Are you passionate about the arts? Craving a dose of inspiration, a touch of the weird, or a hearty laugh that'll light up your days? Do you long to connect with Baltimore's thriving arts community? Well, we've got something extraordinary in store for you!
Then you won’t want to miss this!
Welcome to Weekend 1 of the Charm City Fringe Festival, where the cityscape itself becomes a canvas for boundless expression, and the stage sets the scene for countless captivating stories. We extend a heartfelt invitation to embark on an exhilarating journey with us through the enchanting and diverse world of fringe theater.
This weekend is your passport to a dazzling array of experiences that will leave you not just entertained, but profoundly moved and thoroughly inspired. As we step into the enchanting realm of the Charm City Fringe Festival, we'll explore a rich tapestry of performances, artists, and encounters that define this festival as an absolute gem on Baltimore's cultural calendar.
This blog will be your trusty guide, leading you through all the must-see events and exciting happenings during Weekend 1 of the Charm City Fringe Festival. So, don't hesitate – grab those tickets, brace yourself for sheer amazement, and let's plunge headfirst into a world where creativity knows no limits! It's an adventure you won't want to miss!
Experience the Best of the Fest with Festival Passes
The 2023 Fringe Festival passes are on sale now! Choose between the 3 types of passes:
Date Night Pass: 2 tickets to 2 shows and 2 festival buttons.
3 Ticket Pass: 3 tickets and 1 festival button.
All Access Pass: entry to all festival events for the ultimate experience.
Thursday, September 28 - Charm City Fringe Launch Party
Le Mondo
Kick off the Charm City Fringe Festival with a bang!
Reunite with your fellow art enthusiast at our Launch Party on September 28th at Le Mondo (406 N Howard). Get ready for a night filled with festival previews, busking, music and mingling.This event is free and open to the public, making it the perfect chance to discover what the Charm City Fringe Fest is all about!
To add a unique twist to the evening, we invite you to channel your high school persona and dress up for the occasion. It's a high school reunion you won't want to miss, filled with nostalgia and vibrant energy. We can't wait to see you there!
Le Mondo - 406 N. Howard St — 7:30-10PM — Secure your spot
Friday, September 29 - Day 1 of Charm City Fringe Fest
Le Mondo
6:30pm - 50 Shades of Gay: 8th Anniversary
Get ready to indulge in an unforgettable evening as Ike Avelli and his incredible lineup of performers celebrate the 8th Anniversary of the renowned show, "50 Shades of Gay." This spectacular event promises a night filled with laughter, music, dazzling drag performances, hilarious sketches, and an abundance of audience participation and giveaways.
Step into a world where comedy knows no boundaries and laughter reigns supreme. Ike Avelli, a seasoned entertainer known for his wit and charm, will take you on a journey that explores the diverse and vibrant facets of the LGBTQ+ community. — Click here for tickets
8pm - Welcome to Splitsville
You may know Matt Sadowski from his work as the Blue Power Ranger. After almost two decades, the filmmaker and playwright, returns to the stage with his first solo show. It's a deeply personal rap session about the people we lose, the insights we gain, and the love that we want.
"Splitsville" is an embarrassingly honest and ironically melancholic cautionary tale about a hopeless romantic ADHD-ridden writer, his kids, and the hilarious and cringe-worthy stories surrounding the temporary apartments he moved in and out of while going through a divorce. He has a lotta crap to unpack! Laugh with him. Laugh at him. Laugh because it’s not you, or if it is . . . laugh at yourself.— Click here for tickets
Saturday, September 30 — Day 2 of Charm City Fringe Fest
Dear Globe Coffee
5:30pm - VIP Arcade Happy Hour
Join us for the VIP Arcade Happy Hour at Dear Globe Coffee!
Indulge in the full magnitude of the festival by securing your tickets to our exclusive VIP Arcade Happy Hour. Get ready to immerse yourself in a vibrant atmosphere where you’ll not only have the chance to connect with the festival's brilliant artists, but also mingle with the very individuals who orchestrate this enchanting event. Prepare yourself for an exhilarating evening of drinks, appetizers, and an abundance of thrilling arcade games! — Click here for tickets
Le Mondo
3pm & 5:30pm - Alas, Confederates
"The Past is a foreign country, they do things differently there." Greytown, Nicaragua. 1899. An old Rebel pens his Civil War memoirs. Using a local girl as his stenographer, the recollections come easily, until the writing session where he tries to remember the third day at Gettysburg.
First came Confederates (2016). “If you are a Civil War buff and a theater lover, this is the show for you.” DC Metro Arts. And then, the controversial Black Confederates (2018). This is the final play from the "The Trilogy of the Confederacy," written by Virginia playwright James F. Bruns. — Click here for tickets @ Le Mondo
10PM - Fringe After Dark Presents: Black Out Comedy
The blackout comedy show is a stand up comedy event where 5 comedians appear in succession into a pitch black room illuminated
by a single spotlight fading to black between each comic — Click for tickets
Downtown Cultural Arts Center
8pm - Triple Play
The devastation of war, the effects and affects of the aftermath of Vietnam. Bobby Lee, nearly escaping an ambush, begs for forgiveness and pleads to the gods to return him home in Baltimore City. His wish is granted, but there is a high price and a unsettled debt to be paid.
Sunday, October 1 — Day 3 of Charm City Fringe Fest
Le Mondo
12pm - Fringe After Dark Presents: Chuck a Buck
Chuck-A-Buck and the Chic Chuck Picks. A one man comedy show of imaginary friends helping a boy overcome his shyness to date the girl of his dreams. Writer Charles Shafer plays all five characters (three males and two females). It is the story It's a wacky story that sorta has a real message (but not too blatant).The audience gets to join the effort to help our hero (and maybe themselves) overcome one additional fear. — Click here for tickets
2pm - 50 Shades of Gay @ Le Mondo
3:45pm - Alas, Confederates @ Le Mondo
5pm - Fringe After Dark Presents: Game Show Gauntlet
The Game Show Gauntlet is a celebration of game shows past and present from all around the world. Relive staying home sick from school and watching game shows all day! Audience members will have a chance to get called up on stage and compete in a variety of trivia games, word games, games of luck and skill, and more. It’s Game Show Network meets Mario Party in a comedic, interactive, fun show.
It's free to play but if you buy a Skip the Line ticket, you'll be bumped up to the front of the line to play! — click here to get tickets