In 1947 in Edinburgh, Scotland, eight theater groups were invited to perform at the Edinburgh International Festival, but once they arrived, they were turned away their work being dubbed not good enough. These artists then crashed the event and performed the works at the “fringe” of the festival. This artistic ambush led to hundreds of uncensored, multiple discipline Fringe Festivals across the world, including right here in St. Louis.
St Lou Fringe created its own Fringe festival, aptly titled STLFringe FEST. the celebration is currently in its thirteenth year and takes place on August 12-18 in a variety of Kranzberg Arts Foundation venues – .ZACK Theatre, High Low Cafe,and The Marcelle as well as a newly added Fringe venue, Urban Chestnut Brewery, which is a quick walk across the street, keeping the festival footprint close.
From ballet dancers completely covered in peanut butter to intimate shows where the bathtub is the stage, the STLFringe FEST is truly a unique chance to see new and innovative art. The festival has grown from its start in 2011, going from three shows to now more than 40 acts across multiple disciplines.
“My favorite thing about the STLFringe FEST is the spirit of it. It’s independent artists coming together to celebrate each other’s work and to be culturally curious about what the makers in the world are creating at a raw, visceral level,” said Matthew R. Kerns., President & Artistic Director of STLFringe FEST.
The STLFringe FEST is organized by three-tiers, across three stages — headliners, invited artists, and lottery artists at The St. Louis Stage. Headliners are tightly curated to draw people in with big names and recognizable acts, encouraging them to try something new at the St. Louis stage.
Invited artists focus on individuals in marginalized communities, creating space to elevate their art and stories. The lottery artists and performers are chosen old school, drawn right of a fishbowl, so even the organizers of the festival are seeing the full shows for the first time.
With 80% of the acts being local and 20% being national, the root of this festival is highlighting and uplifting local creatives.
Kerns describes the festival as a “buffet of the arts” where you can see a dance performance followed by a one-person play followed by a burlesque show, all on the same night.
STLFringe FEST Headliners for 2024:
Big Machine from Fly North Theatricals, a gritty musical adaptation that tells the story of the lost potential of American youth amidst the degradation of the working machine that is the automobile during the Industrial Revolution.
Broken Bone Bathtub: The Documentary from STL Fringe Fest veteran performer, Siohbán O’Loughlin, who will also be doing two special, intimate live performances of the original show on Sunday, August 12th at The Lemp Mansion.
Fella & Dame: An Ode to Mid-Century Comedy & St. Louis’ Gaslight Square, a heartfelt exploration of friendship and the pursuit of dreams set against the backdrop of St. Louis’ lively entertainment scene of the 1950s-60s.
Urinetown presented by Ignite Theatre Company, a musical comedy that satirizes the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement and municipal politics. You also are really going to have to pay to go to the bathroom, so bring cash or have Venmo ready.
In addition to the headliners, Kerns mentions almost every single show in detail, from musical improv to a contemporary dance performance exploring the Myers-Briggs personality types to locally cast monologues of the woman involved with JFK to a burlesque and variety show hosted by neurodivergent performers.
Kerns describes the festival as “a garden where artists plant seeds and they get watered and nurtured” and can test out new ideas and rework them with their community. With triple the number of artists performing from 2023 and attendance up 90% from last year, this year’s Fringe is definitely not something you want to miss.
Kerns has been working with St Lou Fringe for almost ten years and initially got involved as a performer right after graduate school. He also just so happened to win the Fringemeister, an award made up by the STLFringe FEST because they didn’t have an award. Along with bragging rights, it also gives winners an opportunity to bring the show back to a larger audience the next year.
“The Fringe is so important to me because I was a kid who made weird art that no one wanted to see,” said Kerns. “It is so exciting to me to see people say, ‘I have something to say, and here is how I want to say it,’ and rather than wrinkling your nose at them, you say, ‘Hell yeah, here is a stage.’”
To sum it up, you really can’t miss the STLFringe FEST, so go ahead and grab Binge the Fringe pass and catch every show for only $100. You can also check out their other passes or select your own shows from the diverse lineup.
Photo credits: The Powerful Reflections of Him, Jeremy Watson; Broken Bone Bathtub, Siobhan O’Loughlin, Matthew R Kerns; Jean: A One-Person Play, Robert Crowe
