Latest news with #pêhonânSeries
CTV News
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
44th fringe festival ‘full of stars' to look slightly different with cost-saving changes
Attendees are seen at a venue at the Edmonton Fringe Festival in an undated handout photo. The Edmonton Fringe Festival says a new fundraising campaign that lets donors "adopt" and then name a portable toilet has been a success. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Edmonton Fringe Festival, *MANDATORY CREDIT* The theme of the 44th Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival was revealed on Friday: 'A Fringe full of stars.' 'The stars for us really is about not just those who are on stage, but those who are backstage, those who are volunteering, those who come to see 45 shows during the festival,' artistic director Murray Utas told CTV News Edmonton. 'What we can expect from this theme is a very vast look at our existence…. And I think that it makes sense with the global nature of our festival, being international.' Running Aug. 14-24, the festival will consist of 223 theatre productions at 40 venues and some 1,600 artists from across the globe. Among the Fringe favourites that are returning are the Indigenous pêhonân Series, free Kids Fringe and nightly music series in ATB Park (Wilbert McIntyre Park), and Sea Change Brewing Co. as the event's exclusive beer provider. Some things will look different, however. Executive director Megan Dart said the festival may not be able to provide its usual free shuttle service between the festival and Edmonton's French Quarter. It is also not providing staff with T-shirts. She said the festival is doing everything it can to 'preserve that audience and artistic experience,' but continues to be in a precarious financial position with festival costs increasing 8.5 per cent over last year's nine per cent. 'Last year, by many measures, was one of our most successful festivals in the history of fringe theater. But the truth is, we are still facing incredible financial struggle as an industry,' Dart told CTV News Edmonton. But the festival is celebrating growing its number of monthly donors from 34 to 540 over the past year. And ATB Financial has committed to being the festival's lead partner through 2027. Dart said, 'Yes, we are still in survival mode, but we are still here. We are scrappy. We've been building this movement on duct tape and dreams for 44 years; we will continue to do that.' Tickets go on sale Aug. 6. Under the fringe theatre model, 100 per cent of the ticket price goes to performers, while the ticket fee portion goes to the festival, which was increased in 2024. The Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival is known as the largest and longest running of its kind in North America. With files from CTV News Edmonton's Dave Mitchell
Calgary Herald
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Edmonton Fringe Festival unveils 2025 theme: A Fringe Full of Stars
The Edmonton Fringe Festival has unveiled its theme for the 2025 edition of the theatrical free-for-all. Article content Playing off the notion that the festival is a constellation of artists, volunteers, and audiences who help the event shine, organizers announced Friday the theme for this year is A Fringe Full of Stars. Article content Article content 'When you Fringe with us, you become part of an ever-expanding constellation. A vast network of dreamers, darers, rule-breakers, razzle-dazzlers, and day-long dance-party starters,' a festival press release reads. Article content Article content 'At Fringe, you're not just part of the crowd — you're part of the cosmos. A galaxy stitched together by music, by story, by the fearless pulse of play. Every ticket you buy, every show you see, every beer you drink, every story you tell, adds a new spark to our sky.' Article content Article content Artwork to accompany the theme was created by Yu-Chen (Tseng) Beliveau, who is the Fringe's own graphic designer. Article content The event will feature 223 theatre productions in 40 venues, more than 1,600 artists from Alberta, across Canada and around the world. Article content As part of Friday's theme launch, the festival also announced the return of the pêhonân Series, an Indigenous-curated and Indigenous-centred performace series led by MJ Belcourt Moses. Article content There will be a free nightly music series on the ATB stage in McIntyre Park, and the Late Night Cabaret will run at the Granite Curling Club over seven nights. Article content Article content The festival also announced a collaboration with Sea Change Brewing, the Fringe beer supplier: Fringe Beer Tent Blonde Ale, which will be available in the Whyte Avenue area through the summer, and will a portion of proceeds from the sale of the beer will help support the festival. Article content Article content Meanwhile, the Fringe also announced that its Sustain Fringe campaign has hit more than 540 supporters, which helps the festival continue this year, but pleaded for more donors to step up. Article content 'Expenses continue to staggeringly outpace funding supports,' Fringe Theatre executive director Megan Dart said in a release. Article content 'We've built this Festival on duct tape and dreams since we first exploded onto the scene in 1982, but we need the continued help of our community if we're going to sustain the Edmonton Fringe Festival for generations to come.'
