photo by Robert Crowe
STL Fringe Fest has been a primary outlet for independent and alternative stage productions since 2011. Following a national model, the Fringe Fest owes its name and spirit of programming to an event established in Scotland in 1947, to provide a platform for a variety of acts outside the established norm of the time. Today, there are almost 40, annual Fringe Festivals in the United States, and this year’s event in St. Louis (which PFSTL was lucky to cover) represents its largest ever.
photo by Annie Chartrand
photo by Jason Gray
photo by Bailey Elizabeth Rogers
photo by Jennifer Sarti
Rather than try and put this in our own words, below is a definition from the US Association of Fringe Festivals.
What is Fringe?
Very generally speaking, Fringes are…
- Focused on the performing arts: At its core, Fringe gives a spotlight to theater, dance, puppetry, music, visual arts, and spoken word. Fringes don’t have a focus on one single discipline or genre, but are a performing-arts smorgasbord.
- Uncensored: From family friendly to bawdy and burlesque, Fringes do not curate or constrain the material or content used in participating show.
- Easy to participate in: Ticket prices are purposely low for audiences and production fees are low for artists. We strive to make the arts available to everyone. Show selection varies from festival to festival, but is generally quite open to participation by the gamut of amateurs to professionals.
- Festivals: Fringes around the world vary. They last from just a few days to a few weeks and involve lots of people at multiple venues.
- Original: Fringes feature a wide array of original material—sometimes by design, but usually because that’s what Fringes do naturally well.
- Rapid-fire: Typically, tech is minimal and time is a factor at our festivals. Shows are often kept brief (Fringes most frequently have shows right around 60 minutes in length) and technical requirements kept simple (minor sets, streamlined cues, nothing elaborate).
photo by Maureen Minich
photo by Dennis Daugherty
photo by Jason Gray
This year’s STL Fringe was a six-day event that required 11 PFSTL photographers working jointly to cover the nearly 30 performances (one of our most ambitious partnerships so far!). Shows were scheduled in three separate venues (.ZACK, High Low and The Marcelle) situated in the city’s Grand Center Arts District. Each performance ranged from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours, with most being 60 minutes in length. In line with the Fringe ethos, all of the performances felt inclusive and intimate, with the line between the stage and the crowd often blurring. The performers included several nationally touring acts, though emphasis is always given to local talent, and featured both established professionals and amateurs alike. Though most of the acts eschew squeaky clean production values, the performances were thoughtful, taut, poignant and perhaps most of all, entertaining.
photo by Jason Gray
photo by Robert Crowe
photo by Jane DiCampo
photo by Annie Chartrand
Locally, the Fringe is piloted by a broadly talented and dedicated team, with several accomplished performers at the helm, including Founder Matthew Kerns. Kerns’ resume includes stints with reputable theaters in New York, Chicago and elsewhere. Matt is also an award-winning educator. It goes without saying that the success of Fringe over the years is the direct result of its talented and capable team.
photo by Joe Harrison
photo by Bailey Elizabeth Rogers
photo by Jason Gray
photo by Jennifer Sarti
If you’ve never been to a STL Fringe Fest before, don’t miss out! You won’t be disappointed.
photo by Annie Chartrand
photo by Mariah Lee
photo by Jason Gray
photo by Bailey Elizabeth Rogers
