FringeNYC: Naked in Alaska – Location, Tickets, Reviews
The one-person show is a staple of any Fringe Festival. Of the 40 solo shows at this year’s NYC Fringe, we found the description of Naked in Alaska to be the most compelling. Performed by Valerie Hager, it is the autobiographical story of her 10-year career as an exotic dancer, which followed a serious drug addiction and eating disorder. We don’t get the sense that this is a whiny, woe-is-me, personal history but rather an empowered look at a life lived at the extremes. 
UPDATE
5:00 pm, August 18, 2013
Naked in Alaska is a touching solo show in which Hager relives the complex years she spent as a stripper (dance routines with stripper poll included).
Hager’s portrayal of characters from her past is hilarious and masterful. Although the first-person narration can be cliche ridden, the show is so fearless, candid, and personal that it is impossible not to be moved.
UPDATE 2
11:45 am, August 26, 2013
Hager was awarded an excellence award in the solo performance category at the conclusion of the 2013 FringeNYC festival.
LOCATION
The Celebration of Whimsy a.k.a The COW
21 Clinton St, New York City
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RUNNING TIME
1 hour and 20 minutes
TICKETS
$15 in advance, $18 at the door (click here for tickets)
DATES
Tuesday 8/20, 2pm
Wednesday 8/21, 7pm
Saturday 8/24, 1:30pm
REVIEWS
NYTheatre
Thank you, Valerie Hager for your guiding light, courage, and integrity. Naked in Alaska is uplifting and one of a kind, dedicated to the phoenix in us all.
Time Out
Although the show drags from too much stripping and a listless, disheartening ending, Hager makes us sympathize with her strange, uncomfortable and lonely experiences.
CAST & CREW
(partial list)
Written by Valerie Hager
Directed by Scott Wesley Slavin
Review from Usher Nonsense- Reviewer JERVELLE FREDERICK :
“When studying global warming and the melting of the glaciers in Alaska, scientists forgot one factor and her name is Valerie Hager—she is on fire! The writer and star of the autobiographical piece Naked in Alaska, Hagar, plays herself, her best friend Raven, a string of different exotic dancers and love interests. The play covers her ten year career performing as an exotic dancer in strip clubs from Tijuana Mexico to Alaska to California.
The crowd gets a peak into Hagar’s high school years where she was addicted to drugs and suffering from eating disorders. The story, however really kicks off when newly sober Hagar at 21, is invited by her best friend Raven to work at a strip club in Tijuana.
On stage one sees innocence, pure innocence within Hagar who could only be described as living in la la land, void of all reality. The audience then watches Hagar or should it be said Autumn strive for love and a place to belong in clubs—she’s always felt like the outcast since childhood. Your heart almost breaks for her, knowing that there’s more out there in the world. Through the play Hagar’s innocence is taken from her, we watch her spirit die then rise again when she decides she will no longer be a stripper. In addition to all this the audience is also given a glimpse into Hagar’s abusive relationships. Let’s just say Hagar places her darkest moments up for viewing by the public.
The piece is incredibly personal, and though one has never been on a pole before that doesn’t limit the reliability. As writer, I have high respect and appreciation for what Hagar has accomplished—she literally stands in front of a crowd and tells her story in all its truths. Facing one’s demons is never a walk in the park but Hagar did it and look where she is today—the Fringe Festival. In the end Hagar speaks about what she has learned from her experiences and in this reviewer’s opinion, her words and story have the ability to really change lives.
Direction wise Scott Wesley Slavin did a wonderful job, at times character changes are a bit murky but nothing major. In all there are some great choices made. The lighting and sound by Ian Wehlre helps highlight many of the scenes perfectly, especially the dancing.
Not only is Hagar a joy to watch flip through her characters which she does so well but she’s quite the amazing movement artist in her live pole dancing which demonstrates what she picked up along the ten years.”
http://www.ushernonsense.com/Usher_Nonsense/Reviews/Entries/2013/8/16_Naked_In_Alaska.html
Full Time Out New York Review. : ) Time Out rating: 4 stars – Critics Pick!
“Writer-actor Valerie Hager’s solo play delivers a surprisingly complex and personal story of one woman’s ups and downs as an exotic dancer in the not-so-sexy Last Frontier state. Hager presents a wide array of funny, colorful characters, from those working the pole to those just watching. Although the show drags from too much stripping and a listless, disheartening ending, Hager makes us sympathize with her strange, uncomfortable and lonely experiences. As she gyrates in ruby-red heels to a ’90s mixtape of Deftones, Pearl Jam and Marcy Playground, you cringe at her sad, relatable tale of innocence lost, dreams unreached and moving back in with Mom and Dad. And I was pleasantly surprised by Hager’s fearless performance: She literally lets it all hang out.”—Samantha Ueda
Thank you so much for this post Maxamoo! ‘We don’t get the sense that this is a whiny, woe-is-me, personal history but rather an empowered look at a life lived at the extremes.” This meant so much to me. YES! This is what Naked In Alaksa is attempting to do. You are right on! And so appreciated. I <3 Maxamoo! xo, Valerie