The 2008 Minnesota Fringe Festival “www.fringefestival.org” begins this Thursday, July 31st. Let me recap: I am a member of the Board of the Minnesota Fringe Festival. I am also an overtly political, usually sexually explicit performance artist who has not missed performing in a fringe since 2008. This is not a testament to my skill as a performer; rather is is merely a testament to good luck. Entrance into the Minnesota Fringe, like most Fringe Festivals worldwide is by the luck of the draw and not because some snotty Executive Director or Producer or some other big deal person decides to let you in. The Fringe is all about being the best unjuried, uncensored performing arts and not about elitism and cliquishness. All this openness, transparency and luck of the drawishness is what I love about the Minnesota Fringe. Although I love it just a touch less when I find myself on the outside looking in, which, until two days ago, was precisely where I found myself. My number was not drawn (I was WAY DOWN) on the wait list. No one asked me to join their show (which has happened in the past). I even offered directorial and other advice free of charge to any Fringe newbies who needed a helping hand. No takers. Oh boo hoo I told myself. Just get over it. Enjoy being a mere spectator and blogger for once. Really feel the Fringe. Blah blah. I was going to keep a stiff upper lip and all that but was feeling a touch blue. I did manage to Bogart myself into my friend and often performance buddy Loren Niemi’s Indianapolis show, and will be on stage with him there later in August. For more info on this show and this Fringe: www.indyfringe.org, and “our” show specifically: www.indyfringe.org/aloneandtestifying.php”; But no Minnesota Fringe. Until last Friday, when the Fringe sent out an email to all wait listed artists letting us know that 2 shows had dropped out last minute and anyone who could be ready to go in an instant (artwork, description, minuscule tech, etc) could have a slot. I saw the email the second it arrived (I am a CrackBerry addict), hesitated 1 second, called Loren, and voila, we are now in the Minneapolis Fringe Festival. Oh Joy! Oh Rapture! Oh Panic! One week until we open. Fuck it. We’re in! I’m in! I can wipe the mope from my brow and join the party where I enjoy it most: onstage. The name of the show is ALONE AND TESTIFYING (funny, that’s the same title of our show in the Indy Fringe), and we will be at the INTERACT CENTER FOR THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS, 212 3rd Ave N # 140, Minneapolis, MN 55401, (612) 339-5145. Our schedule is:
Sat., Aug. 2 @ 10:00 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 3 @ 5:30 p.m.
Mon., Aug. 4 @ 8:30 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 8 @ 8:30 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 9 @ 2:30 p.m.
For more info: http://www.fringefestival.org/2008/show/?id=966
Have a rehearsal now. More later.
