2016 Pittsburgh Fringe Shows
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A Dream of Midsummer from Brawling Bard Theater
Shakespeare’s classic tale of love and enchantment, re-imagined by Brawling Bard. The company leaps into the story with high-energy comedy, audience interaction, and wild improvisation, but with a tiny cast and almost no props or costumes can they possibly pull it off? And where will they include the sword fight?
Written by Alan Irvine (with considerable assistance by Will S.); directed by Alan Irvine; fight choreography by Tonya Lynn; Cast: Lydia Aceto, Alan Irvine, Elizabeth Irvine, Tonya Lynn, Michael Mykita, Adam Rutledge.
About the Company: BBT plays with classic drama, creating shows filled with comedy, action and swordplay. Their 2014 show won the Fringe’s Best Box Office award, their 2015 show won the Golden Crow award and was called “the most fun” by Pittsburgh Stages. If you haven’t seen BBT yet, 2016 is your chance.
Shakespeare’s classic tale of love and enchantment, re-imagined by Brawling Bard. The company leaps into the story with high-energy comedy, audience interaction, and wild improvisation, but with a tiny cast and almost no props or costumes can they possibly pull it off? And where will they include the sword fight?
Written by Alan Irvine (with considerable assistance by Will S.); directed by Alan Irvine; fight choreography by Tonya Lynn; Cast: Lydia Aceto, Alan Irvine, Elizabeth Irvine, Tonya Lynn, Michael Mykita, Adam Rutledge.
About the Company: BBT plays with classic drama, creating shows filled with comedy, action and swordplay. Their 2014 show won the Fringe’s Best Box Office award, their 2015 show won the Golden Crow award and was called “the most fun” by Pittsburgh Stages. If you haven’t seen BBT yet, 2016 is your chance.
Always B Sharp from Always B Sharp
Always B Sharp is a musical improvisation company based in Pittsburgh. Spontaneous, entertaining, exciting and fun, musical improvisation is a must-see! Watch as the actors create a musical on the spot, with no previous planning, using information from the audience. Each performance is entirely and completely unique and creates a crazy world full of wonderful characters and crazy situations.
Always B Sharp is a musical improvisation company based in Pittsburgh. Spontaneous, entertaining, exciting and fun, musical improvisation is a must-see! Watch as the actors create a musical on the spot, with no previous planning, using information from the audience. Each performance is entirely and completely unique and creates a crazy world full of wonderful characters and crazy situations.
Best Intentions by Shark Eat Muffin Theatre Company
Best intentions... are what Angelica and Emilia, two modern adaptations of the often-overlooked
women from Shakespeare's Othello and Romeo and Juliet definitely had before they ended up trapped in a room with a kitten puzzle. They must now take this opportunity to look more closely at their lives, the choices they made and how they came to be in this place. Through reasoning, deduction and slowly revealing their dark secrets, they discover that escape will warrant some honesty, as their best intentions are not an excuse in the eyes of the law. Cast and Crew: Director - Courtney Brown; Playwright - Catie O'Keefe; Sound Design - Nick Drashne; Technical Director - Devin Gallo; Technical Operator - Jeremy Lewis. Cast: Emilia - Amy Fritsche, Angelica - Jess Tanner.
About the Company:
Dangerous, yet savory theatre, our mission: through a cross-cultural lens, Shark Eat Muffin Theatre Company professionally explores new works of theatre as well as modern and classic plays with fresh and innovative initiatives. Our vision is to bring together a global community of writers and theatre makers, working to create thought-provoking performances for both local and international audiences and touring. We form relationships and mentor-ships between countries by exchanging ideas, people and art. We provide our audience with the opportunity to witness top-notch performances from around the world without leaving the comfort of their own city.
Best intentions... are what Angelica and Emilia, two modern adaptations of the often-overlooked
women from Shakespeare's Othello and Romeo and Juliet definitely had before they ended up trapped in a room with a kitten puzzle. They must now take this opportunity to look more closely at their lives, the choices they made and how they came to be in this place. Through reasoning, deduction and slowly revealing their dark secrets, they discover that escape will warrant some honesty, as their best intentions are not an excuse in the eyes of the law. Cast and Crew: Director - Courtney Brown; Playwright - Catie O'Keefe; Sound Design - Nick Drashne; Technical Director - Devin Gallo; Technical Operator - Jeremy Lewis. Cast: Emilia - Amy Fritsche, Angelica - Jess Tanner.
