FESTIVAL PREVIEW // SEPT. 14-23, 2017
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FROM THERE [ INTRODUCTION ] BY JAKE CLAPP
It all started with eight performance groups in 1947. These companies had arrived in Edinburgh, Scotland, to perform in the Edinburgh International Festival, but since they weren’t booked in the festival’s program, they were kicked to the curb. Instead of packing it in, the groups decided, in some cheeky defiance, to capitalize on the crowds there for the festival and perform their shows anyway in the venues on the edge of the ongoing festival — you see where this is going: they performed on the fringe. In the 70 years since the beginning of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, that event has become the world’s largest multi-arts festival, with more than 3,000 shows (at least 50,000 performances) across three weeks. Its official printed guide is as dense as a JC Penney holiday catalog. The Edinburgh Fringe started something big: There are now more than 200 fringe festivals around the world, including the KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival. Now in its sixth year, the Rochester Fringe will 2 CITY NEWSPAPER 2017 FRINGE FESTIVAL PREVIEW
feature more than 500 shows, taking place September 14 through September 23, across more than 20 indoor and outdoor venues in and around downtown. While each fringe festival is a little different, there are some unifying principles. The US Association of Fringe Festivals outlines that a fringe has a focus on performing arts of all genres — and often combining or breaking genres — at multiple venues and should be easy to participate in. The shows are usually within an hour in length, and there is an emphasis on originality and creativity. Plus, this being an alt-y multi-arts festival, who cares about a little swearing or nudity? (Don’t worry; there are plenty of kid-friendly and all-ages shows at this year’s Rochester Fringe.) The Rochester Fringe itself follows a twopart model (like the Edinburgh mothership). The Fringe curates several headlining programs — including Plasticiens Volants and the Friday and Saturday on the Fringe, comedian John Mulaney, and the events in the Spiegeltent — but the majority of shows are curated by the participating venues themselves, pulling from artist applications submitted in the spring.
SIXTH ANNUAL KEYBANK ROCHESTER FRINGE FESTIVAL THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 — SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
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TO HERE Rochester audiences have steadily kept up with the Fringe. The Fringe started in 2012 as a five-day festival, drawing around 32,000 attendees, and that success prompted the event to expand to 10 days the next year, which attracted more than 50,000 people. In 2016, more than 68,000 people came out for Fringe events, making it one of the most attended fringe festivals in the US and one of the largest multi-arts festivals in New York State. While the Rochester Fringe’s growth can be pointed to as a sign that it’s doing something right, the real success can be seen in the participating shows. As artists and performance groups have picked up on the fringe concept, the shows and “experiments” that occur within the festival’s 10 days have become more ambitious and adventurous. It’s no longer “weird” to watch a show unfold in parked cars, camping tents, or a Jacuzzi. Giant tricycles belching fireballs, acrobats dancing on the sides of buildings, and synthetic voices that lead you across the city on an adventure with your friends have become the expectation. And that’s not mentioning the venues filled every day with stand-up and improv comedy, dance, theater, gospel choirs, drag performers, and musicians.
The effects of Fringe can be felt outside of September. Local artists have started to take advantage of the festival’s format to workshop new theater productions, premiere new dance collaborations, experiment with music and technology, or just do something they never thought they could get away with. Those ideas come out the other side of Fringe stronger and ready to take on Rochester. The Rochester Fringe Festival is put on by a nonprofit corporation spearheaded by some of the area’s key cultural institutions, including Geva Theatre Center, the George Eastman House, Garth Fagan Dance, Eastman School of Music, and others. For a full schedule of the festival, a list of venues, maps, and other information, see the official Fringe Festival Guide, or visit rochesterfringe.com. CITY Newspaper will offer extensive coverage of the 2017 Rochester Fringe Festival. Look for daily blogs during the run of the festival, with photos, reviews, and our critics’ picks for best of the fest. And let us know how your Fringe is going on social media with the hashtag #fringeCITY.
ROCHESTER FRINGE FESTIVAL FOR
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 from 7:30PM-9PM in the
SPIEGELGARDEN at ONE FRINGE PLACE
(corner of Main and Gibbs Streets)
TRIVIA!
FREE!
PRIZES!
Put your arts and culture knowledge to the test! This free event will include a series of rounds of questions based on the arts, pop culture, and Rochester. Prizes will be awarded to the top teams!
QUESTIONS?
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FRINGEINFO
The sixth annual KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival will host more than 500 performances in and around Rochester’s downtown. The Fringe’s official website is rochesterfringe.com, where you can find a full schedule of events, purchase tickets, and get the latest information. The Fringe also has a handy app available on Google Play and Apple App Stores.
Part of that second weekend, the Fringe Street Beat dance competition is back — and with a cash prize of $1,500 for the team with the best moves. Saturday, September 23. Preliminary rounds start at noon; and finals run from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free to watch and appropriate for all ages. If you want to compete, registration is now open at rochesterfringe.com and costs $5 per team.
There are also around 150 free shows at this year’s Fringe, including Friday and Saturday on the Fringe at Parcel 5, and performances on Gibbs Street during the second weekend. To explore the free performances, go to rochesterfringe.com, click “Find a show,” and look for the “Only free shows” filter option.
