Welcome to Philebrity’s handy guide to the 2007 Philadelphia LiveArts & Fringe Festival! Check this page daily for festival picks, previews and reviews, video and photos. Got a Fringe show or happening you wanna tell us about? Let us know at tips[at]philebrity[dot]com!
Fringe Picks: Final Weekend!
The sand in the hourglass indicates that you’re running out of time, Fringe-masters.
Friday, 9.14
- RAMMED EARTH: Follow four dancers for a site-specific exploration of architecture and the way we connect with the buildings around us. 8pm, $20, The National Building, Side Door, 119 Arch Street
- A Room of One’s Own: Women and Power in the New America: Using both video and theater to show the role of American women in the Iraq war gives insight on a powerful subject in a new light. 8pm, $20, The Arcadia Stage, Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2nd Street
Saturday, 9.15
- A Twilight Performance of Spoon River Anthology: A collective of dead artists have not yet had their final say. 6pm, $20, Laurel Hill Cemetery, 3822 Ridge Avenue
- Dance of the Warriors: If you never imagined you’d convince your World-of-Warcraft-loving boyfriend to go to a dance performance, now’s the time. 6:30pm, $10, Solaris/Aikikai Cultural Center, 2100 Chestnut Street
- BATCH: An American Bachelor/ette Party Spectacle: It’s your last chance to catch BATCH, so use it wisely. 6:30pm, 9:30pm, $20, Mandell Theater at Drexel University, 3300 Chestnut Street
- Must Don’t Whip ‘Um: You get two more cracks at Must Don’t Whip ‘Um, and don’t miss the $5 offer: Use “Cynthiapromo” in promo code for web sales, call 215-413-1318, or buy at
the door. 2pm, 8pm, $25, Tomlinson Theater, Temple University, 1301 W. Norris Street - The Many Men of Martha Manning An Episodic Radio Soap Opera: You may not remember radio soaps, but you can download this free podcast Saturday at 10pm and find out why they ruled.
Sunday, 9.16
- The Sustainability Project: Dancing, the environment, and you. Here’s to recognizing those roots. 2pm, $10, Old Pine Community Center, 401 Lombard Street
Tuesday, 9.18
- Three Visual Arts Exhibitions: No matter where you find yourself on the final day of the fest, catch whichever free visual art show is closest to you, or take in all 3. It’s your last dance. 5pm, Painted Bride Art Center, Cafe Gallery 230 Vine Street, 6pm, Crane Arts Building, The Hall, 1400 N. American Street, 6pm, International House, 3701 Chestnut Street
- Festival Of Lies: What stands out about Festival Of Lies (see video) is the sheer honesty brought to you by talented performers who will not dance around the many inconvenient truths planted like mines in our society. The collaboration builds with in-your-face reality and ends with an all-night performance this Saturday at 11pm. 6pm, $20, Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine Street
- DELTA: Call up mom and grandma, and tell them it’s ladies’ night. Three women confront their fear of death in a dance against the inevitable. Afterwards, you should take them to the Cave for a completely different kind of dancing. 8pm, $15, St. Andrew’s Chapel, 4201 Spruce Street
- PHONEME: Here’s a 3-day series that you should commit to because electro-acoustic is hot right now, and each performance will be different, so you’ll be hearing enough fresh tunes from BSC and Bowerbird artists to convince you to make that call. 8pm, $10, Circle of Hope, Broad and Washington Branch, 1125 S. Broad Street, 2nd Floor
- Recitatif: We all have our race perceptions, and most of ‘em aren’t too accurate. A Toni Morrison adaptation will further play on the ambiguity that drives these cultural misconceptions. 9:30pm, $15, Mum Puppettheatre, 115 Arch Street
