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New York International Fringe Festival
Nearly 200 performances over 16 days
Chris Mirto as Mr. Grumis (L) and Alex Henrikson as Splontusia (R) in Strange Love in Outer Space (Photo: Steven Schmidt)
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As appears in Encore’s August issue
The thing to know about the New York International Fringe Festival, which runs from August 13-29 and is the largest multi-arts festival in North America, is that you don’t really know what you’re getting in to. With performances from 197 companies at 20 venues at 16 days, the entire festival, now in its 14th season, has a randomly-pick-something feel to it—which is what makes it so intriguing.
Let’s begin with Cookie (New York), which presents itself as an appealing dark comedy about identity. Next, how about Lenny’s Dead (Goshen, Connecticut), a play that’s referred to as “a poignant, witty drama.” Another option: Marilyn Monroe: wouldn’t it be fascinating (Brooklyn), a theatrical drama exploring the late actresses’ honeymoon in Tokyo. And let’s not forget about Masks (Los Angeles, California), an award-winning dramedy about the battle into manhood.
One play that everyone is sure to be talking about the next day is Stephen Padilla’s Picking Palin. Yes, it’s about everyone’s favorite former-governor from Alaska, and it’s the first time Palin’s life has been dramatized on the stage.
There is also an exotic feel to FringeNYC with performances not just from New York City, but from all over the world, including: Ah Kua Show (Singapore), Love in the Time of Swine Flu (New Orleans), Magical Exploding Boy (Chicago), The Height of the Eiffel Tower (New Zealand), and at least five uniquely reimagined Shakespeare works, including Hamlet Shut Up (Los Angeles) and MacChin: The Lamentable Tragedies of Jay Leno (Manhattan). If none of those are to your liking, there are over 170 more shows for you to choose! There will also be performance art, puppetry, vaudeville, dance…basically, name an art form and it’s destined to be at the festival.
FringeNYC is an official production of the Present Theatre, a non-profit organization. With these performances, you can go anywhere in the world, affordably (most tickets are $15), without leaving New York City. There’s something for everyone. For more information on the 16-day event referred to as “NYC’s Best Staycation,” visit fringenyc.org.