P4

I feel somewhat obliged to begin witha standard who-what-where-whenparagraph—somewhat. But thatdoesn’t mean I’ll do it. I’m a boxoffice manager; not a newswriter!I’m a playwright! I haven’t taken ajournalism class since high school!

(Maybe I should have mentionedall that to Propaganda Editor FrankKuzler and Assistant Editor EmmaHalpern before they handed me thisassignment.)

And this is FringeNYC! Forgetjournalism. I’m going to write you aplay. Well, a little play. A playlet, ifyou will.

Our Tenth Anniversary: TheOpening Weekend, A PlayletTime: Our Tenth Anniversary: TheOpening Weekend. (Thus, the title.)Setting: FringeCENTRAL, a marble-walled commercial space in Soho.Also, 21 different performance spacesin Lower Manhattan. But one of themis dark. That one will be representedby a single burnt-out halogen bulb.Also, Washington Square Park, thelocale of our outdoor events.

All right, so perhaps the varietyof spaces might be a challenge torender on stage, but those Designer-type folks love challenges. I hear.Especially if there’s absolutely nobudget to support them. And aDirector who expects overnight

miracles. And a really temperamentalPlaywright who doesn’t understandwhy they can’t telepathically surmisethe exact vision (s)he had whilewriting the script. I promise not to bethat Playwright.

Now do you have the setting inmind? Great! Can you make itsunnier? Yes, like “the inner glow ofsuccess”? That’s excellent! But a bitdarker… “the feeling of a furrowedbrow, the concern that it might nothappen after all, the frustration of anunreliable wireless connection onevery computer that is the lifeblood

of festival operations…” Yes! Likethat! You have it exactly!

So, you can evoke them both atthe same time, right? Come on, Iknow you can! I’m not asking toomuch, am I? I mean, that’s not aproblem. It’s doable. Right?

Cast of Characters: FringeNYC Schedule GridYouPlaywrightFringeNYC Wireless InternetConnection (or lack thereof)

FRINGENYC SCHEDULE GRID(IN A STAGE WHISPER): Psst…Psst… HEY YOU!

YOU: Me?FRINGENYC SCHEDULE GRID:

Yeah, you! All of you!YOU: Yes?FRINGENYC SCHEDULE GRID:

241.YOU: Is that code? Like 311? 411?

Forty-deuce?FRINGENYC SCHEDULE

GRID: No. It’s how manyscheduled stagedperformances we presentedhere in the opening weekend.Not to mention our OpeningCeremony at WashingtonSquare Park, and the teasers,and the other special events…Like FringeART Speed

Painting, and FringeCLUB, andrecording dozens of podcasts…

YOU: Wow! That’s impressive…But… 241? Who would sit there andcount that?

THE PLAYWRIGHT: Excuse me?YOU: Who would sit there and

count how many performances therewere in the first three days? I mean,really? Doesn’t that person have alife?

THE PLAYWRIGHT: Yes, in factshe does.

YOU: But she still sat there andcounted all those performance slots.

THE PLAYWRIGHT: Well,maybe she came upon someunforeseen free time Sunday night.Maybe she was at FringeCENTRAL,eager to help the tireless TicketManagers (Stephanie Garcia,Stephanie D. Rogers, Jay Overholser,Ron Rogers) prepare all the will-calllists and tickets and box officeenvelopes for Monday, but theycouldn’t use her assistance because

THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL FRINGE FESTIVAL • ISSUE NO. 2

10thYEAR

A U G U S T1 1 - 2 7 2 0 0 6

www.fringenyc.org August 16, 2006

…Who would sit thereand count how many

performances therewere in the first threedays? I mean, really?

Doesn’t that personhave a life?

A selection of shows from the opening weekend – from left to right: Debby Schwartz and Scott Hess do an all-girl duet in "The Saints of Festus" at The Flea; The cast of "Blue Balls"take the pledge at the Flea Theater; Elma Baker stars in her solo show "If You See Something Say Something" at the Manhattan Childrens' Theatre

OPENING WEEKEND:A PLAYLET…

by Jill Jichetti

WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK / HOLLEY LAWN / NEW YORK8/17, 8/18, 8/19, 8/20 @ 6pm

Kaliber ad lib is an irreverent nonverbal slapstickcomedy about hunting and being hunted.

www.braendendekaerlighed.com

Theatre Brændende Kærlighed Street theatre from Copenhagen. Denmark.

KALIBER AD LIBKALIBER AD LIBA nonverba l poet ic comedy

On August 11, 2006, North America’slargest multi-arts festival went intodouble digits as the tenth annual New York International Fringe Festivalignited with an opening ceremony inWashington Square Park at noon.Introductory speeches were followed byteasers from some of the over 210 showsbeing presented throughout the 16-dayevent at 21 venues throughout LowerManhattan, for a total of over 1300performances. At four o’clock, theopening festivities concluded, only formore teasers to be presented later thatday at Henry Street Settlement. And so began another celebration of the best emerging artists in the world, withplays not only from the United Statesbut also from foreign countries such asCanada, the United Kingdom, Australia,Trinidad and Tobago, Ireland, Spain,France, and Italy.

According to the Box Office,audience reaction to the shows at Fringe has generally been positive, withtheatergoers gushing over the showsthey enjoyed. With this in mind, ticketsellers can make recommendationsbased solely on the reputations of theshows presented. And those who havevolunteered their time and energy tocontribute to FringeNYC’s success arefinally seeing their efforts rewarded withthe knowledge that they are serving alarge community from all over theworld, of patrons and producers alike.