About the Company:
Dangerous, yet savory theatre, our mission: through a cross-cultural lens, Shark Eat Muffin Theatre Company professionally explores new works of theatre as well as modern and classic plays with fresh and innovative initiatives. Our vision is to bring together a global community of writers and theatre makers, working to create thought-provoking performances for both local and international audiences and touring. We form relationships and mentor-ships between countries by exchanging ideas, people and art. We provide our audience with the opportunity to witness top-notch performances from around the world without leaving the comfort of their own city.
Character Box by James Jamison
What do a Minnesotan housewife, an enthusiastic librarian, and an obscure poet have in common? That's just what Theodore Talbot wants to know! After a mysterious box of character files shows up in his office it becomes his personal obsession. Monty Python meets Pee Wee's
Playhouse in this solo, interactive, multimedia marathon of costume changes starring Pittsburgh comedian, James Jamison.
About the Performer:
James Jamison migrated from his homeland Beaver County to Pittsburgh nearly nine years ago to study video production and theatrical design and never left – it's a city you fall in love with. While here, he has always gravitated towards the performing arts - both on stage, doing improv comedy (Steel City Improv, Arcade Comedy, Unplanned Comedy), and off stage, writing plays and building sets (Into The Mirror Productions, Pittsburgh Savoyards, 12 Peers). James can be seen performing with Mary Stewart in the improv duo, We're Fine, and with the sketch comedy troupe, The Big Deal. Drawing inspiration from something as simple as a wig or a bowtie, James builds entire characters walking the aisles of thrift shops or hunting around yard sales. This is his Fringe debut.
What do a Minnesotan housewife, an enthusiastic librarian, and an obscure poet have in common? That's just what Theodore Talbot wants to know! After a mysterious box of character files shows up in his office it becomes his personal obsession. Monty Python meets Pee Wee's
Playhouse in this solo, interactive, multimedia marathon of costume changes starring Pittsburgh comedian, James Jamison.
About the Performer:
James Jamison migrated from his homeland Beaver County to Pittsburgh nearly nine years ago to study video production and theatrical design and never left – it's a city you fall in love with. While here, he has always gravitated towards the performing arts - both on stage, doing improv comedy (Steel City Improv, Arcade Comedy, Unplanned Comedy), and off stage, writing plays and building sets (Into The Mirror Productions, Pittsburgh Savoyards, 12 Peers). James can be seen performing with Mary Stewart in the improv duo, We're Fine, and with the sketch comedy troupe, The Big Deal. Drawing inspiration from something as simple as a wig or a bowtie, James builds entire characters walking the aisles of thrift shops or hunting around yard sales. This is his Fringe debut.
Confessions of a Manic Pixie Dream Girl by Anna Bennett
Four young women attend a support group for so-called “manic pixie dream girls” in this gleefully postmodern pop culture romp. Some reject or redefine their labels, while others accept the burdens and boons of tropedom. All must grapple with the implications of their own fictitiousness — some with more success than others. This one-woman multimedia experience introduces a geek girl, a dancer, a lovable nut job and a blonde bombshell, then shakes up their comfy routines by bringing the unlikely group together. Sure, it’s a loving critique of gender representation in popular media, but there’s also live music, physical comedy, cute rom-com boys and fourth-wall tomfoolery. Ultimately, one question remains: Can a one-woman show pass the Bechdel Test?
About the Performer:
Anna Bennett is a Tulsa-based performer. She got her first taste of “Fringe” in 2012 at the Dublin Fringe Festival in Dublin, Ireland, where she volunteered before studying at the Gaiety School of Acting for a semester. She previously co-directed the student-centered production “Eighteen, 2, Twenty-Four: A Show About Rape Culture” at the University of Tulsa, where she graduated in 2014 with honors and a BA in Film Studies. She additionally directed the feature film “918: A Place to Call Home.” An avid improviser, Anna performs frequently at The Comedy Parlor in Tulsa, and will be appearing in Portico Dans Theatre’s full-length dance work “Legends of Darkness” in June. Her most recent theatre credits include Kristine in “A Chorus Line” and Kim in “All New People.” During the day, she’s the digital editor at a local magazine. Anna is beyond excited to take her manic pixies dreams to Pittsburgh.