PARKING
ONE FRINGE PLACE The glitzy hub of the Fringe, One Fringe Place (corner of East Main and Gibbs Streets) houses the Spiegeltent and Spiegelgarden, the Fringe box office and information booth, ATMs, food trucks, and several shows throughout the event. The Spiegelgarden will host the site-specific shows “Bushwhacked: Crystal Magic Wonder Cabinet Palace Tent,” “Dashboard Dramas IV,” “Complimentary Heckling,” “the space between,” and the Storychick Rochester Storybooth as well as the Pedestrian Drive-In. This is also the hub for Fringe’s new Farm to Fringe program. Across the street is Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, where comedian John Mulaney will perform Friday, September 22, at 7 p.m. Tickets are already sold out. Next door, the Gospel Sunday program will take place in Kilbourn Hall (26 Gibbs Street) on Sunday, September 17, 2 p.m. Free and appropriate for all ages.
OUTDOOR VENUES Parcel 5 (next to One East Avenue) is the location for
Friday and Saturday on the Fringe, a free program featuring performances by Plasticiens Volants and a lot of local bands. Friday, September 15, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday, September 16, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. The second weekend of Fringe, Gibbs Street (between East Avenue and East Main Street) will be filled with free music — including Sirsy, Oh Manitou, La Muralla, and Prime Time Funk — site-specific performances, public art, food, and an outdoor bar. Friday, September 22, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday, September 23, 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.
NEIGHBORHOOD VENUES Some locations host several venues, so be sure to check show information for specifics Bernunzio Uptown Music 122 East Avenue Blackfriars Theatre 795 East Main Street Central Library 115 South Avenue Dryden Theatre at George Eastman Museum 900 East Avenue Eastman School of Music 26 Gibbs Street Gallery r 100 College Avenue Garth Fagan Dance Studio 50 Chestnut Street Geva Theatre Center 75 Woodbury Boulevard Java’s Café 16 Gibbs Street The Little Theatre 240 East Avenue Lyric Theatre 440 East Avenue Makers Gallery & Studio 34 Elton Street, Third Floor MuCCC 142 Atlantic Avenue Rochester Contemporary Art Center 137 East Avenue School of the Arts 45 Prince Street Strasenburgh Planetarium at RMSC 663 East Avenue TheatreROCS Stage at Abilene 153 Liberty Pole Way Writers & Books 740 University Avenue
TICKETS
Fringe shows are separately ticketed and prices vary from program to program. All tickets can be purchased online at rochesterfringe.com; by phone at 957-9837; in person at all Fringe venues starting one hour prior to the performance; and in person at the Fringe Box Office in One Fringe Place. Many performances will fill up quick, so it’s recommended you buy tickets in advance.
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Convenient parking for the East End venues can be found in the East End parking garage at the corner of Scio Street and East Avenue. Additional parking can be found in the Washington Square Garage (111 Woodbury Boulevard), Court Street Garage (194 Court Street), Sister Cities Garage (28 North Fitzhugh Street), and One HSBC Plaza (100 Chestnut Street). Daily parking at each of these locations costs $7 per car. Also be on the lookout for street parking or spots in surface lots throughout the neighborhood. The Fringe is a pedestrian and bike-friendly event. There will be plenty of bike parking at One Fringe Place.
DO FRINGE WITH CITY
For all of CITY’s Fringe information, check out rochestercitynewspaper.com to get the online version of this guide plus our daily Fringe Blog. Each day, CITY’s critics will offer up reviews and photos of the previous night’s performances, and you can post your own thoughts in the comments section. New blogs will be up by 7 a.m. each morning of the festival. We’ll also post updates on our Facebook page (facebook.com/ CITYNewspaper), on Twitter (@roccitynews), and on Instagram (@roccitynews). CITY will again host TriviaCITY during Fringe on Wednesday, September 20, at 7:30 p.m. in the Spiegelgarden. The trivia night will focus on arts and culture (with rounds specifically about Rochester and the Fringe), and is free. Appropriate for ages 18 and older. There is no sign-up, but teams cannot be larger than six people. To let us know how your Fringe is going, use the hashtag #fringeCITY on social media.
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Fringe Merchandise
ONE FRINGE PLACE
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16 Gibb Street
3 Gibbs Street Main Stage Eastman School of Music:
Kilbourn Hall
26 Gibbs Street Eastman School of Music:
Sproull Atrium at Miller Center (Next to Max at Eastman Place)
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26 Gibbs Street
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IN S 5
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CHE STREET GIBBS S N FRIDAYTSEPT. UT 24 ST23 & SATURDAY, SEPT.
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STAY IN THE HEART OF THE FESTIVAL!
6 Gibbs Street
(between Main & East)
7 Kodak Hall at
Eastman Theatre 60 Gibbs Street
8 Spiegelgarden
One Fringe Place
Corner of Main St. & Gibb St.
9 Spiegeltent
One Fringe Place
Corner of Main St. & Gibb St.
THE PLACE AND PATIO TO BE AT DURING
FRINGE FESTIVAL Join us for Belgian brews, fine cuisine or pub fare! 120 EAST AVENUE 325-3663 Mon-Sun 11:30am–2am victoirebar.com rochestercitynewspaper.com
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HEADL comedian has been a writer on “Saturday Night Live” (he and Bill Hader created everyone’s favorite club kid, Stefon); his third stand-up special, “The Comeback Kid,” was nominated for an Emmy; and he was just on the Great White Way in “Oh, Hello on Broadway” with Nick Kroll. Out on his “Kid Gorgeous” tour, Mulaney is bringing his brand of cleverly disarming sarcastic comedy to Kodak Hall on September 22. Unfortunately, the show sold out in early August. For more on Mulaney, check out johnmulaney.com.
