Tickets On Sale Now for Philly's Neighborhood Fringe, 9/5-22

All tickets are now on sale for the 17th annual Fringe Festival (formerly known as the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe), presented by FringeArts from September 5 to 22. In addition to the festival's annual selection of Presented Fringe performances by internationally renowned contemporary artists and stars of Philadelphia's stages, this year's 130-plus independently produced Neighborhood Fringe artists will take the city by storm for a record-setting 18 days this fall, presenting more than 700 performances of cutting-edge dance, theater, comedy, visual art and more in every neighborhood, from Fishtown to Fairmount, West Philly to Old City.

"FringeArts has a long-standing tradition of providing an unjuried platform for artists to develop their visions in total freedom from curatorial barriers," says Nick Stuccio, president and producing director. "This year's neighborhood-centered festival showcases the fact that these risk-taking self-producers are animating the diverse spaces of Philadelphia with their art and enriching the city's communities."

Highlights of this year's Fringe lineup include festival favorites Nichole Canuso Dance Company, EgoPo Classic Theater, Philly Improv Theater, Tribe of Fools, Leah Stein Dance Company and many more, plus new work by up-and-coming performance and visual artists from Philadelphia and beyond. (More details and a full list of 2013 Neighborhood Fringe Festival shows by discipline follow below. Visit FringeArts.com for up-to-date Festival announcements.)

Since 1997, the Fringe Festival has offered an opportunity for artists of all disciplines to present their work under the auspices of a structured festival, providing administrative support throughout the production development process while eliminating curatorial barriers to creativity. Participating artists are encouraged to partner with local businesses, promoting the cultural economy of the city and enriching the audience experience during the two weeks of performances.

In addition to the Neighborhood Fringe productions, FringeArts' annual festival has evolved to also include a selection of international, national and locally based contemporary artists, invited to perform as part of the Presented Fringe, an award-winning, critically acclaimed selection of new work. Together, the Neighborhood Fringe and Presented Fringe create an internationally recognized destination for the arts.

All Fringe Festival tickets are now available for purchase online at FringeArts.com through TicketLeap, or beginning Aug. 29 for phone and walk-up sales at the Festival Box Office at (215) 413-1318. Festival show prices vary and are listed with each show description on the Festival website and in the Festival guide. The 2013 Festival Box Office is located at 120 N. Third St. (between Arch and Race streets), and will be open daily, Aug. 29-Sept. 22, noon to 8 p.m.

THEATER:

Comprising half of the 2013 Neighborhood Fringe offerings, this year's 70-some theater performances run the gamut from parody to puppetry: Local favorites Tribe of Fools present ANTIHERO, a satire about vigilante violence against the Philadelphia Parking Authority; meanwhile Aaron Cromie and Mary Tuomanen's SAINT JOAN, BETRAYED uses masks and puppets to tell the story of the martyr as her own army deceived her.

Many more up-and-coming and established theater artists and companies presenting festival shows include EgoPo Classic Theater, Azuka Theatre, The Berserker Residents, Groundswell Players and Found Theatre Co., among others.

DANCE:
Continuing her company's longstanding tradition of site-specific work, Leah Stein presents ADJACENT SPACES at South Philadelphia's Shiloh Baptist Church, where architectural elements of the historic building inform a piece about physicality and metaphor. Festival favorite Nichole Canuso Dance Company presents THE GARDEN, an immersive new work guided by individualized sound scores and meant to be experienced alone.

Additional dance artists include Gunnar Montana, Busts & Trunks Burlesque, Project Moshen Dance Company, Dancefusion, Birds on a Wire Dance Theatre and more.

IMPROV / COMEDY:

Local comedy troupe Philly Improv Theater dominates the Festival's Improv/Comedy offerings this year with 10 original shows, including a collaboration with Cambridge Footlights, which brings its Edinburgh Fringe show Canada to the City of Brotherly Love. Visible Friends Network, Hevanti Productions, The Waitstaff, Polygon Comedy and others make appearances.

OTHER:

Neighborhood Fringe performances break boundaries beyond traditional festival genres, from visual art and film to live music and spoken word. The Gender Reel Film & Performance Art Festival is dedicated to enhancing the visibility of gender nonconforming and transgender people, images and experiences; REV Theatre Company's SIX FEET (ABOVE AND) UNDER: A GRAVEYARD CABARET offers free cocktails as darkness falls and lost souls appear through the mists of Laurel Hill Cemetery; and Poor Richard's Opera presents THE SOAPRANOS, a soap opera-meets-live opera experience sung in English with a few commercial breaks.

Additional participating artists in these categories include the Xtreme Folk Scene, spoken-word artist Joey Novick, visual artist Didier Garcia and many more.

PROGRAM INFO/TICKETS:

The 2013 Fringe Festival runs September 5-22, 2013. Tickets for most shows are priced between $10 and $30; some shows are free. Students and Festival-goers age 25 or younger pay $20 for Presented Fringe tickets and receive $5 off Neighborhood Fringe tickets priced above $15. Discounted tickets are available to Members. Members save 30% or more on all shows (including year-round programming), can exchange tickets, receive admission to exclusive artist receptions and other special events, and enjoy priority seating at select performances. Groups of 10+ save 25%. Festival tickets are available for purchase at FringeArts.com or at the Box Office beginning in September at 215-413-1318.

PNC Arts Alive is the 2013 Presenting Sponsor of the 17th annual Fringe Festival.

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