Packed housesMichelle Alden, playwright and co-producer of “Dear America,” a dramaconcerning the relationship between twohigh school bombing suspects and theirlife struggles, which premiered lastSaturday night to an almost-full house,described opening weekend as“insanity.” She had been coming toFringeNYC for years and had heard a lotof great things about it from friends whohad acted or directed or produced, whohelped inspire her decision to apply forthe festival and assemble a cast and crewwith her “awesome” director LaurenRosen. Finally being able to put on theshow had its share of frustrations,according to her “we were more anxiousabout all the little things like getting allour props and having tech and makingsure the lights work and everyone hadeverything that they needed, but it wasactually very well structured and fairlyorganized, you know our venue directorand FringeNYC really organized things.You know terribly well, yeah everyonegets nervous on opening night but it is apoint where you just gotta sit down andwatch your show take its own life.”

The highlight of the festival for herwas of working at the Flea Theater,noting, “I don’t know how eleven showscan tech in a week, and get a show up,and have a stellar house but everyonedid it did it because everyone pullstogether and they devote all their timeand energy into just this one thing andhave a really awesome company.” Afirst-time producer for FringeNYC, sheplans to continue to apply every year forfuture FringeNYC festivals, stating “wehave such an opportunity here to haveterrific space and buzz and publicity,and to work with literally hundreds of different people and hundreds ofother shows is something I would totally want to do again.”

Successful campaignsAndrew Rasmussen, producer,choreographer, and graphic designer of“Tradition!,” based on a true story ofproducing “Fiddler on the Roof” in asmall Christian-oriented Kansas town,which he describes as “Waiting forGuffman meets Drop Dead Gorgeousmeets My Big Fat Goyish Fiddler on theRoof” (the first two references are actualfilms, the third has yet to be written, hehimself likens his play to anindependent film), started by sellingeighteen tickets, only to wind up sellinga near-capacity 350 tickets. A first-timeFringe producer, Rasmussen takes this asa sign of a successful campaign, notingthat “it’s exciting and it’s fun to see thesupport, that a lot of people want to justcome see a good show, and they wantyour show to be good. They’re nothawks, and they’re not looming overyour shoulder, they’re coming to see agood play, and they’re coming to see agood comedy and have a good laugh.”He has high hopes for the play’s futureand definitely intends to take his showfurther, likening FringeNYC to a“springboard” where the play can betested out before a live audience,enabling him to determine what worksand what needs to be changed. For him,the best part of the Fringe festival is thediverse styles of theatrical performance:“Some people are painted in blue, somepeople are doing a straight comedy,that’s what the Fringe festival is allabout, great variety.”

So far, the tenth annual New YorkInternational Fringe Festival is off to agreat start, going as well as planned, andwe can only expect it will go thissmoothly for the remainder of thefestival, right up until the end of theclosing cermony. n

by Anton Spivak

Volunteer Jack Blasenstein sells the first ticket at the Flea

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Premieres provea big success

Continued on p2

The opening weekend of FringeNYC 2006… Hmmm… an interesting topic for an article, don’t you think?

All

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Propaganda_Aug16_06.qxp 8/15/06 8:31 AM Page 1

FringeAL FRESCO PERFORMANCES –FREESpeed Painting By JAOJAO ARTJAO, hyperkinetic artist and athlete, paintson a giant easel in the back of her pick uptruck. Wearing a helmet and kneepads, shejumps, spins, and hurls herself into thedangerous extreme sport she calls speedpainting. Lightening fast Eastern Europeangypsy music drives her to the outrageousresult of two 6’ x 6’ paintings in 3 minutes.5m Minneapolis, MN PerformanceART/Multi-mediawww.jaoart.comTHUR 8/17 @ NOON & 1:30 – Union Square Park/North PlazaSAT 8/19 @ NOON & 1:00 – City Hall Park/South PlazaSAT 8/19 @ 5:00 & 6:00 – Henry Street Settlement AmphitheatreSUN 8/20 @ NOON & 1:00 – Union Square Park/North Plaza

Kaliber Ad LibThe Street Theatre Braendende Kaerlighed An irreverent nonverbal slapstick comedyabout three trigger-happy hunters whomiss their mark and shoot somethingentirely unintended. A popular and poeticDanish comedy about responsibility andrunning away from it. A Physical farceabout ducks and dodging. 1h Copenhagen, DenmarkComedy/Performance Artwww.braendendekaerlighed.com/english/index.htmTHUR 8/17 @ 6pm – Washington Square Park / Holley Lawn FRI 8/18 @ 6pm – Washington Square Park / Holley Lawn SAT 8/19 @ 6pm – Washington Square Park / Holley Lawn SUN 8/20 @ 6pm – Washington Square Park / Holley Lawn

FringeNYTEASERS Schedule For ThisIssue – FREETHURS 8-17 12-4 Union Square Park/North Plaza12:00-12:05 Speed Painting By JAO 12:05-12:12 The City That Cried Wolf12:12-12:19 Park-N-Ride12:19-12:26 Something More Pleasant12:26-12:33 Black Stuff12:33-12:40 Bloodties12:40-12:47 Some Kind Of Pink Breakfast12:47-12:54 The Blue Martini12:54-1:01 Griot: He Who Speaks

The Sweet Word1:01-1:08 Emergency Exits1:08-1:13 Happy Sauce1:13-1:20 Requiem For New Orleans1:20-1:27 Dis/Appearing1:27-1:34 Speed Painting By JAO 1:34-1:41 Pack Light1:41-1:48 In Transit1:48-1:55 Danny Boy

SAT 8-19 12-4 City Hall Park/South Plaza12:00-12:05 Speed Painting By JAO 12:05-12:12 The Burning Cities Project12:12-12:19 Bloodties12:19-12:26 The Inconstant Infection12:26-12:33 Eye Candy12:33-12:40 Your Place…Or Mine12:40-12:47 Muscle-Man vs.

