Live Arts and Philly Fringe's topics - tribe.net

Live Arts and Fringe for 2009 - Starts Sept 4 - all sorts of social networking

bcas — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 12:24:29 GMT

The Live Arts will feature all sorts of social networking connections including a virtual/real show called FATEBOOK by New Paradise Laboratories. See the main fringe website http://www.livearts-fringe.org/ under Fun Stuff for links to blogs, Facebook, Twitter and other networking sites. The Fringe artists contact each other via Google groups and many of you still get the Yahoo group list e-mail. Since Tribe has not sponsored the Fringe since 2004 and so many other communication means are in use (including the printed guide - now available!!), this site may not be updated with all info. You may still use it to post info and photos about your shows (the ones you are in, volunteering for, seeing, etc.) but the staff and volunteers will not be continually updating Tribe due to time constraints. See main website for full details about this years festival.

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Previews of the 2009 Live Arts Festival - Headlong Dance Theatre & Tere O'Connor April 4th at Arts Bank

bcas — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 17:35:09 GMT

See what's new for Live Arts and Fringe for 2009.
Upcoming preview April 4th at 7 pm at Arts Bank

See http://livearts-fringe.org/2009-preview.cfm for more info.

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Inquirer hails Theatre Exile's Mr. Marmalade

Deborah — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 12:29:04 GMT

This ain't your normal tea party...
Come see what the Philadelphia Inquirer hails as "an odd and oddly enjoyable evening" with a "pitch-perfect cast."

Kicking off Theatre Exile's 11th season is Noah Haidle's Mr. Marmalade. Mr. Marmalade is a twisted romp through the mind of a
4-year-old girl. Lucy's imaginary best friend Mr. M doesn't have time for her anymore in between his high pressure job, coke addiction and
anger management classes. But Lucy is determined to make Mr. M play house, even if it causes unexpected bizarre results.

OPENS Wednesday, November 7
RUNNING through November 25

CHECK www.theatreexile.org for specific times and prices!
CALL 215-922-4462 and speak to a LIVE operator!
"Noah Haidle... aims to unsettle and delight in equal measure." - NY Times

DIRECTED by Joe Canuso
FEATURING Amanda Schoonover, Jeb Kreager, Robert DaPonte, Dan Hodge, Charlotte Ford, Kristyn Chouiniere and Matt Pfeiffer
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/weekend/20071109_Somber_themes_invade_a_childs_world.html

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Philly Dance Fest Saturday

Steven — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 17:55:16 GMT

TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE BUT GOING FAST FOR...

PHILLY DANCE FEST
This Saturday, October 6th
Upper Darby Performing Arts Center
http://www.PhillyDanceFest.com

1:30PM
React Dance
Danse4Nia Repertory Ensemble

3:00PM
Anne-Marie Mulgrew and Dancers Co.
Kinetic Outlaws with John Luna

4:30PM
Rooted Dance Ensemble
Alchemy Dance Company
Vada Dance Collective

6:30PM
Music & Motion Dance

8:00 PM
Dance works by Indepent Choreographers:
Melissa Chisena, Kate Jordan, Tara Madsen

9:00PM
Miro Dance Theater

"An incredible day of dance that is fun for the whole family"
- Dance Critic

TICKETS & INFORMATION
http://www.PhillyDanceFest.com

Tickets will be available at the door on Saturday up to 2 hours
before each performance.

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Philly Fringe 2007!

Steven — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 14:26:50 GMT

Philadelphia Live Arts Festival & Philly Fringe 2007
MUSIC & MOTION DANCE

"RED"
A Philadelphia Premiere, 2007

Saturday, September 8th, 2007
Two performances at 2:00 & 8:00 PM

Concert Hall, Independence Seaport Museum
Penn's Landing, Philadelphia.

Tickets $10 general admission
available on line at http://www.music-and-motion.com/fringe.html
A portion of ticket sales will go to the The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Your eye is caught by a single color, RED. It is inescapable and compelling as senses are triggered and emotions aroused. When this color becomes the defining point of a relationship, one is caught up in whirlwind of seduction, passion, anger, romance and joy. Ultimately this color journey leads us to an empowering view of who we are and what is truly possible. Music and Motion Dance's new work RED, offers us an intimate look at relationships through the medium of movement, luscious visual imagery, differing human temperaments and undeniable beauty of self-discovery.

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Live Arts shows to see

bcas — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 19:12:31 GMT

Check the Fringe Website for short descriptions of shows coming to the 2007 Live Arts Festival at
http://www.livearts-fringe.org/festival2007.html

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OneDream Review

J9 — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 13:29:16 GMT

I saw OneDream at the International House last night, and it was awesome! The musicians and performers were amazing, but the costumes are the delightful highlight--just stunning. The show is done in blacklight, and the costumes and special effects are wildly trippy, including ethereal swimming fish and fluttering butterflies weaving around the dancers. The little kids I saw in the audience were totally captivated; if you've got kids, take them to see this show. The show is a collaboration by Archedream and One. They have one more show today (Sunday) at 3 p.m. Go see them if you can!

http://www.archedream.com/home.html

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Fringe 2006: Reviews and Recommendations from the Audience

dextly — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 19:53:57 GMT

I've assigned several of my students to write reviews of shows they are seeing, and it seems a shame not to share them. That said, here is a topic for any audience member, not simply my group of teenagers.

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 2 replies

Philly Fringe 2006: Music & Motion Dance: To A Different Beat

Steven — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 12:16:26 GMT

Music & Motion Dance Productions

"To A Different Beat"
Philadelphia Premiere

Saturday, September 16th, 2006
Times: 2:00PM, 4:00PM, 7:30PM

Philadelphia Cathedral, 3723 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia

Tickets: $10

Known for visually arresting creations, this contemporary youth company returns to Fringe for a third year, exploring a cultural fusion of expressive rhythm and dance set to modern global music. Blending individual creativity, these dancers entice with their own rhythms of the heart, intense imagery, boldness and pure energy.

For more information, photographs and tickets on line
http://www.music-and-motion.com/fringe.html

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News about volunteering for the 2006 10th annual Live Arts and philly fringe

bcas — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 13:38:00 GMT

Just received this message from Cherie
========================================

It's hard to believe, but September is just around the
corner. That means it is time to think about getting
involved with Fringe! The Philadelphia Live Arts
Festival and Philly Fringe will return in September to
celebrate movement, song, theatre, visual art and
more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ushers, tickets sellers, house managers, security, box office staff, and drivers
needed
The Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe,
celebrating ten years, will run from September 1st to
the 16th. The Festival is an enormous venture and
we need a strong base of community support to
make it happen. Volunteers serve as ushers, ticket
sellers, house managers, security watch, survey-
takers, floaters and more.

This year, we have added an exciting volunteer
opportunity: drivers! PhillyCarShare will sponsor a
shuttle between Old City and the Cabaret in Northern
Liberties. Drivers are needed throughout the festival
from 9:30 or 10:30 PM until about 2:30 AM.

We also need pre-festival volunteers to help us
distribute festival guides next week throughout the
city. If you are interested in helping prior to the
festival or if you would like to be a shuttle driver,
please contact us ASAP!

For details on this year's program, visit our web site -
http://www.livearts-fringe.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What better way to contribute to the arts in
Philadelphia than becoming a volunteer? Be a part of
all the action, creativity, wonder and ingenuity the
Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe is all
about! Attend one of our Volunteer Information
Sessions on Tuesday, August 8th at 7:00 PM or
Saturday, August 12th at 1:00 PM at our fabulous
new administrative offices, located at 32 North Front
Street (between Market & Arch). RSVP at
volunteer@livearts-fringe.org or 215-413-
9006.

Volunteers are the backbone of our festival, and we
appreciate everything that you do. Please contact
me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cherie Courtade
Philadelphia Live Arts Festival & Philly Fringe

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
email: volunteer@livearts-fringe.org
phone: 215-413-9006
web: http://www.livearts-fringe.org

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Prepare for the 10th Fringe/Live Arts

bcas — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 17:51:33 GMT

coming soon - volunteer sign up for Live Arts 2006!!!

probably first week in August, Tuesday and Saturday

don't know much about festival yet - Hell, Cell --- where's the Box Office? Oh. well. (that's Emio Greco PC, Headlong, and someplace cooler than the National Dock #2 I hope... I'm not swearing.)

Cherie will need a lot of help. Festival without Deb Block, Sara Madden, Sarah Anton ... new interns, coordinators and programming assistants everywhere and new Fringe HQ ...the roomy 32 N Front St.

Please come on out and volunteer.
Sat, July 15, 2006 - 10:42 AM - permalink - 0 Comments

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Music & Motion Dance to Perform at 2006 Youth Dance Festival

Steven — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 14:13:24 GMT

Music & Motion Dance Productions is one of eight youth dance companies selected to participate in this year’s Youth Regional Dance Festival at Haverford’s Centennial Hall, Saturday, April 8 at 11:30 a.m. The second annual show, sponsored by ContempraDance, gathers youth dance ensembles from across the region, performing in a variety of dance styles.

At the 2006 festival, young dancers are provided an opportunity to perform in a professional arena and interact with members of the professional ContempraDance company, while the audience enjoys a professionally staged show of emerging dancers.

Music & Motion Dance will be featuring several new dance pieces from the upcoming premiere of it’s new work “To A Different Beat”. Known for visually arresting creations, this contemporary youth company explores a cultural fusion of expressive rhythm and dance set to modern global music. Blending individual creativity, these dancers entice with their own rhythms of the heart, intense imagery, boldness and pure energy.

Other featured youth dance companies will include American Dance Academy, ContempraDance Youth Ensemble, FloMotion 2, KICKS School of Dance, Nyce Stylez Junior Hip Hop Company, Pottstown Dance Theater and BMD Performing Arts Center.

Luncheon will follow the youth show. At 2:30 pm the day will conclude with a special performance by ContempraDance Theatre. The company’s performance includes the premier of Artistic Director Gail Vartanian’s new original dance work Intersect -- multi-media work integrating dancers, video, photography, and live original music. Vartanian’s choreography accompanies music by Divine Loraine and Autovon, video elements by artist Jen Mazer, and interactive lighting and set designs by Madison Cario. ContempraDance Theatre also plans to perform its colorful signature piece Exotic Birds, the zany Crash Course and the sultry Variation of Blues.

Tickets to the 2006 Youth Regional Dance Festival are $40 and include the youth performances, lunch and ContempraDance Theatre’s company show. Discounts are available for groups of 20 or more. Tickets can be reserved by calling ContempraDance Theatre, 610-225-3007 or order on line at:
http://www.music-and-motion.com/contempradance. Visa and MasterCard are accepted.

Music & Motion Dance Productions is a non-profit corporation, which is both owned and operated by teens with mentoring from outside corporations and individuals. It is a group of pre-professional dancers ages fourteen through eighteen, who have expressed an interest in pursuing dance and the performing arts. Under the artistic direction of Steven Weisz, this group’s mission has been to empower young people through dance and creative collaboration in the performing arts, building self-esteem and inspiring self-expression and community action.

To that end, Music & Motion performs locally and in surrounding communities throughout the year, as well as performances in a fully professional atmosphere presented for corporations, museums, gardens, and live arts related venues. Music & Motion fulfills the need for providing young dancers with performing experience in a nurturing environment, while continually exciting audiences wherever they perform. The collaborative efforts of the entire company create a synergy rich in imagination, celebration and spirit.

2006 Cast Members are: Maddie Breslin, Yardley, PA ; Christina Heupel, Newtown, PA; Kristen Konski, Bristol, PA; Kate Lubenetski, Quakertown, PA ; Lauren Mulholland, Aston, PA; Melissa Martin, Schwenksville, PA; Andrea Piovane, Bensalem, PA; Lindsay Reuter, Bryn Athyn, PA; and Noelle Tolbert, Harleysville, PA.

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PDC at the Fringe

dextly — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 06:07:52 GMT

Philadelphia Dramatists Center has nine, count 'em, nine productions at the Fringe this year. And since this tribe has become so quiet, I won't feel so bad about promoting one or more of our shows here. In fact, as an experiment, I will single out a single performance:

DIRT
by Jeremy Blyth
Thursday (today) at 9pm
Spirit Wind, 213 New Street
one block north of the bridge, between 2nd and 3rd
(just a short walk from the Fringe box office)

I will personally admit for only $5 ANYONE who shows up for tonight's show and mentions "the offer on tribe dot net."

Folks, this is one of our more interesting pieces, a comic existential allegory that now has an added virtue: WE DO NOT KNOW HOW IT WILL END TONIGHT. We have given one actor permission to end the play as he sees fit and to do so without notifying us of his choice in advance.

But best of all, this is where the spirit of the Fringe still lives: in a small group of artists working in an unusual venue, running a low-budget experiment in service of a thought-provoking original script.

