Editor's Note: Picture this Post (PTP) interviews Anne Cauley (AC), producer of the 9th Annual Chicago Fringe Festival below. For more background, read the various Picture this Post roundup of last year's festival-- "Chicago Fringe Festival 2017 Round-Up – Schedule and Reviews".
About Anne Cauley: Anne Cauley is proud to be producing the 9th annual Chicago Fringe Festival alongside an amazingly talented and hard-working staff and board. She previously worked as the Volunteer Coordinator for the first five festivals. When not obsessing about the magic of Fringe, Anne is the Director of Development and Communications at Arts of Life. On past adventures, Anne has worked at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Kennedy Center, and Berkshire Theatre Festival.
(PTP) What is a Fringe Festival?
(AC) A Fringe Festival seeks the un-tried and the weird. A movement that started in 1947 in Edinburgh, Scotland, Fringes now appear all over the world. Generally generally speaking, Fringes are festivals that celebrate the performing arts through uncensored and original performances, providing a platform for new and established artists alike to test out new material, unusual ideas, and fresh perspectives.
How did the Chicago Fringe Festival get started?
Chicago Fringe Festival’s inaugural festival took place in September 2010 in Pilsen. Several theatre producers and performers came together with a shared mission to create a Chicago-style Fringe and to connect the Chicago storefront theatre community to an international Fringe community.
Why is this festival important to the Chicago theatre community and Chicago in general?
The festival was designed with careful consideration of how it would fit into the ecosystem of Chicago’s theatre community, informed by public town hall discussions and conversations with festival producers in the city along with Fringe producers across the US. Ultimately, a commitment to radical inclusion emerged. CFF produces an annual performing arts festival devoted to celebrating an inclusive community of adventurous artists, volunteers, and patrons. We partner with a neighborhood where all festival venues are all be within walking distance, enabling patrons to easily see multiple shows in a single afternoon. We opt to return 100% of net ticket sales to the artists. And we employ an uncensored and unjuried show selection process to select shows from Chicago and beyond.
How are performance groups selected?
Just as it is important to celebrate the best of the performing arts that have been carefully curated, CFF believes that an environment for beginning, emerging, and established artists to work together also has value. We employ a lottery system with sub-lotteries to ensure diversity according to race, age, and ability. Our approach brings artists who may have been overlooked or who are not connected in the ways that a selection committee rewards. No matter the skill and expertise of a panel, there will always be oversights and omissions when curation is used. Our process ensures diversity and equality.
The CFF lottery was created with great care, ensuring a blend of local and non-local shows. 50 percent of performers are from outside of Chicagoland and 50 percent from within. A sub-lottery ensures at least 25 percent of the acts are diverse, defined as non-caucasian, over 50 or under 19 years of age, or people with disabilities. Applicants also have the option of submitting a brief statement about why their voice is under-represented.
What kinds of performances are in store for Chicago Fringe 2018? Kids Fringe?
The 2018 Festival boasts shows from eight states and three countries. There will be burlesque, clowns, comedy, puppets, spoken word, interactive, dance, and much more.
Where are the performers coming from?
Illinois, California, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, Wisconsin along with France and Canada.
How is this year’s festival different than in other years?
This year, we are condensing the Festival into one jam-packed weekend!
Who should attend Chicago Fringe/Kids Fringe?
Because of the variety of performances, we encourage curious adventurers to come Fringe with us. Shows are just one hour and $10 or less. You can easily and affordably spend an afternoon at Fringe and see multiple shows of multiple genres.
How does festival admission work?
Entrance to the Chicago Fringe Festival is a one-time button purchase of $5; after that all individual performances are $10. Kids Fringe is a one-time button purchase of $5 plus each show ticket admission of $10 for adults; children ages 12 years and younger are $5 for each Kids Fringe performance, no button required. Passes with a discounted ticket price are available when attending multiple performances: a four-show pass is $36, a ten-show pass is $80 and an unlimited pass is $175.
Any tips for first-time Fringe goers?
The Preview Party on Thursday, August 30 provides a sampling of the entire festival with each group presenting a three minute preview of their show. We encourage attendees to select a show or two that they definitely want to see and then plan to stay for more. Fringe naturally connects patrons, artists, and volunteers. Stop by Fringe Central and ask anyone wearing a button for a show recommendation. They will be sure to oblige.
What are future plans for Chicago Fringe?
At the conclusion of the Festival, we host a multi-day post mortem to determine the next steps for the festival. Stay tuned for the results!
