COLLEGEVILLE PA – The Ursinus Fringe Festival, described as a four-day celebration of “diverse, vibrant, and exciting” performances in theater, dance, music, film, and visual art works, continues through Saturday (Sept. 16, 2023) on the Ursinus College campus, 601 E. Main St.
All of its events are free and open to the public, the college reported. The Fringe Festival is funded by the college Arts and Lectures Committee.
Workshops, performances through Saturday
On Thursday (Sept. 14):
- Guest Artist Wil Kilroy, co-founder and vice president of the National Michael Chekhov Association, will present a Michael Chekhov acting fundamentals workshop from 6:30-9 p.m. in the college’s Kaleidoscope Black Box Theater. The workshop, limited to 24 participants, intends to explore “the innovative and transformational acting techniques of Michael Chekhov.” Workshop participants will have the opportunity to participate in a Sept. 16 public performance at 7 p.m. Those interested in participating should send an e-mail to Nicolette Adams at nadams@ursinus.edu to check availability.
On Friday (Sept. 15):
- Actor and storyteller Grant Bowen will perform his hour-long work, “A Public Private Prayer: A Solo Performance Piece” at 7:30 p.m. in the Kaleidoscope Black Box Theater. Bowen’s solo performance was a hit at multiple festivals in New York City, the college said. In “A Public Private Prayer, he wrestles with whether he believes in God’s existence or not, and resorts to one last tactic … talking to God Himself! By sharing personal stories, Grant explores his doubt and hopefully finds real salvation.” It will be followed later by a;
- Drag Show hosted by Summer Clearance and Thunder Showers, at 10 p.m. in the Kaleidoscope Black Box Theater. “Back by popular demand,” the 75-minute performance “welcomes some of New Hope’s and Philadelphia’s favorite queens for an outrageous and fabulous show!”
Then on Saturday (Sept. 16):
- Guest artist Grant Bowen returns at 10 a.m. with a “Storytelling Workshop” in the Kaleidoscope Theater rehearsal studio. Bowen shares some of the ways personal narratives can be turned into stage-worthy theater pieces. Through a series of exercises, participants will learn how to transform their own stories. Those interested in participating should send an e-mail to Nicolette Adams at nadams@ursinus.edu to check availability;
- Guest Artist Wil Kilroy also returns, from 1-5 p.m. in the Kaleidoscope Black Box Theater, with a “Michael Chekhov Intensive Workshop.” It is limited to 12 participants, who must have attended the earlier (Thursday) Chekhov fundamentals workshop. These participants also will participate in the 7 p.m. public performance.
- The Fringe Festival caps its run with a 7 p.m. Chekhov performance in the Kaleidoscope Black Box Theater. It will be followed by an annual cabaret that celebrates the talents of students, faculty, and staff in performances of all kinds.
Student works, reception, screenings launched the festival
The college’s Berman Museum of Art was the venue from which Wednesday’s starting events and exhibitions were launched. The public was invited to “settle into an evening” scheduled to include:
- A one-act festival of student-written work , produced by Breakaway Student Productions and hosted at the museum’s outdoor amphitheater. The production contained adult content not suitable for children, visitors were warned;
- The Fringe Festival’s opening reception in the Berman Pfeiffer Wing; and
- Two Sans Souci Festival of Dance Cinema screenings in a classroom in the Berman Pfeiffer Wing. They were intended to represent a showcase of short films from around the world, with choreography for the camera in a myriad of forms and expressions.
Ursinus Fringe 2023 graphic from Ursinus College
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