FringeArts debuts 2015 season featuring theater, dance performances
FringeArts (140 N. Columbus Blvd.) continues its lineup of contemporary and experimental theater and performance with its winter/spring 2015 programming, including main stage, late-night, music, studio, in-progress performances and even food happenings. Read on for a full rundown of what’s going on in the waterfront arts space.
FringeArts (140 N. Columbus Blvd.) continues its lineup of contemporary and experimental theater and performance with its winter/spring 2015 programming, including main stage, late-night, music, studio, in-progress performances and even food happenings. Read on for a full rundown of what's going on in the waterfront arts space.
Entertainment gets underway for two performances of "Fest," a mature-audiences-only work by performance artist Ivo Dimchev. As the show opens with a fictional arts festival in Copenhagen, Dimchev's character begins a discussion that transitions into a lusty and powerful exchange. Outside of a showing in New York City, Tuesday, Jan. 13 and Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. are your only opportunities to see "Fest" in the United States.
The first in La Peg's late-night free performances is classic rock cover band with a twist: Arty & the Hot Katz take the stage with electric violin-powered hits at 11 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 23.
FringeArts' Studio Series, bringing groundbreaking works for small audiences, kicks off with "Everything One in the Disc of the Sun." An LED pyramid covers a trio of Osirian priests singing self-help tunes at an Egyptian karaoke bar set at the end of time. Royal Osiris Karaoke Ensemble brings the mind-blowing experience for two 8 p.m. shows on Friday, Jan. 30 and Saturday, Jan. 31.
The longstanding monthly showcase of works-in-progress from local performers continues on Monday, Feb. 2. Free Scratch Night highlights anywhere from four to six companies and artists on the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. and returns for the spring on Monday, Mar. 2, Monday, April 6, Monday, May 4 and Monday, Jun. 1.
FringeArts does First Friday on Friday, Feb. 6 with a night of music, dance and visuals curated by King Britt and Kate Watson-Wallace. Featuring vocalist Xena Rubinos, harpist Low Leaf, electronic vocalist Ryat, cellist Monica McIntyre, dancer Jasmine Hearn, and stop-motion visual artist Linda Aubry Bullock, the celebration of the Divine Feminine begins at 8 p.m. (Mark your calendars for upcoming FringeArts First Fridays: Friday, March 6 and Friday, May 1.)
February's Studio Series comes from dance and performance art duo Chelsea and Magda. Over the course of an evening, they comically traverse through the vulgarity of their early works through theater, dance and discussion at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19, Friday, Feb. 20 and 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21.
The sport of boxing adds a creative layer with choreographed dance moves, taking the act of throwing and dodging punches to an art form. "Rocco" transforms the stage into a boxing ring with seating surrounding for two performances: Friday, Feb. 27 and Saturday, Feb. 28, both at 8 p.m. A dinner pairing at La Peg is also available for a unique date-night experience.
A Philadelphia Orchestra quartet comes to play at noon at La Peg for brunch on Saturday, March 14. With a backdrop of the sounds of Claude Debussy, diners will enjoy an exclusive one-time-only menu.
No Face Performance Group's Jaime Maseda and Mark McCloughan don nun garb on Wednesday, March 18 and take on the roles of Sisters Sibyl and Sistine for a song-fueled 8 p.m. show about deviant medieval nuns, devotion and desire for another Studio Series installment.
At the intersection of video installation, rock concert and experimental music comes composer Daniel Wohl's "Corps Exquis," a project that fuses live electronic and acoustic compositions from Wohl and band Transit set to visuals from New York-based artists. See it at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 27.
Hailing from Seattle, choreographer Zoe Scofield and visual artist Juniper Shuey present dance works set to sound, video and stage theatrics at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11 for "BeginAgain."
Five dancers take to the stage for a for a presentation of experimental opera "Dust," staged by
Hitting on topics like biology, comedy and the power of making decisions, Austin, Texas theater collective Rude Mechanicals comedically present "Now Now Oh Now." Showtimes include 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, Thursday, April 23 and Friday, April 24 and at 2 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 25.
A telenovela comes to the FringeArts stage in May for "The Incredibly Dangerous Astonishing Lucrative and Potentially Completely True Adventures of Barry Seal," in which performer Thadeus Phillips, who for two years played American drug smuggler Barry Seal in the Spanish telenovela "Alias El Mexicano," reprises the character on Thursday, May 14, Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16. (Times aren't listed for this show either, so stay tuned.)
Pig Iron Theatre Company knows how to have a good time in this glam, drag, sci-fi theatrical work, "I Promised Myself to Live Faster," featuring a quest in which the main character is ordered by intergalactic nuns to retrieve the Holy Gay Flame from the villainous emperor. The fabulous experience previews at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 22, opens at 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 23 and runs at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 24, 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 26 through Thursday, May 28, 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Friday, May 29, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 30 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 31.
Like a daydream for dance, "Mash Up Body" by Kate Watson-Wallace brings elements of runway and club into performances, taking place Thursday, June 4 through Saturday, June 6.