[Now in its second year, the New York International Fringe Festival takes over Manhattan's Lower East Side Aug. 19-30. More than 144 productions hailing from across the country and around the world will take part in the Fest, which occupies nearly every viable theatre space in the vicinity. As a way to keep up with the onslaught of offerings, in the days preceding the Fest, Playbill On-Line hopes to spotlight several unique or intriguing productions.]

Bender at the Red Room, Aug. 22-29.

Bender tells the story of Radio Guy's dissolution into pure noise. In his quest to become a "pure transmission," Radio Guy receives a series of three visitations or "transmissions." He seeks to advance and gain knowledge by interrogating each visitation, but instead he finds himself less and less able to control the transmissions. Soon, they become increasingly frantic and fragmented, and he ends up transcending into "pure noise."

Bender is written/directed/designed by Eric Dyer, a former Wooster Group Associate. Previous productions by Dyer include: Radio Hole and Beautifulland.

Also featured in Bender is a "noise based" score composed by Blue Man Group zither player, Dan Dobson. Bender stars Chris Crofton, Maggie Hoffman, and Brent Cox. Bender will play at The Red Room on East 4th Street, Aug. 22-29. For more information call (212) 420-8877, and for tickets call (888) FringeNYC.

-- By Sean McGrath