A Romanian show in the heart of Hollywood

« Venus Express » selected in Hollywood Fringe Festival 2025.

George Piștereanu, an actor awarded in Berlin and Stockholm, Cristina Florea, actress and strong experiences on stage in Romania, and Richard Stan, a director of music videos well known in Romania for collaborations with the biggest local artists, but also in the USA, where he signs for hip-hop legends, collaborates for a brave theatrical project,  » Express ”, show selected in Hollywood Fringe Festival 2025.

The show will have 6 representations at the festival, in the location of Actors Company – Other Space Theater, according to the following program:
• June 7, 2025
• June 14, 2025
• June 21, 2025
• June 22, 2025
• June 28, 2025
• June 29, 2025

Written and directed by Cristina Florea, « Venus Express » is a SF satire with Dark Comedy accents about two astronauts – Tom (played by the American actor of Italian origin Joze Nicolini) and Jerry (played by Florea) – sent to Mars to start a new civilization. A meteorite deviates their trajectory, and the two are, by mistake, on Venus.

The character Elan, played by George Piștereanu, is a clear reference to Elon Musk – a visionary genius that turns out to be the brain behind this experiment. Contact with a Venusian life form transforms a simple scientific mission into a deep reflection on human condition, technology and illusion of progress.

Cristina Florea is an actress, director and author, a graduate of UNATC and nominated for the UNITER Awards for the secondary role. She was an actress of the Nottara Theater, co-founder of the Independent Point theater and the author of the play someone like you. He currently lives in Los Angeles, where he has resumed his theatrical and film activity, Venus Express being his largest directorial project so far.

« I wrote Venus Express as an artistic revolt compared to what we live today: an increasingly fragmented world, in which the landmarks, principles and values ​​are destroyed, forgotten or replaced by a cannibalism of power and control. Thus appeared Venus Express, from a need for meaning and humanity.

The meeting with Richard was like a familiar comfort. His talent and ideas bring Venus Express to life in a cinematic way through the special projections and effects he has created. He also introduced me to George, with whom I had not had the opportunity to work in Romania, but who impressed me through his professionalism and talent.
I do not know exactly where the Venus Express ship will arrive, but I know that I won two friends, Richard and George, with whom I want to collaborate in the future. And maybe, one day, we will tell a story with Romanian roots. ”

George Piștereanu, a Romanian actor established in Los Angeles for 4 years, is known for the role of me when I want to whistle, whistle, a rewarded movie. He has also played in Loverboy, you’re Ugly Too, The Whistler (Cannes 2019), The Asset, The Contractor, as well as in Successful TV series. He graduated from UNATC and was an actor of the Bucharest National Theater.

« Venus Express is the kind of project that completely removed me from the comfort zone-and that’s exactly what it attracted me. It is a strong text, with black humor and prophetic accents, which puts under the magnifying glass the direction in which we go as a species. My character, Elan, has a dose of lucid madness that I liked enormously-he is a man who wants to save the world.

Cristina has managed to create a story that stays in your mind and makes you laugh bitter. I am very happy about this artistic meeting and, especially, that I work with Richard, a friend and a professional in the true sense of the word. We know each other well and work easily together, which makes the whole process more enjoyable and more efficient. It’s a good energy in this team, one who feels on stage. I hope the public in Los Angeles will be carried by Venus Express, even if the destination is unpredictable. ”

Richard Stan is a Romanian director set in Los Angeles, known for his videos that have exceeded 1 billion views. He worked with big names from Romanian music-Antonia, Alex Velea, Connect-R, Puya-but also with top artists from American hip-hop-Rick Ross, Krayzie Bone (Bone Thugs-N-Harmony), Chingy. He was designated the best video director in 2019, in New York, and nominated in 2021 in the best Balkan video director, at the Golden Panther Awards.

Beyond his career in music, Richard has a solid artistic experience in the theater – he worked for 20 years at the National Theater « Il Caragiale » in Bucharest as a light designer, operator Puitru Lights, Multimedia Designer and a visual content content creator.

In Venus Express, it signs the light design, the multimedia design, the sound design and is the manufacturer of the show.

« I missed theater! When Cristina contacted me, I replied immediately. Since I came to Los Angeles, I have dealt exclusively with musical videos, but the first love never looks. To return to the stage, in a project with talented friends and collaborators, it is a great joy. I always work with pleasure. declared Richard Stan.

The team considers this project as an artistic challenge that offers a new perspective on collective creation and an opportunity for joy for the international public.