Skeletonman: A Love Story12:47-12:54 Pack Light12:54-1:01 Requiem For New Orleans1:01-1:06 Speed Painting By JAO 1:06-1:13 Imminent, Indeed

SAT 8-19 5-8 Henry Street Settlement Ampitheatre5:00-5:05 Speed Painting By JAO 5:05-5:12 Muscle-Man vs.

Skeletonman: A Love Story5:12-5:19 The Inconstant Infection5:19-5:26 Imminent, Indeed5:26-5:33 Requiem For New Orleans5:33-5:40 The 5 Roses Of Jennifer5:40-5:45 Speed Painting By JAO

SUN 8-20 12-4 Union Square Park/North Plaza12:00-12:05 Speed Painting By JAO 12:05-12:12 Imminent, Indeed12:12-12:19 The Burning Cities Project12:19-12:26 Full House12:26-12:33 Something More Pleasant12:33-12:40 Revenge Of A King12:40-12:47 Eye Candy12:47-12:54 The Rabbi And The

Cheerleader12:54-12:59 Anna And The

Annadroids12:59-1:06 Olson Terror1:06-1:13 Speed Painting By JAO

FringeART – FREE! Ideas occur in a nanosecond. Join us at theOpening Ceremony, and other FringeARTevents to access a very raw kind of creativeexpression. Working with FringeALFRESCO performer Julie O’Baoighill of JAOART, you can engage an essential element ofyour own identity, which is entirely uniqueto each person, like a signature, and yetuniversal in that we all have “it”. “It” is thedesire to make a mark, the natural instinct tomove, to act, and to create something thatsays, “I am here.”TONITE! WED 8/16 6:00-7:30 as a part ofFringeU @ FringeCENTRAL

Fort FringeJR – Harriet Hopperdoodle’sHairbrained History Test” Sunday August 20th 11:30 – NoonWashington Square Large PlaygroundTake part in high energy song & dance,melodrama mayhem and vaudeville schtickfor kids two to eighty-two with "HarrietHopperdoodle's Hair-Brained History Test!"You'll hear a song about what it takes tosucceed at the invention game when youjoin inventors such as Ben Franklin andmore as you and Harriet invent some high-jinx of your own! Kids of all ages: Learnhow to invent something off the top of yourhead with Harriet and her classmates andtake your new invention home!

FringeU Schedule for this Issue – FREE!All FringeU workshops are held atFringeCENTRAL at 6pm.

Wednesday, August 16th – SPEEDPAINTING: FringeART at FringeU Julie O'Baoghill, FringeAL FRESCO’sSpeed Painting By JAO JAO brings the thrill of speed painting to a1.5 hour workshop. Through specificallydesigned mural painting exercises, JAOleads participants to use the whole body asa creative implement, access intuition insplit seconds and let ideas run wild. Withpaint, brushes, sponges, giant paper andfull protection suits participants willembark on an adventure of color, line,shape and imagination. We will experienceseveral nanoseconds of brilliance, insightand innovation. Only the first 15 to registerwill be able to paint, sosign up now! This is ahighly physical class yetparticipants can work atintensity levels fit to theircomfort and ability.

Thursday, August 17th –FILMMAKERS:Filmmaking afterFringeNYC Brian Sloan, WTC View(Alumni ‘03)Clay McLeod Chapman,The Pumpkin Pie Show(Alumni ‘97, ‘99, ‘01) What is it really like to gofrom theater to film? BrianSloan, currently releasinghis full length film, WTCView, based on his playfrom FringeNYC 2003, andClay McLeod Champan,who expanded a shortstory from his FringeNYC2001 show, The PumpkinPie Show, into Late Bloomer,an official selection at the

Sundance Film Festival, will share theirexperiences in filmmaking. Get the insiders scoop on the ins and outs of life after FringeNYC in film.

Friday, August 18th – MOVEMENT:Creating Character: Tools and Techniques Leslie Felbain, Site-SeeingLeslie Felbain, adjunct faculty at theUniversity of Maryland and director ofSite-Seeing, will play with how character isrealized through choice of costumes andprops, and explore techniques toinvestigate the soul and psychology of acharacter and how they are expressedphysically, vocally, and rhythmically.

Monday, August 21st – DIVERSITY:FringeNYC Past and Present Nancy Kim, Take On Me and The Non-Traditional Casting ProjectAs the largest multi-arts festival in theUnited States, FringeNYC showcases thevibrancy, innovation and diversity of off-off-Broadway. Nancy Kim will moderate apanel of FringeNYC 2006 participants andFringeNYC alumni, including Sam Younisof Browntown, Rodney To and Peter Kimof Sides, Christine Simpson of Take on Me,Dean Obeidallah of I Come in Peace, andMarc Goldsmith and Stephen Dutras ofDanny Boy. The speakers will examinediversity at FringeNYC, bringing togetherartists of color and artists with disabilitiesfrom past and present FringeNYCproductions to talk about developing their material; applying for and producingtheir shows; and their role in theFringeNYC Community.