PLASTICIENS VOLANTS
French theatrical group Plasticiens Volants brings its show “Big Bang” to Parcel 5 for Friday and Saturday on the Fringe. The world-renowned company will utilize giant inflatables, shadows, light, acrobatics, music, pyrotechnics, and poetry to examine human evolution — on land, in the sea, and through space — in a dazzling, surreal display taking place above and among the crowd. This tour will be the first time Plasticiens Volants has performed in the US — Buffalo’s Artpark gets the show first, but Fringe’s performances are free. Plasticients Volants is the centerpiece to Friday and Saturday on the Fringe at Parcel 5, on September 15 and September 16, with performances beginning at 8 p.m. both days. The show is immersive and will take place around attendees, but there will be limited seating on nearby bleachers. Those who bring lawn chairs will need to set up in a designated area. Appropriate for all ages. For more information about the group, go to plasticiensvolants.com.
(Saturday, 9:20 p.m.). Then on Friday, September 22, and Saturday, September 23, there will be a second weekend of free music and sitespecific performances over on Gibbs Street. Friday’s lineup includes Don’t Know Jack (5 p.m.); The Crooked North (6 p.m.); Friday in America (7 p.m.); Sirsy (8:10 p.m.); and Oh Manitou (9:30 p.m.). On Saturday, the Fringe Street Beat dance competition (turn to page XX for more information) will kick off at noon, followed by music by Will Bee (5 p.m.); The YellowJackets (6 p.m.); Mosaic Foundation (7 p.m.); La Muralla (8:10 p.m.); and Prime Time Funk (9:30 p.m.).
GOSPEL SUNDAY
Get in a little church while you’re out on the Fringe. The Gospel Sunday program has been a big draw at Fringes past, and the venues have typically been completely, standing-room-only packed. Reverend Rickey Harvey of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church will lead an afternoon program of joyful noise, featuring the African American women’s gospel choir, Akoma; the group Judah, which blends traditional styles with R&B; and the Elim Sanctuary Choir, under the direction of Paul Boutté. Gospel Sunday takes place September 17 in Kilbourn Hall at the Eastman School of Music. 2 p.m. Free. Appropriate for all ages.
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY ON THE FRINGE The first Friday and Saturday tends to be some of the busiest nights at the Rochester Fringe Festival — that’s part of the reason organizers have put together a lineup of eclectic, free entertainment to fill Parcel 5. In addition to Plasticiens Volants, you can wander between food trucks while listening to free music by Sisters of Murphy (Friday, 5 p.m.); Noble Vibes (Friday, 6:30 p.m.); the Rochester Scottish Pipes and Drums (Friday, 7:45 p.m.); Teagan and the Tweeds (Friday, 9:20 p.m.); the Brian Lindsay Band (Saturday, 5 p.m.); The Demos (Saturday, 6:30 p.m.); and Big Mean Sound Machine
6 CITY NEWSPAPER 2017 FRINGE FESTIVAL PREVIEW
CIRQUE DU FRINGE: “ECLECTIC ATTRACTION” JOHN MULANEY
Even if you don’t immediately recognize John Mulaney’s name — which, judging by the “sold out” sign on this show, you probably do — there’s a good chance you know his work. The
A staple of the Rochester Fringe Festival, Cirque du Fringe will return to the Spiegeltent with an all-new show featuring Vaudevillian hosts Matt Morgan and Heidi Brucker Morgan and a fresh troupe of acrobats, contortionists, jugglers, dancers, and other circus bohemians. Created and directed by Matt
LINERS
BY KATHY LALUK
Morgan (back for his third Fringe), “Eclectic Attraction” is billed as a “journey into the depths of a lifelong romance — from a very unexpected point of view.” Last year’s Cirque du Fringe: “Miracle Cure” was a sold-out, fast-paced combination of slapstick comedy, music, and mind-bending stunts (there were crossbows involved), so this year’s 90-minute show is sure to be an adventure. There are plenty of opportunities to see “Eclectic Attraction,” with performances every day of Fringe, including two performances per day on September 16, September 17, and September 23. Matinee performances are billed for ages 5 and older, with the remaining shows appropriate for everyone 13 and older. Regular evening shows are $36; Monday and Tuesday nights and weekend matinees are $33 and $24 for ages 12 and under. Learn more about Matt and Heidi at mattlovesheidi.com.
“THE BICYCLE MEN”
For an interview with Joe Liss, the co-creator of “The Bicycle Men,” turn to page XX. The raunchy musical comedy will be this year’s late-evening Spiegeltent show on Wednesday, September 20, through Saturday, September 23. Wednesday and Thursday, 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9:15 p.m. Tickets are $28. Appropriate for mature audiences. thebicyclemen.com.
THE CRISTAL PALACE SPIEGELTENT
The Spiegeltent — Dutch for “mirror tent” — has served as the centerpiece for the Fringe for the last four years.
The wood structure, punctuated by stained glass windows, multi-faceted mirrors, and a velvet-draped ceiling, is modeled after traveling dance halls of the early 1900’s, and it’ll serve as the stage for Cirque du Fringe and “The Bicycle Men.” The Spiegeltent will also host Afternoon Tea at the Spiegeltent on Sunday, September 17, at 3:30 p.m. The posh sit-down includes light snacks — with goods from Hurd Orchards and Orange Glory — and a “Fringe-y” twist. Tickets are $30 per person. For the more energetic crowd, the ever-popular Silent Disco is back. As the name implies, it’s an 18-and-older dance party where you only hear the music once you put on your wireless headphones. Flip through three different channels of competing DJs’ music choices and groove away for three hours. Silent Disco takes place at 11 p.m. on September 15 and 16, and September 22 and 23. Tickets (which sell out fast) are $12. Pint-sized partiers can also get in on the dance action at Disco Kids. There are no headphones for this one; just kids, the DJ, and a big ole dance floor to tear up. Disco Kids is on Saturday, September 23, at 11 a.m. Tickets are $6; free for kids 1 and under.