Four young women attend a support group for so-called “manic pixie dream girls” in this gleefully postmodern pop culture romp. Some reject or redefine their labels, while others accept the burdens and boons of tropedom. All must grapple with the implications of their own fictitiousness — some with more success than others. This one-woman multimedia experience introduces a geek girl, a dancer, a lovable nut job and a blonde bombshell, then shakes up their comfy routines by bringing the unlikely group together. Sure, it’s a loving critique of gender representation in popular media, but there’s also live music, physical comedy, cute rom-com boys and fourth-wall tomfoolery. Ultimately, one question remains: Can a one-woman show pass the Bechdel Test?
About the Performer:
Anna Bennett is a Tulsa-based performer. She got her first taste of “Fringe” in 2012 at the Dublin Fringe Festival in Dublin, Ireland, where she volunteered before studying at the Gaiety School of Acting for a semester. She previously co-directed the student-centered production “Eighteen, 2, Twenty-Four: A Show About Rape Culture” at the University of Tulsa, where she graduated in 2014 with honors and a BA in Film Studies. She additionally directed the feature film “918: A Place to Call Home.” An avid improviser, Anna performs frequently at The Comedy Parlor in Tulsa, and will be appearing in Portico Dans Theatre’s full-length dance work “Legends of Darkness” in June. Her most recent theatre credits include Kristine in “A Chorus Line” and Kim in “All New People.” During the day, she’s the digital editor at a local magazine. Anna is beyond excited to take her manic pixies dreams to Pittsburgh.
Critters by Puppets in Performance
“Critters,” a humorous collection of skits about woodland animals, was originally written by puppeteer Darlene Fedele for No Shame Theater in Roanoke, Virginia, where it was performed one skit at a time. Later, it was incorporated into a single show, 30 minutes long. Its first performance in this format was at Pop's Ice Cream Parlor in Roanoke. It has been performed in the Pittsburgh area at Unity in the Community, the Garfield Night Market, and the Butler County Farm Tour. Intended for all ages, it's humorous, cute, and some of the pieces incorporate music. Some of the characters are a beaver who pretends to be magic to save his species from extinction, a skunk who tries to sell perfume, and a “dangerous” dog who meets his match. Cast: Henry operates Farmer Phil, Forrest the Fox, Castor the Beaver, Carney the Wolf, the Crow, the Dangerous Dog, and Fiona the Cat; Darlene operates Clarissa, Dee Dee the Skunk, Penelope and Petey, Herb the Rabbit, the Raccoon, and Blossom the Possum.
About the Company:
Puppets in Performance, a company of puppeteers using hand puppets, was originally conceived and produced by Darlene Fedele in 2011 in Roanoke, Virginia, where at the time, she was pursuing an MFA in Playwriting. After moving to the Pittsburgh area in 2014, Darlene met Henry Tucker, and together they have performed at numerous venues in the area, including the Garfield Night Market, Unity in the Community, the Lovelace Puppet Festival, and the Butler County Farm Tour, as well as at various open mics. All the material is written by Fedele, and most of the puppets are constructed by her as well. Most of the plays are family-friendly and humorous. Some have accompanying music.
“Critters,” a humorous collection of skits about woodland animals, was originally written by puppeteer Darlene Fedele for No Shame Theater in Roanoke, Virginia, where it was performed one skit at a time. Later, it was incorporated into a single show, 30 minutes long. Its first performance in this format was at Pop's Ice Cream Parlor in Roanoke. It has been performed in the Pittsburgh area at Unity in the Community, the Garfield Night Market, and the Butler County Farm Tour. Intended for all ages, it's humorous, cute, and some of the pieces incorporate music. Some of the characters are a beaver who pretends to be magic to save his species from extinction, a skunk who tries to sell perfume, and a “dangerous” dog who meets his match. Cast: Henry operates Farmer Phil, Forrest the Fox, Castor the Beaver, Carney the Wolf, the Crow, the Dangerous Dog, and Fiona the Cat; Darlene operates Clarissa, Dee Dee the Skunk, Penelope and Petey, Herb the Rabbit, the Raccoon, and Blossom the Possum.
About the Company:
Puppets in Performance, a company of puppeteers using hand puppets, was originally conceived and produced by Darlene Fedele in 2011 in Roanoke, Virginia, where at the time, she was pursuing an MFA in Playwriting. After moving to the Pittsburgh area in 2014, Darlene met Henry Tucker, and together they have performed at numerous venues in the area, including the Garfield Night Market, Unity in the Community, the Lovelace Puppet Festival, and the Butler County Farm Tour, as well as at various open mics. All the material is written by Fedele, and most of the puppets are constructed by her as well. Most of the plays are family-friendly and humorous. Some have accompanying music.
