The Phoenix Fringe Festival mission statement says PHX:fringe “presents innovative, experimental and provocative theatre by local, national and international artists. PHX:fringe seeks to develop a cutting edge, urban audience by offering an edgy assortment of performance choices in non-traditional downtown spaces. PHX:fringe promotes artistic exploration by supporting the risky, adventurous work of established and emerging artists while also providing accessible, affordable performances to the community.”

PHX:fringe is a nonprofit founded in early 2008 by Phoenix theatre artists and producers. April 2 – 11, 2010 will be their third year of bringing alternative performances to the Valley of the Sun.

All shows are in various venues seating 40 – 125, within walking distance from each other, in downtown Phoenix.  Each show lasts from 30 to 60 minutes. Last year attendence was about 2000 and they hope to build on that this year.

PHX:fringe is now accepting applications for all performance types;  dance, mime, youth theatre, spoken word, etc., are all welcome to apply.  They hope to include international performers in addition to hometown talent.  The application fee is $35 and some scholarships and grants are available.  You can contact info@phxfringe.com with questions.  They are also on MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter. All you fringe types plan ahead – let’s get some southern Arizona representation!

A little Fringe history:  The oldest and largest fringe theatre festival is in Edinburgh, Scotland, begun in 1947 and today sells over a million tickets. If you Google Fringe festivals you will come up with many stateside and international entries.

At Suite 101.com I read about the Winnipeg festival:

The idea behind fringe festivals has always been to provide a venue for alternative and amateur performances, without artistic constraints from committees or societies. Anyone can apply to perform, and participants include professional actors, amateurs, and everything in between. Classics such as Shakespeare or Ibsen can be part of the festival, as well as children’s plays, juggling acts, comedy, and more. The quality of performances can vary considerably, but each one has its own special character.

The format of fringe festivals is unique. In the Canadian city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, participants are chosen by a non-juried lottery to stimulate innovation among performers. Ticket prices are substantially lower than at traditional performances, allowing audiences to take in a variety of shows, with some free entertainment available at a central location.