Holiday Wrap

Blink and you’ll miss it!

The 2015 Fringe Festival has wrapped, Thanksgiving has passed, and I lost my job! Before I take off for Portland and the Bay Area to visit some close friends in distant places, let’s fill you in on all the good stuff.

FESTIVAL PHOTOS

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A hapless block of soy is eviscerated for the crowd's amusement in The Medicine Show [click image to see full photo].

We’re currently reconstructing our galleries to make them easier to view and a lot more attractive to boot. Check out how they look so far! Each year’s festival events are now viewable by clicking on each year’s respective poster, you might even find yourself in there!

AWARDS

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This year’s winner of the 2015 Audience Choice Award went to the exciting, high-energy: THAT WAY MADNESS LIES: 30 Shakespeare Scenes in 60 Minutes, directed by Sarah Curnoles.

The 2015 Best of Fringe was a difficult choice, and went to the incredibly original, funny, and all-around Fringey: THE TRIAL OF HANNAH PORN, by Alexandra Tydings.

TALK TO US

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We want to hear from you. Tell us what you liked, what you didn't, and what you want to see next year! Please fill out this brief survey that will help us to better serve you, our fans and readers, and pass it along.

THANK YOU

Thanks again for all of your support. As we often say, Fringe exists for you and because of you! Your support makes each year possible.

Please consider making a donation to support Fringe and our efforts to cultivate Baltimore as a hub for theatre and the performing arts, to elevate the status of our city, and to be a part of the solution! Click here or on the donate button below to make a tax-deductible contribution to Fringe before the end of the year.

Have a wonderful holiday season, and a safe New Year. See you in 2016!

Keep fringing,

Zach & Mike, Co-founders

100% Growth! 100% Better?

It's true! And we think so! We’ve got twice as many artists and venues this year, which means tons of options to choose from. Learn more about the festival, our new launch party, how to be a part of Fringe, and more below.

THE FESTIVAL

CCF is now an official member of the United States Association of Fringe Festivals, or USAFF for short. That’s helped attract 23 different artists and performing companies this year, coming from across the city, state, and even the country.

The full lineup with show descriptions and bios on all 23 artists is now live on our tickets & events page.

THE LAUNCH PARTY

New for this year, we are throwing a grand opening to kick off the festival at Joe Squared on November 5th at 7pm. Come celebrate in style, with live music, previews of this year’s festival artists, a photo booth, and more!

With your admittance to the launch party, you also receive your festival button, a drink ticket, snacks by Joe Squared, and drink specials all night.

Get your tickets now!

JOIN FRINGE

Be a part of the Charm City Fringe Festival! Want to see the inner workings of a festival, meet the artists, or just go to free shows? Sign up to volunteer today! Email volunteer@charmcityfringe.com with any questions.

Would you like to learn more about working for Fringe? Visit our jobs page to see all of our postings and how to apply.

FRINGE ACADEMY: IMAGINING AMERICA

The Charm City Fringe Academy participated with the Shriver Center and Choice Program at the Imagining America Conference on October 3rd and 4th. We explored our model of using art as a means of social justice and a catalyst for change.  Our workshops over the last month have prepared youth for short performances in dance, hip-hop, and scene work.  Through the conference, we are able to strengthen our current program and spread our message to other organizations across the country and look forward to continue growing the Academy in 2016.

We're so excited to welcome you out to Fringe this year. Can't wait to see you there!

Zach & Mike, Co-Founders

Nights to Meet You II

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Rough 'n' Tumblers at Night II of Nights on the Fringe

See what I did there?

Nights on the Fringe was a huge success. We had a ton of fun, a great turnout, and got to see some awesome new artists. But don't take it from us alone, here it is from the artists and people who were there themselves:

"Thanks again for having us as part of your awesome event!" Bawdy Shop Burlesque

"Love it. Totally creative, totally eccentric, totally Baltimore!" Caprece J.

"A great evening - keep it up!" Herman M.

"Coming to Nights on the Fringe is the best use of your time and money anyone could make, ever." Zachary M., festival organizer

We hope you made it out, and if you didn't, check out the gallery! Explore photos from the first night, up now, and put Nights on the Fringe in your calendar for 2016. In the meantime, the full-scale festival is just around the corner!

Onward and upward, what's next?

This is going to be the biggest Fringe Fest Baltimore has ever seen. Each year we see exponential growth, and 2015 is shaping up to be just as great: 100% growth from last year, more and better preview and opening productions, and cool collaborations with area businesses, including a reunion with The Brewer's Art. The only thing stopping us now is the hunt for more venues!

BYOV applications for the November Fringe Festival are still open! But not for long, if you are an artist looking to perform at your own venue, or a venue of your choosing, but still want to be a part of the Charm City Fringe Festivities, apply now through the end of July! Remember, 100% of net ticket revenue goes back to the artist.

