The original play ‘Unplugged Electric Guitar,’ written and directed by Danny Rocco, is wrapping up its inaugural run at the Hollywood Fringe Festival with final performances on June 20 and 21 at Thymele Arts in Los Angeles. The emotionally charged production explores the painful process of letting go of one’s dreams, inspired by a real conversation Rocco had with his father.
The play centers on two pivotal conversations over breakfast. In the first, Tom (David Gueriera) convinces Danny (played by Rocco himself) to abandon his pursuit of writing. Years later, Danny is given the chance to mentor a young artist and must decide whether to pass on inspiration or the fear he inherited. Rocco describes the work as ‘the closest thing to a horror story I could imagine,’ focusing on the subtle, cumulative blows that drain artists of their purpose.
Director Chivonne Michelle, returning to theater after a decade as a television actor, was drawn to the play’s examination of what it means to be a successful working artist today. ‘What excited me was exploring a queer man who’s been on the journey of accepting himself and how the world accepts him, who then chose a career that society also doesn’t understand,’ she said. She emphasized the universal experience of questioning one’s identity in relation to work.
Rocco began writing ‘Unplugged Electric Guitar’ ten years ago to better understand his relationship with his father, art, and middle age. The process didn’t yield concrete answers but deepened his empathy. ‘For me, an artist who has not given up, to write a play about giving up is both spiritually important and dangerous,’ he noted. To separate himself from the autobiographical elements, he and Michelle revisited foundational acting techniques they learned together at NYU.
The play features a cast including Danny Rocco, David Gueriera, Nathan Norrington-Herr, and Jack Little. Tickets are $20 (plus $3 service fee) and are available through the Hollywood Fringe Festival website. Remaining performances are Saturday, June 20 at 8pm and Sunday, June 21 at 3pm at Thymele Arts, 5481 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029.
Rocco hopes audiences leave with greater compassion for the complexities of being a working artist and for those who make the heartbreaking choice to leave their dreams behind. The play is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices and uncertainties that accompany artistic pursuits.
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