ONE MONTH COUNTDOWN.

Precisely one month from now, we will be in the midst of the inaugural festival!

IT IS ALMOST UPON US.

In the meantime, we are working hard to collect the money we need for our Kickstarter campaign (7 days to collect $2k...spread the word??  Spread the generosity??  We need the help!)

We are pulling together last minute details and working hard to spread the word.

Pre-sale buttons are available at St Louis Curio Shoppe and STL STyLe, and we may be adding a few additional sites.

Pre-sale tickets will be available on our website (stlfringe.com) soon, and the descriptions of our shows are up and runnin'.

Trekkin' ever onward!

Wow!  If there were any doubt that I am terrible at blogging, those doubts should be assuaged!  

I hope our hoards of readers understand that an absence of posts in not an absence of activity...but quite the opposite.

Of late, we have been...interviewing with various media, getting photographed, coordinating with performers/venues/businesses, launching and perfecting new and improved websites, making pitches, raising moneys, learning about rickshaws, and of course talking up some Fringe wherever we can to whoever will listen.  Plus, rocking gigs like Cinco de Mayo, Midwest Mayhem and the Grand Center Art Walk.

And, preparing for the FRINGE TEASE!  Yes, the fated day is almost upon us.  This coming Tuesday, May 15, at Fubar (3108 Locust) - show starts at 7 (doors at 6:30) and lasts about an hour.

A sneak taste of the shows to come, plus info on Fringe.  We invite you.

WHOA! So much to do, so little time...

Oy vay!  There has been more Fringing blustering along then we have time to track.

In this brief moment between some coordinating and a funeral, it seemed an appropriate time to slip in one of our most important efforts of this planning period...

Our Kickstarter Campaign.

Help us make Fringe.  Our deadline is May 31.  Our fundraising goal is $5k.  

I BELIEVE IN US.

If we don't make $5k by May 31 - even if we almost make $5k...it don't matter.  We don't get none.  And it is that much harder to Make Fringe.

We've been reserved in asking for donations to date, because we aren't here to exploit our patrons and community...but here we go in one fell lump.

Help Make Fringe.  At least check out the delightful video in the Kickstarter Website, eh?

"There is not simply those who perform and those who clap at the end of performances...

Fringe is an experience."

For more of this fine writing, see ARTbracket's recent feature  on Fringe and economic impact.

readysetGO! For some Schlafly.

We are hot off the heels of the IDES OF FRINGE (many thanks to The Fountain on Locust and all our wonderful artists, patrons, Beatle Bob and intrigued strangers for making it a well-enjoyed evening). 

And, we're kicking it into gear for the next thing.

If you were rained out, bed-ridden with illness, or just plain forgot - never fear.  We still love you.  Love you enough to throw another party for you.

Yep - the FRINGE FOLLY approaches April 1st, 6-8pm at the Schlafly Tap Room.  But that's not all...

Schlafly has given us an offer we can’t refuse.  Fringe Friends are challenged to “Operation: Fringe Recruits.”  

The rules are simple:

1. Determine a team name.  Example: Team Hairy Banana Monster. 
2. Recruit people to join Team Hairy Banana Monster. 
3. When Hairy Banana Monsters arrive at FRINGE FOLLY, sign in at the door under team name. 

The team that gets the most attendees wins a special prize from Schlafly, one of our sponsors. 

ReadysetGO!

a Fringelet from the 2012 season introduces her work at IDES OF FRINGE.

Presenting...

PROUDLY ANNOUNCING THE 2012 BREAKTHROUGH SEASON

[OMEGA]

A-Trek

Ashleyliane Dance Company

Coty & Glen

Easelmuse

The Goddessey Project

Howie Hirshfield

lilflo Productions

Lux Ascension

Midnight Company

Project: Wonder Meant

RS Theatrics

Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble

St Louis Taiko Drummers

STL Improv Anywhere

Tesseract Theatre

Tesseract’s Incredible Mischief Emporium

Undercover Undergrad

Washington Avenue Players Project (WAPP)

West End Players Guild

Plus…

(re)discover theatre (Chicago)

BlackPoet Ventures (Phoenix)

Br. John (Kansas City)

Cecily and Gwendolyn’s Fantastical… (Philadelphia)

Clownvis Presley (Hollywood)

Core Project Chicago (Chicago)

Daniel Shar (Chicago)

Eric Warner (Chicago)

Lucky DeLuxe (Hollywood)

Victoria & Erin Roberts (Seattle)

Beware the IDES OF FRINGE...and the FRINGE d' FRINGE.

So...not only are we pumped for tomorrow's IDES OF FRINGE party at the Fountain on Locust (featuring great food/drinks, especially the PLUM CRAZY ABOUT FRINGE cocktail; networking; updates from Fringe staff; sneak peeks at schwag; personal introductions from all thirty Fringe 2012 productions; and an open stage/mic)...

