In the 2009 Phoenix Fringe Festival performance of “The Virgin Barb-E,” created and performed by EmaLee Arroyo, the artist played a life-size Virgin of Guadalupe-version of a Barbie doll, coming to life and performing miracles for the audience.
Phoenix Fringe Festival, Downtown Venues TBA, April 2 and 3 and April 8–11, 2010 Trying to get a new work produced can put you on the alley side of the stage door—the theatrical fringe. After all, theaters are in business to sell tickets, and established works and celebrated creators fill seats. But the Phoenix Fringe Festival, in its third year, is changing that with innovative theater by local, national and international artists in nontraditional downtown spaces—and at truly inviting prices. “Fringe festivals have a very open philosophy about accepting work from any artist that wants to participate,” says Patrick Demers, who produces PHX:fringe with Jonathan Beller. “We believe this encourages some of the most interesting and provocative work possible. On the other hand, we work to also attract some seasoned performers to work side by side with emerging artists.” A fringe festival presents 30- to 90-minute alternative performance pieces during a set period (usually 10 to 20 days) in a number of venues, Demers explains. Fringe artists challenge traditional theatrical forms and conventions and often incorporate music, dance, performance art and digital media into their works. The tradition began in
1947 with the Edinburgh International Festival Fringe, when renegade companies showed up to the Edinburgh International Festival without an invitation or a place to perform—and set up anywhere they could find a space. Following that success, fringe festivals have thrived in New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Indianapolis and other cities. Demers and Beller created PHX:fringe while they were in their last year of the master’s of fine arts in directing program at ASU’s School of Theatre and Film. They received a seed grant to produce a weekend pilot project of 25 performances in May 2008. Last year, they expanded the event to two weekends, seven venues, 130 performances and 30 artists from around the Valley and the world. This year, the festival hopes to include new and returning local artists, such as playwright Kevin Frei, the 5 Out of 4 Ensemble, and Dulce Dance Company. “Our goal is to encourage artists from Phoenix and around the world to provide the best-quality, cutting-edge performances available,” Demers says. “We invite audiences and artists alike to watch our Web site as further details about PHX:fringe 2010 are determined.”
PHX: fringe showcases the work of artists from around the country, such as “Paint the Town” (above), performed by Milwaukee’s Insurgent Theatre, and “Fruit Machine” (left), by Phoenix’s own Hilary Harp, with Suzie Silver.
Phoenix Fringe Festival, 602-476-1066; phxfringe.org
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