- CAGEMATCH: Two of Philly’s best improv groups battle it out in a 25-minute standoff. The audience will vote the winner, so don’t get it twisted. 10pm, $10, 2nd Stage @ The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom Street
- Trad: Mark Doherty’s Irish fable follows a hundred-year old man on a search to find his son. We are so into live Irish music. 7pm, $15, Mum Puppettheatre, 115 Arch Street
- The Complete Works of William Shakespeare [Abridged]: Don’t worry if you’re not well-read on your Willy Shake, it’s all here. We’re not sure how they pulled this off, but we advise high school english teachers to take notes. 7:30pm, $20, The Shubin Theatre, 407 Bainbridge Street
- Several Witty Observations (á la Gombrowicz): Polish playwright Witold Gombrowicz is not a fan of social convention, and you’ll find out why during this dance analysis with very few creative restrictions. 8pm, $15, Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 N. American Street
- 300 Luxury Units: Postmodern ballet, New Jersey angst, and a 1988 Phillies musical are the promises in this dance performance should you decide to settle in. 8pm, $10, Tavern on Camac, 243 S. Camac Street
- Must Don’t Whip ‘Um: Cynthia Hopkins is back for the final bow of her most memorable character, Cameron Seymour. Joined by band Gloria Deluxe, this lively blend of music and theater is sure to be a proper farewell. 8pm, $25, Tomlinson Theater, Temple University, 1301 W. Norris Street
- Cabaret Français: If you’re wondering what love and Paris sounded like after WWII, this will probably come pretty close. Enchant is an hour long, and we recommend not going solo. 6pm, $10, Gallery Siano, 309 Arch Street or 10pm, $10, The Actor’s Center, 257 N. 3rd Street
- Fresh Juice: A dance coop squeezes everything that they can into a pulpous evening of dance in Kensington. 7pm, $10, Mascher Space Cooperative, 155 Cecil B Moore Avenue
- Now’s a fine time to catch up on any of the shows that you’ve missed, and we’d start with Isabella (pictured), The Milky Way Cabaret, and Assembly: Junior High.
- That’s Why They Don’t Call it Picnic: Christian Lisak of Philly’s Vagabond Acting Troupe take you behind the bars for an insider’s look at the slammer, in case you’ve never been. 7pm, $10, 2nd Stage @ The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom Street
- The Dominatrix and the Jewish: A dom and a jew can make add pizazz to any theatrical talk show, just watch. 7:30pm, $20, Angler Movement Art Center, 1550 E. Montgomery Avenue
- Debbie Does Dallas-The Musical: The classic has been reinvented, and this time around, it’s at Sisters Nightclub. Which means it’s probably extra sexy. 7:30pm, $20, Sisters Night Club, 1320 Chancellor Street
- Wandering Alice: Nine dancers guide you through the world of Alice, a girl lost in a dream. This traveling performance takes the audience up and down stairs amongst fears and desires. Admit it, you feel a lot like Alice when you’re stumbling home from the bar at 2am. 8pm, free, Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 N. American Street
- “Can I talk to a Manager?”: Good question. Find out the answers. Every manager usually has several. Most of them, you don’t like. 8:30pm, $10, Black Lodge, 1508 Brandywine Street
- The Jersey Devil: You can’t miss this one. It’s personal. Storytelling at its finest takes this freak show beyond the legend. 12am, $10, Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Church, 723 N. Bodine Street
- Principles of Uncertainty: 50 drum kits? Come on feel the noise at this free, one-night-only boot-stomper. 7:45, 8:30, and 9:30pm, free, 205 Race St.
