Please Don’t Stop the Fringe

September 19, 2019

Spend Your Weekend with THE Pick of the Fringe!

Get your tickets for the Public Market Pick of the Fringe now, featuring the hottest shows from this year’s Festival! Clockwise from top left: Larry, Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me But Banjos Saved My Life, Pretty Beast, Old-ish, My Name is SUMIKO, and Guards at the Taj.

Want to see your favourite Fringe show again? Or did you miss out on a great show because it was always sold out during the Festival? Well, we have some great news for you: you can see them for one more performance at the Public Market Pick of the Fringe, happening from Friday, September 20,until Sunday, September 22! Here’s a sneak peek of the shows that are going to wow you one more time:

Get ready for three nights of Fringe double features, starting with GoodSide Productions’ Old-ish on Friday, September 20, at 7:00pm, followed by Kazu Kusano’s Pretty Beast at 8:45pm.

Kick your night off on Saturday, September 21, with New(to)Town Collective’s My Name is SUMIKO at 7:00pm, and then the Artistic Risk Award-winning show, Larry, by Candy Bones Theatre at 8:45pm.

Finally, on Sunday, we’ll close Pick of the Fringe with Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me but Banjos Saved My Life at 6:00pm, followed by Guards at the Taj at 7:45pm!

These performances will be showcased at Performance Works on Granville Island. Tickets are $25 and are available online or at the venue starting 45 minutes before the show starts. Click here for more details.

Save 20%??

Josh Languedoc is bringing back Rocko and Nakota: Tales from the Land at Pick Plus tonight! Buy your tickets now!

Want yet more Fringe? Don’t worry—Pick Plus is here to satisfy your post-Fringe cravings! Tonight, Josh Languedoc hits the stage with Rocko and Nakota: Tales from the Land and tomorrow check out two shows: Devon More’s Flute Loops and Weeping Spoon’s The Ballad of Frank Allen.

Want to save some cash on these shows an more Fringey goodness going on year-round? Save 20% on your tickets when you buy tickets to three, four, or five Theatre Wire shows, which include the Pick Plus offerings! Or save 30% when you buy tickets to six or more shows!

There are plenty of Fringe-y shows coming this year, including the 2017 Fringe hit, Ain’t True and Uncle False, Monster Theatre’s play creation showcase, Theatre Under the Gun, and TJ Dawe’s Roller Coaster! Check these shows out and all the others on offer now and get buying! Tickets must be purchased on the Theatre Wire website in advance for discounts to apply. Click here to read about the package and click here to see all the shows on offer as part of this amazing deal!

Thank You Volunteers!

We can’t thank the Volunteers enough for helping us make this year’s Festival a success again! Photos by: Al Ricard, Sam Krochmal, Simone Leslie, and Anita Kaur.

Once again, volunteers saved our butts during this Festival! We want to thank everyone who donated their valuable time, skills, and efforts to make sure the Fringe went off without a hitch. Whether playing up a customer service role selling tickets, helping patrons to their seats, selling raffle tickets, and pouring beverages or to those behind the scenes driving to and from venues, distributing Program Guides, laminating everything, and prepping snacks for their fellow volunteers—THANK YOU!

And an extra special thanks to those volunteers who took on new roles this year, stepped into empty shifts, helped out for an extra hour or 10. You are all stars!

Last night, Tuesday, September 17, we held our Volunteer Appreciation Party. It felt so good to get to thank those in attendance in person. Earnest Ice Cream donated four tasty flavours, pizza was devoured, as was Habibi’s dips with so much celery and carrots, and prizes from so many generous businesses were handed out to volunteers who went above and beyond.

Once again, THANK YOU! We can’t wait to see you next year!

Hysteria After the Fringe

After a successful run at the 2018 Fringe, Direct Theatre Collective is back with their hit show, Hysteria! Photo by Catchfall Photography.

Winner of the Joanna Maratta Award and the Mollie Bradley Award at the 2018 Fringe, Direct Theatre Collective are back with a redeveloped version of their hit show, Hysteria, playing at Havana Theatre from September 18 to 28.