Tuesday, August 22nd - FUNDRAISING:Grantseeking for Individuals in the Arts Luz Rodriguez, The Foundation CenterHow can people involved in the arts findfunding to complete a project, mount anexhibition, put on a performance, conductresearch, or anything else arts-related?Grantseeking Basics for Individuals in theArts, presented by The Foundation Center,will show you how to: Identify funders inthe arts, Explore the option of fiscalsponsorship, and Create a step-by-stepplan to find funding for your needs as anindividual grantseeker.

Wednesday, August 23rd – CASTING: AHow-To for Actors & DirectorsMary Crescenzo, Piece of Mind

Independent casting director andplaywright for FringeNYC’s Piece of Mind,Mary Crescenzo, provides insight oncasting a show or being cast in one.Directors will learn about cast breakdown,searching for actors, organizing sessions,running call backs, making choices, andasking the right questions. Actors will gettips on cold readings, what to bring, wear,and say, and the difference between stageand film auditions. Mary has taughtseminars for actors and directors for SAGconservatories around the U.S., talentagencies, and in university settings. Actorsare invited to bring photo/resume.

Thursday, August 24th – PHYSICALCOMEDY: Becoming a Clown and UsingPhysical Theater Anna Zastrow, Breathe. . . Or You Can Die!;Christopher Lueck, i want to be MUSASHI Come learn about the art of clown theaterand check your brain at the door! 2006FringeNYC performers Anna Zastrow andChristopher Lueck bring their diversetraining and clown experience together topresent a unique and fun workshop. We willdevelop a sense of play and of rhythm andexplore the idea of truth in size using masks.Discover your own unique physicality andcharacter – and potential ridiculousness,and, let’s not forget, the relationship with theaudience. All are welcome, and the focuswill be for beginners.

FringeCLUBSure, we all know that theatre is its ownreward -- but after the sweat, toil, hair-tugging and tears, remember to be kindand unwind at FringeCLUB. This late-night, after-hours community ofFringeNYC is the place to quaff, laugh,commiserate and connect. So make sureyou have your badge in your pocket (causeFringeCLUB is entrance by badge only),bring along a 6-pack of beer or a bottle ofwine (cause it’s a BYOB PARTY!), andcome on down to The Village Theatre(Venue #10, 158 Bleeker St.).

This summer FringeCLUB features the“FringeCLUB Variety Power Hourfeaturing Minimum Wage” – the live,improvised, variety show stylings ofFringeNYC's own fabulous LaGrecaBrothers, Jeff and Charlie. Check out theFringeCLUB Board at FringeCENTRALfor updates on the latest interviewschedule. n

P2 P3www.fringenyc.org August 16, 2006 August 16, 2006 www.fringenyc.org

they couldn’t do their jobs. Because thatFLAKE, the Wireless InternetConnection, just up and quit! Again!

WIRELESS INTERNETCONNECTION: (A disembodied digitalvoice) Name-calling is SO not cool.

THE PLAYWRIGHT: Flaking outwhen thousands of people—no, tens ofthousands!—are relying upon you?Worse. So. Much. Worse.

WIRELESS INTERNETCONNECTION: How do you know itwas “flaking out”? Who are you tojudge me? Do you know what’s goingon inside me? Do you know my deepestthoughts and fears and motivations?DO YOU KNOW HOW IT FEELS TOBE ME? I think not! There you are, over-using and abusing me all the time—selling tickets, monitoring ticket sales,checking email, moving my cables,touching… my… routers…

Wireless Internet Connection shudders.WIRELESS INTERNET

CONNECTION: (CONT.) …Ratting meout when I don’t show up for work!You know what, Missy? I think I’ve hadjust about enough of you this week!That’s it! You’re fired!

The Playwright runs to her laptop,opens Outlook, and begins typing a ferventmessage to Elena K. Holy, ProducingArtistic Director of FringeNYC.

THE PLAYWRIGHT: (Voiceover)Dear Elena, You’re the Producing-Artistic-Director-in-Chief! Is the wirelessinternet connection allowed to fire me?

Please respond asap. Thanks. Jill (J.)The Playwright hits the enter button

dramatically. She stares at the screen. Shebreaks into a cold sweat. She becomesvisibly distraught.

THE PLAYWRIGHT: No! Noooo…This can’t really be. It can’t do this tome! To us! To all of us! NOOOOOOO!

Wireless Internet Connection laughsmaniacally.

WIRELESS INTERNETCONNECTION: You can’t send an email,can you? You can’t do it. Can’t really sellany tickets, either. In fact, you can’t doanything! Anything you are supposed todo! That’s right. It doesn’t really matter ifI can’t fire you. I can make you useless.That’s right. You are useless. USELESS, ISAY! MWAAHAHAHAHAAAA! Youare at my mercy.

The Playwright hits all keyboardbuttons and then un-connects and re-connects all available wires.

WIRELESS INTERNETCONNECTION: (CONT.) Oh, you cankeep hitting the enter button. You can.But it won’t do anything. It won’t sendanything. You are completely alone andcompletely useless and totally subject tomy whim. Sweet, sweet revenge.