- Flight of the Cuttlefish and Mysteries of the Deep: Another chance for 3-D glasses! Yes, please, to this dance collaboration. 8pm, $10, The Parlor, 1170 S. Broad Street
- The Milky Way Cabaret: Go through the universe and back to South Philly in a play/love letter to our dear city. 10pm, $15, Plays and Players Theater, 1714 Delancey Street
- Explainatorium: Come dressed entirely in blue on this quest to solve the mysteries of Philadelphia. Expect tea and truth. 10pm, $20, The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street
- Assembly: Junior High: Go back to junior high with five students who are called to the princi’s office. Scary? Add music and comedy. 2pm, $10, Playground @ The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom Street
- ADDICTED TO BAD IDEAS: Peter Lorre’s Twentieth Century: If you can handle a punk rock operetta, go for it. 10pm, $15, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut Street
- Isabella: Admit it. Nudity in a morgue, in a Shakespeare riff, is all you live for. 3pm, 7pm, $20, ICE BOX Projects Space, 1400 N. American Street
- We’ll be with you shortly…: Enough of the waiting game. Follow a foursome in this fantastical ode to customer service. 7pm, 9:30pm, $5, 3rd Street Gallery on 2nd Street, 58 N. 2nd Street
- LEAP: The Actors’ Improv Experiment: The results of improv bootcamp are unleashed on the public in this artists’ challenge (pictured). 9pm, $15, The Arcadia Stage, Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2nd Street
- Car: The last time you were in the Whole Foods parking lot, you had a bag full of groceries. This trip around, a vehicular performance uses audience members as passengers for an informative ride into car culture (pictured). All day, free, Whole Foods Parking Lot, Top Level, 929 South Street
- Speed the Muse: A CBC Lock In Competition: Creating a play in one day can be done. The proof is right here, as five playwrights release the pressure. 9:30pm, $15, Plays and Players Theater, 1714 Delancey Street
- Sports Trilogy: Here’s something for the sports enthusiasts not to scoff at. 4pm, $10, The Ethical Society Building, 1906 Rittenhouse Square
- 13 Lemonade Ave.: Catch 13 skits that could beat the shit out of SNL. 7pm, $10, Plays and Players Theater, 1714 Delancey Street
- The Word: Tonight is your last chance to catch this solo perf of an Evangelical preacher’s odd, odd world. 7pm, $15, Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 N. American Street
- Dangerous Fools: A scriptless journey with the foolish, one character from L.A., and another from Philly, both equally clueless, take improv on an East-West turn. 7pm, $10, The Actor’s Center, 257 N. 3rd Street
- Mister, Mister, Mister, Mister: Stand-up comedy with comic-teachers! It was never funny when they stood in front of the chalkboard trying to win a few laughs, but put it in a bar with adults and things change. 7pm, $15, Raven Lounge, 1718 Sansom Street
- My house/Your house: Visit a rowhome for a dance-heavy houseparty unlike the kind you have previously been. Roundtrip travels and snacks? They’re on the house. 7:30pm, $10, 1818 Moore St.
- Songs From Under the Bed: The Absinthe Drinkers are back to investigate the psyche of children and under-the-bed fears of the unknown. 7:30pm, $10, AxD Gallery, 265 S. 10th Street
- Late Night at the Tiki Bar: What happens when a super-power coffee chain tries to buy up the local tiki bar? We predict a neighborhood messageboard revolt and uh…puppets? Bring it on. 10pm, $10, Church Street Studios, 122 Church Street
- Caged In: This free show at Washington Square Park depends on full audience participation, so if you’ve got a big mouth or have had a few drinks, join Relache for a lively time. 6pm, free, Washington Square Park, 600 Washington Square South
- Human Error: Ready for a situational comedy that pokes at the “the urban hipster twenty-something culture”? You were born ready. 7pm, $15, 2nd Stage @ The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom Street
- In DiversCity: Watch some of our best dance troupes come together for the ultimate in rhythmic medleys. 7pm, $15, International House, 3701 Chestnut Street
- Orphans: It sounds like the Prince & The Pauper, North Philly-style, as two castaway boys meet with a hoodlum and become a triangle of future indie rockers. Kidding on that last part. We’re all about the awkward bonds between young men. They’re almost always responsible for something genius. 8pm, $15, Gershman Y Studio Theatre, 401 S. Broad Street