SPIEGELGARDEN
Just because you can’t get into the Spiegeltent, doesn’t mean you’re left out; there’s plenty to do in the surrounding Spiegelgarden. Along with a bar tent and food trucks, the Spiegelgarden is the location for site-specific shows like “Bushwhacked,” “Complimentary Heckling,” “Dashboard
Dramas,” and “the space between.” Step into the Storychick Rochester Storybooth to
hear stories from Fringe performers past and present — and you can add your own experiences by calling the Storychick hotline (210-0805) or finding them online (facebook.com/storychick for more details). The booth opens every day at 5 p.m.; 12 p.m. on September 16, and 11 a.m. on September 23. Take an introspective, 3D sound journey with spatial sound artist Tom Montagliano in a 40-foot, glowing igloo. Shows are every night of the festival, at various times, and tickets are $16. Or check out free movies, from cult classics to big box office hits, each night at the Pedestrian Drive-In. Using wireless headphones, watch “The Blues Brothers” (September 14), “Doubt” (September 15), “Captain America: The First Avenger” (September 22), and more, all on a giant screen. Movies run every night (except for Wednesday, September 20), at various times, and are free — look out for the Rochester connection in each movie. Check Fringe’s website for the full lineup and movie ratings. If you’re more into food than film, look for the new Farm to Fringe events. Fringe partnered with Rochester farms and businesses to host a beer, wine, and spirits tasting (September 16; 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.; $5) as well as a pumpkin carving contest (September 22) and kids pumpkin painting (September 23). The Spiegeltent and Spiegelgarden are located at One Fringe Place at the corner of Gibbs and East Main Streets. For more information on all of the events taking place in the Spiegeltent and the adjoining Spiegelgarden, visit rochesterfringe.com. rochestercitynewspaper.com
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FREEWHEELIN' 8 CITY NEWSPAPER 2017 FRINGE FESTIVAL PREVIEW
“THE BICYCLE MEN” RETURNS TO ROCHESTER FRINGE FESTIVAL WITH QUIRKY SONGS AND IRREVERENT HUMOR [ COMEDY INTERVIEW ] BY DANIEL J. KUSHNER
Sometimes once just isn’t enough. The musical comedy “The Bicycle Men” was part of the first Rochester Fringe Festival in 2012, and is back as this year’s late-evening show in the Spiegeltent. The racy musical tells the story of Steve, an American tourist whose bicycle ride through France gets derailed in a strange, small town. Original cast members Joe Liss and John Rubano — who met while working at the legendary Chicago improv hub Second City — will be accompanied by cast newcomers Derek Manson and Bruce Green. CITY recently spoke with Liss, a Clifton Springs native, about the role of improvisation in creating the “The Bicycle Men,” the character homages to classic entertainers, and how moving the show to the Spiegeltent will affect the performance, among other things. An edited transcript of that conversation follows. CITY: To what extent does improvisation play a role in the performance? Joe Liss: We used improvisation to write the
show. We’d be all around the computer, or we’d be sitting around in the office coming up with material, and you know, we would maybe go off and we would improvise dialogue, and someone would say, “Oh, that’s good — remember what you said.” And we would write that down. But the show is scripted and the songs are all written. For actors who are experienced improvisers, is it atypical to create the show that way, or is your approach to “The Bicycle Men” common when building a show?
It depends on the project, and it depends on the writer or the performer. There’s many schools of thought in improvisation. Well, there’s two schools of thought. Some people believe that improvisation is not really a performance — it is not for performance, but it is for creating, writing, and it’s a tool to create material. And you know, there’s the other school — which is very big now. I mean, it exploded. I myself, here, living in the Bay Area, I perform in improv groups. We get suggestions from the audience and go. Some of the characters in the show seem to be modeled after classic entertainment icons. For example, your character Offal the mute seems indebted to Harpo Marx. And then there are the characters that you and John play that mirror Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin. Do you find that the inclusion of those characters roots the performance in a way that can provide the audience with familiar archetypes?
They spark to it and then can see — you sort of hit the audience on two levels, like this realization where they see, “Oh, they’re doing Martin and Lewis.” But they’re also laughing about the material they’re singing about, too. They kind of get double-edged entertainment, sort of, I guess you’d say.
(TXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE KEY BANK ROCHESTER FRINGE FESTIVAL
You’ve performed “The Bicycle Men” at the Rochester Fringe before. What can audiences expect this time around?
I’ve never really thought about the show without music. Music was always going to be part of the show… it would probably be more like a Marx Brothers movie, where it would just be very sort of plot-heavy, and the guys confusing people and doing they’re setup jokes, and misdirection and that.
