Exciting and experimental performance is the hallmark of Providence’s Annual Fringe Festival, now in its 11th year, and presented by The Wilbury Theatre Group July 14-27. The largest Fringe Festival in New England, FringePVD fosters a strong sense of community among artists and audiences, and the vibrant atmosphere enlivens a variety of venues such as theaters, pubs, cafes, outdoor spaces, and other spots not usually known for theater. PVD Fringe has more than 50 acts taking place at over ten venues across the Valley Arts District including Farm Fresh RI, LitArts RI, The Steel Yard, Teatro ECAS, etc. which creates a lively and dynamic environment where people can easily mingle and share their love of the arts.
There is no curated selection of performances at Fringe PVD; it’s completely open access. This means that anyone who wants to perform can typically do so, provided they can secure a venue and sometimes cover participation fees. This open-door policy leads to a wide variety of performances, from professional productions to amateur acts, showcasing a wide range of performing arts, including theater, dance, music, comedy, puppetry, circus, and spoken word. Audiences might see a traditional play, a one-person show, a stand-up comedy act, street performance, or experimental dance piece all in one day.
The innovative and experimental nature of the Fringe Festival provides a platform for artists to take risks and try out new ideas without the constraints often found in more traditional venues. This makes them a hotbed for creative and groundbreaking performances.
For students and emerging artists, Fringe Festivals offer invaluable learning opportunities. There’s a vast array of performance styles, the opportunity to meet and network with other artists, and even participate in workshops and discussions. It’s a great place to gain inspiration and insights into the world of performing arts.
The concept of the Fringe Festival originated in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1947. It began when eight theater groups that were not invited to the official Edinburgh International Festival decided to perform on the “fringe” of the festival. This spirit of inclusion and openness to all performers has continued to define Fringe Festivals.
While the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the most famous, Fringe Festivals have spread around the world. Cities like Adelaide, Montreal, New York, and many others host their own Fringe Festivals, each with its unique flavor and community. Other host cities include Minneapolis, Orlando, Hollywood, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.
The 2024 Providence Fringe Festival kicks off on July 14 with the Let’s Fringe! Opening Night Party at Wilbury Theatre Group from 6:00-8:00 PM, featuring food, drinks, and music, including a performance from the Rhode Island Ukulele Armada. Throughout the two-week festival FRINGEPVD continues its commitment to community-centric performances with free events throughout the festival, including the Sims Ave Fest + Family Fringe presented by the Steel Yard and Wilbury Theatre Group featuring games, drinks, music, art vendors, cotton candy, a foam party, and more on Saturday, July 20th from 3:00-7:00 PM outdoors on Sims Ave. Also on July 20, Haus of Codec will host an LGBTQQIA+ Resource Fair & ART Marketplace and LitArts RI will host Writing at the Fringes, a free write-in and playwrights’ mixer. FringePVD will close with the FRINGEPVD 2024 Closing Party on July 27th at Buttonwoods Brewery from 9:00 PM-12:00 AM, featuring some of our favorite Fringe artists and musicians, and the presentation of the FRINGEPVD 2024 Artist Awards
As an example of the sort of event at PVDFringe, the Blue Cow Playwrights will be presenting seven, seven-minute plays, tied together with the first line of each play, “I shouldn’t have done that.” Some of these short plays aim to entertain and others aim to deliver a message.
The Wilbury Group’s work to produce this un-juried and uncensored festival has allowed them to connect audience members from across Rhode Island and beyond. Not only is FRINGEPVD providing stages for artists from across the country to perform and come together, “but it’s also a wonderful showcase of the incredible diversity and community spirit that makes Providence and the Valley neighborhood so special.” said Wilbury Theatre Group’s Artistic Director, Josh Short.
The RI Theatre Makers Roundtable aims to carry the concept of theatre artists collaborating and networking together throughout the year, after PVD Fringe is over. RI Theatre Makers Roundtable was started with the idea that a unified community can achieve much more than individuals working in isolation. Theatre Makers are scattered across the state, and many are unaware of the enormous number of them who are plugging away at their craft. This collaborative approach is designed to amplify their voices to ensure a vibrant future for Rhode Island’s theatrical arts, by creating a platform where playwrights, directors, actors, and other theatre professionals can come together exchange ideas, collaborate on projects, and support each other’s growth.
At a recent meeting of RI Theatre Makers Roundtable, Joe Wilson Jr, Director of Art, Culture, and Tourism for the city of Providence, commended RI Theatre Makers Roundtable for their efforts to address a need for networking, which is evident in not only in theatre, but also in other aspects of life in Providence. By connecting we see that collaboration, not competition, is the key to everyone’s success.
FringePVD pass-Unlimited access to FringePVD 2024, any and all shows at the Fringe, for $95.
Guests must still reserve tickets for each performance to guarantee space at live events, or to receive the performance link for the virtual events.
Tickets to individual FringePVD performances also available.
For more information on the Roundtable, see: ritheatremakersroundtable.com
Judith Clinton is a playwright, screenwriter, and theatre producer, with a rich background in dramatic arts. She trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and Circle in the Square in NYC. She has degrees in theatre from Eastern Connecticut State University and Salve Regina and is an advocate for theatre as social activism. Besides her own plays, for 20 years she collaborated with her late husband Edward, on film and television scripts for major studios, Warner Bros, Disney and MGM. For ten years she ran an annual playwrighting retreat in Stonington CT, where new plays were written and developed for production. Judith now continues her involvement with theater in Providence.
