Fringe festivals have become a tradition of honoring and displaying the work of those on the outskirts. The very first fringe festival was in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1947. Eight performance groups, who had not been invited to the elite Edinburgh International Festival, popped up in spaces on the fringes of the official festival and did their performances. From these eight groups an idea took hold. Over the years the Edinburgh Fringe Festival became more and more popular and has grown into one of the biggest attractions in the UK. Copying their format, fringe festivals have sprung up all over the world.
Over the span of a week or two – depending on the size – performing artists will invade a community and, in found locations, perform. These locations can be churches, rec centers, bars, clubs, parks, meeting rooms or existing theater spaces that seat anywhere from 20 to 100+ people. Some festivals even require the performer(s) to find their own spaces. To further foster the tradition that everyone has an opportunity to participate, most fringe festivals operate on a first-come first-served, or lottery system to select their participants. In many ways this acts to level the playing field between an established company and an up-and-comer.
The Hollywood Fringe Festival is LA’s largest celebration of the performing arts. It is open to all and the work is uncensored. This year’s festival starts with an opening night party on June 11th and then the following eighteen days, June 12 – 29th, Hollywood will be overrun with over 250 different productions, as well as events and workshops. Tickets range from $0 – $25 and can be purchased online where complete details, including a listing of all productions by genre and a downloadable app, can be found – www.hollywoodfringe.org. Want to go check it out, but feeling overwhelmed at where to start? The following shows are the ones that made my short list, broken down by category:
Comedy
“Maria Conchito Alfonso Alfonso Alfonso” by Fierce Backbone – June 22, 25 and 28
“Twelfth Night, or What You Will” by Mine is Yours – June 22, 27 and 28
“The Odyssey” by LA Troupe – June 27
Dance and Physical Theater
“Star-Cross’d” by The Half-Shadow Players – June 27 and 29
“A Night of Noh Theater” by Actors Circle Ensemble – June 22 and 29
Musical
“The Last Five Years” by The Smiley Face and The Frown – June 14, 15, 21, 22 and 27
“Victorian Courting and Zombies” by Blaskers and Sassers – June 28
Solo
“Why I Died, A Comedy” by Katie Rubin – June 27 and 29
“Linden Arden Stole the Highlights” by Colin Mitchell – June 22 and 27
“Discoverie of Magic” by Jackson Ridd – June 22 and 28
Ensemble Theater
“Hamlet Maxx” by Schkapf and Sacred Fools Theater – June 24
“The Importance of Being Earnest” by Queer Classics – June 22
“The Perfect Game” by Brimmer Street Theatre – June 22
“My Brother” by Intact Productions and Five Points Productions – June 22 and 28
“Fat Pig” – by Angler Theatre – June and 22
“Lockout” by Curious Beast Theater Company – June 28
Cabaret and Variety
“Daughter of . . .” by Susannah Blinkoff (ages 21+) – June 23 and 29
“Doc and Stumpy’s Instant Burlesque” by Baggy Pants Productions (age 21+) – June 25, 27 and 28
“The Boobies: A Burlesque Parody of the Goonies” by VonSchtupp Productions (age 21+) – June 23