This is gonna be an interesting venue, because we’re performing in the Spiegeltent. So we’re in essence, I think we’re gonna be kind of in the round. So this is gonna be Even with the music, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, sort of like a the Marx Brothers AND THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, challenge to the comparison can be AT 9 P.M. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, group. The show made. And Monty AND SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, definitely works Python has this, too, AT 9:15 P.M.SPIEGELTENT well in a cabaret where there’s a sense of $28 | ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM; setting, so it will anarchy. The core value is THEBICYCLEMEN.COM be interesting to see zaniness. That seems to be how we sort of get into the common thread that holds the space and perform in it “The Bicycle Men” together. in the Spiegeltent. The show is always about Steve wanting to get his bike fixed. It comes up What is it about musical comedy as a to a few things, about Steve’s willingness medium that makes it so effective? How to subject himself to all this sort of might “The Bicycle Men” be different if it humiliation and degradation from the contained only spoken dialogue? townspeople, because he really takes a lot
“THE BICYCLE MEN”
of abuse in the whole show. And at the end of the show, of course, he finally musters up enough wherewithal to confront these guys and get his bike back so he can get back on his journey. He’s trying not to be that ugly American. He’s trying so hard not to be the guy who’s loud and obnoxious and not trying to speak French. Meanwhile he’s being confronted with plenty of ugly, loud Frenchmen... Is there anything I didn’t touch on that may be worth talking about?
We got the ultimate compliment when we did the show in London. We did like a little talk-back with an audience one night. And [someone] said, “Normally, we the English feel that we’re the only ones that can take the piss out of the French, that can make fun of the French the best.” He said, “You guys come very close.”
rochestercitynewspaper.com
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CRITICS PICKS
“Murder Mystery at the Central Library”
ADAM LUBITOW
This adult variety show with a campy queer twist springs from the mind of comic Ike Avelli. The description is admittedly a bit vague, but promises a sprinkling of comedy, pop music parodies, wigs, audience participation, and drag queens. I’m always down for a gay old time, so honey, I’m there.
I had an absolute blast being chilled to the bone with “Spooky Stories in the Stacks” at last year’s Fringe, so I’m thrilled to see the Central Library expanding its offerings into more shows this year. The most intriguing to me is this interactive theatrical event which gives participants the opportunity to play detective, helping to solve a murder and catch the nefarious evil-doer before they strike again. Mwahahah! (Wednesday, September 20, 6 p.m. Central Library.
(Thursday, September 14, 9 p.m.; Friday, September 15, 9 p.m.; Saturday, September 16, 10 p.m.; Thursday, September 21, 9 p.m. TheatreROCS Stage at Abilene. $15. Mature audiences.)
“Allen Wrench”
“50 Shades of Gay”
Free. Appropriate for ages 5 and older.)
Bad Idea Entertainment and “Good Joke/Bad Joke Bingo”
Professional entertainer Douglas Stafford offers a comedic tour through his experiences working in circuses, magic shows, and Renaissance Faires. It’s “better entertainment through poor life choices,” and I think pretty much anyone can find something to relate to there. I’m just hoping for plenty of juicy anecdotes, since from what I’ve heard about the backstage shenanigans at Ren Faires, those guys can get nuts. (Friday, September 15, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, September 16, 6:30 p.m.; Sunday, September 17, 5 p.m. School of the Arts: Black Box Theatre. $20. Appropriate for ages 18 and older.)
Meanwhile, the interactive comedy show “Good Joke/ Bad Joke Bingo” will demonstrate the beautiful subjectivity of humor, as a bingo lottery draw determines which jokes and stories host Shawn Wickens is allowed to deliver. Audience members get to play along and earn prizes, so hopefully everyone comes out a winner. I fully admit that it’s possible I’m interested in both of these shows because they make me think of those hilarious “Good Idea, Bad Idea” cartoons from “Animaniacs.” But either way, I’m excited. (Saturday, September 16, 7 p.m.; Sunday, September 17, 4 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Geva Theatre Center: Fielding Stage. $8-10. Appropriate for ages 18 and older.) 10 CITY NEWSPAPER 2017 FRINGE FESTIVAL PREVIEW
“Big Knockers: Debunking the Fox Sisters”
Open up your mind to the possibilities with this comedic, semi-improvised take on one of Rochester’s greatest paranormal claims to fame, the Fox Sisters. Watch Margaret, Kate and Leah as they commune with spirits, take a tour through the beyond, and test audience members with interactive escape room challenges. Local lore, comedy, ghosts, and brain teasers? What more could you want from an afternoon’s entertainment? (Saturday, September 16, 1 p.m.; Saturday, September 23, 1 p.m. TheatreROCS Stage at Abilene. $10. Appropriate for ages 13 and older.) St. John Fisher College Student Film Festival
It’s always exciting when you have the chance to discover new filmmaking voices, so I’m definitely looking forward to catching this presentation of shorts from the undergraduate students of St. John Fisher College’s Department of Media and Communications, and the school’s Film and Television Studies program. (Monday, September 18, 7 p.m. The Little: Theatre 1. Free. Appropriate for ages 13 and older.)
Honestly, when it comes to explaining what exactly intrigues me about this wacky-sounding stage comedy, I’m not sure I can do any better than the official guide description: “A defeated grocery store clerk must choose between defending his pathetic life or allowing his coworkers to unleash the terrifying space monster that’s trapped in the walk-in freezer.” There are any numbers of ways that premise can play out, but really, you had me at “terrifying space monster.” (Friday, September 22, 7 p.m. MuCCC. $7. Mature audiences.) “Hollywood Sex Farces of the 1960’s”
Following up on several well-received one-man shows at past Fringes, MuCCC Artistic Director John Borek weaves Hollywood film history into a personal narrative, examining prototypical sex comedies like “Pillow Talk,” “The Thrill of It All,” and “That Touch of Mink,” and explaining how these bawdy, innuendo-laden films ended up teaching him all he needed to know about romantic relationships. (Saturday, September 23, 10 p.m. MuCCC. $5. Appropriate for ages 18 and older.)
