In Summer 2010, Hollywood Fringe launches Southern California’s new Fringe Festival: An annual event uniting local, national, and international artists. The festival will premiere June 17 to 27, 2010.

Its intent:

• Host an environment for bold and experimental works
• Champion underground art and artists
• Vitalize the arts industry in Los Angeles
• Promote and enrich the Hollywood neighborhood

Fringe festivals generally revitalize theatre communities in their towns. As it creates a community-based event, people who otherwise never attend theatre start to come out of the woodwork. A good percentage of these new audience members, their appetites whetted, will continue to attend theatre throughout the following year. As fringe becomes an annual tradition for a community, so to does the theatre industry begin to prosper.

The current plans are to hold the event in the Hollywood, CA area. Hollywood is a wonderfully diverse neighborhood steeped in history and culture. It’s also a little rebellious, a little rock n’ roll. And, of course, there are tons of venues all within walking distance. The Fringe is a love letter to this place.

At least 20 official spaces filled with performances of all types: Comedy, New Plays, Hip Hop, Dramas, Solo Artists, and more. To manage this monstrous event, the festival is seeking enthusiastic, inventive, and driven people as associate producers, volunteers, coordinators, marketers, grant writers, and idea people.

Within the Fringe itself, there will be multiple programs to keep things interesting. For example, there may be two nights dedicated to 10-minute plays. The nice thing about Fringe is that it is all-encompassing; all performance-based art is welcome. Everywhere you look there will be stuff to look at. Clowns, Mimes, Commedia, fire eaters, performance artists. Add to that food stands, merchandise sellers, information booths.

Hollywood Fringe welcomes your participation, feedback, thoughts, complaints – all of it. Project submission is not open yet, but the festival encourages involvement during their beginning phases through one of their many internet platforms.

For more information, visit www.hollywoodfringe.org

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