Fringe Festival NYC: Fringe Theater Festival Kicks Off in New York
Last night, August 10, 2012, the New York City Fringe Festival kicked off its 16thAnniversary season of groundbreaking new theater performances all across downtown Manhattan.
Created and presented by The Present Company, FringeNYC celebrates the innovations and diversity of new theater with over 200 companies performing at more than 20 venues spread out from the West to the East Village.
Artists from as close as the five boroughs and as far as Brisbane, Australia, vie for the invaluable chance to perform at the acclaimed FringeNYC, where new audiences, producers, investors and awards might give their careers the boost they need.
Significantly more affordable than many of New York City’s theater venues, FringeNYC offers something for everybody. Check out the FringeJR program if you’d like to share the magic of theater with some young child in your life, or maybe attend one of the FringeAL Fresco events to enjoy theater in the peak of Summer glory. For an unusual outdoor fusion of puppets, music, audience participation and the timely conversation of unemployment and the 99%, check out Jack and the corporate Beanstalk by The Occupy Wall street Puppetry Guild starting Aug. 18, 1pm.
Be a fully active participant in the theater experience by voting on your favorite performance, or if you are interested in hearing more about the artists’ process behind a show’s creation, check out the many productions that include artist talkback after the performance.
Why not make a whole evening’s event and take advantage of the productions that include discounts at nearby restaurants? Opening Aug. 11, at 2:45pm, the 1-hour whirlwind of 20 characters played by just two actors entitled 2 Assholes: Shakespeare’s R & J by dosMunoz is just one of the many shows that will push your theater expectations while easing your wallet’s tension thanks to the Fringe’s affiliated dining discounts.
The New York City International Fringe Festival may bring you more than new works of uproariously funny, inspiring or touching theater; it may also give you the first exposure to our next writing or acting sensation. Like Mindy Kaling, writer, producer and star of NBC’s Emmy-winning show The Office, artists at FringeNYC may be getting just the chance and exposure they need to launch a brilliant theater career. In 2003, Kaling co-wrote and co-starred in Matt & Ben, a comedic parody of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s rise to fame that won the “Best Play” prize at Fringe NYC and went on to be on Rolling Stone’s “Hot List” for “Hot Play” and the honored place of Time magazine’s “top ten theatrical Events” of 2003.
Experience the cutting edge of theater from all over the world, and don’t miss one of the cultural staples of summer in New York City.
How to buy Tickets:
Online, at least 24 hours before the performance at: http://www.fringenyc.org/basic_page.php?ltr=num,
Avoid convenience charges by going to FringeCentral at 1 East 8th St (at 5thAve.) from noon to 8pm to buy your tickets in person.
Prefer Spontaneity? Check out the online program guide for performance times and location, and then buy your tickets at the door.
Warning: FringeNYC performances can become a sensation overnight, and some of the more popular shows sell out lightning fast, and well in advance.
Make sure to print out your confirmation email and arrive at the performance venue 15 minutes prior to show.
Tip: Since there are 20 venues spread out all over the West and East Village, be sure to double check the address of your performance.
Note: Although the recent trend at some of NYC’s largest and most expensive venues is to freely disturb a show by boldly seating latecomers, the NYC Fringe makes it very clear that “No Latecomers are admitted at FringeNYC.”