FRANK DE BLASE Hard Logic
I like funky bands who don’t really push the funk onto listeners. Bands like Rochester’s Hard Logic lets the funk be its guide. Same goes for the way the band handles fusion. It expertly marries what’s there instead of heaping shovelfuls of too much in the mix. Funky enough to listen to, fusion enough to challenge, cool enough to captivate. (Thursday, September 14, 7 p.m.; Thursday, September 21, 9 p.m. Lyric Theatre: Main Stage. $8. Appropriate for ages 13 and older.) “Nevermore! In Motion”
Torment, monomania, madness, obsession; these are a few of Poe’s favorite things. Shriek and ponder, weak and weary, as the masked members of On the Edge Drama Troupe drag you into Edgar Allan Poe’s fevered brain by way of interpretive pantomime and masque. (Thursday, September 14, 9 p.m.;
Mental Graffiti Poetry
Starring Rochester Institute of Technology’s slam poetry collective, Mental Graffiti, this show is far from the mere poet dishing out musings and ramblings from a tattered notebook. This is much more immediate, urgent, and aggressive. And it doesn’t always rhyme on time for a lime dime, either. (Friday, September 15, 6 p.m. The Little: Theatre 1. Free. Appropriate for ages 18 and older.)
REBECCA RAFFERTY “The Black Bird of Death”
I’m not entirely sure if The Mystery Company is making a sly reference to “The Maltese Falcon” with the title of its Fringe production. That will be determined along with the more pressing who dunnit in this interactive production that speaks to the armchair detective in us all. It’s the stuff that dreams are made of. (Friday, September 15, 8 p.m.; Saturday, September 23, 5
Thursday, September 21, 6 p.m. School of the Arts: Black Box Theatre. $10. Appropriate for ages 13 and older.)
p.m. MuCCC. $15. Appropriate for ages 13 and older.)
PUSH Physical Theatre
Call it a convergence of interpretations. While working his voice around with a loop pedal, Rochester musician Seth Faergolzia will work his paintbrush across the canvas. Will the voice interpret the painting, or will the painting mimic what he hears? Let’s all find out together. (Saturday, September 16, 4 p.m.;
In its sixth Fringe appearance, Rochester’s globally revered PUSH Physical Theatre will present a yet-to-be performed portion of “Dracula,” the company’s upcoming production debuting this Halloween at Blackfriars Theatre, as well as selections highlighting the company’s dexterous, gravitydefying discipline. It’s not exactly dance; it isn’t contortion. Known as motion theater, it’s the symbiosis of bodies with a shared message. It’ll change the way you look at movement and the use of the whole body in storytelling. It’ll change the way you look at gravity. (Saturday, September 16, 8 p.m.; Sunday, September 17, 3 p.m.; Friday, September 22, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, September 23, 4:30 p.m. School of the Arts: Allen Main Stage. $18. Appropriate for all ages.)
Loop Painting
Thursday, September 21, 6 p.m. TheatreROCS Stage at Abilene. $10. Mature audiences.)
“There Is a Field”
If authorities are accused of misdeeds, but they are the only ones investigating themselves, how can the public place trust in justice? “There Is a Field,” to be performed by Maplewood Performing Arts Centre’s players with scripts in hand, tackles this timely topic — which is apropos considering the Police Accountability Board debate currently going on in Rochester. The story follows a medical student as she seeks answers about the death of her peace activist brother, who was killed by police near a Palestinian protest. But her efforts are frustrated when she finds the system is closed to outside inquiry. (Thursday, September 14, 9 p.m. MuCCC. $10. Appropriate for ages 13 and older.) “Lady Philosophy on Trial”
Pinch and Squeal
Through years of work and research as the guy who asks you to pull his finger, I’ve come to this conclusion: the louder the groan, the better the joke. You see, those groans aren’t disgust, they’re the envy of someone who wished they had said it first. Pinch and Squeal is a duo that has mastered the art of flirting with bad taste and vintage buffoonery. It’s Penn and Teller meets Burns and Allen. The laughter of the vulgar and the vindicated — and the groans of the oppressed — shall ring out during this vaudeville-style show. (Thursday, September 14, 9:30 p.m.; Saturday, September 16, 4 p.m. School of the Arts: Allen Main Stage. $18. Appropriate for ages 18 and older.)