Join us! Then sit down with us afterwards over some thirst-quenchers and tell us what you thought of it all.

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A Poem: First Friday Fringe

RevInnerLight — Thu, 08 Sep 2005 19:27:44 GMT

The soundscape of the tourist trek
is vibraphone and log drum
with a simple kit as well.
Pecking through the air
their plucks more pleasant
than the pumps parading
cobblestone and brick

Neon-colored death
walks like a frog
between the cars
and scares the tourists
and the locals
into coming to their show.
Death’s drummers pound
in competition
drowning out the vibes
for half a block.

Flyers fill my hands
more music makes
it’s way through town.
I bond on the bench
with a stranger who’s daughter
came to college from DC.
I spot the old guy always dancing,
now he’s vibing as he grooves his way west.

The homeless guy outside the corner market
doesn’t blame a soul for putting him out
living on the streets, he made that choice, he said
and liked when I agreed, “because it happens all the time,
to anyone – it’s how we choose then to respond
that really counts.”

The sun goes down,
the wind picks up,
my spirit simply soars.

The sidewalks fill
as cares are emptied,
Mona Lisa smiles.

The girl who’s hair is cut like mine is everywhere these days
but thankfully, we each have our own twist, or spike, or style.

The foreign couple next to me,
read through my dog-eared catalog
containing my marked preferences,
they wonder if their daughter
knows about the goings on.
The people walking past all seem to share a common purpose
note the couple before parting – then, what’s that???

The losers of the toilet race on tricycles are lauded
by a few, but the beginners boast the best of both
shock value and success.

Maidens dance the elements and glow in colored costumes
born specifically for unique choreography and melody.

Smoking up in Elfreth’s Alley,
chillin’ in the lamppost’s light –
at the ancient water cooler,
classic rock tunes fill the air
and fall from second story spinning porches
where the ladies whiled away and
weaved dramatic summer stories.
Ms. Egan’s Garden, slate seats circle,
curve invitingly, and offering some shade by day,
small light by night, plus privacy in virtually any situation.

When the night has ended,
this lone viewer overlooks
her cultured city of the arts
with all her senses stimulated
and the elements evoked,
she starts the journey home to sleep,
to dream, to play again ‘pon waking.

~Inner Light

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Extra tickets for this Friday, 9/9

dextly — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 14:06:37 GMT

The word of mouth on both of these is very good. Unfortunately, a scheduling snafu has left me stranded, so: would anyone here be interested in buying two tickets to either or both of the following:

"Pay Up" - Pig Iron
Friday, 7:30pm

"Zone" - Big House (dir. Mark Lord)
Friday, 10pm

I'd like to ask for face value. 2 tx to Pig Iron = $30, 2 tx to Zone = $40. But if you get the tickets from me today (Wednesday), I'll take $25 for the former and $35 for the latter or $55 for both shows. Such a deal! I'll be in the University City area all day. Just drop me a line through tribe so I can track the first request. Thanks!

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Fringing Left of Center

dextly — Wed, 24 Aug 2005 18:12:52 GMT

It's all one Live Arts and Philly Fringe Festival, I know. But it takes an extra effort to stay on top of what's happening west of 30th Street. And a lot *is* happening. Post your recommendations here.

By the way, there is indexing online for the West Philly venues and performances, but you have to do a little drilling down to get to it. Or you could use this handy url as a partial shortcut:

http://www.livearts-fringe.org/2005/templates/venues.cfm?v=9

(Next year, IMHO, West Philly should appear in the dropdown menus of the main menu bar.)

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Photographer For Fringe 2005

Steven — Fri, 19 Aug 2005 11:57:10 GMT

Zebra Visual photographers Gabriel Bienczycki and Matthew Wright, who specialize in low-light dance photography, offer an all time low price for the coverage of the Fringe performances.

$195 per evening (for shows shorter than 3 hours). The price can be split between the performers if the bill is shared. Package includes selected and edited photographs in digital format, a copyright release and a web gallery.

Visit www.zebravisual.com to see example work and recent assignments.
Click here to see a flyer for the special http://www.zebravisual.com/fringeflyer.jpg

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On a more personal note - Gabe has photographed our dance group several times and has done an unbelievable job! I would highly recommend him! He is prompt, on time, works great with artists, is himself a dancer and knows what to look for, has an incredible eye, and shoots some of the most unbelievable photos. [http://www.music-and-motion.com/photos.html]

Even more so, he delivers what he promises, with a quick turn around time. I had my cd and photos with in 2-4 days of each shoot. Unlike last years experience with the Fringe recommended photographer who took my check for which I have yet to receive my high resolution CD of photos, even after several discussions.

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Dance Recommendations

Sun, 14 Aug 2005 00:17:21 GMT

Looking for great dance performances. Any recommendations?

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 1 reply

Where's Headlong?

Sun, 14 Aug 2005 00:15:42 GMT

It looks like Headlong Dance Theater isn't presenting anything at the festival this year :-( Does anyone know why that is? It just won't be the same without them.

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Spending The Summer Preparing for the Philly Fringe

Steven — Sun, 19 Jun 2005 14:16:40 GMT

Once again the heat index is in the nineties in Philadelphia. Armed with huge buckets of Gatorade, water, ice and a few portable fans, fourteen teenage dancers prepare for what is to be one of many, seven-hour rehearsals held each week throughout the summer. The all female cast of Music & Motion Dance is preparing to showcase their talents at the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival & Philly Fringe.

This will be the second year that this group has participated in the Fringe. They are the youngest of the performance groups, with ages ranging from thirteen to eighteen. The teens are from a community of over three regional counties, Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia, often traveling up to an hour on the road each way to get to rehearsals. A particularly exceptional group of young adults, they have come together out of a love of dance and the performing arts.

Their new dance work, "Elements", is their most ambitious project yet. Featuring over twenty new dance pieces that explore the four elements of antiquity - earth, water, air and fire. Even more amazing is the fact that all of the choreography is done through a collaborative effort by the entire cast. Under the direction of Steven Weisz, founder and artistic director of Music & Motion, the group spends hours playing with movement from which new dance works literally evolve.

“The groups creativity and self-expression is rather astounding to watch,” says Weisz. Together they have created a kaleidoscope of movement and creativity drawn from these ancient elements. Each element is portrayed with a mixture of dance styles ranging from classical ballet to modern, lyrical, hip-hop, gymnastics and acrobatic dance.

Maddie Breslin, a senior dancer from Yardley, PA, states the their new work Elements is "an artistic vision joining together the roots of our planet, of our spirits and of each other. It represents something very basic in each of us and touches those who share in this dance experience with us."

While preparing for Fringe and still having an ambitious summer performance schedule ahead of them, one can sense the energy from this group. "The whole dance company is an incredible blend of talent", according to Kristen Konski of Bristol, PA, "but more importantly we are very much a family. All of the girls I dance with in Music & Motion have become life long friends".

According to Kate Lubeneski of Quakertown, PA, "the Philly Fringe is an experience like no other. To be on stage and performing in a festival side by side with so many other incredible local artists as well as those from all over the United States is, well, just incredible!"

Music & Motion Dance will be performing in the Philly Fringe 2005 on Labor Day weekend - Friday, September 2nd and Saturday, September 3rd. Both performances are at 8PM at the National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street, Philadelphia. Tickets are $15 and must be purchased in advance. For tickets or to learn more about Music & Motion Dance Productions and their upcoming performances, go to www.music-and-motion.com

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 3 replies

What is Pilliy like???

copperweaver — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 00:12:49 GMT

Hello everyone, Im new to the tribe. My name is Isaac. I joined to get feedback about Philadelphia, and do a little research on the arts in your city. I am thinking about applying to the Tyler school of art for my graduate studies in metals, sculpture or printmaking and was wondering if anyone has any personal experiances with Tyler. The think I find most attractive about the MFA program is the opportunity to student teach. Im also wondering what public transportation is like Philly. I currently live in Cleveland and do not like how spread out everything is. The public transport here is lousy and the art seine is mediocre, and I find it challenging to meet new people here. What is your city like????

any feedback would be much appreciated.

isaac

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 2 replies

PhiladelphiaDANCE.org

Steven — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 15:10:33 GMT

Attention Philadelphia Dance Community -

You are cordially invited to help us with the launching of a new web site, www.philadelphiadance.org

Our mission is to promote the art form of dance in the Greater Philadelphia Region through the power of the Internet. To that end, we hope you will join us by contributing to your thoughts, ideas, announcements and more

http://www.philadelphiadance.org

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photos from the festivals- now online

Jacques-Jean — Mon, 27 Sep 2004 01:02:49 GMT

hi there-

if you want to check out a few pictures from the festival, they're now online at:
http://www.jjtiziou.net/2004festival

there's also unedited galleries of the whole damn thing, if you've got too much time on your hands and feel like browsing through 18,000 snapshots...

take care,
-jj

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What's Next?

spreadgoodvibes — Mon, 20 Sep 2004 14:21:33 GMT

Now that the Fringe Fest is over...what's next?

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 2 replies

Philly Friends Singles:New Tribe

spreadgoodvibes — Mon, 20 Sep 2004 14:22:00 GMT

I just started a Tribe for Philly area singles to make friends. It's for people who want to make friends, meet their friends, and leave the door open to dating possibilities.

Topics are ecclectic, so post on any subject that interests you.

All Singles in the Philly area are welcome. If you join, please spread the word and invite others.

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Extra ticket to Shen Wei tonight....

Celeste — Sat, 18 Sep 2004 17:38:49 GMT

I bought two half-price ($15) tickets to the Shen Wei Dance Troupe tonight at the Perelman, and my buddy isn't able to make it. Anybody out there interested? You can contact me at cdinucci@sas.upenn.edu.

--Celeste

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MULTI-FAMILY REVIEW!!!!

MOO — Sat, 18 Sep 2004 09:37:50 GMT

CITYPAPER REVIEW!
9/17/04

Multi-Family Garage Sale
The Bald Mermaids & Mark O'Maley
Dance • Crane Arts Center • $10 • 60 minutes

Inside the cavernous, beautiful Crane Arts Center, treat yourself to a miniature walking tour of 13 pieces by remarkable local dancers. Lighting — designed by Mark O’Maley, and used here as an element of performance rather than decoration — sheds all over the thousands-square-feet floor space, while solos and group pieces make their homes in different corners. You’ll find yourself scampering to keep up, but it’s all worth it as you reach each new destination, and your shadow’s cast all over the back wall. Highlights among a stellar program are Katie McNamara’s hyperactive jitter lit with hot pink (in the program’s eponymous piece); Bethany Formica’s aggressive performance in O’Maley’s “In The Rye”; and “Agitation”, a ballet populated by antsy suits including Janette Hough-Fertig, Rebecca Sloan and Adam Stone, sitting on chrome desk chairs, some of which are suspended from the ceiling. But make the schlep north of Girard for the whole experience of site-specific dance which finds more than one kind of site under one roof.
— Juliet Fletcher

FINAL SHOW TONIGHT @ 10pm!!!!!!!!!!!

Crane Arts CEnter
1400 N. American Street

(SEPTA #57 Bus from 3rd street stops right at the building!, and 3 block walk from GIRARD stop on teh Market-Frankford LIne)

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IT’S OUT THERE, BABY!

Lee Ann — Sat, 18 Sep 2004 00:26:22 GMT

The Live Arts Festival dares us to go to some new places

It’s not always out of necessity that the Live Arts Festival produces shows in some unusual spaces. In the Other Places programming artists get the opportunity to make work in reaction to their environment and three of those artists have come up with some wild pieces.

You may have seen Lucidity Suitcase International’s hit, Lost Soles in the 2000 Festival, but you’ve never seen it like this. Drive-In Lost Soles (29) has been reconfigured and elevated to new performance levels and literally a higher location. Set atop the Whole Foods Market on South Street, Thaddeus Phillips’ re-tells his story of a tap dancer stranded in Cuba in 1938. But with a drive-in movie size screen, he transforms the rooftop and makes seeing the show anew.

And just when you thought nothing could really be done with that old National Products Building, but high-rise condos, Reliant Projects brings us Black Palace Pink Party (pg 28). Transforming the space into a labyrinth of twisted rooms, Black Palace walks us through an apocalyptic house party with Jayne Mansfield as our hostess. Campy, violent, and twisted in the best possible way, Black Palace Pink Party, puts Rocky Horror to shame. It’s the only show in the Festival that I know of where you get to step over dead bloody bodies to get to the next scene.

Another show that makes you happy to be on the wrong side of the tracks is AdShock (pg 25), the latest Festival fantasia by Brian Sander’s Junk. Sanders has never shied away from spectacle and this journey into the head-games of our media manipulated world takes advantage of his ability to make our heads spin even more. His athletic choreography has wowed Festival audiences for the past five years and for this production, set in The Transit Station on Spring Garden and N. Front Streets you should expect a lot of wildly moving parts, both mechanical and human.

