Underground
Feb 1, 2012

THE SMILEY FACE & THE FROWN- SHEDDY’S EVENT

The thing I love about living in Los Angeles is the creative community. Artists and entertainers come together and find a way to express themselves through productions and performances. One group that has really impressed me in showcasing up & coming talent and giving back to their community is The Smiley Face & The Frown. This group has partnered with local hot spot Sheddy’s Parlour for ongoing events the first Satuday of every month, beginning in February.

I attended this non-profit organization’s (aptly named for the classic comedy & tragedy masks) launch event at Sheddy’s in the beginning of December, honestly not knowing what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised by the level of talent and enthusiasm on display. Many of the acts are already profesional performers and the rest could easily be signed to labels and management teams. The night featured a line-up of solo acts, bands, and comedians, as well as raffle prizes. It included music by DJ Lorraine Contreras and performances by Joanna Lindberg, Martin Danstal, Chris Oliver, Sara Broman, Andy Babb, Nicole Devol, Andrea Gleason, Lucy Daly, Jonina and Jokull, Doc Farrow, and my favorite Jared Manry. The band Redwood Stills closed out the evening and I was so impressed with their blues sound, I have since attended two of their solo shows. Raffle prizes included donated gift certificates from local businesses and restuarants including Marmalade Cafe, yoga lessons, hair care, Universal Studio tickets, and a Simeon Den headshot package ($400 value).

Sheddy’s Parlour donated $1 from every draft beer or glass of wine sold back to the non-profit and the money will go to hep fund the company’s upcoming performance goals. The Smiley Face & The Frown is a bi-coastal entertainment company (LA & NY) whose first production of The Pitchfork Disney was a huge success. Their next production is a children’s musical based on the classic Snow White.The show had a very successful run in Iceland and is currently being translated into English for their use. It is a one hour show, packed with humor, songs, and fun for the whole family! The group plans to give back to the community by putting on performances at local schools and children’s hospitals. To learn more or to donate to their production please visit the Snow White Kickstarter Page.

“We work to feed our passion; not our wallets. We work without stipends and salaries. Most importantly, we want to give back to our community. We are going to choose multiple organizations that work with sick children and perform the show free of charge to help bring a smile to their faces. Supporting us = supporting a good cause,” said co-founder Andrea Osp Karlsdottir. The organization is proudly ran by additional founding members- Naomi Gibson, West Perkinson, JP Rapozo, Kayla Dillman, and Lucia Romero.

Their first monthly show is this Saturday, February 4th at 8:30pm at Sheddy’s Parlour. If you are looking for a place to see great entertainment for a great cause, this should definitely be your weekend plans.

Still not convinced, check out this clever musical video from their team

To learn more,  or for event updates follow The Smiley Face & The Frown on Facebook.