In 399 B.C.E., Athenian philosopher and teacher Socrates was accused of corrupting the youth with that great threat to the state and the status quo: critical thought. He was tried, found guilty, and ordered to drink deadly hemlock. In a new, live radio-play adaptation by Rochester theater company Screen Plays, the audience will act as jury in the judgment against Lady Philosophy, who is on trial for idleness and corrupting young minds. (Stop that debaucherous thinking and get back to work!) An all-female cast will play a series of historic Western thinkers, including William Shakespeare and Queen Christina of Sweden, who are called as witnesses to testify against the accused. The play — written by Jeff Fraser and adapted by Karen Tuccio — asks the question: Does philosophy have any relevance in a technologically advanced society? (Friday, September 15, 7 p.m.; Sunday, September 17, 6:30 p.m.; and Thursday, September 21, 8 p.m. Lyric Theatre: Cabaret Hall. $12. Appropriate for ages 13 and older.) “Labyrinth”
The partnership that transported audiences with the deeply meditative, multimedia performance “Anomaly” at the 2013 and 2016 Rochester Fringe Festivals is back this year with a new program. Held in the same soaring backdrop of RMSC’s Strasenburgh Planetarium’s four-story dome, “Labyrinth” is
a new, immersive, multisensory performance, presented in collaboration between BIODANCE/Missy Pfohl Smith and media artist W. Michelle Harris, with otherworldly sounds by Eastman School musicians and alumni. (Sunday, September 17, through Thursday, September 21, 6 p.m. Rochester Museum & Science Center: Strasenburgh Planetarium. $12. All ages.) “Within the Quota”
TableTopOpera’s Fringe performances center on heavy topics that are worth a deep look, presented through projected images and information that is set to music written in the subject’s respective time period. The chamber ensemble — including faculty, students, alum, and friends of the Eastman School of Music — in 2015 presented “Kindertotenlieder” (songs on the death of children), followed by last year’s “Scarred by the Somme,” a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of one of the bloodiest engagements in WWI. This year, TableTopOpera will present “Within the Quota,” a Cole Porter ballet written between 1922 and 1923 as a critique of the Emergency Quota Act of 1921, which limited the influx of immigrants. Using images and film clips from Porter’s time and material about current US immigration policies and their impact, this new program shows how history repeats itself. “Within the Quota” is a collaboration between TTO and the George Eastman Museum. (Tuesday, September 19, 7:30 p.m. George Eastman Museum: Dryden Theatre. $10. Appropriate for ages 13 and older.) “You’re Being Watched”
Irreverent and hilarious Rochester author and illustrator Chuck Harrison will present three short productions in quick succession, offered only once during Fringe. The descriptors for each bitty story are enigmatic yet enticing: “Nowhere” follows a young girl who serves as the catalyst for a trio of strangers’ sudden moral dilemma; “How to Draw Comics the Freelance Way” is a oneact about artistic hell that sounds autobiographical and is surely relatable to many; and “42 A.C.E” provides a peek into the life of one family living underground in the titular year, having escaped corporate control above. I’m intrigued. (Tuesday, September 19, 8:30 p.m. MuCCC. $12. Appropriate for ages 18 and older.) “Out of Sync: Abstractions”
When you think of looping film — or as the kids are callin’ them, gifs — you think repetition ad nauseam, right? But Chuck Miller’s “Out of Sync: Abstractions” is a presentation that uses film loops, but never repeats itself. Combining abstract art with avant-garde film and performance, Miller starts by looping film that he’s hand-processed and drawn and painted upon, then layers the clips together to create an evolving, improvised live performance, accompanied by his original soundscapes. Stash some edibles in your fanny pack. (Saturday, September 23, 5 p.m. The Little: Theatre 1. Free. All ages.) “Fables and Histories”
Offered in only one performance during Fringe, “Fables and Histories” is a dance theater performance presented by two international dancer-choreographers in three parts. Thematically, the show explores the balance of sorrow and hope, the tragedy of war, and the freeing whimsy of imagination. Dancer Natalia Lisina will revel in a world created by Canadian choreographer Sharon B. Moore; Nanako Horikawa Mandrino will perform a soul-baring work inspired by sources that include composer Octavio Vázquez’s “Gernika” and Pablo Picasso’s painting “Guernica”; and Lisina and Horikawa will present a new duet featuring live accompaniment by cellist Svetlana Garitselov, a faculty member at Roberts Wesleyan College. (Saturday, September 23, 12:30 p.m. MuCCC. $5. Appropriate for ages 13 and older.) rochestercitynewspaper.com CITY 11
AMANDA FINTAK “3D Sound Experience in the Immersive Igloo”
I have attended sound baths before, but this experience will take the cake: a psychedelic 40-foot, inflatable igloo is engineered for sound aesthetics in mind. When seated, you will be surrounded by eight speakers that are intentionally placed so that the binaural frequencies create a “Flower of Life” effect, sending vibrations by means of electronic music while the igloo itself visually pleases with ambient, glowing lights. This unique installation is meant to stimulate the senses and calm you. (Various showtimes Thursday, September 14, through Saturday, September 23. Spiegelgarden. $16. Appropriate for ages 13 and over.) “Carnival of Souls”
Who doesn’t love cheesy B-movie thrillers? There is something special about an old, black and white horror film on a big screen, especially one that has heavily influenced directors like David Lynch and the late George Romero. Carnival of Souls is a 1962 cult classic about a woman who, following a tragic car accident, comes across an abandoned carnival in Utah. The film itself was originally scored by Gene Moore, but musician Adam Sterr will perform his own take on the score. (Friday, September 15, 9:30 p.m.; and Sunday, September 17, 7 p.m. School of the Arts: Allen Main Stage. $10. Appropriate for ages 13 and over.) Big Mean Sound Machine
I’ve seen this band more times than I could count, and the experience is always something to look forward to. Big Mean Sound Machine is tangible proof that music can fully stimulate the body. This nine-piece group brings together musical traditions and influences from across the globe, including Latin, African, and Caribbean sounds, mixed in with North American funk. They’re telling stories without actually singing. The soundscapes are pieced together organically with horn and rhythmic section solos, and it will all make you move and groove into a sweat-induced euphoria. (Saturday, September 16, 9:20 p.m. Parcel 5. Free. All ages.)
