THE 2018 FRINGE IS OVER!
BUT YOU CAN STILL CHECK OUT EVERYTHING YOU MISSED IF YOU WANT, I GUESS.
THE 2019 LINEUP WILL BE REVEALED ON APRIL 23, 2019!
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Primary Lineup
35 productions by artists and performance groups from near and far create this core component of Cincy Fringe programming, accounting for over 200 of this year’s record 250+ performances. Curated by over 40 of Cincinnati’s most passionate theatre professionals, journalists, and educators — along with some historical Fringe folk — the Primary Lineup features a gobsmacking variety of genres, styles, subject matters, and skill sets, ensuring that anyone and everyone can find their perfect cup of tea.These are also the productions that vie for one of our 6 Pick of the Fringe Awards, which grant recipients an additional Encore performance on the final day of Fringe!
(Shows listed in alphabetical order.)
All We Have Borne
from Victoria Hawley out of Cincinnati, OH
We’re livin’ and dyin’ here. Get used to it
Primary Lineup – Play
Tags: Drama, Women’s Themes, Abuse
Rated: R
The Amphibian
from The Burying Beetles out of Cincinnati, OH
Man with a gun wants to be loved. Get talking.
Primary Lineup – Play
Tags: Comedy, Political Themes, Satire
Rated: R
Annalise
from Take Two out of Cincinnati, OH
Two teens learn to deal with their mental disorders. Together.
Primary Lineup – Play
Tags: Drama, Mental Health Themes, Storytelling
Rated: PG-13
Aphrodite’s Refugees
from MonTra Performance out of Boulder, CO
A teenage refugee’s survival story brought to life, with paint.
Primary Lineup – Interdisciplinary
Tags: Dramedy, Storytelling, Visual Art
Rated: PG-13
Bad Poetry Night
from A to Z Productions out of Cincinnati, OH
Kids in the Hall take on an amatuer open mic.
Primary Lineup – Play
Tags: Comedy, Satire
Rated: PG-13
Billy: the Haunting of William Howard Taft
from Autumn Kaleidoscope out of Cincinnati, OH
President Taft is about to have a rough night!
Primary Lineup – Play
Tags: Dramedy, Historical, Regional Interest
Rated: PG-13
The Blackface Project
from Norman-Reaves Productions out of Cincinnati, OH
In 24 hours, the Great White Way will go black.
Primary Lineup – Play
Tags: African-American Themes, Drama, Multi-Cultural Themes
Rated: R
bloom
from allendance out of Philadelphia, PA
bloom drenches the ground and air with raw contact.
Primary Lineup – Dance/Physical Theatre
Tags: Dance, Drama, Physical Theatre
Rated: Family Friendly (All Ages)
The Bureau
from Sh*t Talkers Anonymous out of Chicago, IL
It’s been a rough day for the New World Order.
Primary Lineup – Musical
Tags: Comedy, Musical, Women’s Themes
Rated: PG-13
Curie Me Away!
from Matheatre out of Minneapolis, MN
The radical life story of Madame Marie Curie.
Primary Lineup – Musical
Tags: Dramedy, Women’s Themes, Science
Rated: Family Friendly (All ages)
Damage
from Pedamentum Dance Theatre out of Cincinnati, OH
Five true stories told through dance, poetry, and a lamp.
Primary Lineup – Dance/Physical Theatre
Tags: Dance, Mental Health Themes, Storytelling
Rated: PG-13
Delivery
from The Functional Shoes out of New York, NY
Three women fail to get the message across.
Primary Lineup – Play
Tags: Comedy, Music, Women’s Themes
Rated: PG-13
Doppelbanger
from Nick Jonczak out of Philadelphia, PA
an autobiographical gay tarot cabaret.
Primary Lineup – Solo Performance, Dance/Physical Theatre
Tags: LGBTQ Themes, Storytelling, Spirituality
Rated: R
Eddie Poe
from The Coldharts out of Brooklyn, NY
A manic riff about the adolescence of Edgar Allan Poe.
