THE SECRETS OF UVHASH-RA To Have Hollywood Fringe Debut At The Hobgoblin Playhouse

The Hobgoblin Playhouse will be hosting a new play during this year's Hollywood Fringe Festival. The Secrets of Uvhash-Ra is a dark academia, Lovecraft mystery written by actress Kate Shaefer. Not only is she co-producing, she is also playing the lead character, Polly Simpkins. Fringe veteran Soda Persi is co-producing and directing.

At the prestigious Miskatonic University, two best friends must help their unpopular classmate discover who (or what) has been kidnapping girls on campus before it claims its next victim.

Still fairly new to LA, Kate Shaefer moved here from St. Louis, Missouri to continue her acting career. Due to a mutation that causes her to grow extra bones, she needed foot surgery last year. While recovering in a wheelchair on the top floor of her apartment, she started writing The Secrets of Uvhash-Ra.

“I have always loved dark academia and H.P. Lovecraft’s stories,” says Kate. “I had a lot of time on my hands, so I thought it would be fun to combine those obsessions into a play that I would want to perform in myself.”

Soon, she asked her friend, Soda Persi, to direct.

"I said 'yes' to Kate before I even finished reading the play", says Soda. "I am very proud of her for creating the world of Uvhash-Ra and delighted to help give her vision to the world." Soda Persi and Kate Shaefer met when they did Theatre Unleashed's A Very Die Hard Christmas together in 2022. Soda was the choreographer and Kate played the plucky Holly Gennaro.

The Secrets of Uvhash-Ra is written and co-produced by Kate Shaefer, co-produced and directed by Soda Persi, with costume design by Peyton Herrera. Stage management and lighting design is provided by The StageCrafts. The cast includes Kate Shaefer (AEA, SAG), Lauren Anusencion, Ilona Concetta, Simon Roger Ristow, Elan Garfias, Colt Brown, Jordan Mitchell-Love, Finn Slingerland, and Shira Persi.

Performance Details