storytelling and food tastings. The troupe’s theme for this year is Nari Shakti (Women Power), in hopes to promote the contributions women have made in Indian society. (Friday, September 22, 5:30 p.m. School of the Arts: Allen Main Stage. $5. All ages.) Fringe Street Beat
Don’t miss the B-Boy party that will take over Gibbs Street on the second Saturday. Now in its second year, Fringe Street Beat packed out the spiegeltent in 2016 when the competition’s original location was rained out. Expect to see some fresh all-style break dancing as 3-on-3 teams battle for the “Fringe Street Beat Championship” — which comes with bragging rights and a $1,500 cash prize. DJ Fleg will provide the hip-hop beats. Preliminaries start at 12 p.m., and you can stick around for the finals at 3 p.m. Competitors can register by emailing info@ rochesterfringe.com. (Saturday, September 23, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Gibbs Street. Free for spectators; $5 for competitors. All ages.) Mosaic Foundation
Rochester roots-reggae band Mosaic Foundation inspires positivity by singing songs of praise, love, kindness, and gratitude — it’s music that feeds the mind, body, and soul. Lead vocalist “Cha Cha” Foli Yao Augustine was born in Ghana and shows the audience his most authentic self with powerful dance moves and emotional lyrics. He’s backed by a diverse group of musicians that match his shine with high energy and smiles all around. (Saturday, September 23, 7 p.m. Gibbs Street Main Stage. Free. All ages.)
DAVID RAYMOND
School of the Arts: Allen Main Stage Theatre. $5. All ages.) Discover India
The longest running Indian theater troupe — consisting of artists from 11 different countries — will celebrate the extraordinarily vibrant culture and history of India through classical dances, traditional garb, and music as well as
dream cake
Appropriately for the Rochester Fringe Festival, this is not your conventional song recital. In this recital and multimedia presentation, the wives of Henry VIII won’t just speak; they sing. Soprano Emily Woodruff and pianist Anna Maimine will perform songs by contemporary American composers inspired by the queens’ words, enhanced by original artwork. (Saturday, September 16, 3 p.m. MuCCC. $10. Appropriate for all ages.) “Really Rosie”
Chicken soup with rice, anyone? Carole King released her “Really Rosie” album in the mid1970’s, and this charming combination of songs by Carole King and stories by the great Maurice Sendak has been a crowd-pleaser ever since — as a record and as an Off-Broadway musical. It’s an ideal show for kids that won’t bore their parents (or, given Carole King’s demographic, their grandparents). This will be the debut show by Last Fool Productions.
Basic 6” cake $25. (traditional, vegan or gluten-free!)
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(Sunday, September 17, 11 a.m.; Friday, September 22, 5 p.m.; and Saturday, September 23, 1 p.m. Blackfriars Theatre. $10-$15. All ages.) “When Shakespeare’s Ladies Meet”
Shakespeare’s many heroines have very definite thoughts on the subject of love; this play brings together six of them to offer advice to a seventh, their young friend Juliet. If you want to know whether she takes it, there’s only one way to find out: in this “loving comic homage to the Bard.” Aspie Works, which is presenting “Shakespeare’s Ladies,” recently did an interesting take on Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew,” and this play is directed by its founder, Justin Rielly. (Sunday, September 17, 2 p.m.; and Monday, September 18, 7 p.m. MuCCC. $10. All ages.)
Wadaiko Japanese Drumming
Wadaiko are Japanese drums of all sizes, and Japanese drumming (or taiko) is among the more exciting, not to mention the loudest, world music traditions. It also has an enthusiastic following outside of Japan: there are more than 1,000 taiko groups in North America. This ancient form combines rhythm and dance in a way that is overwhelming and hard to resist. (Friday, September 15, 5 p.m. The Little: Theatre 1. Free. All ages.)
Castle Creek
Castle Creek’s powerhouse frontwoman Kim Monroe can effortlessly swim through blues, folk, and rock in every song — with a special blend of rich, intimate vocals and soulful guitar riffs. With an ever-evolving rotation of musicians, she has proved she can perform just as well as an acoustic duo as she can in a full, six-piece band. (Sunday, September 17, 5 p.m.
If you can it, we can it!
“The Queens Speak”
“13 the Musical”
Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist Jason Robert Brown is highly respected; while he’s never had a real Broadway hit, his musicals are always interesting. And a few have had vigorous afterlives: “Parade,” “The Last Five Years,” and this 2007 show, about a young Jewish teenager facing his Bar Mitzvah, a new school, and his parents’ divorce. Brown’s complicated but catchy songs should be well served by the young people, ages 9 to 14, of the newly formed Lyric Voices group. (Saturday, September 16, 11 a.m.; and Monday, September 18, 5:30 p.m. Lyric Theatre: Cabaret Hall. $8-$10. Appropriate for ages 5 and above.)
12 CITY NEWSPAPER 2017 FRINGE FESTIVAL PREVIEW
“Oprah Made Me Do It! / Moon Over Gomorrah”
Not all plays have to be major statements to be entertaining or worthwhile, as these two oneact sketches prove. One, by Bradley Hayward, lampoons the disciples of Oprah’s book club; the other, by the late Rochester playwright Byron Wilmot, is a neat little farce that pokes fun at parents who bend over backwards to approve of their son’s “lifestyle choices.”
PSST. Unlike Godot, we won't keep you waiting. Always fresh theater content.
(Thursday, September 21, 7 p.m.; and Saturday, September 23, 2 p.m. MuCCC. $10. Appropriate for ages 13 and older.) “The Polite Abductress”
Former Eastman School of Music Director Douglas Lowry, who was also an accomplished poet and composer, created the words and music to this offbeat, slightly risqué operetta shortly before his death in 2013. The titular heroine attempts to kidnap “a scion of the French finance world” — politely and with the help of his maid, as they form a ménage à trois. That does sound French. (Friday, September 22, 4:30 p.m. Lyric Theatre: Cabaret Hall. $5-$15. Appropriate for ages 18 and older.)
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