I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: it’s beginning to look a lot like…FRINGEMAS!!! The 22nd Annual Cincinnati Fringe Festival is less than two weeks away and it’s time to start planning your schedule and buying those tickets. With 26 primary lineup shows; 6 Limited Run offerings; 3 Fringe Development pieces; 4 Conceptual Fringe events; and 2 Kids’ Fringe presentations, there is something for every taste. In alphabetical order, here are some productions which have piqued my interest:
Kat’s Fringe Recommendations: Must See
1 Gay Wedding and Absolutely No Funerals
Hair? Done. Nails? Done. Dead Body? We’re working on it.
Ben & Justin Present out of Cincinnati/Columbus, OH have crafted a tale about two grooms who wake up on the morning of their wedding day only to find the dead body of their “best” <wink wink, nudge nudge> friend. How can they preserve the sanctity of gay marriage and make sure this day is all about them and not the deceased? We shall find out. This sounds like a fun and wild ride. I predict giggles coupled with gasps.
Eleanor’s Story: Life After War
Granddaughter performs teen’s return to America after surviving WWII Berlin.
After last year’s epic Cincy Fringe performance of the Eleanor’s Story: An American Girl In Hitler’s Germany, the incredible Ingrid Garner out of my old stomping grounds (Los Angeles, CA) is returning to The Queen City for the sequel to her grandmother’s memoir. This time, we will get to see how Eleanor navigates high school in the United States while being haunted by the trauma endured by her family during WWII. I will suggest the addition of tissues to you Fringe survival kits for this one.
Tea TIME
It’s about tea! It’s about time! F**k off, I’m steeping.
Erika MacDonald out of Covington KY returns to Cincy Fringe after a two-year break with the show Tea TIME. With tags like “Frivoli-Tea Party” and “Poetic Rant”, I think audiences are definitely in for a hell of ride. Ms. MacDonald is a multi-award winner for several of her shows including Best Show and Critics Pick-of-the-Fringe – and we know she knows how to own a solo show. While we know little to nothing of what we will experience with this script, a renowned artist with new material is my favourite kind of gamble.
Kat’s Fringe Recommendations: More Must See
Traitors
In the near future, queer gangs survive under tyrannical rule.
Brought to us by the multi-talented Stix Eris out of Cincinnati, OH, Traitors is the story of martial law, survival, and (I imagine) some eye-opening perspectives. After a new world order forces queer people to register under the oppressive QRA, some go underground to find other means to sustain. When a straight QRA employee stumbles upon this world of rebellion, what will he discover? This Cincy Fringe premiere promises to be loud, proud, and thought-provoking – not to mention beautiful.
Whispers From the Deep
If you’re scared of the ocean, you aren’t scared enough.
A to Z Productions out of Covington, KY returns to Cincy Fringe with a spooky new offering. Described as “Tales from the Crypts meets The Lighthouse”, Whispers From the Deep takes the audience through a series of eerie tales as told by a mysterious narrator and his shadow puppets. If you know A to Z, however, expect this show to be punctuated by plenty of humour as well. If anyone can get me excited about puppets, it’s this group.
Z is for Zebra
Humor, heart, and pill bottles. Class is in session.
Katie Scarlett out of Cincinnati, OH is gifting audiences a Fringe Development piece, Z is for Zebra, her first full-length play. This is a story of the stages of grief, hardships, and chronic illness. As a licensed social worker with disabilities of her own, Ms. Scarlett is no doubt putting her both her personal and professional knowledge to good use through this tale of triumph and tribulation. Please note: Fringe Development shows only have one performance, so be sure to get your tickets the June 5th premiere now.
Kat’s Fringe Recommendations: Reserve Tickets Now
If you haven’t already done so, it’s time to buy those tickets! Here is the link to the Cincinnati Fringe Online Box Office. Cincy Fringe offers an array of options, including multi-show passes and Love Your Artists tickets (where you pay a little more to the creatives who are sharing their talents). With six different venues, including several shows at Vine and 13th Street near Miami University, “variety” is definitely the word at hand.
In addition to the shows, there are after-party events each night following active Fringe days at Headquarters (aka Know Theatre’s Underground). And remember: Mondays are dark because we all need time to rest and recover. Don’t miss out on Cincinnati’s Summer Theatre Party!