We’re closing in fast on the closing weekend of the Festivals so don’t stop moving. See the work that takes you to places you’ve never been before, both with your beer soaked body and your art-drunk mind. Save your soul…go to the party…and shock yourself.
I dare you!

Double Dog Dare of the day:
Ask for a taste of the soup of the day at Black Palace Pink Party. You might think twice when you see the menu.

Your ex-administrator,
Lee Ann Etzold

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Lee's Daily Diaries

Lee Ann — Wed, 08 Sep 2004 18:59:23 GMT

So we thought we'd set up an ongoing discussion with all the Daily Diary reports. They're down at the Box Office too (620 Chestnut Street) in print form.

ARE YOU READY? I ’m here to make sure you are!

It is customary for the writer of the Daily Diary to have an excellent knowledge of what the Festival has in store for you - to prepare you for your Festival Planning - and perhaps give you some helpful hints from the inside. For the past four years Corrina Burns, previous Fringe artist and Fringe office administrator, did just that. With an ex-administrator, you were in good hands. And in that tradition, I, Lee Ann Etzold, also a previous Fringe artist and Fringe office administrator, gladly accept the responsibility of giving you the “inside scoop ”on the Festivals.

The Philadelphia Live Arts and The Philly Fringe Festivals were inspired by and modeled after the Edinburgh International Festival and the Festival Fringe. I ’ve just returned from the Edinburgh Festivals where I was submersed in a cacophony of over 3,000 shows and exhibitions. Trying to find even a handful of inspiring work was exhausting. I am so happy to be home! There ’s something about the volume and diversity of our Philadelphia Festivals that are what Goldilocks calls “just right. ”I could go on about why, but there just isn ’t time!

I ’m very excited about a number of shows and workshops that will come and go this weekend so I want to make sure you don ’t miss them. There will be a list of shows that are about to close in each daily diary as well some fun tidbits about the artists and what they ’re doing. Are you ready?

The double bill featuring NY choreographer Ann Liv Young and our own Charles O. Anderson and dance theatre x (pg. 42) promises to be one of the most diverse evenings of dance programming at the Live Arts Festival. Anderson ’s gifted physical storytelling will bring you back down to earth after soaring into the whimsy of Young ’s unpredictability; she has already changed her show from what is in the guide!

Jacek Luminski is a Polish choreographer who is collaborating with some of our favorite local dancers in a piece about breaking clich és. Coming Back to Roots will feature Alison D ’Amato, Rene Robinson-Buzby, Kristen Shaverdian, and newcomer Christina Zani. “The piece is very physical but also has incorporated a lot of character work ”, says D ’Amato. Both Coming Back to Roots and the Young and Anderson double bill will close after this weekend and performances have moved to the Drake Theatre, 1512 Spruce St. (entrance on Hicks St.)

Be sure to check out the Festival Plus (pgs. 16 & 17) so you don ’t miss the FREE discussions and workshops with visiting artists like Jacek Lumenski and 33 Fainting Spells. It ’s a fantastic opportunity for audiences and artists to interact and explore with each other. That way you can also skip the small talk if you see each other at the Late Night Cabaret.

Speaking of Late Night Cabaret, don ’t forget to check out that line-up on page 51. Those artists often perform ONE NIGHT ONLY!

I know. It ’s a lot. But my job is to make sure you feel prepared for the next few days because FESTIVAL TIME IS HERE and the first weekend always goes by fast. So run down to the Box Office or jump on our website and get your tickets NOW!

Till Tomorrow, your ex-administrator,
Lee Ann Etzold
Dai

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 16 replies

Multi-Family Garage Sale A Great Deal!

james — Thu, 16 Sep 2004 19:11:24 GMT

Hi there,

I heard from a coupe of friends that this show is great. Anyone else seen it?

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 2 replies

Box Office Hiaku

Sarah — Fri, 17 Sep 2004 18:56:03 GMT

5 syllables - 7 syllables - 5 syllables. From the friendly staff at the Box who know the shows pretty well.

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 7 replies

Living under a rock

witch_dancer — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 18:55:29 GMT

I swear, I must be living under a rock. It's the 15th, and I just found out that the fringe fest is going on now. I missed it last year, and I vowed to get out to see some stuff this year. Where can I find a schedule of what's left? Especially music and dance.

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 3 replies

wow. anyone see pressing the flesh?

Jessa — Fri, 17 Sep 2004 18:34:19 GMT

I was so impressed by a show I saw last night at plays and players theatre on Delancey Street. If you haven't seen it I suggest you check it out. Espeically with the election coming up. It definitly made me go home and think. So if you are looking for a thought-provoking show don't miss it. I believe it is playing until saturday night at 9pm.

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

Adshock

Amy — Fri, 17 Sep 2004 14:48:55 GMT

I keep hearing the buzz about Adshock and that you can't afford to not go to this one! Friday and Saturday night 9:00 performances are already sold out, so catch the late show at 11:00 on Friday or Saturday night.

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

Shen Wei's performance

Amy — Fri, 17 Sep 2004 14:44:44 GMT

The show was great! It has been a long time since I have seen this type of skill and interpretation of a classical music piece. Stravinski is such a powerful composer, and combined with Shen Wei's company, it was a performance that you truly shouldn't miss. There was an opportunity to speak with Nick Stuccio and Shen Wei after the performance, so take advantage of that opportunity as well.

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

festival's final two days/call out to volunteers

Will — Fri, 17 Sep 2004 14:27:43 GMT

Final two days of the 2004 live arts Philly Fringe fest. Lots of great shows to check out. Why not see what a show's buzz has been about or see one ya haven't heard about and create some buzz of your own.

A volunteer's call out to volunteers. The festival still needs your help. Still plenty chances to volunteer and help out your friendly neighborhood fringe staffers and possibly catch a show at the same time depending on your volunteer assignment. Volunteering makes the big party at the end just that much more fun

See Meghann or Rosanna at the box office for more info or call 215.413.1270 or email volunteer@livearts-fringe.org

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

BRINGIN’ OUT THE BIG GUNS

Lee Ann — Fri, 17 Sep 2004 01:11:38 GMT

Shen Wei Dance Arts performs for Live Arts at the Kimmel

Sure, the Live Arts Festival has edgy artists, a fancy website, growing audiences and a shiny new name, but when it comes to bringing in the big companies, it’s nice to have friendly neighbors with shiny new buildings. Especially when your loosing potential performance space hourly to Old City condo and Starbuck construction. Last year, the Kimmel opened its doors to help us welcome C. Felix Rucker, the artist-audience relationship revolutionary from Germany. This year they are helping us bring in another big artist.

Shen Wei is quite the Renaissance man. A choreographer, dancer, painter and designer he joined the Chinese opera at the age of nine and was part of the first Chinese modern dance troupe before he moved to the States in 1995. He founded Shen Wei Dance Arts in New York in 2001 and since then has performed at Lincoln Center, the American Dance Festival and the Spoleto Festival USA. But that’s just a little background.

What we really need to talk about is the work! Shen Wei has incorporated movement-theater and visual art with his studies in Chinese Opera and modern dance for a new approach to performance. The New York Times calls his vision, “…painterly, mathematical, and idiosyncratic.” In Rite of Spring / Behind Resonance (pg 9), Shen Wei paints his dances. Using the stage as a canvas for his design and his dancers like paint, he creates a moving mural that releases the most intricate patterns of Stravinsky’s score. He challenges what we think the body should be doing in dance with surprising glimpses at the energy pulsing within the choreographic structure. If you visit his website, www.shenweidancearts.org, and look at the reviews, you see a pattern begin to emerge; this guy just stuns his audiences.

He is such a big deal the Live Arts Festival joined forces with the new Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts to make sure Shen Wei came to Philadelphia audiences. True, it made for a higher ticket price, but when you consider all of the shows you’ve been seeing for next to nothing (and sometimes, actually nothing) the amount you’ve saved definitely allows for a little splurge on a $35 ticket. It’s worth it!

Affirmation of the Day:
“I love art and art loves me. I deserve to see Shen Wei Dance Arts.”

Your ex-administrator,
Lee Ann Etzold

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

Adshock: Great Show!!!

nick — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 17:46:50 GMT

First of all, i'd like to say that this was a great performance. It was fun, and the dancers were AMAZING!!! They also made great use of a unique space...

At the end of the show, they requested donations to support a planned tour. Can someone provide contact information? i'd like to help with more than the loose change from my pockets.

Thanks!

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 2 replies

Has anyone seen "the Philly Fan"?

Amy — Thu, 16 Sep 2004 15:41:02 GMT

It looks hilarious, and Friday, Saturday, and Sunday performances are sold out. If I go it has to be tonight!!!

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

"love" at the Fringe

Carey — Thu, 16 Sep 2004 15:32:37 GMT

I thought that this was a great production of an overlong, mediocre play. Great tech, overall great acting and direction. It's the first show of my college mates' company, Flashpoint, playing at the Ethical Society. If you're into young talent, come and check it out!

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

"Hell Meets Henry" for the first time tonight!

Carey — Tue, 07 Sep 2004 18:54:47 GMT

I can't wait to see this show! I saw the reprise of "Cafeteria" at last year's festival, and loved the (American) collective memories preyed and played on in the performance. It'll be neat to see what Pig Iron does with a more concrete and specific tale. If you go, please tell me what you think -- I've got to wait until next Tuesday.

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 3 replies

View from the fire exit: an outsiders guide on how not to miss everything

bcas — Sat, 28 Aug 2004 15:27:36 GMT

How about a discussion topic for those not "In" with a show on what sounds really good, what the buzz is, what you might miss by not having enough time to study the guide.

For example:

Yes, Sideshow Bennie is here, Late Night Cabaret Sunday. I had 3 or 4 people ask even before we had guides out last First Friday.

Wid says to see Stand Up on the Fringe. He stuffed his card in a bunch of the guides at the box office so it would hit you in the lap when you were looking for what to see.

Don't forget to check out Fringe Dance program. As first class as many "programmed" dance lineups in years past. I couldn't even get to "A" when I saw "3 on Top" (Ruba Club) and 4X4. Burst of Pure Dream looks good.

Tons of Free stuff in this years Live Arts, I was surprised. In Rehearsal. When was the last time you saw Group Motion with another Japanese company FOR FREE.

Cabaret looks nice, full bar area, long audience area for socializing, etc. Well worth the trip for Late Night or a show.

Greg Giovanni told Lori at Box Office that Black Palace Pink Party at the National should have all theatrical warnings: that's right, smoking, strobe lights, adult content, GUNFIRE!
I didn't realize from first reading that it is a walk through show; you are in the party. If you like this sort of stuff get tickets early, walkthrough audience size is much smaller than seating capacity for NPL show or even Limbic Pentamater viewing.

More later.

Please respond with your viewing tips.
See you by the fire exit.

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 12 replies

Great Show! -- ComedySportz -- Bad Hair's -- Fringetastic Sketchtacular

Kim — Thu, 16 Sep 2004 03:25:43 GMT

Opening night for Bad Hair's Fringetastic Sketchtacular tonight -- great Fringe show! After seeing 15 shows -- I would've picked it for one of the Live Arts highlights. Thanks to Siano gallery for the awesome venue. Wish I had more time to catch this show twice!

Am looking forward to LunchLady Doris!

Catch both at the Adrienne each 2nd & 3rd Saturday night at midnight if you can't catch them at the Fringe.

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE

Lee Ann — Thu, 16 Sep 2004 00:02:21 GMT

You get 2-4-1 4 2x the fun

In the tradition of the Festival double bill program, two choreographers with different, yet complimentary approaches to dance share a bill. Shua Group starts off the evening with 1000 Nows. The dance plays with the relationships between audience and performer, order and chaos, so audience participation should be expected. Some members of the audience will be asked to respond to written directions that govern the extent of their participation. This will most likely lead to unexpected and exciting interactions.

David Konyk has been dancing and choreographing with Group Motion Dance Company for the past few years and is now exploring 2 works independently. The first is a duet featuring Konyk and an uncommon partner of standard proportions. I thought about the title of his show, 1x5x4x3, and realized there was dimension I couldn’t put my finger on till I realized it was a reference to his second piece which is a trio. Three Sisters is a romp thru sibling rivalry than many of us will relate to. I get it, now. Shua and Konyk (pg 43) are programmed in Christ Church as a double bill and their pairing will make for a powerful evening of dance.

I also want to remind you again of a unique opportunity to do two things at once. The German-based dance company, Zen in the Basement has begun their performances of Off the Map (pg 45). This exaggerated musing on our constant quest to find something better for ourselves strives to make us understand why we feel the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. If you attend the show on Friday the 17th, Merilyn Jackson will give you the opportunity to help her write her review of the piece so you can talk about the color of the grass you just saw with a Philadelphia Inquirer dance critic right after you see the show! How’s that for multi-tasking.