The Eulogy by Michael Burgos
WINNER: BEST COMEDY 2016 Adelaide Fringe; WINNER: QUIRKY AWARD 2015 IndyFringe; HONOREE: BEST ACTOR IN A PLAY, DC Metro Theater Arts; SOLD OUT RUN: 2016 Adelaide Fringe; SOLD OUT RUN: 2015 Capital Fringe; SOLD OUT RUN: 2015 Scranton Fringe.
A parody of a funeral, The Eulogy features a menagerie of characters whose inept and inapt speeches give anything but a proper homage. www.theeulogyplay.com #TheEulogy
THE WASHINGTON POST "a comic gem."THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR "hilarious and deftly written"; NEPA SCENE "incredible"; NUVO "insanely funny" ★★★★★; DC THEATRE SCENE "brilliant" ★★★★★; ADELAIDE THEATRE GUIDE "a must-see" ★★★★★; DC METRO THEATER ARTS "magnificent" ★★★★★.
WINNER: BEST COMEDY 2016 Adelaide Fringe; WINNER: QUIRKY AWARD 2015 IndyFringe; HONOREE: BEST ACTOR IN A PLAY, DC Metro Theater Arts; SOLD OUT RUN: 2016 Adelaide Fringe; SOLD OUT RUN: 2015 Capital Fringe; SOLD OUT RUN: 2015 Scranton Fringe.
A parody of a funeral, The Eulogy features a menagerie of characters whose inept and inapt speeches give anything but a proper homage. www.theeulogyplay.com #TheEulogy
THE WASHINGTON POST "a comic gem."THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR "hilarious and deftly written"; NEPA SCENE "incredible"; NUVO "insanely funny" ★★★★★; DC THEATRE SCENE "brilliant" ★★★★★; ADELAIDE THEATRE GUIDE "a must-see" ★★★★★; DC METRO THEATER ARTS "magnificent" ★★★★★.
It's Who You Know by Chamber Steven
On stage there is a table with a large box with hundreds of cards inside, each with the name of a different actor, celebrity, musician, or writer on it. Chambers pulls a card and tells a true story about his run-in with that person. Stevens’ exciting new one-man show is different every time, sometimes funny or touching, but always exciting.
On stage there is a table with a large box with hundreds of cards inside, each with the name of a different actor, celebrity, musician, or writer on it. Chambers pulls a card and tells a true story about his run-in with that person. Stevens’ exciting new one-man show is different every time, sometimes funny or touching, but always exciting.
The Last Lifeboat by WU Players
The Last Lifeboat is the story of J. Bruce Ismay, the chairman of the White Star Line at the time of the sinking of the Titanic. Detailing points in his life from childhood to old age, this play poses the question: If you had to choose between seeing your loved ones again and doing the noble thing, what would you have done?
The Last Lifeboat is the story of J. Bruce Ismay, the chairman of the White Star Line at the time of the sinking of the Titanic. Detailing points in his life from childhood to old age, this play poses the question: If you had to choose between seeing your loved ones again and doing the noble thing, what would you have done?
Open Hearts, Open Mics by Cup-A-Joe Productions
Rabbit Hole by Beautiful Cadaver Project
The Stories Remember from Moquette Volante
Four female storytellers, of varying cultural backgrounds, bring together several different cultural versions of the Cinderella tale into one spoken word piece, with the ultimate message that in sharing our stories and acknowledging our similarities, we can begin to transcend and appreciate our differences.
Four female storytellers, of varying cultural backgrounds, bring together several different cultural versions of the Cinderella tale into one spoken word piece, with the ultimate message that in sharing our stories and acknowledging our similarities, we can begin to transcend and appreciate our differences.
Story Swap 1: Jack and the Never-Ending Tale by Felicia Cooper
Jack and the Never-Ending Tale is a whimsical retelling of Appalachian Folk Tales through marionette and shadow puppetry. The show is for all ages, runs 30 minutes, and is created entirely out of re-purposed materials.
Jack and the Never-Ending Tale is a whimsical retelling of Appalachian Folk Tales through marionette and shadow puppetry. The show is for all ages, runs 30 minutes, and is created entirely out of re-purposed materials.
