“One of the best musicals we have ever seen at Fringe.”
Posted by Michael Shapiro • Jun 29, 2019

The Bully Problem enjoyed high praise from both press and fans during its 2019 Hollywood Fringe run. Here’s a sampling of what the reviewer community had to say:
“One of the best musicals we have ever seen at Fringe.”
— LAMusicCritic.com (link)“There is no doubt in my mind the production will be one of the biggest Fringe hits this month.”
— Shari Barrett, BroadwayWorld (link)“A great new musical. A fun show with a huge heart.”
— Gia on the Move (link)“Honestly, I wish I had seen this musical when I was the age of its cast of characters. It would have helped. A lot.”
— The World Through Night-Tinted Glasses (link)“Sitting next to me was someone who’s recently dealt with a Mean Girl and she shed some tears over what was happening to these characters and felt better after the show was over. You will too.”
— Noel Katz (link)“Remember how you felt the first time you performed in, or even saw, your first high school or college musical? Remember that giddy excitement that sent warm shivers down your spine, instilling a feeling that told you this is how it should always be? If for some reason you’ve since lost that passionate feeling about musical theatre, then The Bully Problem will resurrect it.”
— Monique A. LeBleu, writing for Los Angeles Beat (link)
Needless to say, we also love to hear from the audience. Here are some select comments from the audience reviews page at the Hollywood Fringe website.
“90 minutes flew by! Terrific show. Very enjoyable, with fun music and great talent and lots of energy!”
“Fantastic! This show was full of energy and exciting to watch! Beautifully written, choreographed, and executed. I loved everything about it!”
“This show was a lot of fun to watch! The energy of the show was fantastic. The actors really brought a lot of heart to their characters, and the message was relatable and full of hope. Great for kids to come see!”
“This is a must see musical! Refreshing, uplifting, and comical. Very entertaining from start to finish. I applaud the creator, the director, actors and all who took part in spreading this wonderful message.”
“This was a delightful show. Fun, well-paced, and impressively choreographed, with a good cast and and a story that clicked nicely and moved at a solid pace.”
“Loved the story line and that robot had such depth and great timing. I could totally see this coming to Broadway or Pantages.”
“Michael Shapiro’s musical is delightful and energetic. The cast is invigorated by Joanna Syiek’s precise and inventive direction and choreography. Jennifer Lin’s musical direction makes the wonderful score shine. There are many fantastic performances delivered by the cast, none more so than the work of Allie Costa and Jordan Mitchell-Love. Costa soars as both the adorkable love interest as well as the moral center of the show. Mitchell-Love’s gentle positivity and subtle humor as the artificial life form provides unexpected heart. This show has a great future.”
We’re very gratified to have connected with so many theatergoers this summer! For a fuller list, see the reviews section of this website.
Photos credit: Matt Kamimura