Previews Begin Today for 2012 Hollywood Fringe Festival

The Hollywood Fringe Festival (www.hollywoodfringe.org), described as the "biggest arts festival in the West", will present over 200 productions of theatre, dance, comedy, music, cabaret, film, workshops, and events at 54 performance spaces in central Hollywood throughout the month of June, beginning with Previews running June 7th through June 12th (the festival runs through June 24th).  There will be over 1,000 performances in total, including a number of free and pay-what-you-can shows. The central Fringe organization adds to the celebratory atmosphere by hosting an abundance of free programming, including parties, workshops, open mics, and more.

• Previews: Previews are open to the public and serve as a ramping-up period for the festival proper. Many preview performances are free or Pay-What-You-Can. See the full schedule at www.hollywoodfringe.org/daily. To cover the Fringe, go to www.hollywoodfringe.org/press.
• Student Fringe: The first leg of the Fringe's flagship arts education project will occur on Friday, June 8th at the Fringe Central Mainstage (at Open Fist Theatre, 6209 Santa Monica Blvd). The Fringe is providing free transportation and programming for nearly 200 students from local LA schools. The second half of this program will occur on Friday, June 15th at Actor's Circle Theatre (through a partnership with Coeurage Theatre Company). 
• Fringe Music: On Saturday nights during the Fringe, live bands will play at Fringe Central Station (6314 Santa Monica Blvd) as a part of this first-year program. The Fringe is launching the program in an attempt to diversify the artistic scope of the festival. See more info atwww.hollywoodfringe.org/music.
• Fringe Standup: On Thursday nights throughout the fest, one hundred standup comics will provide free programming at Fringe Central Station. The program will be hosted by the organizer of the event, Brock Wilbur. See more info at www.hollywoodfringe.org/standup.
• Fringe Central Station: The new version of last year's Fringe Tent, this year's Fringe social hub will feature two stages: The Cabaret Stage and The Up Stage.  The stages will feature free programming from 2 PM to 2 AM daily starting June 7th. Fringe Central Station will also host Bryan's Bar, Fringe's legendary libation station. The venue is located at 6314 Santa Monica Blvd. See more info at www.hollywoodfringe.org/station.
• FringeTV: The Fringe will be presenting episodic coverage of the festival at www.hollywoodfringe.org/fringetv. The first episode comes out today, June 7th. 
• Buttons: The Fringe Button program is returning! For $5, patrons can purchase a button that will earn them discounts throughout the "Fringe-iverse", including a $1 community discount on tickets to all shows participating in the Fringe, drink discounts, discounts at local businesses participating in Fringe's Hotspot Program, and discounts on parking at the Fringe Lot (www.hollywoodfringe.org/parking). 

There is still time to donate the Fringe's Kickstarter campaign. The Fringe is attempting to raise $20,000 in order to support 2012 programming.