The New York International Fringe Festival will celebrate its tenth annual festivities in 2006 at lower Manhattan playhouses. The shows and events will take place over two weeks in late August and, as usual, will include artists from around the world. Fringe NYC is produced by The Present Company, headed up by producing artistic director Elena K. Holy.

More than 800 applications are expected for the popular summer theatre staple while less than 200 submissions will be invited to participate. The 2005 Fringe NYC took in just under $25,000 in sales (all at $15 per ticket) in its first 24 hours.

With a growing track record, Fringe NYC has churned out such shows as Off Broadway's Debbie Does Dallas, Never Swim Alone, 21 Dog Years: Doing Time @ Amazon.com, Matt & Ben, The Joys of Sex and Dog Sees God. The most successful show to come from the downtown exhibitor is Urinetown — which graduated to Off-Broadway, then Broadway and has since toured across the country.

Fringe applications are available online at The Present Company's website at www.fringenyc.com. Those who are accepted will be notified by mail on or about April 26.

Accepted productions will play daily from 3 PM-Midnight weekdays and Noon-Midnight on weekends at venues to be named later. For more information or to become a volunteer, call (212) 420-8877, or write to FringeNYC at 196-198 Stanton Street, New York NY 10002.