Look, the Festival is going to be over before you know it, so it might be necessary to take two birds out with one stone. The Double Bills and the Festival Plus are great way of getting more for your money.

Stunt of the Day:
Pat your head with one hand while simultaneously rubbing your belly with the other.
(I know you can do it)

Your ex-administrator,
Lee Ann Etzold

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

danceinsider.com reviews: 33FS and NPL

Andrew — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 17:49:19 GMT

Lisa Kraus's article about 33 Fainting Spells and mine about New Paradise are up on danceinsider.com this week.....putting Live Arts work in a national/international conversation.

andrew simonet
headlong

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

ATTENTION: Date, Time and Place set for Peace Vigil/ Cutting-off Ceremony/Igniting!!!

Kathryn — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 14:39:13 GMT

This Saturday, Sept., 18th, 8:30-9:30p.m on the lawn of the Independence Park Visitor's Center, Market and 5th, Philadelphia.

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

THEY’RE BAACK!

Lee Ann — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 23:37:35 GMT

Brat and the Broken Hipsters bring their shows back for a Live Arts run.

As I’ve previously stated here in the diary, Some artists in the Philly Fringe and the Live Arts Festival have been touring the world and are making their first stop in Philadelphia to let the audiences try something new. Other artists use the Festivals as an opportunity to try out new work on audiences to get feedback and go back into the rehearsal studio. But then there are the artists with shows that were hits during the previous theatre season, who thankfully participate in the Festivals to give us another dose.

Brat Productions had a very busy spring. Madi Distefano, artistic director, launched her own festival in Christ Church. Cramming her entire season into a 3-month period, she also managed to premiere a one-woman show in which she was the sole performer, and the writer, and the producer. Popsicle’s Departure, 1989 (Pg 37) follows two characters through one incredible day in Boston’s pre-mainstream grunge scene. Moving between characters, Distefano’s ability to transform using only a ski cap adjustment compliments her vivid writing as she submerses herself in the counter-culture. It’s quite something to behold. I saw Popsicle’s Departure in May and you can bet your bippy I’ll be back to see it when it opens again, by popular demand, for the Live Arts Festival. If you missed it the first time, here’s your second chance.

Another wild ride that is coming round for another pass is The Sand Family’s indie rock opera, The Broken Hipsters (pg 38). Earlier this year they packed close to 30 of Philadelphia’s local indie rock musicians, actors, and activists onto the stage at the Mask and Wig for a wildly popular run. Some people are coming to the Festival for the sole purpose of seeing this production and it’s cast including members of She-Haw, LotSix, Like Moving Insects, Cynthia G. Mason Trio, and (this in not a band name, but actually…) some very large hairy babies. It’s an absurd and ridiculous evening of original music and maniacal shoe salesmen. Only the Cabaret can contain this group for their performances so catch them at 7:30 and stay for a beer.

The Live Arts and Philly Fringe Festival celebrate the spontaneity of live performance. . And as it often goes with live performance, you rarely see the same show, even if it is your second time in the audience. Some of the shows you see in the Festival, you may never see again, so when an opportunity like this arrives; a resurrection for a new audience or die-hard fans, take it. It’s always hard to say when you’ll be able to again.

Latin Proverb of the Day:
Carpe Diem (or Seize the Show)

Your ex-administrator,
Lee Ann Etzold

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

The Broken Hipsters -- what?! a rock opera. . . ?!

Jay — Fri, 03 Sep 2004 11:39:52 GMT

The Broken Hipsters is a self-proclaimed "indie rock opera about geriatric punk rockers, a young photographer, and their fight to free some giant babies." There will be five performances at this year's Live Arts/Philly Fringe: September 14 to 18, 7:30pm each night, at the Live Arts/Fringe Caberet venue, 829-851 N. American (American & Poplar in Northern Liberties). Do you have any questions about this theatrical extravaganza? Any comments, rants or raves? Post to this group and one of our cast members will write back with made-up answers to your nonsensical questions.

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 2 replies

Less than a week left!

Kacie — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 15:31:23 GMT

There is less than a week left of the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe. Both Festivals will be ending Sat. 9/18 there are still tons of exciting shows to see though (many are cheap or free). For more information check out the Live Arts and Philly Fringe tribe (search with the keywords "live arts" and it should be the first result), go to the live arts and philly fringe website at www.livearts-fringe.org, or visit the box office at 620 Chestnut (215)413-1318. The shows I've seen so far have all been amazing, and there's plenty to choose from depending on your interests (from sports, dance, politics, theater, instillations, counter culture, and a variety of other interesting topics)

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

The Home Stretch

Carey — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 14:42:32 GMT

Does anyone have additional recommendations for the (sniffle) last week of the Festivals?

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 2 replies

Hotel Pool

Carey — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 14:47:41 GMT

I saw "Hotel Pool" late Sunday night, the final performance, so I can't recommend it to anyone, unless they fly to accompany Headlong on tour. Does anyone know who the elderly woman was at the start of the show? Is she involved with Headlong on a general basis? I thought that she gave an excellent performance.

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

Makeup date for "The Guided Tour" ???

Amy — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 14:45:39 GMT

Does anyone when the make-up date for "The Guided Tour" that was cancelled on 09.12 is? I didn't get my email on the list and was hoping that someone would have the info.

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

MULTI FAMILY SOLD OUT tuesday

MOO — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 07:15:29 GMT

The Tuesday evening performance is sold out!

get your tickets NOW!

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN:

Lee Ann — Mon, 13 Sep 2004 15:09:50 GMT

Nick Stuccio, Producing Director and co-founder of the Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe.

Every year, we wait in anticipation for that extra thick City Paper that holds the map to the Festivals. Once it’s contents are shaken free, we paw at our fresh a shiny guide, searching for that piece of art that’s going to make our day… our week…our life. But where do we look? We certainly skip that letter towards the front from that guy who always seems to send emails and postcards to us about the Festival and makes us feel warm and fuzzy about being a part of it, but why? It’s this letter that is our orientation…our key to the map that will guide our artistic journey for over two weeks! That guy is none other than Nick Stuccio, Producing Director and co-founder of the Live Arts and Philly Fringe Festivals. He knows what he’s talking about so let’s look at the letter again… together. It’s on pg 5 right before the Table of Contents.

He warns us from the beginning, “…we are in new territory.” The new look of the guide might have raised some brows and some questions, but Nick Stuccio has been prepping us for this change for a while. It’s all about trying to organize that art which does not want to be defined. And Nick Stuccio and Program Director, Deborah Block, definitely have a handle on it. Many of the categories for the Live Arts programming are fairly self explanatory. There is work in “Other Places” than conventional theatres and there is work that is actually “On Stages”. “Bodies in Motion” describes the shows with more physicality. And “Performance Installations” tend to be based in the visual environment. These loose phrases give us an idea of what we’re in for, but still allow the work to define itself.

Now, let’s flip to page 16 and 17 where we find everything we need to know about some of the special programming and events going on during the Festivals. From workshops and discussions with Shen Wei, to the opportunity to write a review with critic Merilyn Jackson, Festival Plus gives us those extra opportunities to interact with the artists in the Festival. We just finished the Music Weekend (pg 18-19) so I hope you stumbled upon that on your own, but don’t overlook the second week of the Emerging Artists, Program 1(pg 20). This programming focuses on giving artists and audiences the opportunity to take a chance on each other! In this multiple-bill evening, early-career artists develop their own vision and voice for audiences who are looking for the next big thing. Artists like Elisa Lane, who is a founding member of Hotel Obligato, strut their stuff on their own… some of them, for the first time. Lane’s physically theatrical investigation into social edifices, Underneath It All, will incorporate dance, clown, commedia dell’arte, and mime. She will be sharing a bill with Dead Genius Productions who brought us Apple of Discord last year. This company uses text and movement to bring to the stage Robert Lennon’s, Substitution Chart, a formulaic look at love and loss. And to complete the evening, Workshop for Potential Movement will present, It’s Not a War, It’s a Pageant. Choreographer Katherine Tebordo has collaborated with some familiar faces from both the dance and theatre communities here in Philadelphia to riff on the American cult of independence and the individual’s struggle with major life decisions. As you sit there at Mum Puppettheatre, you might feel the flow of this carefully programmed evening and not recognize it as the work of Nick Stuccio and Deborah Block, but that’s OK. They want you to focus on the work of the artists instead.

I always find it exciting to see a peice in its’ early stages. Especially when I know I may see it again in a finished form. The In Progress (pg 22) programming provides a forum for established artists to workshop new work. You still have the opportunity to see Tania Isaac and Paule Turner explore new work and be a part of the post show discussions that happen after every performance. It makes you, as an audience member, feel like a real part of the creative process and helps these talented artists, get closer to their vision.

This is the Live Arts Festival Nick Stuccio has imagined for us and although you may only glance at his letter, or steal a glimpse of him in the back of the audience at a show, he and the staff at 211 Vine Street have put together an event that will not go overlooked and for many people, has put Philadelphia on the artistic map.

Movies Quote of the Day:
“I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore, Toto”

Your ex-administrator,
Lee Ann Etzold

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

Philly Fringe: It’s the little surprises….

Dee — Sun, 12 Sep 2004 22:50:08 GMT

This is my fourth year attending the Philly Fringe, now billed as the Philly Fringe and Live Arts Festival. Basically a distinction made between hosted shows and those that are self-produced. The line up of performers and artists for both venues is almost overwhelming - dance, music, and theater and boundaries in each of the works that are normally impossible to find.

Many of the performances are very polished with well-established companies that have chosen to explore new mediums or present entirely new works. Then there is a wide array of new artists trying to be seen and hopefully establish a following. And then once in a while, there are those little surprises…

Convinced by a overly enthusiastic producer’s email campaign, I decided to check out a new work entitled “Illuminescence” by a new dance company called Music & Motion. With my arrival at the box office at International House in University City was an encounter with a mannequin model covered in a yellow glowing material that led the way into the theater - definitely a novel approach to advertising versus the standard fringe sandwich boards marking venues.

As the dancers entered for their first number, an interactive piece with a sculpture by artist Robert Woodward, better known as Peanutbutter, one can not help noticing the age of this group. This is perhaps the youngest troupe of Fringe performers with ages varying from 14 to 20 years. And yet they took command of the stage and the audience right from the start with a whirlwind of movement, techno music and glowing costumes lead by Andrea Piovane, sixteen years of age, who was revealed from the rolling centerpiece of this lit glass and metal sculpture.

Not sure what to expect, I quickly perused my program to learn that this troupe of dancers were teens that had come together from community based programs run at Springfield, Oxford Valley and Montgomery Malls. They had worked together to design costumes, select music, choreograph and rehearse for the Fringe. Some of them had extensive dance backgrounds at local dance schools and others had no prior training or performance experience.

As fog filled the stage, the second number began and was a delightful interpretation of the music done in a mixture of ballet and lyrical dance combined with the eerie vocals of sixteen year old Maria Grinneby. She had apparently written the lyrics and created her own arrangement for this piece. Ms Grinneby, for one so young, has a striking stage presence and a vocal style that is sure to propel her career.

Other notable pieces were Solaris, a duo with senior dancers Mandy Hartzell and Kate Lubenetski, a dance acrobatic number done with a large clear globe. Here again, a very sophisticated interpretation of the music and delightful choreography.

White Lights showed some of the strength of this company with dancers Jeff Sykes and Kristen Konski who had the audience clapping with excitement with a lengthy series of intricate turns and lifts and choreography that mixed hip hop with ballet and modern overtones.

But my favorite piece was the finale with the whole company, which had been split in to two basic groups – lyrical and hip-hop. Each came on separately marked by rapid lighting changes. And then finally combined with a intricate weave of both styles of dance. As a dance critic for ten years, I sat in the audience realizing that I could easily comment on technique and a variety of minor issues with the production. But what I got from this group as they came together in that final number was a sense of heart and spirit that I had not seen for sometime in professional productions. This youthful group of teens reminded me of what dance is truly about…a celebration of our own kindred spirits.

Final performance by Music & Motion of Illuminescence on September 14th at the International House, 3701 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Tickets are $15. Philadelphia Fringe Box Office 215-413-1318 or www.pafringe.org

---Dee Schmidt, Freelance Journalist
dee.schmidt@gmail.com

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

TRUE COLORS: Let’s talk Fringe!

Lee Ann — Sun, 12 Sep 2004 18:32:44 GMT

You may have read a bit about how we are re-defining these two Festivals here in Philadelphia; The Live Arts Festival and the Philly Fringe. I’ve run into a few audience members who are tired of hearing about it, others who can explain it better than I can, and also those who still don’t understand why there are two and some who just don’t care. But the Philly Fringe is unique in ways that the Live Arts Festival is not and that’s why we have to make sure it gets its props.