Praised by Room Magazine for “ke[eping] the energy high and the laughs coming between moments of vulnerability,”  this version introduces elements that will be new to audiences who saw the show at the 2018 Festival: an expanded script and new vignettes, and new voices and stories from their cast.

This version also welcomes two of the original ensemble members, Lauren Martin and Ariel Martz-Oberlander at the directing helm, and three new ensemble members: Kapila Rego, Julia Muncs, and Florence Reiher, who will join Isa Sanchez and Jill Raymond. According to Jill, Direct Theatre Collective’s Artistic Director, having Lauren and Ariel at the co-director role means a real coherence in the show’s vision, and the new ensemble members have driven new creation and ideas for the show, such as puppetry and original music.

Jill emphasizes that Hysteria is important in furthering the conversations and posing questions regarding the #MeToo movement. “Hysteria is a really scary glimpse to where the future could lead… How do we undo the deeply rooted societal norms and expectations that are put onto us from such a young age? How do we create a sexual landscape that is safe and enjoyable for everyone? How do we navigate the murky conversations around consent and boundaries?” she says.

“We’ve learned that this show acts as a gateway for some of these tough topics to be presented in a way that is somehow simultaneously entertaining and provoking,” she adds.

Whether you’re seeing Hysteria for the first time or want to see the show’s evolution in the past year, make sure to get your tickets now! And if you have a Fringe Membership, make sure to enter the code DTCFR!NGE to watch their show half-price on their opening night tonight at 8:00pm, and on their performance at September 24!

But Wait! There’s Even More Fringe!

September 16, 2019

Wrapping Up a Great Festival

Did you use the wheel to help you select some Theatrically Delicious shows this year? Photo by Al Ricard.

Good Night, Fringers! With that, the 2019 Vancouver Fringe Festival is done. We hope you enjoyed taking a bite out of the Theatrically Delicious shows the Fringe had to offer. Thanks for hanging out with us at the Phillips Fringe Bar, where we shared refreshing drinks and lots of dancing courtesy of the musicians and DJs who gave us the perfect music every night!

A huge thanks to all the sponsors for their generous support of the Festival: our Presenting Partners CMHC Granville Island, the Georgia Straight, and TD Bank Group; our Signature Partners Phillips Brewing and Malting Co., Wards Cider, Global TV, and 980 CKNW; our Leading Partner, The Status Bureau; our Supporting Partners Road 13 Vineyards, Blenz Coffee, The Keg Steakhouse and Bar, Thunderbolt Sign, Finisterra Travel; our Sustaining Partners Georgian Bay Spirit Co., PrintPrint, Habibi’s, Dockside Restaurant, BeatRoute Magazine; our Boosting Partners Sober Guys and Clif Bar & Company; and our Hub Sponsor, Storage for Your Life!

And of course, much of the Festival would not be possible without our amazing volunteers. Thank you for all your hard work and generosity which makes the Festival the success it is! We hope you had fun, and we’re looking forward to seeing you again next year.

Check out some highlights on our Facebook page, which features some of our favourite photos from this year’s Festival. Till then—see you at the 2020 Fringe!

Announcing the Public Market Pick of the Fringe!

Think the Fringe is over? Well, think again. From September 18 through 22, the Public Market Pick of the Fringe will be hosting some of the hottest shows at this year’s Festival, gleaned from lineup chatter, raves at the Phillips Fringe Bar, online posts, and stellar reviews. The Fringe is all about giving the people what they want, so we’re giving you one more performance!

