Cincinnati Fringe Festival

2015 Review - from a chronic FringerI love the Fringe Festival here. Granted, I have never been to another Fringe, but from what I hear, the Fringieness of CincyFringe is set to stun. Seriously though, I have yet to find another group of eclectic, open minded and welcoming bunch like the folks who frequent CincyFringe. This is my second year attending the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. I went in 2014 and dreamed about going again soon. The line-up for this year, of song and dance, dance and theatre, shadow puppets and one-woman specktaculars is not to be missed. There is something for everyone! For those with younger or more delicate ears and sensibilities, be sure to pay attention to the rating systems for content. Otherwise, don't be afraid to pop into a show even unplanned! You never know what's in store once you enter the doors of a Fringe show. However, as time goes on during the festival, and carrier pigeons and instagrams alike spread the word, tickets are snatched up quickly! Be sure to book your own tickets in advance if you're dying to see that part comedy, part zombie, part musical performance. When you're done enjoying the show, be sure to head to the Know Theatre for the evening's Fringe Bar Series. Every night there is a new theme, like discounted drinks (yes, there is a full bar beneath the theatre!), Fringe-oke, and riding Segways. And hit up the food trucks posted outside the door, guaranteed to fill your stomach with tasty bites.

Do not skip the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. Do not skip the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. Do Not Skip the Cincinnati Fringe Festival! What a wonderful two weeks of live theater and art, a celebration of spontaneity and universality. Every year, the Know Theatre reviews dozens of applications for the best plays and art displays to feature in these two weeks - what results is a mix of home grown talent and award winning Fringe plays from across the country, even some from other countries. The plays last an hour but every one I've seen almost leaves you asking for more. I also wanted to give a big shout out to the community that participates in this festival. It is a broad age range and a diverse group of people, but all are affected equally by the high energy one gets from performing and seeing such original works of art. The shows are well run by volunteers, staff, and interns, and they take place in OTR, all in walking distance of the Know Theatre. After the last show of the night concludes, the Know Theatre hosts the Know Underground parties and events in the downstairs lobby and theater. This includes variety shows and interviews with the performers and directors of the plays as well as live music. I look forward to Fringe every year.

Cincinnati Fringe Festival knows how to pull together an eclectic grouping of performances, performers, & community members to support & represent the unique qualities of Cincinnati, & more specifically, OTR. Big thanks to the folks who organize and sponsor to make the show possible. Had a date to one evening of shows. Went to another evening of shows by myself. I was hooked on both nights. Great date/friend/group idea, or it's nice to take in a show alone. Date night included the shows Clara and Graphic (as part of the silly named "One Night Stand" pass, which is two shows & an included drink at the Fringe Fest Bar). If you go to Clara, it's probable that you will cry. It's a beautifully told story, but it is intense. You were warned. And I don't often get tears at shows. Not as much aerial silk showmanship as anticipated, but the parts performed with it were gorgeous or contributed to the storytelling in some way. Graphic had some performing troopers when it started to rain, as this is a traveling performance outdoors through OTR. But it was awesome to see it with that added dimension of water, and the show had strong skilled dancing & expression. Tonight, I saw Naked Strangers and Other Bother (as part of the "Voyeur" pass that includes 6 flex shows throughout the festival). They went well together in the exploration of how people relate to one another as part of the human race. If you want more historical and personal value, then go to Naked Strangers. If you're looking for more storytelling, then go to Other Bother. (Be warned, lights go on and off throughout both performances, and strobe is used in Other Bother. Should that be a problem visually or for other health reasons, these shows are not recommended.) Or if you've got the time, then go to both :)Next year, I'll plan better with the Fringe schedule to be able to invest in a "Full Frontal" pass to see as many shows as I can manage. Totally worth the investment for a single show, a couple, several, or unlimited shows. Pick an option that works for your schedule, and go. GO TO FRINGE FEST!

Two words:Flaw. Less. Cincinnati Fringe Festival is by far the most diverse, cultural experience available in Cincinnati. If you're able to make it out, start with a show you're the most interested, and branch out from there. Not every show is for everyone, but you're going to have an unforgettable experience no matter what show you attend.

This is not strictly a review. It is a public service announcement. The Cincinnati Fringe Festival is not to be missed. It is a reason for Cincinnatians to be proud and denizens of other cities to be jealous. Here is my handy guide for first timers:1. Don't be afraid. The tagline for Fringe might be "Kinda Weird... Like You," but the audience is majority genteel retirees. No one is going to bite.2. Pick your shows wisely. It may seem a little overwhelming, since there are dozens of plays to choose from scheduled over a two-week period. Before the festival starts, figure out how many shows you can afford/have time to see. (Hint: see as many as possible!) Grab a copy of the City Beat festival guide. Talk to staff about the companies from previous years that are staging shows: return companies are usually very popular with attendees and will sell out fast.3. Buy the full access pass if you can afford it. It's the best value, if you really like a particular show, you can go back again and again, and it helps to support the festival.4. Diversify your selections. There are many venues to choose from, and each one is unique: traditional stages, black boxes, abandoned buildings, coffee shops. It is really cool to see how each company makes use of the space, and you get to see different parts of the neighborhood.5. Don't neglect local acts. The most popular shows tend to be the out-of-town companies that are traveling a festival circuit. These shows tend to be a little more polished, but if you only go to see these shows, you are missing out. Discovering the breadth of local talent was one of the best parts of the fest.6. Get the inside scoop. After the first few days, attendees and staffers will already have some favorites, and they are happy to share their recommendations. Make friends and get turned onto a show you otherwise might not have seen.7. Go to the Know Theater Bar Series. There is always something going on after the performances end for the day. You can meet the performers and catch some additional entertainment (free of charge!)At the beginning of each performance, one of the staff members gets up in front of the audience and asks, "Who here is seeing their first Cincinnati Fringe performance?" There are always a few people who raise their hands. That may be the best evidence of Fringe's success: it manages to attract new devotees every year, including me.

This festival has very diverse programing, and a lot of it. So much that were you to try to see it all at some point around the second weekend you would likly look up from your daze come to believe that you had stumbled on a Manhattan theater district somewhere in the center of this supposedly backward (see Mark Twain) Midwest town. There is plenty of detailed information you can find online or in the press about this yearly festival (early june) or its equivalents in other cities so let me just say this: if you want to experience explosively vivid edgy urban culture creation come here, you wont get any closer to it than this festival, and even the current storied cauldrons of fringiness (from Berlin to Brookline) lack a certain Midwestern honesty and swagger that this festival flaunts.A note on the Good for Kids: You should take your kids to see theater, it will have many positive outcomes in the long and short term for them and possibly for your relationship. 98% of fringe shows are in my opinion more wholesome then say Wrestlemania. That said, be selective and pick a show that your kids will understand. That way you can talk about it with them afterward and both grow from the experience.

An amazing, wonderful, eclectic, and exciting arts explosion that is not to be missed!