How Fringe Artists Support Flourishing Communities

S1E20 of What the Fringe?!

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.

Darren Stevenson | PUSH Physical Theatre

“Art exists to ask difficult questions in a way that forces people to deal with those questions.”

Empowering Marginalized Voices

Like many fringe artists, Darren and his wife Heather realized their unique skill sets did not quite fit into existing dance or theatre companies. After years of working within the mold, they formed PUSH Physical Theatre. What started as a way to work together and highlight their skills soon evolved into a mission: to create not only original performances but also opportunities for others to express their own stories, especially those whose voices are rarely heard.

The Rochester, NY based company has partnered with marginalized groups such as at-risk youth, medically fragile children, and others who face barriers to accessing the arts. The philosophy is simple yet profound: instead of telling someone else’s story, ask them what they want to say and equip them with the tools to say it. One project, Loud and Clear, featured children in wheelchairs, many nonverbal, who used eye-tracking technology to communicate. PUSH became their physical presence on stage, performing movements they designed themselves. This approach gave the children agency and ownership, transforming them from subjects into creators.

Importantly, the arts in this context are not about showcasing skill for its own sake. The craft, whether dance, mime, acrobatics, or spoken word, is always in service to the story. This focus prevents the work from becoming a display of “tricks” and instead roots it in meaning. That intentionality deepens the audience’s engagement and makes the performance a shared human experience rather than a passive spectacle.

Taking Risks Brings Reflection and Honesty

For Darren, these collaborations reaffirm the arts’ role in community flourishing. Darren finds that those in marginalized communities bring a radical honesty that challenges him to take more creative and personal risks. In one memorable workshop, a young girl with a history of severe abuse participated in a trust exercise for the first time, discovering she could rely on peers to support her. Such moments illustrate how artistic experiences can subtly, yet powerfully, impact lives.

Beyond individual transformation, the arts create shared spaces for dialogue around difficult topics. PUSH’s work often grapples with challenging themes such as power, privilege, violence, and redemption, presented in ways that provoke thought without dictating answers. Audiences leave not with tidy resolutions, but with questions that linger and conversations that continue long after the curtain falls.

In the Fringe Community

Fringe festivals, where PUSH also performs regularly, exemplify how the arts can foster community vitality. Stripped of elaborate sets or large crews, artists rely on creativity, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas. Festivals bring diverse creators into close contact, sparking cross-pollination of styles and approaches. They also connect artists directly with audiences, turning performances into conversations.

The arts support flourishing communities because they invite participation, honor diverse voices, and create the conditions for empathy. They challenge people to see beyond stereotypes, to imagine new possibilities, and to recognize shared humanity. Whether in a polished theatre or a modest community center, the transformative potential remains the same: art done with openness and intention can change lives and, in doing so, strengthen the fabric of a community.

This blog post was inspired by S1 E20 of the What the Fringe?! podcast, and was written utilizing AI technology, in conjunction with human oversight and editing.  

LISTEN to S1 E20 OF What the Fringe?! with Darren Stevenson