Every year a mysterious phenomenon happens in lower Manhattan. Theater lovers find incredible shows they want to see. Audience members find out they can actually afford to see many shows without going broke. People who have never been to the theater discover its magic. Teens find out theater is actually cool. And all of that is caused by a marvel called The New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC.org).
FringeNYC, for those who don't know is the largest multi-arts festival in North America, with more than 200 companies from all over the world performing for 16 days in more than 20 venues with almost 2000 performances, art events, free classes and outdoor performances.
FringeNYC started this year with a series of internet issues, with a British company stuck at the airport for 3 days and with one of the actors suffering from collapsed lungs and having to cancel his show, and yet, its spirit and power has been stronger than ever. For the 16 days of the festival, lower Manhattan is transformed. It changes from being the business area of NY, the sad resting place of 9/11, the executive stronghold of the Big Apple to becoming the heart of the creative pulse of NYC.
Streets are taken over by characters and artists, volunteers race to get to theaters so they can help with the crowds, shows move about spreading the word about their perfomances and audience members come to FringeCENTRAL (27 Mercer street) to share their experiences. They talk about being moved to tears by "Sakura", a show from Japan, about laughing until their cheeks hurt at the crazy guys with spatulas from "Minimum Wage", about being shocked at the honesty of the art of "Billy The Mime" or about the hypnotizing dialogue of a jewel called "Americana Absurdum".
FringeNYC has come of age. It has turned 10 this year. Let its spirit, passion and art endure for many decades to come...
FRINGENYC
http://fringenyc.org/
For information on the shows, podcasting and more.