ED. Note: Due to space limitations, thisplaylet must be ended here. This is in no wayrelated to my terror regarding what mighthappen to any and all technology in my life ifI don’t let Wireless Internet Connection havethe last word. Sorry, Jill. You’re fired. n

Continued from p2

A PLAYLET… SPECIAL EVENTS

Propaganda_Aug16_06.qxp 8/15/06 8:31 AM Page 2

FringeAL FRESCO PERFORMANCES –FREESpeed Painting By JAOJAO ARTJAO, hyperkinetic artist and athlete, paintson a giant easel in the back of her pick uptruck. Wearing a helmet and kneepads, shejumps, spins, and hurls herself into thedangerous extreme sport she calls speedpainting. Lightening fast Eastern Europeangypsy music drives her to the outrageousresult of two 6’ x 6’ paintings in 3 minutes.5m Minneapolis, MN PerformanceART/Multi-mediawww.jaoart.comTHUR 8/17 @ NOON & 1:30 – Union Square Park/North PlazaSAT 8/19 @ NOON & 1:00 – City Hall Park/South PlazaSAT 8/19 @ 5:00 & 6:00 – Henry Street Settlement AmphitheatreSUN 8/20 @ NOON & 1:00 – Union Square Park/North Plaza

Kaliber Ad LibThe Street Theatre Braendende Kaerlighed An irreverent nonverbal slapstick comedyabout three trigger-happy hunters whomiss their mark and shoot somethingentirely unintended. A popular and poeticDanish comedy about responsibility andrunning away from it. A Physical farceabout ducks and dodging. 1h Copenhagen, DenmarkComedy/Performance Artwww.braendendekaerlighed.com/english/index.htmTHUR 8/17 @ 6pm – Washington Square Park / Holley Lawn FRI 8/18 @ 6pm – Washington Square Park / Holley Lawn SAT 8/19 @ 6pm – Washington Square Park / Holley Lawn SUN 8/20 @ 6pm – Washington Square Park / Holley Lawn

FringeNYTEASERS Schedule For ThisIssue – FREETHURS 8-17 12-4 Union Square Park/North Plaza12:00-12:05 Speed Painting By JAO 12:05-12:12 The City That Cried Wolf12:12-12:19 Park-N-Ride12:19-12:26 Something More Pleasant12:26-12:33 Black Stuff12:33-12:40 Bloodties12:40-12:47 Some Kind Of Pink Breakfast12:47-12:54 The Blue Martini12:54-1:01 Griot: He Who Speaks

The Sweet Word1:01-1:08 Emergency Exits1:08-1:13 Happy Sauce1:13-1:20 Requiem For New Orleans1:20-1:27 Dis/Appearing1:27-1:34 Speed Painting By JAO 1:34-1:41 Pack Light1:41-1:48 In Transit1:48-1:55 Danny Boy

SAT 8-19 12-4 City Hall Park/South Plaza12:00-12:05 Speed Painting By JAO 12:05-12:12 The Burning Cities Project12:12-12:19 Bloodties12:19-12:26 The Inconstant Infection12:26-12:33 Eye Candy12:33-12:40 Your Place…Or Mine12:40-12:47 Muscle-Man vs.

Skeletonman: A Love Story12:47-12:54 Pack Light12:54-1:01 Requiem For New Orleans1:01-1:06 Speed Painting By JAO 1:06-1:13 Imminent, Indeed

SAT 8-19 5-8 Henry Street Settlement Ampitheatre5:00-5:05 Speed Painting By JAO 5:05-5:12 Muscle-Man vs.

Skeletonman: A Love Story5:12-5:19 The Inconstant Infection5:19-5:26 Imminent, Indeed5:26-5:33 Requiem For New Orleans5:33-5:40 The 5 Roses Of Jennifer5:40-5:45 Speed Painting By JAO

SUN 8-20 12-4 Union Square Park/North Plaza12:00-12:05 Speed Painting By JAO 12:05-12:12 Imminent, Indeed12:12-12:19 The Burning Cities Project12:19-12:26 Full House12:26-12:33 Something More Pleasant12:33-12:40 Revenge Of A King12:40-12:47 Eye Candy12:47-12:54 The Rabbi And The

Cheerleader12:54-12:59 Anna And The

Annadroids12:59-1:06 Olson Terror1:06-1:13 Speed Painting By JAO

FringeART – FREE! Ideas occur in a nanosecond. Join us at theOpening Ceremony, and other FringeARTevents to access a very raw kind of creativeexpression. Working with FringeALFRESCO performer Julie O’Baoighill of JAOART, you can engage an essential element ofyour own identity, which is entirely uniqueto each person, like a signature, and yetuniversal in that we all have “it”. “It” is thedesire to make a mark, the natural instinct tomove, to act, and to create something thatsays, “I am here.”TONITE! WED 8/16 6:00-7:30 as a part ofFringeU @ FringeCENTRAL

Fort FringeJR – Harriet Hopperdoodle’sHairbrained History Test” Sunday August 20th 11:30 – NoonWashington Square Large PlaygroundTake part in high energy song & dance,melodrama mayhem and vaudeville schtickfor kids two to eighty-two with "HarrietHopperdoodle's Hair-Brained History Test!"You'll hear a song about what it takes tosucceed at the invention game when youjoin inventors such as Ben Franklin andmore as you and Harriet invent some high-jinx of your own! Kids of all ages: Learnhow to invent something off the top of yourhead with Harriet and her classmates andtake your new invention home!

FringeU Schedule for this Issue – FREE!All FringeU workshops are held atFringeCENTRAL at 6pm.