But we made headlines in the Beacon again.

Right on.

Brrrrr....

Two weeks ago, Billy and Em got chilly at FRIGID NYC, the Big Apple's winter-time Fringe Fest.


Not only did we get to enjoy no less than seven unique Fringe shows (including two new rock musicals, four one-actor shows, and a family of clowns)...


We volunteered, commuted like crazy, did NOT get lost as wayward midwesterners...


And, spent good quality time with the performers, Executive Director, and former Associate Director of Seattle Fringe.  In a communist bar.


What more can you ask for?

HAY SIS!

So, the Spirit of Fringe is strong...not just in the Middle Western United States; not just in the United States in general. 

Fringe Fever.  World Wide.

Including...our fair friend city, Rome, Italy.

Rome is in the works of premiering their own Fringe Festival, and in an act of great support (as Fringe is so good) we have established a relationship as Sister Festivals.

Check them out.

Deck the Fringe

Officially moving into our new digs at 3141 LOCUST, right where we wanna be - on the cusp of both Grand Center and the Locust Business District. 

Yep, our space is pretty much perfect.  A cavernous hall, evocative of dwarfish mines, with ample space for work, box office, and eventually workshops/productions.  Plus great roommates.  All it needs is a little love.

FRINGE is seeking items to warm up our new cave.  These can be on loan or bequeathed upon us.  We could really use:

• RUGS/CURTAINS.  Our cave is quite echoey.
• Office equipment (filing cabinets, desks, etc)
• Chairs (from standard folding to airchairs - all are welcome)
• Lamps (cave is dark)

Please drop us a line at buzz@stlfringe.com if you have something we can take off your hands.  We're happy to pick stuff up - or, come drop it off and visit us, too.

SAVE. THE. DATES.

Save the date for upcoming Fringetastic events.

Pick the one that suits you best to get your Fringe Fix, or come to all of them in a whirlwind of FringeFrenzy.

Partner Cocktail and Networking

Sunday, February 26

5pm-7pm

Hotel Ignacio

Live entertainment, charming friends, and all your Fringe questions answered. This is the event to learn about partnering opportunities with Fringe, how the festival will benefit the neighborhood and local businesses, and ways to support innovative art in St. Louis. Meet the executive team putting the festival together.

MEET THE FRINGE
Monday, February 27

5pm-7pm

PLUSH

This event is the first Artist party, brought to you specially by St. Lou Fringe.  Featuring an open stage for anyone and everyone: juggle some apples, whistle dixie, play a jazz standard, or dance a jig, its ANYTHING GOES!  Don't be upstaged, though, because there will be opportunities throughout the evening for community members, participating artists, and interested volunteers to meet one another and the event staff of St. Lou Fringe. This is an ideal opportunity to meet other artists, and brainstorm ways to collaborate in your Fringe projects. Artists are encouraged to request a time slot in advance between 5pm-7pm by emailing buzz@stloufringe.com.

CARPE FRINGEDAY Volunteer Party

Wednesday, February 29

5pm-7pm

Location TBD

Who ever said volunteering was boring? Fringe certainly doesn't think so. At this meeting, learn how you can be directly involved in the grassroots contagion that is FRINGE. We'll provide treats, entertainment, and (no doubt) great company. Special treat from Em if you bring a non-Fringey friend and make a convert of them!

THE IDES OF FRINGE

Thursday, March 15

8pm-11pm

The Fountain on Locust

This is the last day for artists to submit applications...and we're taking the opportunity to do what Fringe does best – have a party. The event will feature the very first public announcement of the official Fringe BREAKTHROUGH SEASON Line-Up. Meet the Fringelings, mingle with artists, and get a taste of what all this Fringe stuff is going to be about (as well as a taste of some delicious food and drinks, prepared as only The Fountain on Locust can).

WHOA NELLY! KEEP THE APPLICATIONS FLYIN.

You all are so great.

Within five minutes of opening our applications to the artists-at-large, we had exceeded twenty applications.  As of this blogging, we have seven remaining slots for National acts.


Apps are being processed as they come in.  In light of the pleasantly unexpected influx of applications, we are working hard to develop as accessible and inclusive a plan for all our artists.  Info about this will be posted ASAP, you can bet on it.

Applications can be found here.

Keep it up, y'all.  We appreciate ya.

New Year, New Lou

Less.  Than.  Two.  Weeks.  Til.

SUBMIT TO FRINGE.

Yes, friends.  Celebrate our fringeful city at SUBMIT TO FRINGE.  We'll have live performances, info about the fest, and most importantly: at Midnight, we'll be accepting our first applications.

SUBMIT TO FRINGE
Jan 14
9pm-1am
at the St Lou institution in its brand new home: DOOLEY's (we'll be in the basement)

Rumor mill has it there'll be some jubilee humdingers, some randy dandies, and gracious knows who else...