Jack Fry
Los Angeles, California
They Call Me Mister Fry
Written by Jack Fry
Jack Fry’s (award winning playwright, actor, and teacher) true life story of his first year teaching 5th grade in South Central LA. This comical, yet dramatic story tells the struggles of a mid-westerner from Indiana dealing with a challenging, multi-ethic body of students– specifically his relationship with two challenging students and how they affected each other’s lives.
But it also chronicles his journey through the bowels of big city bureaucracy and his trials of interpersonal relationships. Most importantly, it follows the evolution of “Mr. Fry” as he battles to find his place in the world in this beautiful story about transformation, redemption, the fragility of life and what we think our purpose is.
They Call Me Mister Fry has played both nationally and internationally, including a three month extended off-broadway run, garnered three festival awards, played two command performances for the Department of Education in Washington, DC, and endorsed by Stephan Colbert from The Colbert Report.
“On Stage, Mister Fry, Makes the Grade!” LA Times
“Go!” LA Weekly _(SELECTED AS “ONE OF THE BEST OF THE FEST” 2010 HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL)_Asylum Theater
“This production has enough heart, audacity, and originality to stand out from the crowd mainly because of the artistry of Jack Fry.”_(SELECTED AS “ONE OF THE BEST OF THE FEST” 2009 WASHINGTON CAP FRINGE)_DC Theatre Scene
“They Call Me Mister Fry is directed by my first director Jeff Michalski, so you know it’s got to be good.” _STEPHEN COLBERT (THE COLBERT REPORT)
“Jack Fry is the Patch Adams of Education… The highest form of off Broadway theater.” _LA Examiner
CAST
Jack Fry
WEBSITE
ART FORM
Solo, Theater, Multimedia
RATING
G - General Audiences: All Ages Admitted
WARNINGS
Recommended for 10 years and up
DURATION
90 min.
SCHEDULE
Fri Aug 19 5:30 PM
Sat Aug 20 7:00 PM
Sun Aug 21 8:00 PM
Wed Aug 24 8:30 PM
Thu Aug 25 5:00 PM
Sat Aug 27 5:30 PM
VENUE
Wesley Chapel
TICKETS
$15
TICKET DEALS
Aug 19 – 2-for-1 special
I love Mr. Fry. He really tells it like it is! His one-man show is humorous, insightful, full of energy, and very real. Teachers, parents, and anyone who pays their taxes into the public school system should see this show!
Wonderfully moving, inspiring and hilarious. Excellent balance of humor and tragedy, plus a reminder of how very important and yet undervalued teachers are today. Highly recommend it.
Best show we’ve seen in our years attending The Boulder Fringe. Great acting and script – a wonderfully touching real-life story.
If every teacher could be like Mr. Fry, our country would be in a better place today. If every show could be like Mr. Fry, well, I’d go to the theater more often.
If every teacher was like Mr. Fry, the country be smarter and more empathetic. If every show were like Mr. Fry, well, I’d go to the theater more often.
A funny & touching look at his first year teaching in South Central in LA.
I laughed, I cried, I was inspired.
Touching. Jack Fry is a theatrical titan onstage!
BEST OF THE FRINGE!
Funny, heartwarming story. I loved it. Kudos to Mr.Fry. An outstanding performance.
Wow – what a story! Mr. Fry had a positively cinematic first year, and the true stories that are the basis for this show are mind-blowing and also extremely touching. Anthony and Kool Jazz will live forever . . .
“They Call Me Mister Fry” is one of those shows that will stick with you for years to come. “Mr. Fry” will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about teaching and our purpose in the world. Truly inspiring. Jack Fry has an innate ability onstage to make us laugh, cry, reflect on our own lives, and do it all over again. Kudos.
Engaging and endearing! He is also very interactive with his audience.
Love that he refers to real artifacts, if you will. He isn’t pulling props out of his pockets, he’s reciting from personal, original written pieces given to him by his students!
Check out the full review at http://boulderfringereviews.blogspot.com/
Funny, touching, insightful, inspiring! A story of how a reluctant public school teacher transcends the impossible challenges of a difficult classroom in a very tough neighborhood. Jack Fry creates vivid, detailed characters who come totally alive. They twist and turn in some very dark storms, yet find their way to light. Unpredictable and always delightful, he brings us to tears and laughter.
I truly appreciate every aspect of this amazing show. Bravo, Jack Fry for gifting us with such a touching and truly spectacular masterpiece!
I assume Jack Fry’s sheer energy as a performer must match his energy as a teacher. This show was funny, touching, and vulnerable. I want to be in Mr. Fry’s fifth grade class! Anyone who has been an elementary school student will enjoy this piece. And I wish everyone who thinks kids have equal opportunity to learn in our country could see this show and FEEL the reality of the lives of some of our most underserved children. Also, I laughed a lot and cried a little.
BRILLIANT show on every level. Jack had us from the moment he walked into the room and made us feel truly PART of his classroom experience. Wish he’d been my teacher back in the day!
Everyone his work touches (through his teaching and this performance) is blessed as we learn lessons of vital importance to our future & that of the children our future depends upon while wiping away tears of laughter (& concern).
You ROCK Mr. Fry!!
Fantastic show!!!!
Just saw your Wed Boulder show
and Excaliber has bequeathed you:
“THEY CALL ME MISTER FRYNGE”
In gratitude,
Mamie Kakes
(the one hooting and bravo-ing you from the bleachers)
(p.s. I was at your bar-mitzvah~~~!)
I’ve seen the show more than once and it just gets better every time. GO SEE IT!!
What a beautiful, touching show! Jack did such a fine job of describing the maddening everyday obstacles faced by any teacher. He melted my heart with his anecdotes about Anthony and Jasmine, but still had me gut-laughing at some of the absurdity of the proverbial administrative bullsh*t associated with our educational system. The ending of his brilliant monologue was worthy of a loud cheer. His references to “Camelot” were inspiring and refreshing. If I had children, I’d want him to teach them.
This show was what I hope for when I see live theatre. Jack took some heartbreaking material and brought love, compassion, tears, humor and a touch of the upsurd to the stories he shared with us. Let us each be able to go deeper when we are faced with challenges from people that we care for and need to understand from the perspective of totally different life experiences. Thanks Jack, I’d love to see more in the Future. Happy Teaching!
It is shows like this that remind me of why host live theatre at Wesley Chapel and why I became a board member of the Boulder International Fringe Festival. It also reminds me of my own calling to be the best pastor and the best father that I can be.
Can I say “Encore Fringe?”
Someone outta put him in a movie!
I am 6’4” and this play brought me to my knees. I once taught at an “at risk” school and Mr. Fry brings to life the experience both as an educator and as a human being. I applaud the effort and the execution. Thank you Mr Fry!
LOVED the show! Mr. Fry was terrific! It had everything — laughter, sadness, heartbreak and triumph. Teachers are the best….