FringeNYC Announces Sold Out Shows, Festival Held 8/14-30

New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC), the largest multi-arts festival in North America, will present the 13th annual festival August 14 - 30, 2009. This year, the festival will offer performances by 201 of the world's best emerging theatre troupes and dance companies. Invited performers represent 7 countries (including Spain, Italy, China, Japan, and Australia) and 20 U.S. states (including Iowa, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Washington, Texas, Wisconsin, Nevada and Missouri). The festival presents works covering a wide range of disciplines including drama, comedy, dance, performance art, children's theater (FringeJr), outdoor theater (FringeAlFrecso), spoken word, puppetry, improv, and multimedia.

Advance sales are already up over 48% from last year. "FringeNYC really IS ‘New York's Best Staycation!'", exclaims Producing Artistic Director Elena K. Holy, referring to the marketing theme of this year's Festival. At only $15 per ticket, FringeNYC is one of Manhattan's few remaining bargains. Several productions have already sold out individual performances including: Abraham Lincoln's Big Gay Dance Party, Terranova, The 49 Project, And Sophie Comes Too, Zipperface!!?! The Hobo Musical, and A Contemporary American's Guide to a Successful Marriage. Other best-selling shows include: Victoria & Frederick For President, 666, I Can Haz Cheezburger: The MusicLOL, Vote!, The Event, and His Greatness.

FringeNYC is a production of The Present Company, under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Elena K. Holy. In 1997, New York City became the seventh U.S. city to host a fringe festival, joining Seattle, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Houston, Orlando and San Francisco. In its first twelve years, FringeNYC has presented over 2000 performing groups from the U.K., Canada, Poland, Ireland, Japan, Singapore, Germany, the Czech Republic and every U.S. state, prompting Switzerland's national daily, The New Zurich Zeitung, to declare, "FringeNYC has become the premiere meeting ground for alternative artists." In November 2007, Michael Bloomberg presented FringeNYC with the prestigious Mayor's Award for Arts and Culture. The festival has also been the launching pad for numerous Off-Broadway and Broadway transfers, long-running downtown hits, and regional Theater Productions including Urinetown, Matt & Ben, Never Swim Alone, Debbie Does Dallas, Dog Sees God, 21 Dog Years, Dixie's Tupperware Party and the recent Off-Broadway hit Krapp 39.

FringeNYC shows run 4pm - midnight weekdays and noon - midnight on weekends. Tickets are $15 each available beginning July 24 at www.fringenyc.org, 212-279-4488 (inside NYC) or 1-888.FRINGENYC (outside NYC). Discount passes for multiple shows ($70 for a Fiver Pass, $120 for a Flex Pass good for 10 shows, and $500 for an all-you-can-see Lunatic Pass) are also available. For more information visit www.FringeNYC.org.