New Orleans Fringe Festival:
Fringe festivals originated in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1947 when artists, gathering for an international cultural festival, perfomed on the "fringes" of the city when they could not secure other venues. This became an annual and international phenomenon. Artistic events emulating these festivals are held in New York and Minneapolis. For the first time this year, the New Orleans Fringe Festival will take place from November 13-16. All of the acts can best be described as unusual.
What:
Forty groups will perform in 100 shows in venues across town. The shows include drama, dance, cabaret, magic, storytelling, comedy, puppetry, clowning, circus, improvisational, aerialist--whew!--and more creative works. Plus, if you haven't registered, you too can perform, perhaps on the open stages at the Festival Tent, on Thursday and Friday from 5pm-10pm, Saturday and Sunday 12pm-10pm, or at L’Art Noir on Saturday from 2pm-11 pm.
Where:
Marigny, Bywater and French Quarter are the main venues, but Loyola and Tulane Universities and Le Chat Noir in the CBD will also host some performances. The NOLA Candle Factory in the Bywater, the Voodoo Mystere Lounge in the French Quarter, and the Skull Club in the Marigny, are just three sites where you can catch these off-beat acts.
A Few of the Acts:
Baby Boom is a comedy/drama about a couple who raise a dolled-up machine gun (yeah, that's right) as their baby. The Lunatic King is circus theater, while at the Marigny Theater, Jennifer Pagan gives a solo performance at the "Shoebox Lounge." The National Comedy Company will improvise a musical, that will include dialogue and costumes made on the spot. John O'Neal performs as "Junebug Jabbo Jones," a one-man show with a lot of characters. Two Easy Pieces are two one-act plays involving dark mysteries, and will play at the Skull Club.
Other Happenings:
The Fringe Parade is November 15th at 10 am. It rolls from Poland Avenue to Elysian Fields along St. Claude Avenue and features a lot of wild and crazy performers and musicians. There will also be the New Orleans Bookfair in the 500 and 600 block of Frnechmen, a Chalk It Up contest for sidewalk chalk art, a Children's Stage, and the Fringe Festival Tent with live music.
More Info:
Tickets are $7.00 per event, plus $3.00 for a festival button. More detailed information is available at the
Fringe website.
