Cincinnati Fringe Festival

2015 Review — from a chronic Fringer
I love the Fringe Festival here. Granted, I have never been to another Fringe, but from what I hear, the Fringieness of CincyFringe is set to stun. Seriously though, I have yet to find another group of eclectic, open minded and welcoming bunch like the folks who frequent CincyFringe.
This is my second year attending the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. I went in 2014 and dreamed about going again soon. The line-​up for this year, of song and dance, dance and theatre, shadow puppets and one-​woman specktaculars is not to be missed. There is something for everyone! For those with younger or more delicate ears and sensibilities, be sure to pay attention to the rating systems for content. Otherwise, don’t be afraid to pop into a show even unplanned! You never know what’s in store once you enter the doors of a Fringe show.
However, as time goes on during the festival, and carrier pigeons and instagrams alike spread the word, tickets are snatched up quickly! Be sure to book your own tickets in advance if you’re dying to see that part comedy, part zombie, part musical performance.
When you’re done enjoying the show, be sure to head to the Know Theatre for the evening’s Fringe Bar Series. Every night there is a new theme, like discounted drinks (yes, there is a full bar beneath the theatre!), Fringe-​oke, and riding Segways. And hit up the food trucks posted outside the door, guaranteed to fill your stomach with tasty bites.

Reviewed this for years in San Francisco, and ok, so Cincinnati’s alt-​theater ain’t exactly all that, but, whimsical and freshly inventive. Love Jay at Know Theatre who is a one man renaissance man in OTR, so get out and support it.

This is not strictly a review. It is a public service announcement. The Cincinnati Fringe Festival is not to be missed. It is a reason for Cincinnatians to be proud and denizens of other cities to be jealous. Here is my handy guide for first timers:
1. Don’t be afraid. The tagline for Fringe might be «Kinda Weird… Like You,» but the audience is majority genteel retirees. No one is going to bite.
2. Pick your shows wisely. It may seem a little overwhelming, since there are dozens of plays to choose from scheduled over a two-​week period. Before the festival starts, figure out how many shows you can afford/​have time to see. (Hint: see as many as possible!) Grab a copy of the City Beat festival guide. Talk to staff about the companies from previous years that are staging shows: return companies are usually very popular with attendees and will sell out fast.
3. Buy the full access pass if you can afford it. It’s the best value, if you really like a particular show, you can go back again and again, and it helps to support the festival.
4. Diversify your selections. There are many venues to choose from, and each one is unique: traditional stages, black boxes, abandoned buildings, coffee shops. It is really cool to see how each company makes use of the space, and you get to see different parts of the neighborhood.
5. Don’t neglect local acts. The most popular shows tend to be the out-​of-​town companies that are traveling a festival circuit. These shows tend to be a little more polished, but if you only go to see these shows, you are missing out. Discovering the breadth of local talent was one of the best parts of the fest.
6. Get the inside scoop. After the first few days, attendees and staffers will already have some favorites, and they are happy to share their recommendations. Make friends and get turned onto a show you otherwise might not have seen.
7. Go to the Know Theater Bar Series. There is always something going on after the performances end for the day. You can meet the performers and catch some additional entertainment (free of charge!)
At the beginning of each performance, one of the staff members gets up in front of the audience and asks, «Who here is seeing their first Cincinnati Fringe performance?» There are always a few people who raise their hands. That may be the best evidence of Fringe’s success: it manages to attract new devotees every year, including me.

Fringe is good. The hard part is picking a show. Don’t expect polished professional shows — this is a showcase of unknowns mostly one acts with no set changes and 1 – 3 actors. Some are better than others and most are not family friendly so be careful.
The package deals are the best…$ 10 for some of these performances is a little much but this kind of festival is difficult to put on and get everyone paid.

Ah, the glorious weirdness of Fringe.
For about a week in Cincinnati, the strange comes out. Shows that are just a little too … odd to make it to mainstream theatre play throughout the area.
People come from all over the world to perform here, as well as local Cincinnatians writing stuff in their backyard. It’s a mix of culture you just don’t get otherwise.
I love Fringe. I love that Cincy gets a little weird for a little while. Tickets are usually $ 12 for a show, but if you’re going to see more than one, I’d recommend looking into getting passes. Especially because they can become addicting (you see one and then suddenly you want to see them all!)
The only problem I’ve seen is that the venues can be terrible sometimes. They’re either too hot or the acoustics are bad or they just don’t work for the show. You’ll quickly figure out which ones to avoid though.
See a Fringe show, even if just to simply step out of your comfort zone. You’ll be happy you did.

Always a gamble, but always a way to see something new. The bigger events are a little safer. Check reviews and synopses before you go. You can at least see if the content matches your interest, though the quality is still up in the air. Most of the what-​have-​yous are national, a few are locally grown, all are edgy and probably not appropriate for your children.
Even if you don’t like the performances (which are only $ 10, and even less if you buy multi-​event passes), you get a chance to check out various venues you might not otherwise have attended, like Gabriel’s Corner in Over-​the-​Rhine.
Plus, there are fun afterparties at assorted bars around town.