- Hung on a Blonde Ponytail: An Act of Rock: We’re hearing good things about Hung Up, if rock theater is your bag. 9pm, $20, Society Hill Playhouse, 507 S. 8th Street. But if it’s not…
- Four of a Kind: One Beckett, One Ionesco, A Pinter and A Durang: …then absurdist comedy that knows no boundaries could be your pleasure. 6pm, $10, L’Etage, 625 Bainbridge Street
- Religion Is Retarded: Rational comedy is funnier than it sounds. It’s like leaving with more than a good laugh . Trust us, most of you still need to lighten up when it comes to religion. Calling it retarded is a start. 5:30pm, $15, Walking Fish Theatre, 2509 Frankford Avenue
- Sonic Dances: This traveling performance will get you off your ass. You’ll follow nine dancers with iPods and speakers through downtown Philly, which sounds like a cultured way to get some exercise in the gritty city. 5:30pm, free, Beginning at City Hall Courtyard, Broad & Market Streets
- No Dice: This four-hour melodrama uses telephone conversations to relay the message in this dinner theater performance. 6pm, $15, 4237 Walnut Street (former Rite Aid)
- Project X/X: Run Zola Run: We recommend this one for media or politico types who are obsessed with the sex lives of newsanchors. That’s a lot of you. 9pm, $15, 2nd Stage @ The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom Street
- Between the Pages: 3 sisters, a winged boy and a lighthouse: Audio visuals from Klip Collective signify that the structure of this show is sound. But what SCRAP dancers (pictured) do with this ripe background could be just as stimulating. 8:30pm, $15, St. Andrew’s Chapel, 4201 Spruce Street
- PUKE Cabaret: There’s more to puke than you think. Mad Muse Productions wants you to look beyond the chunky remainder of your brunch. 2pm, $10, Walking Fish Theatre, 2509 Frankford Ave.
- Philly Queer Rock Show: This is an all-day shindig featuring artists of all mediums from the LGBT community. 3pm, $20, The Rotunda, 4012 Walnut Street
- Industrial: The audience suggests a word, followed by 30 minutes of improv. They must really trust you guys not to blow it. Give ‘em a good one. 8pm, $10, Independence Park Hotel, 235 Chestnut Street
- Last Afternoon: Roommates. It never lasts forever. This play examines how hitting the road isn’t always as duck-and-run as it should be. 8pm, $10, The Actor’s Center, 257 N. 3rd Street
- {Extinguish.}: Yay. More concept performances. This time you get a single actor, one hour, and 27 lines, as Ezra LeBank presents his craft. 8:30pm, $10, Glass Theatre at Philagrafika, 728 S. Broad Street
- MAP ME: So intense it’s in capital letters, MAP ME is a duet from Belgian choreographer Charlotte Vanden Eynde. Described as a “collage of physical bodies”, video and live performances will include full frontal male and female nudity, and what they have to do with who you are, not just how much sex you have. 6pm, $15, Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine Street
- Java Drama: Who doesn’t have a little java drama in their life? Even if the drama has less to do with the tension between you and that scruffy bean monkey and more about getting your fix. These one-act plays will explore relationships that revolve around caffeine and even darker secrets. 8pm, $10, Double Shots Espresso Bar, 211 Chestnut Street
- An·’tis·a·lon: Oddly enough, I’m reading Antigone right now for class. You should revisit it anyway for another touch of class. This version of the Greek tragedy, which will be performed in a hair salon, sounds like a much livelier version than the text in front of me. Divine wills and sacrifice? Book me now. 9pm, $20, Signatures Salon, 116 S. 19th Street
- Wawapalooza: Everybody’s squawking about this Wawa parody, and we can’t wait to find out why. Plus we’re totally sneaking in our kicked-up Wawa iced tea to get in the spirit. It’s way sold out, though, so try and catch it Sunday if you don’t have tix. 7pm, $10, The Red Room at Society Hill Playhouse, 507 S. 8th Street
- Flaming/Winnebago: Top o’ the hype for this show, too, a theatrical road trip that visits themes of global warming and the oil crisis, and even has some 3-D scenes to really trip you up. 9:30pm, $20, Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine Street
