Theatre Intelligence
Berkshire Fringe Festival Grows Up
Fringe founders Peter Wise, Sara Katzoff & Timothy Ryan Olson
The Berkshire Fringe Festival operates in the spirit of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which started in Scotland in 1947, when eight theater troupes turned up uninvited at Edinburgh International Fesitval and had to perform on the outskirts of the city. Although the Berkshire Fringe’s home at Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington is not exactly an out-of-the-way location, it is removed from the tourist-friendly Old Guard Berkshire Cultural Establishment, which is anchored by Berkshire Theatre Festival (est. 1928), Jacob’s Pillow (est. 1933), Tanglewood (est. 1937) and Williamstown Theatre Festival (est. 1955). The Berkshire Fringe (est. 2005) is the love child of Sara Katzoff, Timothy Ryan Olson, and Peter Wise (above), who all graduated from Simon’s Rock. Their mission is to give other young artists a chance to test themselves and their ideas in front of an audience in a real theater. “We want every artist to have a venue and voice,” says Katzoff, who notes the three volunteer their time to the not-for-profit festival. “Our theme this year—and really every year—is embracing artistic risk.” (To see highlights from previous seasons click on the video below)
The Fringe has struck a chord with established talents like actresses Karen Allen, Karen Beaumont, and Hilary Somers Deely, who serve on the fringe’s advisory board. “Fringe festivals are really popular all over the world,” says Katzoff, who has performed herself at the San Francisco Fringe. The biggest challenge is recruiting an audience for edgy material such as The Gay Agenda’s Big Broadway Show, the story of Micah and Nicholas who’ve been sequestered in their basement by a family member for years with only original cast recordings to listen to during their isolation. (Click here for the full calendar.)
Alternative Festivals in the Berkshires
Bang on A Can Summer Music Festival
July 16 - August 1
MASS MoCA
North Adams, MA
WordXWord Festival
August 17 - 22
Pittsfield, MA
To help create buzz, the first night for each of the six shows in the festival (which are performed five times over 21 days) will be “Pick Your Own Price,” and you can pay as much or as little as you like for your ticket. (On other nights, the main productions are $16, but there are free events, too.) “Word of mouth is our biggest asset in selling tickets so we hope this helps spread the word,” says Katzoff. The Fringe also does a mellow version of guerilla marketing by sending its interns loose with pamphlets and fliers on the sidewalks of Great Barrington to talk up the shows with pedestrians. “It would not work in New York City, but it’s incredibly effective here.,” says Katzoff. “People feel like they have been personally invited to a show.” The personal touch extends to this year’s gala on Monday, July 27, which is nearly sold out. “We had a committee for the first time and they wrote personal notes on the invitations,” says Katzoff. “It was a very proper thing to do. I guess that means we’re now a proper organization.”
Berkshire Fringe Festival at Simon’s Rock
Great Barrington, MA; 413.320.4175
July 27 - August 17
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