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WTF?! Are Fringe Festival Leaders Up To: World Fringe Congress 2026
A few weeks ago, I got to be a fly on the wall at the World Fringe Congress, a gathering of fringe festival directors from around the world. Like, WTF?! who gets to do that?! I was one of a few delegates not directly working with a festival. We all had a blast spending the week geeking out about fringe, and seeing a few good fringe shows. While I can’t divulge all the juicy details (what happens at Congress, stays at Congress), I’d love to share a few things every fringe arti

Lauren Hance
2 days ago4 min read


Q&A with Fringe Artist Holly Brinkman
We are thrilled to introduce a new series to the blog, Artists Q&A. It is another avenue to provide platforms for artists and celebrate all that is fringe. This week, we are featuring Canadian artist Holly Brinkman, whose newest show is A Woman's Guide to Romance Novels.

What the Fringe?!
Jun 54 min read


San Diego Fringe 2026 Reviews
Last week, I had the honor of attending the 2026 World Fringe Congress in San Diego, CA, during the San Diego International Fringe Festival. I was fortunate enough to catch a few shows throughout the week. It was exciting to see that SD fringe secured a few new state-of-the-art venues in partnership with San Diego State University. Additionally, the Baja Fringe Bi-National Fringe Program featured a multi-day lineup and was well-received. Now on to the Reviews!

Lauren Hance
May 283 min read


Defining Success at the Edinburgh Fringe
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival has long been known as a launching pad for bold and boundary-pushing theater. For Xhloe Rice and Natasha Rowland, a New York–based duo creating absurdist clown physical theater, the journey to Fringe began with little more than a duffel bag of props and a desire to share their work with a wider audience. What they discovered in Edinburgh not only transformed their careers but also reshaped their understanding of what success at Fringe really mean

What the Fringe?!
May 223 min read


Knowing Your Calling: Lessons from Fringe Artist Olivia Raine Atwood
From comedy to matchmaking to fringe, Olivia Raine Atwood has learned that each unexpected turn in life and work has been pointing her in the same direction. Olivia is a comedian, writer, matchmaker, fitness instructor, and award-winning fringe performer whose career path could best be described as “a series of accidental perfect fits.”

What the Fringe?!
May 153 min read


Orlando Fringe 2026 Top Picks
Orlando Fringe is the longest-running fringe in the United States, and has long been on my list of fringe festivals to attend. Sadly, my lottery number has never been pulled (does anyone have a hankie?), but I do keep a regular eye on the festival. I’m thrilled to give my top picks of this year’s festival. While I have to narrow down my picks, I’m gonna have some bonus picks (because you deserve it and I love you).

Lauren Hance
May 84 min read


Fringe Helps Create a Lasting Career in the Entertainment Industry
Penny Peyser’s journey in entertainment is a lesson in adaptability, resilience, and creative reinvention. From off-Broadway to Hollywood to Edinburgh Fringe, her career reflects a simple truth: sustaining a life in entertainment requires both flexibility and the courage to create your own opportunities.

What the Fringe?!
May 13 min read


District Fringe Says “Hell Yes” to Carrying on the Fringe Tradition in Washington DC
You might be wondering: wasn’t there already a fringe festival in DC? The answer is yes, but Capital Fringe is no more. Here’s what happened and why we said yes to District Fringe.

Karen Lange, District Fringe
Apr 243 min read


Creating Fringe Shows Based on Historical Figures with Shelley Cooper
Shelley Cooper has earned recognition in the Fringe theater world for her ability to bring historical figures to life through compelling solo performances. Her works, La Divina: The Last Interview of Maria Callas and Jenny Lind Presents P.T. Barnum, merge storytelling, music, and careful research to offer audiences a deeper, more nuanced understanding of iconic women whose legacies have often been shaped by myth rather than fact.

What the Fringe?!
Apr 173 min read


Fringe: Where Unlikely Talents Take the Stage
Fringe festivals have long been a home for the unexpected. They thrive on bold ideas, unconventional storytelling, and artists who do not fit neatly into a single category. For performers with seemingly mismatched skills, fringe offers something rare: permission to combine them all and see what happens.

What the Fringe?!
Apr 103 min read


REVIEW: ESL Rochester Fringe
Rochester is a unique Fringe. I have not seen another festival set up and run quite like this one. I participated in the Rochester Fringe Festival in 2024 and had a really lovely experience. I had a fantastic venue, found a friend to stay with (free housing always helps), and already knew quite a few touring artists, which made it feel social right away.

Lauren Hance
Mar 305 min read


How Fringe Artists Support Flourishing Communities
The arts have the power to transform not just individuals, but entire communities. This belief is at the heart of PUSH Physical Theatre’s work, as co-founder Darren Stevenson has experienced over decades of creating and performing. Darren's story illustrates how the arts can bridge divides, spark empathy, and foster collective well-being.

What the Fringe?!
Mar 203 min read


Adelaide Fringe 2026 Reviews Part 2
Adelaide Fringe is the world's second-largest fringe, and it is coming to a close on the 22nd of March. One of the highlights of this fringe is the Honey Pot, which is like a job fair for producing entities and shows.

Lauren Hance
Mar 133 min read


Adelaide Fringe 2026 Reviews Part 1
The excitement of the world's second largest fringe festival is palpable. Pop-up venues arrive all over the city, bars turn into theatres, and theatres turn into gathering grounds. Here are our reviews for 2026, Part 1.

Lauren Hance
Mar 72 min read


Why International Fringe Artists Need Global Stages
Fringe theatre has always been built on movement. Artists travel from city to city, crossing borders with stories shaped by where they come from and where they are going next. International touring fringe artists are not an added bonus to the ecosystem. They are fundamental to it.

What the Fringe?!
Feb 282 min read


The Value of Kids Fringe
Children’s theater is often treated as a stepping stone to “real” theater, but Marilyn Greer of Meg in the Magic Toy Shop sees it as a vibrant art form in its own right. Her award-winning Fringe show blends vintage charm, interactive storytelling, and a deep understanding of child development to create something that is both delightful and purposeful.

What the Fringe?!
Feb 203 min read


Top Picks for Adelaide Fringe 2026
We are an artist-centered outlet, we're happy to do some narrowing down and give some well-deserved shout-outs to shows at the Adelaide Fringe 2026. We celebrate what has been created. Go see something that interests you, who cares if it has no reviews or top picks? Or, take a chance on something you'd never see; it will probably surprise you.

What the Fringe?!
Feb 137 min read


REVIEW: Omaha Fringe
Welcome to the Midwest, and possibly one of the friendliest Fringe festivals you will attend. One of the best parts about Omaha Fringe is the staff.

Lauren Hance
Feb 63 min read


Bringing a Solo Fringe Show Off-Broadway: What United Solo Offers Artists
For fringe artists, producing a solo show Off-Broadway can feel like a big leap, even though much of the work looks familiar. What changes is the context: New York City and the expectations that come with an Off-Broadway venue.

What the Fringe?!
Jan 303 min read


REVIEW: Denver Fringe
Denver Fringe is a newer festival here in the US, and I fully expect it to grow into something big in the coming years. I was impressed on many levels. Festival promotion, artist care, and some lovely venues all stood out.

Lauren Hance
Jan 235 min read
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