Unfortunately, the metaphor of a box of chocolates was quoted ad nausium from Forrest Gump, so I’ll use gourmet jellybeans… “You never know what you’re gonna get.” Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to stop audiences from taking a chance and having a blast at the Philly Fringe.

Actually, sometimes you do know what you’re going to get. More and more well-established local artists are opting to produce themselves at the Philly Fringe. Some of these Fringe artists have even helped to select programmed artists in past Festivals! Gourmet Jelly Bean and renowned choreographer Myra Bazell has been a programmed artist, has sat on previous programming panels and is producing her show 3 on Top (pg F6) with Kat Livingston and Sylvania Cardell. Amy Gorbey, last seen in Big Love and Comedy of Errors, is teaming up her company Infinite Monkey with the Lantern Theater in Un-American (pg F25) with quite the all-star cast, and Bald Mermaid, Rebecca Sloan teams up with lighting wiz-kid Mark O’Maley for and unique experience with performer-manipulated light and shadow in Multi-Family Garage Sale(pg F6). So it is possible to hunt out the banana crème pie jellybean in the assortment if you know you liked that one in a previous experience. However, you could also choose to be adventurous and just see what colors look interesting.

The Philly Fringe is a great opportunity for artists who are really beginning to emerge as stars in this community. By attending the Fringe, you give yourself the opportunity for that great moment in a conversation about, say actor/writer Jared Delaney when he’s famous 10 years from now and you say, “Oh, yes! I saw his early work, RGDG? (pgF22) in the Philly Fringe Festival and I knew even then he would make it big.” Wouldn’t that be great? Too bad it’s already closed! You see what I mean? You have to jump on these things. No hesitation! You also get the opportunity to experience, in the truest form, what the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is like as well - even down to our very own Stand up on the Fringe (F11). Stand-up is a hot ticket in Edinburgh. This wide range of choices is what Fringe is all about!

The best part about the Philly Fringe is that there is always something for everyone. So, sift through, or dig your hand into the bowl, but I tell you, chances are you are going to find a few gourmet jelly beans that will blow your mind.

Request of the Day:
Yuengling Lager Jellybeans

Your Ed-administrator,
Lee Ann Etzold

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

Now's Your Chance!

Lee Ann — Sun, 12 Sep 2004 15:22:32 GMT

NOW’S YOUR CHANCE…to take a chance on some risky work before it closes.

Quite a few shows are closing this weekend that I haven’t mentioned here yet. One of them is ¡El Conquistador! (pg 35), the latest from our very own theatrical MacGuiver, Thaddeus Phillips. It has been rumored that Thaddeus can create and hour-long puppet extravaganza with nothing but a water bottle and a piece of chewing gum. I believe it after seeing some of his previous Fringe offerings; The Tempest in a baby pool, King Lear on a hand-made mini-golf course… the list goes on. Actually, you’ll be able to catch version of one of his hits, Lost Soles, later on in the Festival, but ¡El Conquistador! is closing tomorrow! Phillips’ Lucidity Suitcase Intercontinental has teamed up with Latin American telenovela star, Victor Mallerino, for a fanciful look into the imagination of an odd-jobsman and his fantasies about the stories’ characters. Phillip’s inventive object puppetry and video work will be sure to surprise us yet again.

Other programming that will be wrapping up this weekend is the always-fresh offerings from the emerging artists. Yet another opportunity for you to see new work from new artists, Program 2 (pg 21), will feature work from Sasha Welsh, Kristen Shahverdian, Elrey C. Belmonti and Aryani Manring. All are Philadelphia artists who are experimenting with new and risky work, challenging themselves and looking for feedback. Tonight after their last performances will be a post show discussion for audience questions and comments. It’s a great format for exchange between Festivalgoers and Artists.

After the inspired post-show discussion yesterday with writer/director/theatrical revolutionary, Richard Maxwell, the conversation continued throughout the evening. In the lobby, on the street, at the Cabaret; everyone who had been in the audience couldn’t stop talking about Caveman (pg 13) and how they had never seen anything like it on stage before. One audience member sitting next to me created a fairly accurate image for my Maxwell experience; the stripped-down style of the performance allows the text and story to float above the “action” of the play. Then, when the two planes on which the action and text have been riding, merge again, the result is a stunningly vulnerable and honest moment. For me, it was like a theatrical exorcism had been performed. Please don’t miss it. The last performance is tonight.

The Festival Guide Editor, Violet Phillips, had an inspirational experience at yesterdays Akira Kasai performance. With his startling agility and spontaneity, as well as a flare for the dramatic, he knows exactly what kind of experience he wants his audience to have. He’ll be arriving to his performance of Pollen Revolution (pg 11) at the Painted Bride via horse-drawn carriage and enter the theatre with the audience. Akira Kasai has been described as the Mick Jagger of Butoh and I believe it. See him before his carriage leaves for good after Monday’s performance.

Couplet of the day:
Catch these shows
before they close

Your ex-administrator,
Lee Ann Etzold

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

Inquirer review: Aound the World in 80 Plays

Megan — Thu, 09 Sep 2004 16:35:27 GMT

Around the World in 80 Plays. If you have the kids in tow and are downtown this afternoon or the final weekend of the festival, you might want to drop in on this bit of outdoor fun.
Consisting of a couple of fractured fairy tales performed by a group of entertainers who speak in ersatz Russian accents and purport to be the Schlomokov family from Uzebeckistanislavski, it's a good-humored romp in which rather artless or frequently even effective presentation is more than trumped by energetic high spirits, a strong desire to amuse, and close engagement with the audience. It's a good deal for the price - free, but the hat is passed - and on Saturday it drew a good audience. Go early to get a seat.
- Douglas J. Keating, Philadelphia Inquirer

Free. 1:30 p.m. today and Sept. 18; 4 and 6:30 p.m. Sept. 17 and 18, on Visitor Center lawn next to Independence National Historical Park, Market Street between Fifth and Sixth

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 1 reply

Suggestions for a Fringe novice???

mary jane — Wed, 08 Sep 2004 06:06:28 GMT

This will be my first visit to any Festival event, have friend in cast of Black Palace Pink Party so will be there but any suggestions re other shows will be very appreciated.

Mary Jane

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 8 replies

The Absence is Air Conditioned!!

Sarah — Fri, 10 Sep 2004 20:15:36 GMT

Hey Folks,

Jorge Cousineau's show The Absence is really fantastic - it got a great write up in the Inquirer - but there is an update. It's no longer one of the hot venues - we've fixed the air-conditioning!

Check out the show description at http://www.livearts-fringe.org/2004/livearts/templates/details.cfm?id=4000

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

Added Shows of The Guided Tour!!!

Sarah — Fri, 10 Sep 2004 19:47:21 GMT

Hey Folks -

They've added shows of the Guided Tour: Saturday the 11th, Sunday the 12th and Saturday the 18th at 5:00pm.

Call the Box Office soon though - I'm sure they will go fast.

215-413-1318. Soon on the web too at www.livearts-fringe.org

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

Anyone seen SKITSoid?

Adam — Fri, 10 Sep 2004 18:38:11 GMT

I saw a cool show on Monday. If you like sketch comedy and a funky band check it out. We laughed our sketchy asses off!

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

BAD HAIR - NOW CITY PAPER RECOMMENDED

Fri, 10 Sep 2004 13:37:27 GMT

Our mothers say we're very funny.

Our girlfriends say we're cute.

Our City Paper says "there's nothing bad about this sketch comedy group."

Awesome!

BAD HAIR'S Fringetastic Spectacular!!!
Sketch Comedy with Comedy Sketches

Gallery Siano - 309 Arch Street

Tickets: $10
September 15-17 @ 9 PM
September 18 @ 8 PM

www.badhairsketch.com

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

CityPaper picks MULTI-FAMILY

MOO — Fri, 10 Sep 2004 02:59:00 GMT

from the 9/9 CITYPAPER:

Multi-Family Garage Sale

OK, so it's not really a garage sale. Sorry to disappoint the always-looking junk-hoarders out there. But Rebecca Sloan and Mark O'Maley's will surely have the aspect of such a sale on stage, as the dancer-choreographer and the lighting/scenic designer bring out all their best work in their second collaboration (their first was The 3 Evils, last year at CEC). For Sloan, a member of the Bald Mermaids, and O'Maley, who's worked with dozens of theaters as well as lighting Brian Sanders' amazing The Gate at the 2003 Fringe, this is a evening of greatest hits, times two.--L.H.
Sept. 15, 8 p.m.; Sept. 16, 9 p.m.; Sept. 17-18, 10 p.m.; $10, Crane Arts Center, 1400 N. American St., 60 min.

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

On press coverage in general...

Mark — Thu, 09 Sep 2004 20:01:36 GMT

Whenever there is a time when an intense interest in, say, a sport comes along, we can depend on the daily newspapers to offer expanded coverage. These two festivals are probably the arts equivalent of "playoffs time" in terms of audience interest and art activity. But instead of covering these activities in more detail, The Inquirer offers less coverage of each event and doesn't cover many events AT ALL.

I recognize that the Festivals are a challenge to cover. But how about some discussion of the responsibility of the critical community (I use this term in hopes that one might someday arise) to write in depth about this work.

Maybe it's time for the Inquirer to restaff its depleted theater & dance staffs and to devote some real space to the arts.

Maybe its time for the Daily News to consider covering culture at all.

Maybe the weeklies need to pick up the slack. (Doing it on the web is great guys...but shouldn't that mean your writers can write IN DEPTH?)

And maybe it's time for us to do the work of a healthy comunity of critics right here and right now...because newspaper coverage overall has decreased in quality pretty steadily over the 20 years I've been paying attention.

I'm thinking about ways to make this better. If anyone is interested...repond here...

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 2 replies

HELP: Desperately Seeking TECH Help...

Elisha — Thu, 09 Sep 2004 20:25:46 GMT

Desperately Seeking TECH Help...
Small show needs 1 "techie" of minimal experience for Sunday matinee.
Easy show with pay- "Lights up/Lights down"
Show is 4pm at CEC. Short tech to precede.
Call Elisha for more details. 814.404.9136

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

Did Ya Hear?

Lee Ann — Thu, 09 Sep 2004 17:48:10 GMT

DID YA HEAR? It’s the big music weekend!

I like to think you can find a way to satisfy all of the senses here at the Live Arts Festival, and this weekend we have some double bills as well as some full-length evenings that will be sure to perk your ears up. The Music Weekend is here and you can check it all out on pages 18 and 19 of the Festival Guide.

But don’t let the guide fool you… your first opportunity for some percussive perfection is actually listed as Show 4. That makes a sense of another sort since the two artists performing on the double bill will hardly give you what you expect either. Douglas Ovens returns to the Festival with Impossible Improvisations, which will include some works from his recent CD as well as a new work designed especially for the Festival. Ovens is an excellent percussionist and composer with a tendency towards the quirky. He is billed with South African-born Mogauwane Mahloele who has found a home here in Philadelphia. He has brought with him a unique style of world music that blends African and the avante garde. He’s also brought with him some pretty wild instruments including the kora, and kjembe drum. They kick off the music programming with a bang (sorry, I couldn’t help myself) at the Cabaret tonight at 8pm.

Cellist, Opera Singer, and Actor, Matthew Sharp (who put in some volunteer work at the office yesterday – thank you, Matthew) and pianist/composer Pete M. Wyer are Sharpwire and have traveled from London for a brief but generous stint at our fair Festival. Adam’s Apple; a multi-media song cycle, uses sound, song, movement, and video, to create a haunting experience. Two of your five senses are treated in this hypnotic odyssey and if your date smells good as well, you get three. Sharpwire is only here Friday and Sunday at 6pm.

Show 1:Music in Progress, is what I call music with promise! These two shows sound like a wildly fun ride. Oedipus Wrecks plays with a re-telling of Sophocles’ play using California vanity license plates. It’s a dance-opera vignette for heavens’ sake! And on the same bill, you get Cabaret Master, Todd Waddington turning Beatle’s music upside down with the award winning composer and musical director, Vince DiMura. It’s called dayinalife and you don’t want to miss it

The real beauty of the Music Programming at the Live Arts Festival this year, however, is that you don’t have to miss a thing! For example, Sunday alone you could see Music in Progress at 3pm, Adam’s Apple at 6 and then the always beautiful collaboration of Andrea Clearfield and Manfred Fishbeck at 8:30. They are performing their piece sometimes you can see your dreaming mind, on the same bill as Autopoiesis, a daring collection of musicians experimenting with piano, electronics, text, percussion and voice! And you never have to leave the Cabaret!

