A Semi-Autobiographical Southern Saga Set to a Pop-Folk Soundtrack, Inspired by the Family That Sparked Pat Conroy’s Beach Music

Hollywood, CA – Bless Your Heart, a bold new musical (cabaret edition) from writer/producer Barri Lynn Hollander, will premiere at the 2025 Hollywood Fringe Festival at The Actors Company | Let Live Theater, with performances running from June 8 through June 29. With its infectious pop-folk score and emotionally rich storytelling, Bless Your Heart is poised to strike a chord with audiences who believe in the healing power of humor and hindsight.

A cross between Legally Blonde, Next to Normal, and Falsettos, Bless Your Heart takes you down a trauma-bonding rabbit hole and begs the question: “If life isn’t a fairy tale, can it still have a happy ending?”

Set against the vibrant backdrop of a Southern Jewish family in Columbia, South Carolina, the story follows Bardot Bregman, a girl born into the chaos of the 1960s—and born into a family she doesn’t quite belong to. Inspired by Hollander’s own maternal lineage—which shares roots with the family behind Pat Conroy’s beloved novel Beach Music—the musical explores how generations of narcissism, ambition, and broken dreams are handed down and transformed.

Bardot, a young writer who uses fairytales and folklore to make sense of her life, journeys from familial dysfunction and generational trauma to self-discovery and healing, leading to a new understanding of love, identity, and legacy. Ultimately, she finds that the real fairy tale may be the one we write for ourselves.

All in the Family: Collaborated on by a Real-Life Mother-Daughter Duo

Barri Lynn Hollander, credited with Book, Music, and Lyrics, brings 25+ years of creative experience from global advertising and a lifetime love of musical theatre to the stage. A graduate of Binghamton University, The School of Visual Arts, HB Studio, and the Warner Bros. Writers’ Program, Hollander infuses her work with sharp wit and emotional authenticity.

Her daughter, Julia Hollander, serves as Musical Director and contributes additional lyrics. A Berklee College of Music alum, Julia is a dynamic LA-based singer-songwriter, producer, and music educator who has worked on numerous musical projects including a Broadway-bound project with a Grammy-winning Nashville writer. Julia also curates and headlines the bi-monthly singer-songwriter showcase, Slumber Party Sessions, at The Hotel Cafe, a Hollywood nightlife staple three years running.

Cast & Crew
The talented cast includes Cindy Robinson, Elissa Wagner, Bonnie Sludikoff, Abhaya Krishnan-Jha, Natalia Polo, and Nathan Larkins.

Live Band
Our accomplished musicians sharing the stage include Brent Schindele (Keyboard), Jimmy Licata (Guitar), Daniel Markus (Drums/Percussion).