Minnesota FringeCast

The Fringe Festival is over. But you can still follow some of your favorite artists as they continue to do work out there in the world. Plus, with plans to bring Fringe to you throughout the year, there will be more opportunities to gather to see some cool stuff. So don’t be too sad. We’ll see each other again soon.

We hear from artists who participated in Drafts and Draughts pre-Fringe. Like other Fringe artists, they have plans to entertain you this fall.

It can take time to interpret our experience, whether it’s when we’ve just seen a Fringe show or have tried a new style of beer. It also takes the right words to describe why we like what we like.

We also hear about Family Fringe Central, Can Can Wonderland, where we’ll be going for the closing festivities on the last day of the Fringe. Co-Founder Jennifer Pennington tells us the story behind this fabulously fun spot in Saint Paul. This isn’t your typical for-profit business. Have you ever heard of a B-corporation where a social purpose is considered alongside the interests of shareholders? Well this is a shining example of one.

If you’ve been Fringing, by now you’ve encountered at least a few volunteers and house managers. We talk to the interns and seasonal staff who are preparing for one of several volunteer trainings that were held at Fringe HQ.

As the audience, we see the finished product. But what did it take to make that show?

We take you from idea to the writing room to the first read-through of a new script, to rehearsals and beyond.

Why do we tell stories? What are the elements of a story? What makes a character relatable? In today’s political environment, do stories have the power to close the gaps between us?

We tell stories on the stage, in books, songs and even through paintings. But you might be surprised to hear about yet another platform for telling stories: Role-playing games.

Plus we hear some personal stories from people in the Fringe family.

What can we tell about a society based on the opportunities its children have for joy? Can it be found on the stage?

In its 25th year the Minnesota Fringe is introducing Family Fringe, both for the kids as well as their parents who may have temporarily “aged out” of going to shows. Actors talk about performing for kids.

We also hear about how accessibility for the arts has evolved. You’ve probably seen ASL interpreters at various events. But did you know about Audio Describers? It’s pretty cool stuff and the Fringe has been making these things available for its patrons for quite some time.

A good light design helps tell the story and as such has a beginning, middle and end. A good design can make you believe that summer storm is real without becoming the focus of the show. It can pull you headfirst into a dance piece by setting the right mood.

Professional lighting designers collaborate with Fringe artists to make their show the best that it can be. Given the limits of the Fringe, they can’t pull off every crazy idea. But they’re all in and will help artists figure it out. Of course, that’s half the fun, isn’t it? Figuring it out.

We also get a taste of what it’s like to be in the thick of Fringe as an artist. Let’s just say, “There’s no crying in baseball!”

Now that the Fringe lineup has been posted on the MinnesotaFringe.org website, how will you choose which shows to see? Get some tips from some die-hard fans about creating your personal Fringe schedule. Some of the suggestions might surprise you. But will you heed them? Going all in could require stepping out of that trap we like to call our comfort zone.

Plus we say good-bye to a beloved volunteer who is definitely choosing her own adventure after five years of much appreciated service to the festival.

We’ll also hear about some exciting new admission options that are being offered in response to audience feedback.

Crafting a Fringe show is unlike making any other kind of theater. We catch up with some producers to hear about where they are in the creative process. Some are deadline driven while others have a more fluid approach. No matter the method, everyone seems to be having a blast - even as uncertainty hangs in the air. It will have to be embraced along with adaptability.

We also eavesdrop in on a cast meeting where actors are hearing about their roles for the first time.

Music Credits:

"Rocket Power", Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

How does a “nobody” overcome the barriers that stand between a great idea for a show and getting it in front of a receptive audience? There are venues to reserve. Lighting to figure out. A box office to manage. All in addition to the work of developing the show and finding talent to perform.

As a Festival artist you can focus on the show because the Fringe staff covers the logistics and provides the platform for artists to share their work with adventurous audiences.

But to get in the Fringe Festival, you’ll have to enter the lottery and hope that random luck is on your side.

If you still want to be an actor after listening to this episode, you are one of the brave ones. The auditions. The hustle. It’s rough. But it helps to have the right support, a reasonable perspective and knowing that you’re not alone.

How does you pick yourself up after the sting of rejection? Is loving what you do enough?

And Jake Rudegeair from More Belief tells us what the heck a graphic recorder is and how that works at Drafts Draughts.