In fact, you might as well pitch a tent in Liberty Lands Park and camp out all weekend, cause it doesn’t end there. This weekend the Late Night Cabaret will be featuring Joshua Fried in Radio Wonderland. He’s played around with sound for artists like They Might Be Giants and Chaka Khan (yes Dito, Chaka Khan). His music making is as Live as it gets and incorporates electrified shoes, and FM radio boom box and a powerbook. The Late Night Cabaret will also be featuring local favorites like Wayward Wind, Brie Feingold Africa, M-Unit, PT Lovecraft… aw man, just check out page 51 ‘cause it’s ridiculous how much great music is going on up there in Northern Libs.

Question of the day: Can I attend four music events over the course of 8 hours?
Answer of the day: YES!

Your ex-administrator,
Lee Ann Etzold, Daily Diary Diva

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

How to get Hotel Pool tickets

Mark — Thu, 09 Sep 2004 16:55:36 GMT

OK. That heading is a little misleading. Because tickets for the Live Arts run are gone. BUT, Headlong is hoping to be able to do a run in the spring and if you go to their website (www.headlong.com) you can add yourself to the mailing list and I'm sure they'll be in touch with you if/when they have a plan.

Alternatively, you could come out to Portland next week and see it as part of the Time Based Art Festival. Or you can see it in April at Mass MOCA. Info on all that is at the Headlong site...

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

City Paper's daily reviews

Megan — Thu, 09 Sep 2004 16:42:30 GMT

You can read the City Paper's daily reviews of Live Arts and Fringe shows here: http://citypaper.net/fringe/

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

PW's Music Weekend story

Megan — Thu, 09 Sep 2004 16:40:46 GMT

Read the Philadelphia Weekly's coverage of the festival's Music Weekend here: http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/view.php?id=8018

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

Inquirer review: ¡El Conquistador!

Megan — Thu, 09 Sep 2004 16:38:33 GMT

Here is inventive actor Thaddeus Phillips, portraying a besieged doorman in the lobby of an apartment high-rise, somewhere in Latin America.
Here is a bedraggled woman, calling him with constant requests to nip the noisy party next door. Here's the oily host of the noisy party, who peppers him with requests to muzzle the woman next door. Here's the nefarious tenant who demands personal delivery of a mysterious package - for mucho dinero if no report appears on the building's mail log.
And here is ¡El Conquistador!, which will become one of the big hits of this year's Fringe Festival: funny, clever and fast-paced and polished, with Phillips and his Lucidity Suitcase Intercontinental. It's totally in Spanish, with subtitles.
The versatile Phillips performs the live action in, around and under a horizontal frame with lighting that represents many places. He walks in and out of video action on a large screen at midstage; all the other actors are prerecorded, except when Phillips plays their roles, too.
After a few minutes, what's not live becomes inextricable from what is. Cheers not just to Phillips, but to Victor Mallarino and the other prerecorded actors, all Latin TV soap-opera stars. Mallarino wrote the script; his niece, Tatiana Mallarino, directed. The whole thing's ingenious.
By Howard Shapiro, Philadelphia Inquirer

When: Tue., Sept. 7 at 9:30 p.m.; Thu., Sept. 9 at 9 p.m.; Sat., Sept. 11 and Sun., Sept. 12 at 4 and 9 p.m.
Where: Mum Puppettheatre, 115 Arch St.
Tickets: $15.

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

Inquirer "Babel" story

Megan — Thu, 09 Sep 2004 16:36:59 GMT

Read the Inquirer's story on Melanie Stewart Dance Theatre's show "Babel" here: http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/entertainment/9597762.htm

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

Philadelphia Inquirer review: The Guided Tour

Megan — Thu, 09 Sep 2004 16:33:40 GMT

The Guided Tour. Read the misleading description of the group Kaibutsu's The Guided Tour, and you think you're in for a zany circuit through the city, on a tour bus. The tour-bus part is right, but not the zany.
The Guided Tour is Bruce Walsh's dark story of a Philly tour-bus guide with no heart in his job, a real heart in medical jeopardy, and a heartless bore of a boss.
Prior expectations aside, it's a good tale told in four parts, in which the tour guide - a solid portrayal by Brian T. Delaney - ends up having an epiphany in Point Breeze. The hour-long story uses locations along a nine-mile route that begins and ends at Third and Arch Streets. It bogs down on the return to Center City, when yet another desperate character enters the tale.
What keeps it moving, aside from the actual tour-bus driver, is the city itself: Sirens blare, horns honk, and people go about their business. (Some are startled by a tourist bus on their neighborhood streets.) All this everyday life balances the main character's brooding insecurity. Expect nice performances from supporting players Ryder Thornton and Alexis Brie Wildau. Dan Scholnick's sound design is on the mark.
-Howard Shapiro, Philadelphia Inquirer

$15. 1 and 3 p.m. today, Saturday, Sunday, and Sept. 18. Meet at 239 Arch St.

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

Happy Ending?

Kacie — Thu, 09 Sep 2004 15:46:46 GMT

I saw "Bangers and Mash" last night but had to leave 10 minutes early. Can anyone give me a synopsis on how it ended, highlights of the last few minutes, etc.? I left as Bart was standing in front of the couch with the orange heart pillow and realizing he loved Mash. Thanks

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

Anyone else see "El Conquistador"?

Carey — Thu, 09 Sep 2004 14:37:01 GMT

What did you think? Have you seen "Lost Soles" or "Earth's Sharp Edge" or that rendition of "The Tempest" in a bathtub? How would you compare the shows?

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 2 replies

The Cabaret -- how is it?

Carey — Thu, 09 Sep 2004 14:50:12 GMT

I haven't made it down to the new Cabaret yet this year. I've always had a good time going in past years, though. How's the space? Good quality shows? How's seating?

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 1 reply

The Real Deal Behind the Two Festivals - Daily Diary 9/7

Lee Ann — Wed, 08 Sep 2004 19:14:40 GMT

JUST THE TWO OF US The Real Deal Behind the Two Festivals

OK everyone, you may have noticed a few changes this year; perhaps more so this year that others. Festival staff is talking crazy talk again… Something about two different festivals…the box office staff has a new greeting on the phone… and the guide does this weird flippy-thing so you don’t know which end is up… you wanna know what’s going on? I’m gonna break it down for ya… one more time.

The Edinburgh Festivals started in Scotland over 60 years ago. Since the late 1940s Edinburgh has become a hotspot for artistic talent and it all began with the hand picked artists of the International Festival and the radical artists that decided to do their own thing on the “Fringe” of this high-art international collection. Since then, seven (count em) SEVEN different Festivals take place in Edinburgh during the month of August and the first week of September. There is a festival for Books, Film, Jazz and Blues, Intercultural Art and Food, the Military Tattoo in the Castle and... the International Festival and the Festival Fringe. They are all under the same umbrella of the Edinburgh Festivals. Check out www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk for more.

When Nick Stuccio and Eric Schoeffer visited Edinburgh during the month of August in 1996, they saw a city that had been transformed by art… over a 50-year period. Inspired by all of the Edinburgh Festivals, the two lads returned home to Philadelphia with a dream to create the same event here… in one year. Not an easy task. What they came up with was a handpicked International Fringe, an amalgamation of what they experienced in Scotland. They called it The Philadelphia Fringe Festival; two different ideas rolled into one. They loved it, artists loved it, Philly loved it! But we knew deep in our hearts that only one part of our Festival was true “Fringe” in the spirit of Edinburgh and the other was more like the handpicked International Festival.

As the Fringe grew, our little mutation turned into an administrative and artistic two-headed monster. Between fulfilling the desire to program internationally renowned artists and provide adequate support for artists who wanted to produce themselves on their own terms, the Fringe was about to bust its britches. So Nick and his weary staff decided to let that happen. The two Festivals that were always there are being allowed to have identities of their own. Barry Becker has been brought on as the Philly Fringe Coordinator, the Live Arts Festival programming has even more shape, and the guide is clearly two different sections. The two-headed monster has begun its separation process so that it will be able to grow into...umm… two healthy monsters. OK, I apologize for taking the metaphor a little two far, but do you catch my meaning?

The Live Arts Festival has begun to be carved away from the Philly Fringe so that 30 or 40 years from now, when the Spoken Word festival, or the Puppetry Festival, or the Crème Brule Festival wants to start up, it can. The Live Arts and Philly Fringe will simply make room under the umbrella of – I don’t know- the Philadelphia Arts Festivals? - and Philadelphia will become the art mecca it is moving towards being.

So the phrase of the day is – laying the groundwork

Exciting, huh? I’d stick around Philly for a while if I were you.

Your ex-administrator,
Lee Ann Etzold

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

Fathom (thoughts, responses, etc?)

Kacie — Tue, 07 Sep 2004 15:47:59 GMT

Tonight is Sabooge's last performance with the festival. For those of you who haven's seen it I reccomend it. I saw the performance yesterday and stayed for the post show discussion. To begin with I was amazed by the group's use of space and illusion to scenes, environments,etc. To add to this, they touched on relationships between mothers and sons, ideas and theories about science and it's role, class and ideas of superiority and nature vs nurture. Staying for the discussion meant hearing a little about the collaborative creative process the group went through. I'm interested in other responses, insights, thoughts on Fathom, etc. Please post 'em.

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 1 reply

Censored for Safety... match weaving at box office takes a new twist...

Kathryn — Wed, 08 Sep 2004 15:08:46 GMT

It's a good thing I already wove version# 1 of "Ignite Our Hearts for Peace: A Community Weaving and Vigil" with matches--
because... even my plan to weave version # 2 at the Box Office with wet matches/completely separated from their striker, is a NO go....so saith the city authorities that be...
so, folks...introducing..... "Entice Our Hearts for Peace: A Community Weaving and Peace Vigil"... is being woven at the Box Office out of wool, aluminum foil, jute and red shoe-string licorice...
Thought adding alittle humor during these intense global times could warm/sweeten our hearts...
Have you gotten by the project? Have you added some weaving to the community weaving strips- that will be added as fringe? Have you written a blessing/concern on paper and added it to the basket? Have you taken a pack of project matches?? Hope to see you!! This project is my personal daily vigil for peace as I weave at the box office... please join me,as you go about your daily lives, in visualizing and manifesting peace personally, communally, nationally and globally. See you around...
Mark your calendars for Sat., Sept. 18th, the last day of the festival, dusk... for the igniting of version #1/peace vigil event...details to be announced...

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

Working for the Fringe experience

Amy — Tue, 07 Sep 2004 16:17:27 GMT

Moving to Philly was one of the best things I think I have ever done. I came here to work for the festival after seeing the website and was immediately thrown into the action on my first day. The atmosphere in both the administrative and box offices varies between hopping and chaotic to laid back and playful, depending upon the time of day. It's a great experience and it's great to witness so that you can appreciate how the festival all comes together. I recommend getting involved in some capacity, whether as a volunteer or a sponsor to become part of this family.

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 1 reply

Butoh resource (Pollen Revolution)

Carey — Tue, 07 Sep 2004 19:56:36 GMT

The "Pollen Revolution" description says that the artist, Akira Kasai, presents "his own transformational style of butoh." So what's butoh? I assumed it was an older Japanese style of dance, since Kasai's pictured in a traditional Japanese kimono, wig, and white face paint typical of kabuki and noh performances.

Sarah Anton posted a great article on the live arts & fringe site explaining trends in modern Japanese dance, "Contemporary Dance in Japan: New Wave Dance and Butoh After the 1990's" by Kazuko Kuniyoshi. It turns out that butoh's only about 50 years old, and it's all about refuting staid practices. Kasai wears a kimono, but it's a woman's costume, and he uses it as a symbol of broken barriers.

The article is very informative, linking its chronology to ideological changes. According to Kuniyoshi, the breakthrough came in the 1950's when Tatsumi Hijikata introduced sex, violence, and the less polished side of human nature into Japanese dance. Butoh's full name, "ankoku butoh" means "dance of darkness." Hijikata saw the body as an extra-lingual entity, requiring its own set of expressive terms to convey its purpose as a person's definitive memory container. Much of butoh was based on Western dance, but Hijikata removed the mimickry and found his own meaning in movement. The article states that the essence of butoh is that the body generates its own stories, that it should not rely on existing stories.

Akira Kasai began dancing in the 1960's, and studied intensively with not only Hijikata and other Japanese choreographers, but also with the developers of German eurythmics. Before 1970, his dance focused on reaching the spiritual realm by exhausting the body. In fact, his pieces still feature constant movement, but the article points to Kasai concentrating on a richer palette to achieve his goals. Until 1996, he staged his performances as secret cult rituals. More recently, Kasai's dances have become very public, abandoning clandestine settings and specific audiences. He currently attempts to supercede physical reality with the aid of anti-melodic music that refutes storylines. Kasai turns to Japanese, European, and American dance forms to "sublimate the physical body."

Kasai's show sounds fascinating. Does anyone have anything to add about butoh, dance, Kasai, or anything else?

