Multiple venues on the Northside
May 8 – 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, Scotland—and is now the world’s largest arts festival—has 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 Northside—including restaurants such as Bistro to Go and Max’s Allegheny Tavern and the Mexican War Streets house-turned-art-installation that’s 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 year’s lineup of 25-plus edgy acts includes Pittsburgh-based performers, as well as artists and groups hailing from Kentucky, Massachusetts and New York. Underscoring Fringe’s 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 “spectacularities,” including a musical featuring puppets made from discarded materials, a blog‐style solo show exploring the everyday woman, a spoken‐word performance about LGBT themes, a fresh new twist on Hedwig and the Angry Inch, a stand‐up horror show, a reinvention of Hamlet’s iconic “play within a play” and a traveling game crafted by City of Play.
Performers for 2015 include ManDamsel, FellaLady, Paul Strickland, Cheryl Capezzuti, Slava Dance Company, Cup‐A‐Jo 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.