And now, presenting the 2019 Public Market Pick of the Fringe Winners:

	Old-ish Friday, September 20 at 7:00pm Traveling the hilarious, rocky road from denial to grudging acceptance of getting older, Old-ish is about aging and death only way funnier! “She refuses to be grim while waiting for the grim reaper … The show is full of laugh-out-loud moments.” —JoLedingham.ca
	Pretty Beast Friday, September 20 at 8:45pm Growing up in a dysfunctional family in Japan, Kazu Kusano found humour as a survival tool, but a girl being funny is a problem. “Kusano’s comedy is as biting as it is refreshing … Pretty Beast signals a bold and important new voice in comedy and theatre.” —the Georgia Straight
	My Name is SUMIKO Saturday, September 21 at 7:00pm By day June Fukumura is a polite, well-mannered theatre artist, but at night, she’s her dark humoured, hyper kawaii, raunchy clown alter-ego, Sumiko, dicing and slicing up Japanese stereotypes. “Fukumura brings so much charm, energy, and over the top silliness to her performance.” —ILiveInEastVan.com
	Larry Saturday, September 21 at 8:45pm Meet Larry. He'll be the first to tell you that he's handier than a pocket on the back of a shirt. Larry wants to prove he's worthy of a good woman, that he can quit drinking, and even take up meditation. Larry’s journey into his own psyche uncovers more than he expected. “This is a daring, weird, hilarious show with headbanging, so basically everything you could want from the Fringe.” —the Georgia Straight
	Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me But Banjos Saved My Life Sunday, September 22 at 6:00pm Triple award winner at the New York Frigid Fringe Festival, Tomatoes is a true story of life, challenges, battles, and triumph. “Funny, beautiful, and deeply affecting. This is an important story to remind us that life is short and pursuing your passion(s) can save your life.” —Vancouver Presents
	Guards at the Taj Sunday, September 22 at 7:45pm Adele Noronha and Andeep Kalirai star in Rajiv Joseph’s story of Imperial Guards at the Taj Mahal during one of the cruelest acts in (perhaps fabricated) history. “Bet you haven’t see a show quite like this before … Adele Noronha shines.” —Colin Thomas’s Fresh Sheet

Fringe + Fringe = Pick Plus

Want more Fringe with your Fringe? We’ve got the solution for you: Pick Plus, a series of Fringe hits handpicked for your enjoyment! All Pick Plus Shows are $25; however, you can save money when you buy your tickets as part of a Theatre Wire Package.

	Rocko and Nakota: Tales From the Land Indigenized Indigenous Theatre By Josh Languedoc Wednesday, September 18 at 7:00pm Meet Nakota. An anxious young boy who is trying to write the greatest story ever. One day, Grandpa Rocko comes to visit him in the hospital. Next thing Nakota knows, he is whisked away into a world of stories that are right below his feet. Within the land. This show explores the interplay between stories of the present against the long forgotten stories of the past. After a cross-Canada Fringe tour and an Edmonton school tour, Anishinaabe playwright/storyteller Josh Languedoc is excited to bring Rocko and Nakota back to the Vancouver Fringe for one more performance.
	Flute Loops Devon More Music Written, Created & Performed by Devon More Thursday, September 19 at 7:00pm The Flute Loops—pop music’s latest viral sensation—are about to the hit the stage! Meanwhile, the quantum physic PhD student working the merch table is trying to warp space-time while under the influence—of Saint Stephen Hawking. With the muses of classical music and theoretical math at her side, can she calculate the suspension of the 4th dimension—or Thomas’ attention? A fish out of water making sound waves faces off with cosmic flute rock show-stopping solos. Quirks, quarks, strangeness, charm, and the substance of sound collide in a subatomic rock opera where anything that can happen does. With Devon More “showcasing a polymath’s proclivity for playing multiple instruments” and “dope-ass beats” (★★★★ —CBC, 2018), “this is truly a one-of-a-kind show” (★★★★ —Winnipeg Free Press, 2018).
	The Ballad of Frank Allen Weeping Spoon Productions Written & Directed by Shane Adamczak Thursday, September 19 at 8:45pm After making its world debut at Fringe World 2016 and two years successfully touring Australia and Canada, the award-winning show finally makes its Vancouver return! A sci-fi buddy-comedy about a man who lives in another man’s beard from the bizarre mind of Festival-favourite Shane Adamczak (Trampoline, Zack Adams, Canadian Just for Laughs Award Winner, and producer of other 5-star Fringe hits This Is Not A Love Song and Vicious Circles). When a scientific accident causes a mild-mannered janitor to shrink and get stuck in another man’s beard, their unlikely friendship might be exactly what the two directionless men need to set them on the path toward being better men, proving that even the smallest people can do big things.