Primary Lineup – Play
Tags: Comedy, Horror, Music
Rated: PG-13
ExTrashVaganza!
from Theatre Mobile out of Cincinnati, OH
A strange-sational puppet musical comedy delight.
Primary Lineup – Interdisciplinary
Tags: Comedy, Music, Puppetry
Rated: PG-13
Fadeaway Girl
from Rachel Petrie out of St. Paul, MN
An autobiographical story of one woman’s experience with mental illness
Primary Lineup – Solo Performance
Tags: Dramedy, Mental Health Themes, Storytelling
Rated: PG-13
Forealism Tribe Origins
from Forealism Tribe out of Cincinnati, OH
Inter-Dimensional Being’s Earth & Spacetime Journey
Primary Lineup – Interdisciplinary
Tags: Dance, Music, Projection Mapping
Rated: PG-13
The Gospel of Barabbas
from Hugo West Theatricals out of Cincinnati, OH
Mysterious bible baddie gets high with satanically possessed pig.
Primary Lineup – Play
Tags: Comedy, Satire
Rated: R
The Last Drag
from Jen Spillane out of Kansas City, KS
a rap cabaret in one act.
Primary Lineup – Solo Performance
Tags: Music, Storytelling, Women’s Themes
Rated: R
Lost Generation
from Society’s Tongue Productions out of Cincinnati, OH
An exploration of the stereotypes and realities of millennial life.
Primary Lineup – Musical
Tags: Political Themes, Spoken Word, Millennials
Rated: R
The Mountains Did Quake, The Hillsides Did Tremble
from Animal Engine out of New York, NY
The ancient epic “Gilgamesh” told in an authoritarian society.
Primary Lineup – Play
Tags: Physical Theatre, Political Themes, Literary Adaptation
Rated: PG-13
Musical Chairs
from Gideon Productions out of Long Island City
The struggles of a 3-person marriage in a collapsing nation.
Primary Lineup – Play
Tags: Drama, LGBTQ Themes, Political Themes
Rated: PG-13
The New Adventures of Calliope Jones and Captain Cool
from Lucky Duck Productions out of Cincinnati, OH
Superhero roommate, super-villain boss, super conflicted Calliope Jones.
Primary Lineup – Family Friendly
Tags: Comedy, Puppetry, Action
Rated: Family Friendly (All ages)
of Monster Descent
from Queen City Flash out of Cincinnati, OH
A supernatural solo show about inherited traits, claws and all.
Primary Lineup – Solo Performance
Tags: Mental Health Themes, Storytelling, Suspense
Rated: PG-13
One More Bad Thing
from Homegrown Theater out of Cincinnati, OH
Two sisters plan to start over and be good. Eventually.
Primary Lineup – Play
Tags: Dramedy, Music
Rated: R
Please Shuffle the Cards
from Erik Tait out of Columbus, OH
Sleight of hand artist explores the border between skill and magic.
Primary Lineup – Solo Performance
Tags: Circus, Comedy, Magic
Rated: PG-13
Re-Grooving
from Yarroway Productions out of Cincinnati, OH
A dancer breaks through the film of her restrictive identity.
Primary Lineup – Dance/Physical Theatre
Tags: Dance, Music, Film
Rated: Family Friendly (All ages)
She Buried the Pistol
from Lydia Blaisdell out of Brooklyn, NY
An excavation and exorcism of my great grandmother’s legacy.
Primary Lineup – Solo Performance
Tags: Mental Health Themes, Storytelling, Women’s Themes
Rated: PG-13
Show Up
from Peter Michael Marino out of New York, NY
An improvised solo comedy based on your crazy life.
Primary Lineup – Solo Performance
Tags: Comedy, Improv, Mental Health Themes<
Rated: PG-13
Take Flight: An Adventure in Cirque
from Imaginez out of Chicago, IL
Aerial-silk/clown show about embarking on new journeys: life.
Primary Lineup – Dance/Physical Theatre
Tags: Circus, Comedy, Physical Theatre
Rated: Family Friendly (All ages)
There Ain’t No More!
from Breaker/Fixer Productions out of Fayetteville, AR
An award winning tour-de-folk operetta.