Story Swap 2: How the Queen Found His Crown by David Montgomery
Imagine if David Sedaris had a Spice Girls tattoo. That's what you get when comedic storyteller David Montgomery tells his tumultuous life story through eyes that can only see pain as humor. He jokes, sings, and dances about his parents' divorce, coming out, and quitting his job to follow the Spice Girls, repairing his bruised ego to find what truly matters in life.
Imagine if David Sedaris had a Spice Girls tattoo. That's what you get when comedic storyteller David Montgomery tells his tumultuous life story through eyes that can only see pain as humor. He jokes, sings, and dances about his parents' divorce, coming out, and quitting his job to follow the Spice Girls, repairing his bruised ego to find what truly matters in life.
Story Swap 3: The Shades of Shel by Sean Miller
The Shades of Shel is a one-man storytelling show based on the more adult works of Shel Silverstein. Starting with "Hamlet as told on the Streets", the show rolls on to feature other favorites including: "The Great American Smoke-Off", "The Perfect High", "The Perfect Wave", and "Marie Laveaux".
The Shades of Shel is a one-man storytelling show based on the more adult works of Shel Silverstein. Starting with "Hamlet as told on the Streets", the show rolls on to feature other favorites including: "The Great American Smoke-Off", "The Perfect High", "The Perfect Wave", and "Marie Laveaux".
Ukie Fusion by Slava Dance Company
Move over My Big Fat Greek Wedding, UkieFusion explores the mash-up of being American grown but with Ukrainian roots. Traditional music, dance and themes are fused together with contemporary dance movement, introspective monologue and music. A fusion of old and new, quirky and beautiful, superstition and faith, heart and soul. Slava Dance Company will take you on a journey like no other! Cast: Marissa Guthrie, Eryna Honchar, Mikaela Kapeluck, Jessica Lilja, Ostap Lutsiv, Chelsea Marsh, Bohdan Mykhailiv, Chelsea Rokop. Crew: Virginia Nicol, Werner Hernandez.
About the Company:
Slava Dance was founded in 2003 by artistic director Natalie M. Kapeluck with its premiere concert in Cleveland, Ohio. The company is known for its poetic and sometimes irreverent movement. Slava was often featured in MN2 Productions such as Shadows of our Forgotten Ancestors and Forrest Song. Kapeluck endeavors to blend her love of her Ukrainian culture and modern dance as witnessed in UkieFusion. The current on-going project of the company is the Pittsburgh Dance Bomb Project. A collaboration with photographer Ethan Nixon, the dancers and photographer conduct impromptu photo shoots at iconic sites in Pittsburgh that capture the essence of the site. The PDB Project has already shot at Station Square, Market Square and the Waterfront. The culmination of the project will result in a live performance utilizing the images as well as a gallery showing. To view the PDB Project or learn more about the company, www.dapcoop.com.
Move over My Big Fat Greek Wedding, UkieFusion explores the mash-up of being American grown but with Ukrainian roots. Traditional music, dance and themes are fused together with contemporary dance movement, introspective monologue and music. A fusion of old and new, quirky and beautiful, superstition and faith, heart and soul. Slava Dance Company will take you on a journey like no other! Cast: Marissa Guthrie, Eryna Honchar, Mikaela Kapeluck, Jessica Lilja, Ostap Lutsiv, Chelsea Marsh, Bohdan Mykhailiv, Chelsea Rokop. Crew: Virginia Nicol, Werner Hernandez.
About the Company:
Slava Dance was founded in 2003 by artistic director Natalie M. Kapeluck with its premiere concert in Cleveland, Ohio. The company is known for its poetic and sometimes irreverent movement. Slava was often featured in MN2 Productions such as Shadows of our Forgotten Ancestors and Forrest Song. Kapeluck endeavors to blend her love of her Ukrainian culture and modern dance as witnessed in UkieFusion. The current on-going project of the company is the Pittsburgh Dance Bomb Project. A collaboration with photographer Ethan Nixon, the dancers and photographer conduct impromptu photo shoots at iconic sites in Pittsburgh that capture the essence of the site. The PDB Project has already shot at Station Square, Market Square and the Waterfront. The culmination of the project will result in a live performance utilizing the images as well as a gallery showing. To view the PDB Project or learn more about the company, www.dapcoop.com.