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

Recommendations? -- Come and Support Budding Local Talent

Carey — Tue, 07 Sep 2004 19:05:44 GMT

The "Emerging Artists: Program 2" includes allusions to horror movies, discoveries of sexual identity, a tribute to a dancer's mentor, and Balinesian performance styles. (Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 N. American St. $10 75 minutes, Thurs 9/9 7:00 pm, Sat 9/11 2:00 & 7:00 pm, Sun 9/12 7:00 pm). This program proves what an exciting artistic community the area harbors, and how talent meets with hard researching and introspection. I'm constantly amazed by the breadth of influences of local artists and their ingenuity. Anyone have recommendations for newer artists' shows?

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

Recommendations for music venues

Amy — Tue, 07 Sep 2004 14:53:59 GMT

There has been a lot of buzz about shows selling out so quickly, so before I miss an opportunity to see "The Show" that everyone can truly appreciate and will look back on as the one thing that made their fringe experience, what is something that I absolutely cannot miss during the festival? Any suggestions about artists that I will regret not seeing?

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 1 reply

You might not know that you want to see "Caveman"

Carey — Tue, 07 Sep 2004 18:44:48 GMT

But you do. I missed "Drummer Wanted" last year, and knew nothing about Richard Maxwell's work before going to "Showcase." Playing a hard and isolated, washed-up traveling businessman, the actor connected with his intimate audience. The piece depicted a man who forcefully distances himself from others, but the room was with him. "Showcase," a slow and short tragedy, included physical humor and modern irony, and wasn't pompous or inaccessible. It ended with a deadly seething original song. "Caveman" promises to have more levels of interaction and more compositions woven into a longer performance. I think it'll give everyone a lot to think about.

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 0 replies

Diary 5 (right on time)

Lee Ann — Tue, 07 Sep 2004 18:00:27 GMT

Getting Raw: The Live Arts’ On Stage offerings get ugly in the best way.

It may be called Musical Theater, but as I’ve said before, at the Live Arts and the Philly Fringe, do you ever get what you expect? Richard Maxwell will turn you on your ear and make you question everything you would have liked to think about humanity. His latest production is not your familiarly happy scenario of boy meets girl… Often, in his work, Maxwell depicts a stark reality on Novocain. In highly charged emotional situations, we would often like to think we would act rationally. But in this show, passions get trapped in a pressure cooker and explode in actions that no human being could be proud of, nor could they deny the urge to commit. Exploiting the primitive rituals of men, Caveman (pg 13) forces the audience to witness the less attractive side of human interaction. Watching Maxwell’s work is never easy, but we’re not coming to see work at these Festivals for a simple theatrical experience. If you missed Showcase this past weekend, there is still hope for you to get your much-needed dose of Richard Maxwell. So, suck it up and take your medicine like a man. Caveman opens September 9th and runs through the 11th at the Arden’s Haas Stage.

Dawn Falato’s, St. Anthony’s Body (pg 36) should also be no piece of cake. This skill-full physical performer delves into the mind of those suffering from neurological disorders and introduces us to Claire, a women struggling to regain control of her body after an infection decimates her nervous system. Using movement, mask, and puppetry, this Hotel Obligato founder, is capable of taking the audience on a difficult but rewarding journey. She’s a powerful performer in a small venue, so she may blow the roof off Mum Puppettheatre’s intimate space. This also means you should get tickets ahead of time, as a Philadelphia favorite, she may sell out by the end of her run.

WHAT HAS PIG IRON DONE THIS TIME? WWI melo-dramas, one-man shows in Spanish, puppetry with metal shards, Cabaret’s in insane asylums…just when you think they’ve done it all, Pig Iron Theatre Company comes back and knocks you on your bum. Teaming up with Adriano Shaplin, the fierce writer for The Riot Group, Pig Iron pommels us with a dirty, dirty adaptation of Witold Gombrowicz’s gothic thriller, The Possessed. I saw a workshop showing of Hell Meets Henry Halfway (pg 33) earlier in the summer and this is no warm and fuzzy clown dance. Co-Artistic director and performer, Dito van Reigersburg explains that it’s a bit of a departure for Pig Iron, “It’s funny.... It’s nasty…It’s delightfully nasty”. That’s what I like to hear! He explains that people who think they know Pig Iron will be pleasantly surprised with this new direction. As a previous collaborator with Pig Iron, I can tell you that you will see some surprising performances from the familiar faces of the company members. You will squirm and squeal with delight and disgust, as you should while attending the Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe.

Don’t forget to get your tickets now for the Rude Machanicals while the weather’s a little cooler as the third floor of Christ Church can get steamy. How Late It Was, How Late (pg 31) runs until the 12th. Don’t be the one who missed this cutting-edge company while they were in town.

Sabooge Theatre’s physical tale of a mutated child and his twisted relationship with his mother closes tonight at Mum Puppettheatre. If that synopsis of Fathom doesn’t peak your interest, I might as well stop right now.

But I won’t!

There are more productions in the Festivals that should be beautifully hard to swallow! In Black Palace Pink Party, you can promenade through a party with a sexy Satan worshiper. It’s the latest f-you from Reliant Projects who perfectly disturbed audiences in 2000 with Bell and Clock. Hide the children, cause they’re back to party.

And The Guided Tour will show you the corners of Philadelphia where the carriages just don’t go. If you think you know Philly, Kaibutsu will show you otherwise. Definitely take your out-of town friends but again, space is limited so get your tickets soon. It’s been consistently selling out.

Word of the day: SQUIRM

Your ex-administrator,
Lee Ann Etzold

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Diary 5 (right on time)

Lee Ann — Tue, 07 Sep 2004 17:54:22 GMT

Getting Raw: The Live Arts’ On Stage offerings get ugly in the best way.

It may be called Musical Theater, but as I’ve said before, at the Live Arts and the Philly Fringe, do you ever get what you expect? Richard Maxwell will turn you on your ear and make you question everything you would have liked to think about humanity. His latest production is not your familiarly happy scenario of boy meets girl… Often, in his work, Maxwell depicts a stark reality on Novocain. In highly charged emotional situations, we would often like to think we would act rationally. But in this show, passions get trapped in a pressure cooker and explode in actions that no human being could be proud of, nor could they deny the urge to commit. Exploiting the primitive rituals of men, Caveman (pg 13) forces the audience to witness the less attractive side of human interaction. Watching Maxwell’s work is never easy, but we’re not coming to see work at these Festivals for a simple theatrical experience. If you missed Showcase this past weekend, there is still hope for you to get your much-needed dose of Richard Maxwell. So, suck it up and take your medicine like a man. Caveman opens September 9th and runs through the 11th at the Arden’s Haas Stage.

Dawn Falato’s, St. Anthony’s Body (pg 36) should also be no piece of cake. This skill-full physical performer delves into the mind of those suffering from neurological disorders and introduces us to Claire, a women struggling to regain control of her body after an infection decimates her nervous system. Using movement, mask, and puppetry, this Hotel Obligato founder, is capable of taking the audience on a difficult but rewarding journey. She’s a powerful performer in a small venue, so she may blow the roof off Mum Puppettheatre’s intimate space. This also means you should get tickets ahead of time, as a Philadelphia favorite, she may sell out by the end of her run.

WHAT HAS PIG IRON DONE THIS TIME? WWII melo-dramas, one-man shows in Spanish, puppetry with metal shards, Cabaret’s in insane asylums…just when you think they’ve done it all, Pig Iron Theatre Company comes back and knocks you on your bum. Teaming up with Adriano Shaplin, the fierce writer for The Riot Group, Pig Iron pommels us with a dirty, dirty adaptation of Witold Gombrowicz’s gothic thriller, The Possessed. I saw a workshop showing of Hell Meets Henry Halfway (pg 33) earlier in the summer and this is no warm and fuzzy clown dance. Co-Artistic director and performer, Dito van Reigersburg explains that it’s a bit of a departure for Pig Iron, “It’s funny.... It’s nasty…It’s delightfully nasty”. That’s what I like to hear! He explains that people who think they know Pig Iron will be pleasantly surprised with this new direction. As a previous collaborator with Pig Iron, I can tell you that you will see some surprising performances from the familiar faces of the company members. You will squirm and squeal with delight and disgust, as you should while attending the Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe.

Don’t forget to get your tickets now for the Rude Machanicals while the weather’s a little cooler as the third floor of Christ Church can get steamy. How Late It Was, How Late (pg 31) runs until the 12th. Don’t be the one who missed this cutting-edge company while they were in town.

Sabooge Theatre’s physical tale of a mutated child and his twisted relationship with his mother closes tonight at Mum Puppettheatre. If that synopsis of Fathom doesn’t peak your interest, I might as well stop right now.

But I won’t!

There are more productions in the Festivals that should be beautifully hard to swallow! In Black Palace Pink Party, you can promenade through a party with a sexy Satan worshiper. It’s the latest f-you from Reliant Projects who perfectly disturbed audiences in 2000 with Bell and Clock. Hide the children, cause they’re back to party.

And The Guided Tour will show you the corners of Philadelphia where the carriages just don’t go. If you think you know Philly, Kaibutsu will show you otherwise. Definitely take your out-of town friends but again, space is limited so get your tickets soon. It’s been consistently selling out.

Word of the day: SQUIRM

Your ex-administrator,
Lee Ann Etzold

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Diary 4 (a little late, sorry)

Lee Ann — Tue, 07 Sep 2004 17:52:46 GMT

LET’S ROCK The Rocky Awards celebrate Philadelphia Dance tonight.

There’s no question in my mind that Philadelphia has one of the most impressive dance scenes around. Dancers, choreographers and companies from all over the country…and the world have come to Philadelphia to make a home and this has resulted in a rich and generous dance community. We’re celebrating this tonight at the Rocky Awards, where there are no panels and no judges, just fellow dancers and collaborators who want to honor their peers… and have a lot of fun.

Your hosts tonight are dancer, choreographer and clown, Nichole Canuso, Pig Iron’s Barrymore Award Winner, Emmanuelle Delpeche-Ramey, and me! We have some fun shenanigans planned for you, but the real treat is in the dance programming Nick Stuccio has put together for the event. The high-flying Janette Hough and Valentine April are on the bill along with the fierce duo of Rene Robinson-Buzby and Katherine Livingston. Paule Turner, Duchess’ edgy company, Court, and Yu Wei who relocated from China will also be in the program. It’s a veritable who’s who of Philadelphia Dance.

And I also have some juicy gossip for you. Last year at the Rockys, the dance community voted for three dancers who they would most like to see perform in the nude. Your “hostesses with the most-esses” have been working on making that dream a reality, so if you want to know if we’ve succeeded, you better be there tonight.

But this is SERIOUS DANCE, PEOPLE… followed by the dance party to end all dance parties, so put on your dancing shoes and join us tonight at 8pm.

And if you miss the Rockys, don’t think you’re done with dance at the festivals. There are a lot of great performances coming up this week that you’ll definitely want to see.

On the agenda:
Brian Sanders’ Junk returns to the festival with AdShock, a dance piece with stunning physical prowess, leaping, contorting, and generally defying of the laws of gravity.

Challenging dance forms from the strictest traditions is butoh master, Akira Kasai. Pollen Revolution is a daring and charismatic solo that transforms the Japanese art form and takes the audience on a surreal journey through time, cultures and states of being. This is another limited run. 9/9 – 9/12, so don’t let this opportunity pass.

Leah Stein Dance Company takes us off the beaten path once again with CornerStone. Her look at life and death brings her audience to the historic Christ Church cemetery for some mysterious meditation and a taste of the absurd. As with a few of our site-specific pieces, there is a limited number of tickets per show so be sure to plan ahead.

Babel, by Melanie Stewart Dance Theatre, promises to be properly disturbing and politically potent. For this collaboration with benchtours, the Scottish international theater ensemble directed by Peter Clerke, Melanie Stewart and her powerful female performers merge their own physicality with boufon-like attacks on contemporary issues. They pull no punches with their critique of the Bush Administration, which should make for quite a fiery Festival Plus discussion on 9/11 as well.

In the Fringe some dance pieces this week includes 3 on Top, 4x4 new Dances, Amneisia, Three Ladies in Waiting and Yu Wei (who will also be performing at the Rockys tonight)

Merilyn Jackson, the Inquirer’s dance critic, is putting some power in the hands of the audience. On the 17th of September she will give a little writers workshop/ dissection of the critics process for her review of Zen in the Basement Dance Company’s performance of Off the Map.

Now for the sad news: Sorry folks, but Hotel Pool has sold out for the entire run. If I hear ANYTHING about an added show, I will be sure to let you know. They will be touring to MASS MOCHA, PICA’s Time Based Arts Festival for those of you non-ticket holders who like to travel, but if you have tickets already, they are like gold.

Advice for the day: There are quite a few sold out runs already, so make sure you check in with the box office before showing up at the door.

Your Ex-administrator,
Lee Ann Etzold

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Fathom, by Sabooge

dextly — Tue, 07 Sep 2004 15:37:52 GMT

Wonderfully acted, inventively and efficiently staged, and eloquently written. Here and there, images that lingered with me later in the day.