Wednesday, August 16th – SPEEDPAINTING: FringeART at FringeU Julie O'Baoghill, FringeAL FRESCO’sSpeed Painting By JAO JAO brings the thrill of speed painting to a1.5 hour workshop. Through specificallydesigned mural painting exercises, JAOleads participants to use the whole body asa creative implement, access intuition insplit seconds and let ideas run wild. Withpaint, brushes, sponges, giant paper andfull protection suits participants willembark on an adventure of color, line,shape and imagination. We will experienceseveral nanoseconds of brilliance, insightand innovation. Only the first 15 to registerwill be able to paint, sosign up now! This is ahighly physical class yetparticipants can work atintensity levels fit to theircomfort and ability.

Thursday, August 17th –FILMMAKERS:Filmmaking afterFringeNYC Brian Sloan, WTC View(Alumni ‘03)Clay McLeod Chapman,The Pumpkin Pie Show(Alumni ‘97, ‘99, ‘01) What is it really like to gofrom theater to film? BrianSloan, currently releasinghis full length film, WTCView, based on his playfrom FringeNYC 2003, andClay McLeod Champan,who expanded a shortstory from his FringeNYC2001 show, The PumpkinPie Show, into Late Bloomer,an official selection at the

Sundance Film Festival, will share theirexperiences in filmmaking. Get the insiders scoop on the ins and outs of life after FringeNYC in film.

Friday, August 18th – MOVEMENT:Creating Character: Tools and Techniques Leslie Felbain, Site-SeeingLeslie Felbain, adjunct faculty at theUniversity of Maryland and director ofSite-Seeing, will play with how character isrealized through choice of costumes andprops, and explore techniques toinvestigate the soul and psychology of acharacter and how they are expressedphysically, vocally, and rhythmically.

Monday, August 21st – DIVERSITY:FringeNYC Past and Present Nancy Kim, Take On Me and The Non-Traditional Casting ProjectAs the largest multi-arts festival in theUnited States, FringeNYC showcases thevibrancy, innovation and diversity of off-off-Broadway. Nancy Kim will moderate apanel of FringeNYC 2006 participants andFringeNYC alumni, including Sam Younisof Browntown, Rodney To and Peter Kimof Sides, Christine Simpson of Take on Me,Dean Obeidallah of I Come in Peace, andMarc Goldsmith and Stephen Dutras ofDanny Boy. The speakers will examinediversity at FringeNYC, bringing togetherartists of color and artists with disabilitiesfrom past and present FringeNYCproductions to talk about developing their material; applying for and producingtheir shows; and their role in theFringeNYC Community.

Tuesday, August 22nd - FUNDRAISING:Grantseeking for Individuals in the Arts Luz Rodriguez, The Foundation CenterHow can people involved in the arts findfunding to complete a project, mount anexhibition, put on a performance, conductresearch, or anything else arts-related?Grantseeking Basics for Individuals in theArts, presented by The Foundation Center,will show you how to: Identify funders inthe arts, Explore the option of fiscalsponsorship, and Create a step-by-stepplan to find funding for your needs as anindividual grantseeker.

Wednesday, August 23rd – CASTING: AHow-To for Actors & DirectorsMary Crescenzo, Piece of Mind

Independent casting director andplaywright for FringeNYC’s Piece of Mind,Mary Crescenzo, provides insight oncasting a show or being cast in one.Directors will learn about cast breakdown,searching for actors, organizing sessions,running call backs, making choices, andasking the right questions. Actors will gettips on cold readings, what to bring, wear,and say, and the difference between stageand film auditions. Mary has taughtseminars for actors and directors for SAGconservatories around the U.S., talentagencies, and in university settings. Actorsare invited to bring photo/resume.

Thursday, August 24th – PHYSICALCOMEDY: Becoming a Clown and UsingPhysical Theater Anna Zastrow, Breathe. . . Or You Can Die!;Christopher Lueck, i want to be MUSASHI Come learn about the art of clown theaterand check your brain at the door! 2006FringeNYC performers Anna Zastrow andChristopher Lueck bring their diversetraining and clown experience together topresent a unique and fun workshop. We willdevelop a sense of play and of rhythm andexplore the idea of truth in size using masks.Discover your own unique physicality andcharacter – and potential ridiculousness,and, let’s not forget, the relationship with theaudience. All are welcome, and the focuswill be for beginners.

FringeCLUBSure, we all know that theatre is its ownreward -- but after the sweat, toil, hair-tugging and tears, remember to be kindand unwind at FringeCLUB. This late-night, after-hours community ofFringeNYC is the place to quaff, laugh,commiserate and connect. So make sureyou have your badge in your pocket (causeFringeCLUB is entrance by badge only),bring along a 6-pack of beer or a bottle ofwine (cause it’s a BYOB PARTY!), andcome on down to The Village Theatre(Venue #10, 158 Bleeker St.).

This summer FringeCLUB features the“FringeCLUB Variety Power Hourfeaturing Minimum Wage” – the live,improvised, variety show stylings ofFringeNYC's own fabulous LaGrecaBrothers, Jeff and Charlie. Check out theFringeCLUB Board at FringeCENTRALfor updates on the latest interviewschedule. n

P2 P3www.fringenyc.org August 16, 2006 August 16, 2006 www.fringenyc.org

they couldn’t do their jobs. Because thatFLAKE, the Wireless InternetConnection, just up and quit! Again!

WIRELESS INTERNETCONNECTION: (A disembodied digitalvoice) Name-calling is SO not cool.

THE PLAYWRIGHT: Flaking outwhen thousands of people—no, tens ofthousands!—are relying upon you?Worse. So. Much. Worse.