- Gatz: The Great Gatsby goes low-rent in this take on the high school required reading tome. They’re calling it a reading rather than a play, but we bet it’s worth hearing again coming from the Elevator Repair Service Theater. Please note that this is a long one, but fully worth finishing. 4pm, parts 1 & 2: $35 • 7.5 hours with intermissions • includes dinner, Arts Bank at The University of the Arts, 601 S. Broad Street
- The Man Without Any Will: A man wanders around City Hall with a Magic 8-Ball. Even your life is not that cool. Are you curious or cheap? Look into this. 9am, free, Starts at City Hall, Broad & Market Streets
- BATCH: This “American Bachelor/ette Party Spectacle” will probably fare a lot better than the one you threw your cousin where everyone ended up vomiting in the parking lot of the Cave. New Paradise Laboratories brings you a dark romp with gender-play, profanity, and all of that good stuff that you love about dark comedy. 6:30pm or 9:30pm, $20, Mandell Theater at Drexel University, 3300 Chestnut Street
- CONFESS/CONFUSE, Four Micro-Music-Theatre-Works: Musical drama in Greece? They’re calling it sexy, but as long as award-winning team Trinkley and Charnesky promise to confess and confuse us, we’re turned on. 1:30pm or 9pm, $10, 2nd Stage @ The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom Street
- Fatboy: We don’t know about you, but bacon, money, and blood are all supremely passionate topics, and if this show isn’t all of the comedic American excess that one can expect from the description, at least you’re at Johnny Brenda’s, where you always end up anyway. 7:30pm, $15, Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Avenue
- Autoplant: a Poetic Monologue: Does assemby-line dismemberment mean anything to you? It means everything in wild ballads to us. Find out what happens with shopmates go on strike. 4pm, $10, Black Lodge 1508 Brandywine Street
- States of Gravity & Light #2: We’re assuming award-winning choreographer Merián Soto experiment with organic rhythms inspired by Wissahickon Valley Park develops naturally in this powerful dance performance. 7pm, $15, Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 N. American Street
- BEAST: Follow up States of Gravity with a dance duet that also takes its cue from nature. You’ll find yourself on the other side of the cage at the zoo, where the wild things are. 9:30pm, $15, Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 N. American Street
- Muralista: Can a wall refuse to be painted? As a wall rights activist, I wonder. 7pm, $20, The Arts Garage, 1516 Parrish Street
- I Killed My Baby’s Daddy: We picked this one because by the sound of things, we figure most Philadelphians can somehow relate. Single parents everywhere, this one’s for you. 8pm,$15, L’Etage, 625 Bainbridge Street
FringeSpotter: Sketch Book Reporter
Guess who stopped by Walking Fish Theatre for Reviving the Lecture Circuit? None other than Sketch Book Reporter, who is all over the Fringe fest, also taking in a performance of Kicked and the UCAL Open House. Oh, how we wish SBR covered news in addition to the arts.
Fringe Picks: Thursday
Thursday, 9.13
Fringe Picks: Wednesday
Wednesday, 9.12
On The Fringe: New Paradise Laboratories
All week we’ve been showing episodes of On the Fringe, a show where Scott Johnston interviews various 2007 Philadelphia Live Arts and Fringe Festival participants in a talk-show format. Join Scott as he talks with Whit MacLaughlin, Mary McCool and Jeb Kreager from New Paradise Laboratories about their show BATCH: An American Bachelorette Party Spectacle.
Fringe Picks: Tuesday
Tuesday, 9.11
On The Fringe: Geoff Sobelle and David Brick
All week we’ve been showing episodes of On the Fringe, a show where Scott Johnston interviews various 2007 Philadelphia Live Arts and Fringe Festival participants in a talk-show format. Today, Scott talks with Geoff Sobelle and David Brick from the Headlong Dance Theatre about their show Explanatorium.
[Director: Woodshop Films]
Fringe Picks: Monday
Monday, 9.10
[Photo credit: Jennifer Goettner]
On The Fringe: Skeletor
All week we’ve been showing episodes of On the Fringe, a show where Scott Johnston interviews various 2007 Philadelphia Live Arts and Fringe Festival participants in a talk-show format. Join Scott as he talks with Skeletor, the overlord of evil, about his upcoming performances. Whoa, spooky!
[Director: Woodshop Films]
Fringe Weekend Picks: Devils And Drums And Cars, Oh My!
