New Orleans Fringe Attracts 160 Applicants for 30 Performance Slots

New Orleans Fringe Festival is gearing up for an incredible third year of innovative, wild, fresh, original theater November 17-21. The first sign that this year is going to reach new levels was when 160 applications arrived at Fringe to be considered for the 30 slots in the festival. Theater groups from New Orleans, around the US, and even Chile, Switzerland, Germany, UK and Canada applied to be a part of what is widely considered to be one of the most exciting emerging Fringe festivals in the US.

In 2008, the first year of Fringe, 76 applications were submitted; in 2009, the number increased to 108 applications. And although the Fringe organizers expected to receive more this year for 2010, they were astonished by the response. "The number of applications is very exciting, but even more so is the quality! Diverse, weird, professional, ambitious, quality work," commented Performance Coordinator Emilie Whelan.

The diversity and range of performances that the applicants have proposed is extraordinary. Fringe is spanning all genres of theater: drama, comedy, musical theater, cabaret, multimedia, dance, circus, sideshow and interdisciplinary. "This year, it's not just a puppet show, it's a burlesque, tap-dancing, multimedia kitchen sink drama - with puppets. You can't put these shows in a box, and audiences will agree." As one audience member commented about the Fringe Festival, "It's an amazing array of wonderful talent, and things that would never be seen in regular theater. One could spend a year searching and never keep up with all that the Fringe offers in five days."

The rush of applications comes at the same time that Fringe has revamped its selection process to better identify shows that are both fringe-y and have high artistic merit. "Risk and quality. These are the two most important elements of a good Fringe show," says Emilie. "We developed a new peer review process where twelve accomplished local artists, who represent the diverse theater disciplines and faces of New Orleans, individually evaluate the applications." New Fringe Board member Ed Bishop believes the process leaves nothing to chance: "It is non-partisan and is based totally on the weight of the work. Quality, not who you are." Performers will be notified if they have been accepted to the Festival on August 15. The final lineup, with show descriptions, venue locations and performance schedule, will be published on the Fringe web site www.nofringe.org on October 1.

Also, new at the Fringe this year will be a special event on Saturday November 20 featuring several generations of New Orleans' most accomplished spoken word artists. Called "Bam Bam Boom Baby Boom", this free-to-the-public evening will bring to the forefront the force of spoken word that is flourishing in New Orleans.

New this year will be a full schedule of free kid's activities at the Fringe Free-for-All Tent on Saturday and Sunday, November 20-21, featuring improv for kids, scavenger hunt, paint party, double dutching and lots more. And of course, the eccentric GoodChildren Fringe Parade will be rolling down St. Claude at 2 pm on Saturday, November 20 to the rhythms of the GoodChildren Marching Band and to the steps of performers and neighborhood types alike. More information on the Fringe and all Festival events can be found at www.nofringe.org.

The Festival organizes six venues at grassroots theaters and unusual spaces in the downtown neighborhoods of the Bywater and Marigny. Included in the Festival is the Bring Your Own Venue option, where artists organize their own locations throughout the city. In total, the Fringe expects that 12 venues will be presenting over 100 shows in New Orleans. Tickets are $8 with the one-time purchase of a festival button ($3), and attendees can buy a 5-show pass for $30. One ticket is good for any one show. Starting October 1, tickets can be purchased online at www.nofringe.org.

The Fringe is a 501(c)3 non-profit that was founded by local arts organizers to nurture fearless theater in New Orleans and to benefit artists, venues, neighborhoods and local businesses.

This program is supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council. This program is supported in part by a Community Arts Grant made possible by the City of New Orleans. The grant is administered through the Arts Council of New Orleans.

Sponsors: Louisiana Division of the Arts, Arts Council of New Orleans, City of New Orleans, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, Whole Foods Market, and a host of local businesses and individuals.

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