WIRELESS INTERNETCONNECTION: How do you know itwas “flaking out”? Who are you tojudge me? Do you know what’s goingon inside me? Do you know my deepestthoughts and fears and motivations?DO YOU KNOW HOW IT FEELS TOBE ME? I think not! There you are, over-using and abusing me all the time—selling tickets, monitoring ticket sales,checking email, moving my cables,touching… my… routers…

Wireless Internet Connection shudders.WIRELESS INTERNET

CONNECTION: (CONT.) …Ratting meout when I don’t show up for work!You know what, Missy? I think I’ve hadjust about enough of you this week!That’s it! You’re fired!

The Playwright runs to her laptop,opens Outlook, and begins typing a ferventmessage to Elena K. Holy, ProducingArtistic Director of FringeNYC.

THE PLAYWRIGHT: (Voiceover)Dear Elena, You’re the Producing-Artistic-Director-in-Chief! Is the wirelessinternet connection allowed to fire me?

Please respond asap. Thanks. Jill (J.)The Playwright hits the enter button

dramatically. She stares at the screen. Shebreaks into a cold sweat. She becomesvisibly distraught.

THE PLAYWRIGHT: No! Noooo…This can’t really be. It can’t do this tome! To us! To all of us! NOOOOOOO!

Wireless Internet Connection laughsmaniacally.

WIRELESS INTERNETCONNECTION: You can’t send an email,can you? You can’t do it. Can’t really sellany tickets, either. In fact, you can’t doanything! Anything you are supposed todo! That’s right. It doesn’t really matter ifI can’t fire you. I can make you useless.That’s right. You are useless. USELESS, ISAY! MWAAHAHAHAHAAAA! Youare at my mercy.

The Playwright hits all keyboardbuttons and then un-connects and re-connects all available wires.

WIRELESS INTERNETCONNECTION: (CONT.) Oh, you cankeep hitting the enter button. You can.But it won’t do anything. It won’t sendanything. You are completely alone andcompletely useless and totally subject tomy whim. Sweet, sweet revenge.

ED. Note: Due to space limitations, thisplaylet must be ended here. This is in no wayrelated to my terror regarding what mighthappen to any and all technology in my life ifI don’t let Wireless Internet Connection havethe last word. Sorry, Jill. You’re fired. n

Continued from p2

A PLAYLET… SPECIAL EVENTS

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I feel somewhat obliged to begin witha standard who-what-where-whenparagraph—somewhat. But thatdoesn’t mean I’ll do it. I’m a boxoffice manager; not a newswriter!I’m a playwright! I haven’t taken ajournalism class since high school!

(Maybe I should have mentionedall that to Propaganda Editor FrankKuzler and Assistant Editor EmmaHalpern before they handed me thisassignment.)

And this is FringeNYC! Forgetjournalism. I’m going to write you aplay. Well, a little play. A playlet, ifyou will.

Our Tenth Anniversary: TheOpening Weekend, A PlayletTime: Our Tenth Anniversary: TheOpening Weekend. (Thus, the title.)Setting: FringeCENTRAL, a marble-walled commercial space in Soho.Also, 21 different performance spacesin Lower Manhattan. But one of themis dark. That one will be representedby a single burnt-out halogen bulb.Also, Washington Square Park, thelocale of our outdoor events.

All right, so perhaps the varietyof spaces might be a challenge torender on stage, but those Designer-type folks love challenges. I hear.Especially if there’s absolutely nobudget to support them. And aDirector who expects overnight

miracles. And a really temperamentalPlaywright who doesn’t understandwhy they can’t telepathically surmisethe exact vision (s)he had whilewriting the script. I promise not to bethat Playwright.

Now do you have the setting inmind? Great! Can you make itsunnier? Yes, like “the inner glow ofsuccess”? That’s excellent! But a bitdarker… “the feeling of a furrowedbrow, the concern that it might nothappen after all, the frustration of anunreliable wireless connection onevery computer that is the lifeblood

of festival operations…” Yes! Likethat! You have it exactly!

So, you can evoke them both atthe same time, right? Come on, Iknow you can! I’m not asking toomuch, am I? I mean, that’s not aproblem. It’s doable. Right?

Cast of Characters: FringeNYC Schedule GridYouPlaywrightFringeNYC Wireless InternetConnection (or lack thereof)

FRINGENYC SCHEDULE GRID(IN A STAGE WHISPER): Psst…Psst… HEY YOU!

YOU: Me?FRINGENYC SCHEDULE GRID:

Yeah, you! All of you!YOU: Yes?FRINGENYC SCHEDULE GRID:

241.YOU: Is that code? Like 311? 411?

Forty-deuce?FRINGENYC SCHEDULE

GRID: No. It’s how manyscheduled stagedperformances we presentedhere in the opening weekend.Not to mention our OpeningCeremony at WashingtonSquare Park, and the teasers,and the other special events…Like FringeART Speed

Painting, and FringeCLUB, andrecording dozens of podcasts…

YOU: Wow! That’s impressive…But… 241? Who would sit there andcount that?

THE PLAYWRIGHT: Excuse me?YOU: Who would sit there and

count how many performances therewere in the first three days? I mean,really? Doesn’t that person have alife?

THE PLAYWRIGHT: Yes, in factshe does.

YOU: But she still sat there andcounted all those performance slots.