Everyone’s a Winner at the Fringe Awards Night

Just a few winners from the 2019 Fringe Awards Night! Clockwise from top left: Eddy van Wyk from tadpole: the last episode, winner the TD Fringe Forward Award; Beau Han Bridge, Kenneth Tynan, and Maria Yanagisawa from Two Modern Noh Plays by Yukio Mishima, winners of the Joanna Maratta Award; Tymisha Harris from Josephine, winner of the Volunteer Choice Award and the Georgia Straight Critic’s Choice Award; artists from the Public Market Pick of the Fringe Award winning shows, Guards at the Taj, Larry, Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me But Banjos Saved My Life, Old-ish, and Pretty Beast.

To celebrate the end of the Festival, Fringers gather at Awards Night to honour the Fringey-est of the Fringe! Held on September 15 at Performance Works, Abdul Aziz (Fake Ghost Tours 2: Journey to the Other Side (of Granville Island)) and Emma Cooper (Rape is Real and Everywhere) co-hosted the night with ticket proceeds going to support PAL Vancouver. In case you missed our live-tweeting, here are the winners from Awards Night:

Volunteer Choice Award: Josephine

BC Touring Council Award: Dandelion

Joanna Maratta Award: Midtwenties Theatre Society (Two Modern Noh Plays By Yukio Mishima)

The Georgia Straight Critics’ Pick Award: Josephine

SOFA (Spirit of the Fringe Award): Emma Cooper from Rape is Real and Everywhere

Artistic Risk Award:
Winner: Larry
Runner Up: Rape is Real and Everywhere
Honourable Mentions: Didn’t Hurt, Where the Quiet Queers Are, and How to Confront a Rhinoceros

Cultchivating the Fringe Award: Mx

The brand new TD Fringe Forward Award:
Winner: tadpole.: the last episode
Runners-Up: Monica vs. The Internet: Tales of a Social Justice Warrior and Where the Quiet Queers Are

Public Market Pick of the Fringe: Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me but Banjos Saved My Life, Guards at the Taj, Larry, Old-ish, My Name is SUMIKO, and Pretty Beast

The Fringe Raffle winners were also announced! Congratulations to Susan Rudolph (ticket number 30586) for winning the an Instant Camera Prize Pack courtesy of Quay Pacific Property Management LTD and a Kick Ass Pass to the 2020 Fringe; Karen Chan (ticket number 30973) for winning the weekend getaway to The View Winery and Vineyard in Kelowna; and Andrea (who did not write down her last name) (ticket number 30581) for winning the week-long Cuban adventure for two courtesy of Finisterra Travel!

Congratulations to all the winners! And to everyone, for a great Fringe yet again!

Put on a Fringe Show with the Fringe New Play Prize

Lili Robinson (centre) won the 2019 Fringe New Play Prize from PTC and produced Mx for the Festival. Will it be you next year? Photo by Christache Ross.

Are you inspired to create a Fringe show after watching all the Theatrically Delicious shows at this year’s Festival? You can do just that by applying to Playwrights Theatre Centre’s (PTC) Fringe New Play Prize!

This Award gives a leg up to BC Artists by providing them with material support as they create and produce a show. The winner of the Fringe New Play Prize receives eight months of dramaturgy with PTC Project Dramaturg Joanna Garfinkel, free creation and rehearsal space, a free spot in PTC’s how-to-produce-theatre seminar series called Block P, and a guaranteed spot in the Fringe Mainstage for the 2020 Fringe Festival! Now that’s a prize you don’t want to pass up on.

The 2019 Fringe New Play Prize winner, Lili Robinson, produced Mx for the 2019 Festival. Learn more about this award-winning work in this chat between Dramaturg Joanna Garfinkel and Playwright Lili Robinson.

Don’t forget to submit your application by no later than October 4, 2019, with the winner to be announced at the Fringe Festival Lottery Party this winter. Learn more about the Fringe New Play Prize on PTC’s website!