Primary Lineup – Solo Performance
Tags: Dramedy, Music
Rated: PG-13
Thrive IRL
from Nameless Numberhead out of Charleston, SC
A post-apocalyptic vaudeville show about YOU.
Primary Lineup – Interdisciplinary
Tags: Comedy, Music, Satire
Rated: PG-13
Vox Box
from Performance Gallery out of Cincinnati, OH
A sumptuous sound sensation; like Jabberwocky meeting a blender.
Primary Lineup – Interdisciplinary
Tags: Avant Voice, Vocal Gymnastics, Eargasm
Rated: PG-13
Walt Fit
from Jimmy Grzelak out of Philadelphia, PA
A live workout video for your abs and existential dread.
Primary Lineup – Solo Performance
Tags: Music, Political Themes, Fitness
Rated: R
The Whitest Baby in All of Africa
from Welage & Kerns Productions out of Cincinnati, OH
White couples, baby troubles, swaddles, squabbles and the improbable.
Primary Lineup – Play
Tags: Comedy, Multi-Cultural Themes, Satire
Rated: PG-13 -
Fringe Next
For the past 8 Festivals, Cincy Fringe has offered slots to local high school-aged artists to create, direct, design, perform in, produce, and otherwise entirely control their very own productions. Technically part of the Primary Lineup, we think these up-and-comers deserve special recognition; they are the voices of the future, after all!
(Shows listed in alphabetical order.)
Annalise
from Take Two out of Cincinnati, OH
Two teens learn to deal with their mental disorders. Together.
Primary Lineup – Play
Tags: Drama, Mental Health Themes, Storytelling
Rated: PG-13The Whitest Baby in All of Africa
from Welage & Kerns Productions out of Cincinnati, OH
White couples, baby troubles, swaddles, squabbles and the improbable.
Primary Lineup – Play
Tags: Comedy, Multi-Cultural Themes, Satire
Rated: PG-13 -
Fringe Development
From workshops of brand new productions to artist-led Master Classes, Fringe Development is all about using the
critical mass of creativity at the Festival to fuel the growth and evolution of shows and individuals.
(Shows listed in alphabetical order. Master Class schedule TBA on 5/16.)
H2O: A Play about Water
from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) Acting Department out of Cincinnati, OH
Water is life. And there can be no life without water.
Fringe Development – Play
Tags: Drama, Environmental Themes, Music
Rated: PG-13
The Origin of Kick Jab Girl
from Muwhahaha Productions out of Cincinnati, OH
Retired superhero breaks the mold on where heroes come from.
Fringe Development – Play
Tags: Mental Health Themes, Political Themes, Women’s Themes
Rated: R -
Visual Fringe
Fringe isn’t just about live performance, it’s about ALL artistic endeavors, including visual art. From galleries to interactive installations,
from painting to photography, Visual Fringe is a feast for the eyes across all corners and venues of the Festival! AND IT’S ALL FREE!(Listings in alphabetical order. Additional galleries and installations TBA on 5/16.)
Cal’s Kinda Weird Art
from Cal Harris out of Cincinnati, OH
Cal’s art is kinda weird. Fringe is kinda weird. So we’re putting
Cal’s kinda weird art all over the kinda weird Fringe, which is kinda weird. While it’s kinda weird, though, it’s also kinda weird…so we’re kinda
totally okay with letting Cal kinda definitely do this kinda weird thing.
Venue:Venue Box Offices and Fringe HQ
Fringe: A History in Murals
from Xylene out of Cincinnati, OH
Over the years Fringe has welcomed the talented artists at Xylene
(formerly Higher Level Art) to grace a side of Know Theatre (Fringe HQ)
with one of their fantastic murals. For our 15th Anniversary, we’ll feature a gallery highlighting each and every mural composed for Fringe over the years.