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The 2015 Fringe Festival button, artwork by Andy Schoeb

Wrap it up

So, all in all, we did it! I stress "we," because this is all possible because of you (and you, and you too!). The artists, crew, volunteers, and yes, the audiences make it all possible. Baltimore has a vibrant world of arts and everyone who made it out, participated, or donated their time and money is a part of the progress we continue to make in building a stronger arts industry and more vibrant arts culture in Baltimore. 

More on this next month. Until then, thanks for listening!

Zach Michel, Co-Founder

Volunteer or make a 100% tax-deductible contribution today through our secure account, below. Your contribution makes possible the ongoing efforts of Charm City Fringe and its year-round services to Baltimore's artists, audiences, and youth.

Nights to Meet You!

Good Tidings, Fringers. There’s no better way to celebrate a city and community than through its arts and culture!  Charm City Fringe has a lot in store for our city in the coming months, check it out!

The Festival Apps

If you have an idea for a great production, the Charm City Fringe Fest is here for you. Applications for our 4th annual Charm City Fringe Fest are open now through June 28th. Heck, if you already have a production and a place to stage it, Bring Your Own Venue! Learn about both here!

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Poster art by Kevin Sherry and Andy Schoeb

The Money

More money? YES! Artists now receive 80% or more of their ticket sales, a nearly 30% increase over years’ past. What’s more, BYOV artists receive 100%.

Immerse Yourself!

A brand new event, Nights on the Fringe is a “farmers market” for the arts. Imagine a lobby full of gallery works and wandering artists there to entertain you, followed by a bill featuring an array of performing arts, multimedia, and theatre. Now stop imagining, and get excited, because it is happening live at Baltimore Theatre Project, June 26th and 27th!

Tickets go on sale soon, so stay up to date on the full lineup of artists!

The Venues

We’re also very happy to welcome some new venues into the fold this year. New to Fringe are Gallery 788 in Hampden as well as the Terrault Contemporary located in the Copy Cat building in Station North.  We can’t wait to show off these new venues and welcome audiences back to the historic Church & Co., located just off the Avenue in Hampden!

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Want to have as much fun, sun, and beers in hand as these gents? Sign up to learn more about volunteering!

The Volunteers

Charm City Fringe exists due to your continued support of the arts in Baltimore and we thank you for this. If you want to jump into the fold or learn more, we invite you to reach out to our new volunteer coordinators, Renée and Michael, at volunteer@charmcityfringe.com, or you can click the link above.

Roles in the Charm City Fringe organization come in all shapes and sizes, join in on the fun. We’re here!

-Michael Brush, Co-founder

Support the arts! Make a 100% tax-deductible contribution to Charm City Fringe today through our easy and secure account, above.

Fourth ________(adj.) Festival Launch (title ad-libs)

It’s springtime at the Charm City Fringe HQ, and we're getting excited! Although the 2015 festival is months away, (block out your calendars for your Fringe Fest binge, November 8-15th) the Fringe team has been busy building up the festival, as well as the March launch of our new project, Fringe Academy: Opening Act.

Applications Open: 2015 Fringe Festival

SUPER IMPORTANT things of note:  Fringe is accepting artist applications for the 2015 festival starting on April 1st (no fools!).  That’s tomorrow folks. The Fringe team will begin eagerly awaiting YOUR application. For more information on the application process please visit the Charm City Fringe Festival Application Page.  If you don’t have all the details of your production ironed out just yet, fret not, the application deadline is June 28th 2015.

Workshop Launch: Fringe Academy

Fringe Academy: Opening Act is a place where Baltimore’s youth and young artists can learn all aspects of theatre – from acting to producing – to breed a new generation of active and involved citizens and artists within Baltimore: future business-people, artists, entertainers, and patrons of the arts alike. CCF began this process in 2013 with the Choice Program, offering volunteer opportunities for youth in the community. Learn more about Fringe Academy: Opening Act and how you can volunteer or participate by emailing info@charmcityfringe.com with the subject line “Opening Act.”

Two workshop participants, including one of our very own Volunteer Coordinators, having what looks to be a fun time, or a terrible time, it's hard to read.

Fringe After Hours

Additionally, the festival is again holding a free sign-up for performers at the festival’s Fringe After Hours events and after parties. The application will be open and available online from May through September, or until all available slots are filled. Bands, comics, and other performers can make inquiries to music@charmcityfringe.com

Get Involved

Last but certainly not least: Fringe is a volunteer based organization and we are always looking for a fresh set of eyes and talent. If you are interested in giving back to the Baltimore arts community we invite you volunteer with us. We promise we don’t bite... 

Please follow the link to learn more about volunteering with Charm City Fringe . If you don’t have time to volunteer, please consider a tax deductible donation.

Stay tuned for more information on our Nights on the Fringe event coming this summer. Enjoy the warm spring weather, but stay cool Fringe Friends!

-Jenna Nicole Salmon, Marketing Manager

Your contribution directly bolsters the ongoing efforts of Charm City Fringe and its year-round services to Baltimore's artists, audiences, and youth.