'A Fringe full of stars': Edmonton Fringe festival 2025 returns with a cosmic celebration
The Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival returns, celebrating the performers, attendees, and volunteers who make the festival possible.
Article content
The 44th edition of the Edmonton Fringe runs Aug. 14-24, featuring 221 indoor shows across more than 40 venues. The festival's opening ceremonies are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday at ATB Park on the ATB stage, near 83 Avenue and 104 Street. The first Fringe performances begin at 8 p.m. the same evening.
Article content
Article content
This year's theme is 'A Fringe full of stars,' a celestial theme that celebrates all the people who make Fringe such an enduring part of Edmonton's arts history.
Article content
'When I tell you we got goosebumps when we decided on this theme, I'm not exaggerating,' said Megan Dart, executive director of the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival. 'Whether you are on stage, backstage, volunteering in support of the festival, or coming out to support artists, everyone in the fringe constellation is a star.'
Article content
Dart said the best implementation of the celestial theme can be found at KidsFringe, which offers 'a great amount of creativity that is put into interpreting the theme.' KidsFringe is free to attend at Light Horse Park, and features craft stations, an adventure forest, and daily activities for kids to enjoy.
Article content
Keeping Fringe Sustainable
Article content
In 2024, the festival kicked off the 'Sustain Fringe' fundraising campaign, asking Edmontonians to help the festival raise $300,000 to maintain its scope and scale as it recovered from COVID lockdowns. They also sought generous residents willing to pledge a monthly donation of $5.
Article content
Article content
The fundraiser was a huge success, and Dart said in the past year, the festival jumped from 34 monthly donors to more than 500.
Article content
Article content
'Because of them, we were able to return this year and continue delivering the Fringe experience that everyone knows and loves,' Dart says.
Article content
Despite the increase in monthly donations, Dart said organizers are still struggling to produce the Fringe at the level that Edmonton has come to expect. This year's event is only moderately larger than 2024, which featured 218 shows across 38 stages.
Article content
In the past year, the cost of producing the festival has increased by 8.5 per cent, and some amenities had to be cut or reduced.
Article content
The free Fringe shuttle, which previously transported attendees between the main Fringe area and Edmonton's French Quarter, near 89 Street and Whyte Avenue, is one such service that will no longer be running due to budget cuts.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Edmonton Journal
16 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
'A Fringe full of stars': Edmonton Fringe festival 2025 returns with a cosmic celebration
Article content The Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival returns, celebrating the performers, attendees, and volunteers who make the festival possible. Article content The 44th edition of the Edmonton Fringe runs Aug. 14-24, featuring 221 indoor shows across more than 40 venues. The festival's opening ceremonies are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday at ATB Park on the ATB stage, near 83 Avenue and 104 Street. The first Fringe performances begin at 8 p.m. the same evening. Article content Article content This year's theme is 'A Fringe full of stars,' a celestial theme that celebrates all the people who make Fringe such an enduring part of Edmonton's arts history. Article content 'When I tell you we got goosebumps when we decided on this theme, I'm not exaggerating,' said Megan Dart, executive director of the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival. 'Whether you are on stage, backstage, volunteering in support of the festival, or coming out to support artists, everyone in the fringe constellation is a star.' Article content Dart said the best implementation of the celestial theme can be found at KidsFringe, which offers 'a great amount of creativity that is put into interpreting the theme.' KidsFringe is free to attend at Light Horse Park, and features craft stations, an adventure forest, and daily activities for kids to enjoy. Article content Keeping Fringe Sustainable Article content In 2024, the festival kicked off the 'Sustain Fringe' fundraising campaign, asking Edmontonians to help the festival raise $300,000 to maintain its scope and scale as it recovered from COVID lockdowns. They also sought generous residents willing to pledge a monthly donation of $5. Article content Article content The fundraiser was a huge success, and Dart said in the past year, the festival jumped from 34 monthly donors to more than 500. Article content Article content 'Because of them, we were able to return this year and continue delivering the Fringe experience that everyone knows and loves,' Dart says. Article content Despite the increase in monthly donations, Dart said organizers are still struggling to produce the Fringe at the level that Edmonton has come to expect. This year's event is only moderately larger than 2024, which featured 218 shows across 38 stages. Article content In the past year, the cost of producing the festival has increased by 8.5 per cent, and some amenities had to be cut or reduced. Article content The free Fringe shuttle, which previously transported attendees between the main Fringe area and Edmonton's French Quarter, near 89 Street and Whyte Avenue, is one such service that will no longer be running due to budget cuts.
Canada News.Net
a day ago
- Canada News.Net
Antony Starr pens farewell note for his 'Homelander' character as 'The Boys' final season wraps shooting
Washington, DC [US], August 14 (ANI): Actor Antony Starr penned an emotional goodbye to his 'The Boys' character Homelander on Wednesday as the Amazon series wrapped production on its fifth and final season. In his Instagram handle, Antony Starr penned a long, heartfelt caption and posted some behind-the-scenes photos from the superhero satire. The actor called his character 'Homelander' a true 'highlight' of his career. 'Difficult (for me) to put into words what an incredible ride this has been. How much life and growth has occurred. How amazing the team is. It's truly been the highlight of my career,' Starr wrote. 'When we began, I had no idea what was coming. This juggernaut left the station and never stopped. Except for that Covid moment. Oh and the strikes. That was a thing too. But apart from those two times, it never stopped, boldly making its mark on the television landscape. There's nothing else like it. It lives in its own lane,' added Antony Starr. With production on the final season having wrapped, Starr then handed out thank yous to 'the incredible Canadian crew. The amazing production team. The insanely talented cast. The people at Amazon and Sony that took a chance on this insane thing(and made the great choice in casting me)and all the other people that contributed in some way, big or small, to this beautiful, complex, warped, delicious show.' The actor then thanked showrunner Eric Kripke, whom he called his 'co-parent with his twisted gem of a character'. 'We created a monster, sir. And I will miss him, and you. Till we roll out the last season. When I'll see you. But this creative chapter is closed, and I'll miss it, brother,' added Starr. 'The Boys' first debuted in 2019 and has received both commercial and critical acclaim, landing eight Emmy nominations, including for outstanding drama series. Though the final season of 'The Boys' isn't expected to air until next year, spinoff series 'Gen V', which follows college-aged supes, is set to premiere its second season on September 17. (ANI)
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Giants' Brian Daboll went viral for making ‘6 7' reference. No, he didn't learn it from Jaxson Dart
NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Daboll went viral on social media this weekend for referencing a meme that originated on TikTok in his news conference after the New York Giants beat Buffalo in each team's preseason opener. The Giants' fourth-year coach was talking after the game Saturday about rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart being hard on himself by calling his performance 'mid.' 'You got to ask him about what 'mid' means,' Daboll said, before casually dropping in '6 7″ at the end of his answer. The lyric from the Skrilla song 'Doot Doot (6 7)' has become a popular phrase for younger generations. Asked Sunday on a video call with reporters if he learned it from Dart or his kids, Daboll smiled and said, 'My kids.' Dart, who just turned 22, showed promise in his NFL exhibition debut, completing 12 of 19 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown. The organization hopes Dart is New York's QB of the future after trading back into the first round of the draft and selecting him with the 25th pick. 'He's someone that I enjoy coaching and have a very good relationship with and see a lot of positive signs,' Daboll said of Dart. 'I said: 'I'm proud of you tonight. You did some good things.'' Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP NFL:
