GLOSSOLALIA to Make World Premiere at Hollywood Fringe Festival

GLOSSOLALIA by Christina Tinde Jesenski, an American Gothic pas de deux about faith, consent, and how we justify right from wrong, will make its world premiere.

Surrounded by a cacophony of cicadas, a preacher's daughter and her father's protege succumb to lust during a secret meeting outside an abandoned church. What begins as a moment of tender intimacy spirals into conflict when guilt takes hold of one - but not the other.

As seductive as it is spiritual, GLOSSOLALIA comes to Hollywood Fringe 2026 after a sold out proof-of-concept preview in Orange County last December. The production is one of the first to premiere at Bad Ladder, a new Fringe venue neighboring The Hobgoblin Playhouse.

The title, GLOSSOLALIA, literally means speaking in tongues. Much debate surrounds the nature of the practice. Some consider it a Holy Ghost baptism necessary for salvation, others think it is little more than a learned behavior.

Christina Tinde Jesenski's debut play asks us to examine the relationship between human nature and imposed structures of faith, law, and social acceptability. Of her play and its themes, Jesenski wrote, "All of us are subject to our own interpretations, not just of our own experiences but others as well...We want to believe we can trust these interpretations, especially when it comes to the people we love. In the end, it's not that simple."

Presented with two casts on alternating nights, this production offers two versions of the story, each dripping with tension and unpredictable shifts in power. It will haunt audiences long after the final moment.

The Cicada Cast features Aibhlinn Rose (they/them) as Evangeline and Michael Cañas (he/him) as Isaac. The Church Cast features Lily Wadsworth (she/her) as Evangeline and Colin Rinard (he/they) as Isaac.

Performances are at Bad Ladder Mainstage at 1514 N. Gardner Ave, Los Angeles CA, 90047.

The Cicada Cast performs on Saturday June 6th at 8:00pm, Friday June 19 at 7:00pm, and Saturday June 27 at 6:30pm. The Church Cast performs on June 6th at 9:30pm, Saturday June 13 at 7:00pm, and Sunday June 21 at 8:30pm. Tickets are $16 for the general public. 

Written and Directed by Christina Tinde Jesenski (she/her). Intimacy Coordination by Emily Baggarly (she/her). Set Design by Jamieson Price. Lighting Design by Greg Crafts. Costume Design by Wren Hua (he/him). Press Shots by Morgan Holcomb. Preview Photographs by Valeria Mikhailenko.