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Performance 6/21/25 – The Apohadion Theater

Two highly recommended one man shows:

Daniel Karambelas’ MORE LIKE LOVEABLE WINNER is a one-man show that delivers big laughs and even bigger heart.

Daniel’s performance is packed with hilarious vignettes and unforgettable characters—but what makes this show truly special is the subtle undercurrent of using humor to navigate life’s messiness. It’s the kind of storytelling that sneaks up on you, making you laugh out loud one moment and reflect the next.

You can’t help but fall for Daniel and the cast of characters he brings to life. His physicality, timing, and charm are magnetic while his music choices set the tone beautifully, creating a world that draws you in from the very first beat.

It’s clever. It’s heartfelt. And it’s deeply human.

Trent Dozier’s I’M TURNING INTO MY DAD is a tender, funny, and deeply personal love letter to the man who shaped him.

Trent lovingly embodies his father—whom he calls “the blueprint of all dads”—and by the end, you’ll find yourself fully agreeing. His portrayal is simple yet powerful, letting the humor and affection shine through without ever overplaying it.

It’s clear this is a close-knit family bound by great love, and that warmth radiates from the stage. What makes this piece so moving is how it captures the small, specific quirks that define a person and the realization of how we inevitably carry them forward.

Both of these shows are funny, familiar, and unexpectedly touching—these shows are quite a gem.

Review Submitted on 6/22/25 by Lindsey Jade, PF25 Independent Review Team

Performance 6/22/25 – The Apohadion Theater

I’M TURNING INTO MY DAD!!!: If you love tear-away pants, this show is for you. If you don’t love tear-away pants, go re-evaluate your life. Trent’s stage presence is a charming and affable Every Man, and the distinctive quirks that defined his dad make for a universal experience reflecting our own quirky families.

Most of us spend a chapter of our youth dreading turning into our parents, resisting turning into our parents, or a combination of both. And then eventually, many of us cross the threshold of acceptance. On a very personal note, this show opened my eyes to a delightful new reality: I’m actually NOT turning into my dad. I learned… I Am Trent’s Dad. His Quirks are My Quirks. Ok, I’m not from Chicago (nor does anything about me actually read “dad”) but Trent, please don’t let that hold you back from letting me be part of your family. I can pose with a holiday sweater like no one’s business!!

In all seriousness, “I’m Turning Into My Dad!!!” is a love letter to not being too serious. Our current reality is a consistent bombardment of bad news, crises, and headlines highlighting the worst about people. What a gift to spend part of my afternoon with Trent (and through him, his dad), elevating The Little Things that spark joy in our everyday encounters; celebrating the silly details that make us who we are; even embracing those embarrassing memories that help shape us. And I don’t want to spoil anything… but the finale dance sequence changed my life so TREAT YO SELF to this GIFT.

MORE LIKE LOVEABLE WINNER: Daniel and I have never met before, but this show felt like it was written for me and I’m ALL about personal pandering. This variety show of brief character studies presents a collection of awkward situations, which is *chef’s kiss*. The emo musical interludes was a playlist specifically curated for yours truly. An entire bit based on the premise “are we going to kiss”? A joke about Children’s Museums and Breweries? GET OUT OF MY HEAD, DANIEL.

More Like Loveable Winner is a one-man collection of SNL bits, featuring characters of real-world counterparts we’ve all met and scenarios we’ve all been part of. Except for maybe one scenario, which I’m not going to specify because I don’t know what your life has been like, and no one likes a spoiler. What a treat of an acting exercise, and what a treat for an actor to watch a fellow actor.

Review Submitted on 6/23/25 by Allison McCall, PF25 Independent Review Team

Performance 6/25/25 – Salud Portland

These pieces are a weird ode with burlesque and a lyrical Transformer.

Trent maneuvers through a crowded sea of dad jokes taking us with him.  But here’s the thing; he never really offers us any dad jokes to digest.  He just shows them to us from a distance …saying, ” yeah, there’s that dad joke over there, BUT here’s a funny story about MY dad…”

Trent’s final bit with the golf club was genius.  I do believe he asked for and got consent from that club.

Daniel offered a piece of metaphorical ginger between each character…dancing in the dark and sweeping the space of leftover persona.  Each character piece teetered on the edge of VERY dark.  His acting origami pushed from snippets of imagined people who seemed to hint at a sadness in the trope of masculinity… but it was only hinted at.  

Daniel’s final vignette was the most surreal and my favorite.  He showed scale with simple gestures.  He offered that the most “tragic” thing about each of us might be just a “okay, but so what…” With a hand up and a little kindness, we’re gonna be okay.

Review Submitted on 6/26/25 by Bridget McAlonan, PF25 Independent Review Team