Venue:Fringe HQ
Fringe Faces
from Dan R. Winters Photography out of Cincinnati, OH
Fringe Faces features a portable photo booth that will appear during
specific Fringe events. Portraits are taken in no more than 5 minutes and
a collection of the best photos will displayed at Fringe HQ. Fringe Faces captures the frantic joy of Fringe while keeping up with its frantic pace.
Venue:Multiple locations. Dates and times TBA on 5/16.
On the Fence
from Assorted Artists – and YOU! out of Cincinnati, OH
In 2017, Fringe took over the fence surrounding the parking lot
neighboring Know Theatre to provide space for artists and the
general public to get creative. This year we’ve got more of the same
and it’s up to you to decide how things look.
Venue:The ARTing Lot (12th and Jackson)
Sick Beet Stitch
from Robyn Novak out of Cincinnati, OH
Sick Beet Stitch will display embroidery pieces in a collection that reflects Robyn’s turbulent thoughts and feelings of being a 20-something in 2018. This includes reactions to politics, Robyn’s love/hate relationship with pop culture obsessions, and her constant search for clarity as she defines her adulthood.
Venue:Fringe HQ
Van Gogh Find Yourself Gallery
from #vgfy out of New York, NY
Explore the paintings and works created live during not only
the Cincinnati run of Walter DeForest’s Van Gogh Find Yourself
but also previous installments; and not only by Walter himself
but other audience members, as well.
Venue:Wash Part Art
Video Overdose
from Channel 77 out of Cincinnati, OH
Transfix on TVs as Channel 77 weaves their unique brand of video art out of stacks of analog devices in Know Theatre’s Underground space. Turn on and tune in to their delicious visuals. Channel 77 is a video art collective based out of Cincinnati, Ohio. Follow them on Instagram: @Channel___77
Venue:Fringe HQ
Film Fringe
From 2005-2012 Cincy Fringe included film offerings to celebrate the “kinda WEIRD” in the world of celluloid, and this year it’s back! We’re presenting 5 nights of original, independent programming (shorts and feature-lengths), all thanks to an amazing partnership with Main Street’s award-winning Mini Microcinema!
Film Fringe Program #1
Salute Your Shorts – Some Short Films!
directed by Andrew Day, InquisInc, Mike Olenick,
Nicholas Thurkettle, Thu Tran, and Andre Hyland
Salute Your Shorts is a program of short films of various genres, from comedy to animation and even a sci-fi soap opera! Including work by Andrew Day, InquisInc, Mike Olenick, Nicholas Thurkettle, and Thu Tran. Plus the local premiere of a new short film by Cincinnati’s own Andre Hyland. (60 minutes)
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Doors at 7:15 PM, Screening at 7:45 PM
@ The Mini Microcinema – 1329 Main St.
Film Fringe Program #2
The Pink Egg (2016)
directed by Jim Trainor
In The Pink Egg, directed by Chicago filmmaker Jim Trainor, the life cycles of various kinds of wasps and bees are enacted by human actors. Its purpose is to depict with emotion, humor and unnerving specificity an alternative society that actually exists but has nothing to do with human beings. (70 minutes)
Saturday, June 2, 2018
Doors at 7:15 PM, Screening at 7:45 PM
@ The Mini Microcinema – 1329 Main St.
Film Fringe Program #3
In The Jungle (2017)
directed by Stephanie M. Barber
In The Jungle playfully and sorrowfully tells the tale of an unreliable narrator in a self imposed exile. serving as an extended metaphor for excessive and continual growth, death, fear and sustenance; a metaphorical space of chaos in which the scientist finds solace and which stands in contrast to the human jungle of “civilization.” (63 minutes)
Sunday, June 3, 2018
Doors at 7:15 PM, Screening at 7:45 PM
@ The Mini Microcinema – 1329 Main St.
Film Fringe Program #4
Inhumanwich! (2016)
directed by David Cornelius
When all-American astronaut Joe Neumann mutates into an unstoppable blob of meat, it’s up to a team of devoted scientists and hard-nosed soldiers to stop the creature
before it devours the planet. Yes, really. (70 minutes)Tuesday, June 5, 2018
Doors at 7:15 PM, Screening at 7:45 PM
@ The Mini Microcinema – 1329 Main St.
