The New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC), which bills itself as the largest multi-arts festival in North America, has lined up 185 emerging theatre troupes and dance companies to perform in 16 venues.
Tickets cost $18 each and are available at FringeNYC.org. You can also use that link to check out the range of shows being offered this year. Discount passes for multiple shows (including the Fiver and the all-you-can-see Lunatic Pass) are also available. Tickets can also be purchased in person at FringeCentral (56 E 1st Street between First and Second Aves) beginning August 7.<p>
To capitalize on the "hot shows" that seem to pop out of the pack each summer, the Fringe is offereing somethign new this year: FringeFAVES. On August 30, the final performance slot in each of the 16 theaters hosting the festival will be given over to the best-selling show in that venue. The actual shows will not be announced until the final week of the festival, but the slots are currently on sale (at Fringenyc.org/special-events/fringefaves). Patrons are advised that they can buy tickets now and be surprised or wait and find out if their favorite show grabs one of the coveted slots.
FringeNYC has served as launching pad for numerous Off-Broadway and Broadway transfers, long-running downtown hits, and regional theater productions including <i>Urinetown, Matt & Ben, Debbie Does Dallas, Dog Sees God, Brandon Teena, Dixie’s Tupperware Party, 21 Dog Years, The Fartiste, Silence! The Musical</i> and <i>5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche</i>.<p>
With attendance topping 75,000 people last summer, FringeNYC has grown into the city's fifth largest event (just behind New York International Auto Show, Tribeca Film Festival, New York City Marathon, and New York Comic Con).