Edmonton Journal
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Edmonton Journal
Edmonton Fringe Festival unveils 2025 theme: A Fringe Full of Stars
Article content The Edmonton Fringe Festival has unveiled its theme for the 2025 edition of the theatrical free-for-all. Playing off the notion that the festival is a constellation of artists, volunteers, and audiences who help the event shine, organizers announced Friday the theme for this year is A Fringe Full of Stars. Article content 'When you Fringe with us, you become part of an ever-expanding constellation. A vast network of dreamers, darers, rule-breakers, razzle-dazzlers, and day-long dance-party starters,' a festival press release reads. Article content 'At Fringe, you're not just part of the crowd — you're part of the cosmos. A galaxy stitched together by music, by story, by the fearless pulse of play. Every ticket you buy, every show you see, every beer you drink, every story you tell, adds a new spark to our sky.' Artwork to accompany the theme was created by Yu-Chen (Tseng) Beliveau, who is the Fringe's own graphic designer. Article content Festival programs will go on sale July 30, while tickets will be available starting Aug. 6. The event will feature 223 theatre productions in 40 venues, more than 1,600 artists from Alberta, across Canada and around the world. As part of Friday's theme launch, the festival also announced the return of the pêhonân Series, an Indigenous-curated and Indigenous-centred performace series led by MJ Belcourt Moses. There will be a free nightly music series on the ATB stage in McIntyre Park, and the Late Night Cabaret will run at the Granite Curling Club over seven nights. Latest National Stories
Vancouver Sun
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Edmonton Fringe Festival unveils 2025 theme: A Fringe Full of Stars
The Edmonton Fringe Festival has unveiled its theme for the 2025 edition of the theatrical free-for-all. Playing off the notion that the festival is a constellation of artists, volunteers, and audiences who help the event shine, organizers announced Friday the theme for this year is A Fringe Full of Stars. 'When you Fringe with us, you become part of an ever-expanding constellation. A vast network of dreamers, darers, rule-breakers, razzle-dazzlers, and day-long dance-party starters,' a festival press release reads. 'At Fringe, you're not just part of the crowd — you're part of the cosmos. A galaxy stitched together by music, by story, by the fearless pulse of play. Every ticket you buy, every show you see, every beer you drink, every story you tell, adds a new spark to our sky.' Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Artwork to accompany the theme was created by Yu-Chen (Tseng) Beliveau, who is the Fringe's own graphic designer. Festival programs will go on sale July 30, while tickets will be available starting Aug. 6. The event will feature 223 theatre productions in 40 venues, more than 1,600 artists from Alberta, across Canada and around the world. As part of Friday's theme launch, the festival also announced the return of the pêhonân Series, an Indigenous-curated and Indigenous-centred performace series led by MJ Belcourt Moses. There will be a free nightly music series on the ATB stage in McIntyre Park, and the Late Night Cabaret will run at the Granite Curling Club over seven nights. The festival also announced a collaboration with Sea Change Brewing, the Fringe beer supplier: Fringe Beer Tent Blonde Ale, which will be available in the Whyte Avenue area through the summer, and will a portion of proceeds from the sale of the beer will help support the festival. Meanwhile, the Fringe also announced that its Sustain Fringe campaign has hit more than 540 supporters, which helps the festival continue this year, but pleaded for more donors to step up. 'Expenses continue to staggeringly outpace funding supports,' Fringe Theatre executive director Megan Dart said in a release. 'We've built this Festival on duct tape and dreams since we first exploded onto the scene in 1982, but we need the continued help of our community if we're going to sustain the Edmonton Fringe Festival for generations to come.' Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here. You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.
