Staff Spotlight: Fringe Participant Director - Alexa Hanrahan Hill

Most of you know me as [email protected], but my real name is Alexa Hanrahan Hill and I’m the Fringe Participant Director. I’m excited to dive into my fourth year with the Hollywood Fringe Festival, and I’m looking forward to meeting you all in June!

I started my Fringe journey as a sorta-volunteer, back in 2009. (You’ll find that many of us on staff had beginnings as  volunteers… HINT HINT.) Since then, I’ve answered thousands of emails from HFF newbies and veterans, met hundreds of participants, and watched “this festival thing I’m working on” blossom into an event that has helped shape the landscape of the arts in Southern California. And I couldn’t be happier to be here.

What do you do for the Fringe?

You know when you have a question and you email support? Those come to my ever growing inbox. I review each and every one of your questions, concerns, or problems, and either help you out myself, or enlist whichever of the HFF’s many talented staff members can best be of service.
If you have a question or problem that the site itself can’t answer (note: the blogs and the learn section of the site), send it my way. Every single member of the staff wants your Fringe experience to be as fun and hassle-free as possible, and it’s my job to ensure that you walk away with the confidence of questions answered.

Do you like your job? What’s the best part?


I like solving problems, and I like solving them quickly – so our 24 hour service agreement and the rapid-fire Q & A sessions are a perfect fit for my slightly high-strung, obsessive nature (I’m cool, though, I swear – just efficient). I’d say the BEST part of the job, however, is getting to know you, our participants, year in and year out. Some folks who have been bringing HFF realness since day one are close friends, contributors (or co-conspirators?), and inspirations. It’s smushy, lovey stuff, but it’s true.

If you could give one piece of advice to Fringers, what would it be?



Since I’m a super-nerd, it won’t be “Have lots of fun and give hugs!”, although you should – as long as the person you’re hugging consents. I say, “Use the tools you’ve been given to build your own success.” (That’s also my newest tattoo idea, it’s official.) We on the HFF staff do try really, really hard to give participants what they need to walk away from this experience triumphant. Read as much as you can about the festival, take advantage of the deals we’ve sought out for you, and mark your calendar with deadlines. Show up to Fringe sponsored events to talk to staff, venue managers, and other participants. See shows during the festival. Give us feedback. You’re the reason this community is growing by leaps and bounds every year, and we want to help you keep making it happen.