The performance I attended included a post-show talkback with the company, and I especially appreciated knowing that as recently as this past July a decision was made to revise a piece that had given roughly equal interest to all of its characters into a piece that focused on one character. Apparently this had been a difficult revision to make, and it's interesting to me, in retrospect, to imagine the other plays that might have surfaced if the focus had been given to one or another of the other characters.

This is a very accessible show that I'd recommend to a wide range of audiences.

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favorite shows so far...

mcawesome — Tue, 07 Sep 2004 05:33:32 GMT

well, i guess my favorites are the only ones i have seen....i saw the talk show and skitsoid today...both were very funny and smart....the money i won at the talk show (trivia) paid for both shows...i had a great time....plus i went to the kickball game betweeen 1812 and interact.....when i left, interact was up by a ton, but i dont know who won....

posted in Live Arts and Philly Fringe - 1 reply

Did anyone tap the Rockys?

Carey — Tue, 07 Sep 2004 15:17:31 GMT

I worked last night and missed the Rockys. Highlights, anyone? Did anyone see a performance that made them want to go to a certain show?

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Last Supper

Emily — Tue, 07 Sep 2004 14:56:24 GMT

Has anyone seen The Last Supper? If so, what did you think? Those tickets sold out fast!

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2Bizarre Sunday.................

BoBeau — Tue, 07 Sep 2004 00:08:16 GMT

SCARY GOTHIC DOLLS RUN AMOK WITH A 12' VIDEO BACK DROP.
JOIN US AT "THE ETHICAL SOCIETY" ON SUNDAY 12th FOR 55 MINUTES OF GREAT MUSIC, STRANGE VISUALS AND A WICKEDLY FUN TIME.

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"How Late It Was . . . " & Scot Lit

Carey — Mon, 06 Sep 2004 19:54:37 GMT

Last night, I went to see "How Late It Was, How Late," a "piss-and-vinegar"-fueled show, with bombastic AV to back up its brilliant lead actor. The Rude Mechs, an Austin-based group, eked humor out of a desperate situation, and followed an anti-hero from Scotland to Texas. I thought that the group's tempering of their audio-visual assault with the unquestionable humanity of Sammy was very impressive.

The show dealt with the archetype of the anti-hero, the star of the American West. This, and the fact that the show was set up as a series of vignettes, got my friend to start thinking about Scottish fiction. In his experience, several contemporary Scottish novels, including "Porno" by the author of "Trainspotting," weave in and out of snapshots in time, and rely on the anti-hero to carry the tale. Has anyone seen any contemporary Scottish plays (or been to Edinburgh recently)? How have they been structured? What are their themes? If they fall into place with what I've described, why would that mode be popular in Scotland right now? Do you think it might have to do with the alienation/individualism associated with the house/techno/drum 'n' bass dance culture?

What about anti-heros of earlier European fiction/poetry/plays? Were the Rude Mechs referencing an American tradition that originated in the "old world," or do you think that the individualism born of open land was a uniquely American backlash against European community-oriented living? Has anyone else seen the show? If so, what did you think?

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The Guided Tour

Carey — Mon, 06 Sep 2004 19:52:08 GMT

This show's been selling out left and right. I haven't gotten a chance to see it. Has anyone ridden their trolley to Point Breeze? How does it present the city? Is it funny? Is it dark? Does it show several sides of Philly's story?

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RGDG -- that deus ex machina guy

Carey — Mon, 06 Sep 2004 19:16:03 GMT

I just saw RGDG yesterday, and thought that it was well-written, with the whole artistic team capturing the essences of the characters. Going into the show, I didn't know how the play would keep the audience's attention after the humor of the premise had worn out, but great comic timing and the development of an intriguing conflict helped us to stick with the forgetful, bumbling characters.

When the play ended, I was left with a few unanswered questions and no talk-back session, so I was wondering if anyone wanted to share their thoughts. In tackling the decades-old question, "What would happen if R+G met D+G?", the writer succeeded in finding not only a conflict, but also a resolution for the wandering but stagnant pairs. But could the impetus have come without the mysterious, didactic Man in Black? Did they need an outside vehicle to inform them of their own deep desires? Did the writer not want them to mature and be self-actualizing through the biggest change in their onstage lives? Why not?

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Daily Diary III

Lee Ann — Sun, 05 Sep 2004 17:48:29 GMT

WHATCHACALLIT? I don’t know what it is, but I like it!

Hybrid, multi-media, interdisciplinary, experimental… Dance theatre, movement theatre, performance art? Every year, without fail, the Live Arts staff and Fringe coordinators, sit down to begin designing the Festival guide and attempt the impossible; categorizing boundary-breaking art that does not seek to be categorized. Whatever you want to call it, these Festivals are where you find it. Some of the most groundbreaking work is collected in Philadelphia to stun audiences who never know what to expect.

New Paradise Laboratories made its home here in 1998 because they found Philadelphia to be a city of possibilities; a breeding ground for experimentation. They spend a year in small rehearsal studios, conducting experiments, using themselves as guinea pigs to create work that challenges not only audiences, but themselves as well. Don Juan in Nirvana proves to be the most starkly naked product of their lab results to date. And I use starkly naked quite literally. Using the writings of Moliére, Carlos Castenaeda, Wilhelm Reich, and the Buddhist Canon, as well as visual artists Honore Fragonard, Henry Darger, and Odd Nerdrum as catalysts, Director / Conceiver Whit MacLaughlin and the Company uncovered some very mutated, but revealing results about themselves and their own process.

If NPL ever eluded you in the past, their most recent results leave the back door of the laboratory open a crack. Don Juan in Nirvana produces the stunning visual imagery and transcendent soundscape audiences will recognize from previous NPL experiments. However, the surprise lies in the hyperbolic glimpses the audience gets of one artist’s vulnerable process and the muses that can both inspire and torment a creative mind. As always, make your own conclusions—and safety goggles may be required if you don’t want your eyelashes singed.

The Rude Mechanicals are in town! When it comes to artistic adventurers, these guys are renowned for playing aesthetic hardball. I’m truly looking forward to sifting through How Late It Was, How Late running at Christ Church Meeting house until September 12th. I’m also hoping my recent trip to Scotland will help me acclimate to the dense Glasgolinian dialect in which the story unfolds, but I trust that regardless, the visceral indulgence that Rude Mech audiences usually partake in will fill me up just fine. This is one not to miss.

Another group of out-of-towners who’ll be gone before you know it is Festival veterans Sabooge Theatre. Returning for a third time to Philadelphia with Fathom, the Lecoq-based ensemble spins another wild tale in their unique style. Catch them at Mum Puppettheatre before they head back to Montreal after their final show September 7th.

Keep on Fringing!
Your ex-administrator,
Lee Ann Etzold

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Dear Diary II

Lee Ann — Sat, 04 Sep 2004 17:06:17 GMT

DANCING ON THE CEILING: Dance programming reaches new heights

The dance programming for the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival has consistently impressed me. By inviting the premiere choreographers and companies in the world, the Festival turns Philadelphia into a wonderland of dance. One show I’m especially excited to see is 33 Fainting Spells’ playful piece, Our Little Sunbeam (pg 10). I remember spotting a glimpse of their video in the Fringe Office over a year ago. I was drawn to this groups virtuosity in three seconds and I’ve been waiting for them to come to the Festival ever since. They’ve toured to some of the most cutting edge venues in the States and this is their first time here in Philadelphia. Despite an ironically unfortunate disruption by Program Director, Deb Block’s cell phone, their opening night was a huge success. Make sure you see them before they head back to Seattle!

Pairing artists from Philadelphia’s thriving dance community with truly gifted dancers from out of town has been the hallmark and success of the Live Arts double bill and it has paid off for artists and audiences alike. Barnes and Bridge have been teamed up for such a double bill at the Drake. New Yorker, Monica Bill Barnes brings her quirky humor to the table and Philly’s Megan Bridge offers her mesmerizing physicality. These two choreographers may be like apples and oranges, but together they form a nourishing evening, high in vitamins, and good for what ails ya.

For anyone who’s ever traveled, I must recommend two shows that transform the common hotel experience. Headlong Dance Theater throws on their swimsuits to investigate the odd interactions that take place in a Hotel Pool (pg 15). This long anticipated creation from the company that gave us Britney’s Inferno and the Bessie Award winning ST*R W*RS, is the second show of the Festival that takes place in a hotel. Richard Maxwell & the New York City Players perform Showcase (pg 13), the first of their two contributions to the Festival this year, in a hotel room. The strange rhythms and tone of Maxwell’s unique style is like no other theatre I’ve seen. As part of this year’s “Other Places” program, both shows have limited seating and Showcase closes tomorrow, so get tickets now!

REMINDERS:
Jacek Luminski, as well as the Barnes and Bridge, and the Young and Anderson double bills have been relocated to the Drake Theatre, 1512 Spruce St. (entrance on Hicks St.)

Don’t forget to plan on celebrating the Philadelphia dance community at the Rockys Monday night. I’ll be hosting with Headlong’s Nichole Canuso, and Pig Iron’s Emmanuelle Delpheche-Ramey and the evening always offers performances that represent the diversity of Phildelphia’s dance scene.

Happy Fringing, and don’t forget to turn off your cell phones and unwrap your candies.

Your ex-administrator,
Lee Ann Etzold

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Dear Diary...

Lee Ann — Sat, 04 Sep 2004 17:02:20 GMT

ARE YOU READY? I’m here to make sure you are!

It is customary for the writer of the Daily Diary to have an excellent knowledge of what the Festival has in store for you - to prepare you for your Festival Planning - and perhaps give you some helpful hints from the inside. For the past four years Corrina Burns, previous Fringe artist and Fringe office administrator, did just that. With an ex-administrator, you were in good hands. And in that tradition, I, Lee Ann Etzold, also a previous Fringe artist and Fringe office administrator, gladly accept the responsibility of giving you the “inside scoop” on the Festivals.

The Philadelphia Live Arts and The Philly Fringe Festivals were inspired by and modeled after the Edinburgh International Festival and the Festival Fringe. I’ve just returned from the Edinburgh Festivals where I was submersed in a cacophony of over 3,000 shows and exhibitions. Trying to find even a handful of inspiring work was exhausting. I am so happy to be home! There’s something about the volume and diversity of our Philadelphia Festivals that are what Goldilocks calls “just right.” I could go on about why, but there just isn’t time!

I’m very excited about a number of shows and workshops that will come and go this weekend so I want to make sure you don’t miss them. There will be a list of shows that are about to close in each daily diary as well some fun tidbits about the artists and what they’re doing. Are you ready?

The double bill featuring NY choreographer Ann Liv Young and our own Charles O. Anderson and dance theatre x (pg. 42) promises to be one of the most diverse evenings of dance programming at the Live Arts Festival. Anderson’s gifted physical storytelling will bring you back down to earth after soaring into the whimsy of Young’s unpredictability; she has already changed her show from what is in the guide!

Jacek Luminski is a Polish choreographer who is collaborating with some of our favorite local dancers in a piece about breaking clichés. Coming Back to Roots will feature Alison D’Amato, Rene Robinson-Buzby, Kristen Shaverdian, and newcomer Christina Zani. “The piece is very physical but also has incorporated a lot of character work”, says D’Amato. Both Coming Back to Roots and the Young and Anderson double bill will close after this weekend and performances have moved to the Drake Theatre, 1512 Spruce St. (entrance on Hicks St.)

Be sure to check out the Festival Plus (pgs. 16 & 17) so you don’t miss the FREE discussions and workshops with visiting artists like Jacek Lumenski and 33 Fainting Spells. It’s a fantastic opportunity for audiences and artists to interact and explore with each other. That way you can also skip the small talk if you see each other at the Late Night Cabaret.

Speaking of Late Night Cabaret, don’t forget to check out that line-up on page 51. Those artists often perform ONE NIGHT ONLY!

I know. It’s a lot. But my job is to make sure you feel prepared for the next few days because FESTIVAL TIME IS HERE and the first weekend always goes by fast. So run down to the Box Office or jump on our website and get your tickets NOW!

Till Tomorrow, your ex-administrator,
Lee Ann Etzold

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Question-- so how do you get the fershlugginer Tribe discount?

Adam — Fri, 03 Sep 2004 01:50:22 GMT

So, on the tickets page, it says that your first order will be $3 off each ticket by joining Tribe-- so how do I collect that discount? What's the promotional code?

Enquiring and thrifty minds would like to know!

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IT'S COMING!!!

Fri, 03 Sep 2004 21:03:42 GMT

It has 8 heads...

16 legs...

256 teeth...

1,648 bones...

And over 15,942 jokes.

BAD HAIR is coming to the Fringe!

September 15th.

www.badhairsketch.com

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