Film Fringe Program #5
How To Get From Here To There (2018)
directed by Kevin James Thornton
A gay man in blue collar America returns to his childhood home after the death of his mother. In his old bedroom, he discovers the ability to time travel and he blasts through the mistakes of his life. It’s a southern gothic, time traveling sci-fi gay love story! The special effects are done through the eyes of a child. The story is a metaphor for how the choices we make affect our destiny. Work-in-Progress. (90 minutes)
Thursday, June 7, 2018
Doors at 7:15 PM, Screening at 7:45 PM
@ The Mini Microcinema – 1329 Main St.Family Friendly Fringe
While we pride the wide variety of offerings at the Festival for containing something for everyone, we want to ensure that plentiful opportunities exist for
parents and children to Fringe together with us, so this year we have special, free offerings that give families a chance to get kinda weird, too!
The Inventive Princess of Floralee
from Know Theatre out of Cincinnati, OH
Think like scientists on the adventure of a lifetime!
Saturday, June 2 @ 12:00pm
Know Theatre
FREE!
The Case of the Kidnapped Backpack
from Madcap Puppets out of Cincinnati, OH
Madcap Puppets and Paul Strickland’s Original Puppet Musical!
Sunday, June 3 @ 12:00pm
Know Theatre
FREE!Special Events
Paint with Vincent Van Gogh, get surrounded by sound in a giant inflatable igloo, re-live a Fringe favorite from the past, AND MORE with our lineup of Special Event presentations that finally break you, causing puzzled exclamations like, “OMG, HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO SEE EVERYTHING AT FRINGE IN JUST 13 DAYS?!”
(Productions listed in alphabetical order.)
ComedySportz Cincinnati
from OTRimprov out of Cincinnati, OH
Competitive comedy improv for everyone.
Special Event – Improv
Tags: Comedy, Family Friendly
Rated: All ages!
CUSS: Fringe Edition
from Travis McElroy out of Cincinnati, OH
A comedy talk show with your friendly neighborhood secret society.
Special Event – Interdisciplinary
Tags: Comedy, Improv
Rated: PG-13
Improv Festival of Cincinnati (IF Cincy) Preview
from OTRimprov out of Cincinnati, OH
Savor a sneak preview of the 5th Annual IF Cincy!
Special Event – Improv
Tags: Comedy
Rated: PG-13
Immersive Igloo
from Tom Montagliano out of New York
A pop-up 3D sound experience.
Special Event – Interdisciplinary
Tags: Sound Design
Rated: PG-13
Kevin Thornton’s Final Fringe Forever! (sort of.)
from Kevin J Thornton Entertainment out of Nashville, TN
A man’s complicated but hilarious journey to knowing himself.
Special Event – Solo Performance
Tags: Comedy, LGBTQ Themes, Political Themes
Rated: R (17+)
MeSseD Tunnel Tour
from MeSesD Comics out of Cincinnati, OH
Immersive comic book experience in a subterranean basement.
Special Event – Interdisciplinary
Tags: Interactive experience
Rated: PG-13
Mortem Capiendum
from Four Humors out of Minneapolis, MN
Three con-men with a tonic with seemingly miraculous properties…
Special Event – Play
Tags: Comedy
Rated: PG-13
trueFRINGE 2018
from True Theatre out of Cincinnati, OH
True stories from Fringe artists.
Special Event – Storytelling
Tags: True Stories, Live Music
Rated: PG-13
Van Gogh Find Yourself
from #vgfy out of New York, NY
Have you ever wanted to meet a famous painter? Now you can.
Special Event – Solo Performance
Tags: Drama, Live Art Making
Rated: PG-13
Vibe with the TRIIIBE!
from TRIIIBE out of Cincinnati, OH
Rap! Chant! Break(dance)! Vibe!
Immerse yourself in the TRIIIBE’s interactive vibe.
Special Event – Interdisciplinary
Tags: Spoken Word, Music
Rated: PG-13