THE PLAYWRIGHT: Well,maybe she came upon someunforeseen free time Sunday night.Maybe she was at FringeCENTRAL,eager to help the tireless TicketManagers (Stephanie Garcia,Stephanie D. Rogers, Jay Overholser,Ron Rogers) prepare all the will-calllists and tickets and box officeenvelopes for Monday, but theycouldn’t use her assistance because

THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL FRINGE FESTIVAL • ISSUE NO. 2

10thYEAR

A U G U S T1 1 - 2 7 2 0 0 6

www.fringenyc.org August 16, 2006

…Who would sit thereand count how many

performances therewere in the first threedays? I mean, really?

Doesn’t that personhave a life?

A selection of shows from the opening weekend – from left to right: Debby Schwartz and Scott Hess do an all-girl duet in "The Saints of Festus" at The Flea; The cast of "Blue Balls"take the pledge at the Flea Theater; Elma Baker stars in her solo show "If You See Something Say Something" at the Manhattan Childrens' Theatre

OPENING WEEKEND:A PLAYLET…

by Jill Jichetti

WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK / HOLLEY LAWN / NEW YORK8/17, 8/18, 8/19, 8/20 @ 6pm

Kaliber ad lib is an irreverent nonverbal slapstickcomedy about hunting and being hunted.

www.braendendekaerlighed.com

Theatre Brændende Kærlighed Street theatre from Copenhagen. Denmark.

KALIBER AD LIBKALIBER AD LIBA nonverba l poet ic comedy

On August 11, 2006, North America’slargest multi-arts festival went intodouble digits as the tenth annual New York International Fringe Festivalignited with an opening ceremony inWashington Square Park at noon.Introductory speeches were followed byteasers from some of the over 210 showsbeing presented throughout the 16-dayevent at 21 venues throughout LowerManhattan, for a total of over 1300performances. At four o’clock, theopening festivities concluded, only formore teasers to be presented later thatday at Henry Street Settlement. And so began another celebration of the best emerging artists in the world, withplays not only from the United Statesbut also from foreign countries such asCanada, the United Kingdom, Australia,Trinidad and Tobago, Ireland, Spain,France, and Italy.

According to the Box Office,audience reaction to the shows at Fringe has generally been positive, withtheatergoers gushing over the showsthey enjoyed. With this in mind, ticketsellers can make recommendationsbased solely on the reputations of theshows presented. And those who havevolunteered their time and energy tocontribute to FringeNYC’s success arefinally seeing their efforts rewarded withthe knowledge that they are serving alarge community from all over theworld, of patrons and producers alike.

Packed housesMichelle Alden, playwright and co-producer of “Dear America,” a dramaconcerning the relationship between twohigh school bombing suspects and theirlife struggles, which premiered lastSaturday night to an almost-full house,described opening weekend as“insanity.” She had been coming toFringeNYC for years and had heard a lotof great things about it from friends whohad acted or directed or produced, whohelped inspire her decision to apply forthe festival and assemble a cast and crewwith her “awesome” director LaurenRosen. Finally being able to put on theshow had its share of frustrations,according to her “we were more anxiousabout all the little things like getting allour props and having tech and makingsure the lights work and everyone hadeverything that they needed, but it wasactually very well structured and fairlyorganized, you know our venue directorand FringeNYC really organized things.You know terribly well, yeah everyonegets nervous on opening night but it is apoint where you just gotta sit down andwatch your show take its own life.”

The highlight of the festival for herwas of working at the Flea Theater,noting, “I don’t know how eleven showscan tech in a week, and get a show up,and have a stellar house but everyonedid it did it because everyone pullstogether and they devote all their timeand energy into just this one thing andhave a really awesome company.” Afirst-time producer for FringeNYC, sheplans to continue to apply every year forfuture FringeNYC festivals, stating “wehave such an opportunity here to haveterrific space and buzz and publicity,and to work with literally hundreds of different people and hundreds ofother shows is something I would totally want to do again.”

Successful campaignsAndrew Rasmussen, producer,choreographer, and graphic designer of“Tradition!,” based on a true story ofproducing “Fiddler on the Roof” in asmall Christian-oriented Kansas town,which he describes as “Waiting forGuffman meets Drop Dead Gorgeousmeets My Big Fat Goyish Fiddler on theRoof” (the first two references are actualfilms, the third has yet to be written, hehimself likens his play to anindependent film), started by sellingeighteen tickets, only to wind up sellinga near-capacity 350 tickets. A first-timeFringe producer, Rasmussen takes this asa sign of a successful campaign, notingthat “it’s exciting and it’s fun to see thesupport, that a lot of people want to justcome see a good show, and they wantyour show to be good. They’re nothawks, and they’re not looming overyour shoulder, they’re coming to see agood play, and they’re coming to see agood comedy and have a good laugh.”He has high hopes for the play’s futureand definitely intends to take his showfurther, likening FringeNYC to a“springboard” where the play can betested out before a live audience,enabling him to determine what worksand what needs to be changed. For him,the best part of the Fringe festival is thediverse styles of theatrical performance:“Some people are painted in blue, somepeople are doing a straight comedy,that’s what the Fringe festival is allabout, great variety.”

So far, the tenth annual New YorkInternational Fringe Festival is off to agreat start, going as well as planned, andwe can only expect it will go thissmoothly for the remainder of thefestival, right up until the end of theclosing cermony. n

by Anton Spivak

Volunteer Jack Blasenstein sells the first ticket at the Flea

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Premieres provea big success

Continued on p2

The opening weekend of FringeNYC 2006… Hmmm… an interesting topic for an article, don’t you think?

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