Multiple venues on the Northside
May 8 â 10
Various times
Where can you see edgy theater productions inside a German tavern or an eclectic art-house? What began in 1947 in Edinburgh, Scotlandâand is now the worldâs largest arts festivalâhas gone on to spawn an underground theatre movement in 200-plus cities worldwide dubbed Fringe.
For its second annual installment, the Pittsburgh Fringe Festival is presenting a weekend packed with experimental performing arts productions in unconventional venues on the Northsideâincluding restaurants such as Bistro to Go and Maxâs Allegheny Tavern and the Mexican War Streets house-turned-art-installation thatâs become a beloved local landmark known as Randyland.
How does Fringe work? All participants produce, market and present a original show during a Pittsburgh or world premiere. Featured artists and companies may perform in designated Northside venues, on city sidewalks or in self-selected site-specific spaces.
This yearâs lineup of 25-plus edgy acts includes Pittsburgh-based performers, as well as artists and groups hailing from Kentucky, Massachusetts and New York. Underscoring Fringeâs staunchly grassroots spirit, performers were selected by festival staffers at random during an online party.
Fringe-goers will be treated to one-of-kind theatrical âspectacularities,â including a musical featuring puppets made from discarded materials, a blogâstyle solo show exploring the everyday woman, a spokenâword performance about LGBT themes, a fresh new twist on Hedwig and the Angry Inch, a standâup horror show, a reinvention of Hamletâs iconic âplay within a playâ and a traveling game crafted by City of Play.
Performers for 2015 include ManDamsel, FellaLady, Paul Strickland, Cheryl Capezzuti, Slava Dance Company, CupâAâJo Productions, Carnegie Screenwriters, Jongleur, Opera Ingnite and many others.
Not sure what to see? View a complete festival schedule and download a program. See all ticketing options.