Brianna McDonnell takes the Hollywood Fringe Festival stage with a world premiere that’s equal parts bold, brilliant, and long overdue. And there are only two shows left.
If you’ve been following plus size media for any amount of time, Brianna McDonnell is not a new name. She’s the Los Angeles-based performer, creative producer, and founder of The B Word, the media company built on one very clear premise: fat people deserve to see themselves on screen, in editorial fashion, in stories, and on stage. Fully. Without apology.
And now, she’s taking that premise to its most personal and powerful form yet.
Big with a B is McDonnell’s one-woman show, and it is having its world premiere as part of the 2026 Hollywood Fringe Festival. The show is directed by Ken Sawyer, with music direction by Lindsay Aldana. It runs one hour and is rated for audiences ages 10 and up.
The audience has already spoken, and the verdict is unanimous: do not miss this one.
Who Is Brianna McDonnell?
If you need a quick refresher: Brianna McDonnell moved to Los Angeles to pursue musical theater. When she couldn’t find herself in the media she loved, she built her own. The B Word started as a plus size fashion blog and grew into a full media company, producing original content, fashion editorials, and short films covered by Cosmopolitan, Mic, Huffington Post, and yes, right here at The Curvy Fashionista.
We covered her stunning 1970s Laurel Canyon-inspired fashion film back in 2021, a tribute to Mama Cass that showcased exactly the kind of creator Brianna is: someone who doesn’t wait for a seat at the table. She builds the table. She sets it. And then she invites everyone in.
Big with a B is the next chapter. And it might be the most powerful one yet.
What Is Big with a B?
This is a solo musical theater experience written around and performed entirely by McDonnell herself. Part cabaret, part autobiography, part cultural reckoning. The show traces her personal journey through life in a larger body, the weight the world assigns to the word “big,” and what it actually means to take up space on your own terms.
The origin of the show is as compelling as the show itself. In her own words posted to Instagram just before the first preview:
“I have not performed on stage in ten years. Tomorrow is our first preview of ‘Big with a B’… I have had a dream of performing a one woman show maybe my whole life but I didn’t have it written? I have never done Fringe? I was immediately nervous and then excited about the challenge and electrified by the idea of facing my own fear.”
She closed the post with this:
“This is really a dream come true. Thank you for dreaming big with me. See you at the theatre!”
That context matters. This is not a polished star doing a victory lap. This is a creator who wrote the show built the production faced a decade-long absence from the stage and showed up anyway. Every review in that room has been earned.
Certified reviewer Bellina Logan put it plainly: Brianna is bold brilliant and beautiful praising the show as very fun heartfelt and clever with thoughtful direction from Ken Sawyer.
Certified reviewer Azur Glynn laughed cried multiple times and called it a valuable play filled with well curated musical accompaniments. Her message to anyone on the fence? If you have ever felt too little too much too big and had it made you feel small do yourself a favor and see this play.
That is not polite applause. That is life recognition.
What Happens When You Put That Story on Stage
There is a specific kind of theater that does not just entertain you. It locates you. It finds the part of you that has been waiting to be seen and holds up a mirror. That is what Big with a B is doing to audiences right now and the proof is in how people are talking about it afterward.
The audience’s reactions confirm that this performance resonates deeply within them.
The show’s narrative explores themes of body image and self-worth while challenging societal norms surrounding size.
Brianna’s performance offers an authentic reflection of her experiences as she navigates through her life story.
This performance encourages viewers to embrace their identities unapologetically.
Why This Matters Right Now
This moment highlights an urgent need for representation in media that reflects diverse body types.
Brianna’s work stands as an act of defiance against societal pressures regarding body image.
The impact of her performance extends beyond entertainment; it fosters conversations about inclusivity in art.
Two Shows Left. Get Your Tickets.
Big with a B plays its final two performances at The Cats Crawl (Main Space), located at 660 N Heliotrope Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90004.
Saturday, June 20, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Sunday, June 28, 2026 at 12:00 PM
You can grab your tickets at hollywoodfringe.org/projects/… and learn more about Brianna McDonnell and The B Word at thebwordblog.com.
This performance promises to be an unforgettable experience!
