Detroit Fringe Festival Marks Fifth Year With 15 Performances

Aerialists and police radios. A theatrical podcast airing. The first multi-generational performance by an internationally-renowned spoken word poet. These are just a few of this year's genre-defying performance highlights at the 2018 Detroit Fringe Festival, taking place Thursday, November 15 through Sunday, November 18 at four venues across Detroit.

2018 marks the fifth year of the grassroots theater festival, which strives to advance the medium beyond the traditional play while connecting neighbors and artists through the performing arts. Since its inception the Detroit Fringe has featured the work of over 200 artists, highlighting new creations from Michigan playwrights and performers chosen by an advisory council of local arts professionals from a public open call. This year's festival in particular showcases the diversity of the performing arts landscape that Southeastern Michigan has to offer, with a grand total of fifteen performances featured in six separately ticketed events at theaters across the city, including Planet Ant's Ant Hall, CMAP Detroit, Light Box and the Jam Handy. The line-up includes local directors, actors, choreographers, electronic musicians, new and seasoned playwrights, improv impresarios, contemporary circus artists, and experimental theater makers throughout one electrifying weekend.

In addition to the breadth of performance taking place at the 2018 Detroit Fringe, the festival continues its mission to support artists via the new Professional Development Mentorship program. This new program connects Fringe artists with local performing arts professionals as a means to further their creative development, foster relationships and generate networks of support and collaboration. 2018 Fringe mentors include Shua Group choreographer/installation artist Josh Bisset, director and playwright Jeff Nahan, and manager of Detroit Public Theater's Shakespeare in Prison program Frannie Sheperd-Bates. Regarding the launch of this new mentorship initiative, festival producer Carrie Morris notes,

"For five years the Fringe Festival has showcased genre-defying, eclectic, compelling new works by some of metro Detroit's most dynamic performing artists. We are thrilled to offer this generative opportunity for artists to collaborate and learn from each other, to connect and build networks, and to continue to expand their creative potential."

The festival is a way for audiences to see something new, embrace the unknown, and support local artists in the process. With discounted pre-sale tickets ranging from $8-15 and an all-inclusive festival pass for $70, the Detroit Fringe strives to be financially accessible for everyone (with no one turned away for lack of funds.) To view the full schedule of experimental, unpredictable, and awe-inspiring performances and to purchase tickets, visit www.detroitfringefest.com.

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