Friday, 9.7
Saturday, 9.8
Sunday, 9.9
On The Fringe: Machine World Gospel
All week we’ve been showing episodes of On the Fringe, a show where Scott Johnston interviews various 2007 Philadelphia Live Arts and Fringe Festival participants in a talk-show format. Today, Scott talks with Carl the Promotional Clown about the multimedia show “Machine World Gospel,” which sprang from the creative chops of Big Art Group’s David Commander. A video clip from their show is included.
[Director: Woodshop Films]
Fringe Picks: Thursday
Thursday, 9.6
This evening, after your fringe shoes are broken in, you’ve got options upon options. We’re impressed with most of them, and it was hard to make the cut, but here’s what tugged at our art-strings.
On The Fringe: Scott Chats With Deborah Block
All week we will be showing episodes of On the Fringe, a show where Scott Johnston interviews various 2007 Philadelphia Live Arts and Fringe Festival participants in a talk-show format. Join Scott as he talks with Deborah Block about her continual involvement with Live Arts and Philly Fringe and her work with Theatre Exile.
[Director: Woodshop Films]
Shock Op With The Hessians
Does this clip not shock, excite, do anything for you? Wait until Steve hears about that. You’ll get better at this whole Fringe afterparty thing. Hessians, 10pm, Silk City.
Fringe Picks: Sixpack!
Wednesday, 9.5
Fringe Hint: Flamingo/Winnebago
This is the best show I’ve seen so far, perhaps for its seamless way of slipping you the issues along with innocent humor and superb acting. There’s just the right amount of push, the plot directs but does not force. Certain scenes drag out for a second longer than they should, but there are no missteps and each scene is so layered and fluent with each before it that you can forgive the hesitant speed. We implore you to seek this one out, and the chances are many. We think you’ll agree that while Charlotte Ford has a great set of legs, her acting is even more deserving of whistles.
LiveArts: Flamingo/Winnebago
[Photo Credit: Evan Kafka]
Today’s Picks: Losing Your Religion
Tuesday, 9.4
[Photo Credit: Alan Kolc]
Labor Day Dance Party At Fringe Cabaret
Have you no plans for Labor Day? That’s kind of the point, but if you’re a dance enthusiast, head over to Club Polaris for The Rockys: Philadelphia’s Dance Awards Party with DJ Frosty.
The Rockys: So They Think They Can Dance
Labor Day Fringe Picks: Take Five
Monday, 9.3
[Photo Credit: Ryan Galatti]
Keep In Mind: Late Night Cabaret
Late Night Cabaret, hosted by City Paper, is off to a raucous start as usual. This year they’re doing it up at Club Polaris (Starlight Ballroom) with a pre-show event, a different host each evening, and a slew of bands, djs, and performers to entertain the balls off of you. Feast your eyes on the schedule and make sure you get over here after your Fringe runs so you can touch base with your friends and cap it off with a drink. Chances are you just caught something wild, so there’s no way you can go home and knit sweaters or make tea. Plus, there’s no cover and all shows start at 9:30pm. Live a little more.
Late Night Cabaret: It’s Like A Slumber Party With A Fine Arts Degree
Opening Weekend Fringe Picks!
Whether you’re a seasoned Fringe-nerd, a dabbler in the arts, or a cherry neophyte, the annual perf arts festival can be an overwhelming affair. Take five with us each day during the fest, and we’ll brief you on all of the dance collectives and puppet shows that you can visually handle. If you’re aiming to make it through every single act, all the best, but if your schedule or budget will only allow first-rate options, we’re here to level with you. Take your Fringe naps now, tonight is a live one. And for all of your Fringeified needs, do knock at the 2007 Philadelphia Live Arts Fringe Festival website for a full schedule and ticket information, and here at PHILEBRITY.COM/PAFRINGE for our daily pics and posts!
Friday, 8.31
Saturday, 9.1
Sunday, 9.2
On The Fringe: Thaddeus Phillips
On The Fringe host Scott Johnston checks in with Thaddeus Phillips on the eve of his hotly-tipped show Flamingo/Winnebago. Check it out as Thaddeus talks about the show and leaks an exclusive clip!
