct, produce, and perform their sketches and videos. The 2018 Fringe show features sketches and video interludes about real subjects that have been given an EstroFest comedic twist. More than 20 local actors have joined EstroFest in the videos that screen between the live sketches. 

Live sketches include “The Ms. Middle Aged America Pageant,” with honest insight from the contestants’ alter egos; “The Real Housewives of Rochester” (seasoned with all the glorious stereotypes); EstroFest Pro Tips as to what not to ever buy a woman; a guided meditation session where the patient doesn’t come even close to relaxing; and Hemp and Ho Cake’s cable-access show, with the audience’s favorite zany characters. 

Four “EstroFest Throwback” videos will be screened: the Rochester Snuggler Network (from Park Ave. to Pittsford, we have a snuggle for you), “Bumpkin’s Pumpkin Farm Plus” (which features the five original EstroFest founders, including Adele Fico and Kate McLean); the euphoria of eating yogurt; and the “Golden Books” that (finally) celebrate diversity. The new videos … well, they’re too good to share a sneak peek, so you gotta wait till show time.

About EstroFest     estrofestlaughs.com

EstroFest was formed in spring 1998 and their shows were immediately met with standing ovations, standing-room-only audiences, and critical acclaim. In Rochester alone, more than 25,000 audience members have experienced EstroFest's unique brand of humor. EstroFest also has performed Off-Broadway and in Toronto, earning four stars from The Toronto Star (“Hugely funny … one act you won’t soon forget”). EstroFest was the brainchild of its founder and producer, Allison Roberts, who had an epiphany after witnessing a group of women laughing together on the street.

Three of the original members who have moved EstroFest forward for the last two decades are Roberts, Freyda Schneider, and Dresden Engle. A decade ago they were joined by the talented Holland sisters, Andrea and Norma.

“We all need to laugh more,” said Roberts, “and EstroFest has provided an opportunity for both the cast and our audience to laugh out loud, at the little things we all encounter every day and may not realize the hilarity involved until EstroFest parades them before you in the most entertaining way.”

About the Cast

Dresden Engle owns Dresden Public Relations Inc. and Roc Parent magazine. She recently starred in and co-wrote the script with Eddie Money and Eric Vaughn Johnson for the world premiere of Two Tickets to Paradise: The Eddie Money Musical. Next month she is playing Bloody Mary in Webster Theatre Guild’s South Pacific.

Andrea Holland is the head of Holland Communications and works as a communications coach, presenter, and speaker. She also works as voice talent for numerous commercials. 

Norma Holland is a news reporter and anchor on 13WHAM-TV ABC/WUHF-Fox Rochester. She can be seen weekday mornings on “Good Day Rochester” as well as anchoring 13WHAM Midday and hosting “Many Voice, Many Vision.”

Allison Roberts is an actress, writer, and visual artist. She is the founder and producer of EstroFest as well as Impact Interactive, and also performs in theater, films, and commercials. 

Freyda Schneider is the artistic director and co-founder of TYKEs (Theatre Young Kids Enjoy), now in its 15th season. She also performs in TV commercials and videos.  

Attn. Media

High-res images are online at estrofestlaughs.com (click on About). 

Media Contact:

Dresden Engle

Dresden@dresdenpr.com   (585) 319-1812

NEWS RELEASE

Feb. 23, 2015

EstroFest returns to the stage for one-weekend of hilarity March 13-15
All-new and over-the-top show features signature sketch and video comedy

Popular sketch-comedy troupe EstroFest returns this winter with all-new and over-the-top shows the weekend of March 13-15, on stage at Nazareth College Arts Center. Critically acclaimed EstroFest performs a comical palette of hilarious sketches and outrageous video vignettes. In recent seasons City Newspaper declared, “EstroFest is a riot” and critic Jack Garner said, “EstroFest gets you laughing and gets you thinking … the talented women of EstroFest get more creative, wackier, and funnier all the time.”

EstroFest is Dresden Engle, Andrea Holland, Norma Holland, Allison Roberts, and Freyda Schneider. These entertaining women write, direct, produce, and perform all their sketches and videos. Their work has been compared to the classic sketches of Saturday Night Live and reminiscent of such comedic legends as Gilda Radner and Carol Burnett. Most of the cast have been performing together since 1999.

The new show features sketches and video interludes about real subjects that have been given an EstroFest comedic twist — an off-the-chain TV talk show starring favorite characters Hemp and Johnny Hoe Cake; a promotion for the upcoming reality show “America’s Next Top Video Model” (starring your favorite 80s video gals); the truth about those zany yogurt commercials; a look at how far we will go to take a “selfie” and also delay getting out of bed on a Sunday morning; on-the-street interviews with Rochester residents who reveal their wishes for a superpower; a sneak-peek at the upcoming season of “The Real Housewives of Rochester”; the EstroFest cast breaking the fourth wall to share some funny but real “Truth Talk”; and a live taping of “The Ultimate Latina Lovers Game Show,” which will spill out into a laughing and dancing audience.

For the 2015 comedy show, a male guest star will join the five members of EstroFest on stage for each performance, plus 30 local performers are featured in the comedic videos screened intermittently throughout the production.

EstroFest Show Times:
7 p.m. Friday, March 13 (guest star: Danny Hoskins)
7 p.m. Saturday, March 14 (guest star: David Kyle)
9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 14 (guest star: Ralph Meranto)
2 p.m. Sunday, March 15 (guest star: Rick Staropoli)

About EstroFest

EstroFest first took the stage in February 1999 and was immediately met with standing ovations, standing-room-only audiences, and critical acclaim. In Rochester alone, more than 20,000 audience members have experienced EstroFest's unique brand of humor. EstroFest also has performed Off-Broadway and in Toronto, earning four stars from The Toronto Star (“Hugely funny … one act you won’t soon forget”). EstroFest was the brainchild of its founder and producer, Allison Roberts, who had an epiphany after witnessing a group of women laughing together on the street.

“We all need to laugh more,” said Roberts, “and EstroFest has provided an opportunity for both the cast and our audience to laugh out loud, at the little things we all encounter every day and may not realize the hilarity involved until EstroFest parades them before you in the most entertaining way.”

Tickets and Info.
Tickets are on sale now at all Wegmans location and are $25 general admission/$20 students. Nazareth College Arts Center is located off East Avenue in Pittsford (street address is 4245 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618). Plenty of free parking is available.

For more information please call (585) 642-8533 or visit estrofestlaughs.com.

Attn. Media
High-res images and this press release are online at estrofestlaughs.com (click on Pressroom).

Media Contact:
Dresden Engle
Dresden@dresdenpr.com
(585) 319-1812