September 6 – 8, 2024 at

Arts Fort Worth

Learn About FW Fringe Buttons

Every ticket purchased at the FW Fringe comes with an FW Fringe button. These buttons can be taken to our FW Fringe Button Sponsors. Local businesses that have agreed to offer a discount to anyone who visits their business during the duration of the Fringe.

Where can I stay?

The FW Fringe will partner with local hotels so that our out of town patrons can more affordably stay nearby for the festival. Hotels that offer specific rates for the FW Fringe Fest will be posted below.

Once You’re There

Parking:

Parking can be found across the street from Arts Fort Worth in the Will Rogers West Parking lot. Parking is paid, with the cost capping at $12.50.

Additional parking is available at the Western Heritage Parking Garage, directly next door to Arts Fort Worth. Parking is paid, with the cost capping at $11.50.

Picking up tickets:

Once you’re in the building, you’ll go to the Sanders Theatre lobby. Find the FW Fringe box office table to pick up your tickets, program and FW Fringe button.

THERE IS NO LATE SEATING:

Because of the layout of the two performance spaces, late seating would cause distraction to both the audience and the performers. Because of this, there is absolutely no late seating. Please arrive at the theatre at least 15 – 30 minutes before your show time to allow time for parking and picking up tickets.

When performance time comes:

When it’s time for each performance, ushers will open the doors and collect your tickets. In The Gallery, the ushers will guide you to the performance space as soon as the last performance in the space ends.

After the performance:

Ushers will guide you out of the performance space so that the next performing company may begin their setup. If you would like to visit with the performers after the show, please meet in the Sanders lobby.

FW Fringe

The FW Fringe is an annual Fringe Festival co-produced by Theatre Network of Texas, Inc. and Arts Fort Worth. Featuring a variety of different acts ranging from rarely produced theatre, dance, storytelling, puppetry, poetry, and more; the FW Fringe welcomes performers from all over the state of Texas and beyond.

The 2023 FW Fringe will take place from September 8 – 10, 2023 at Arts Fort Worth at 1300 Gendy St, Fort Worth, TX 76107.

Any questions about passes or membership – refer to fwfringe@texastheatres.org

2023 FW FRINGE ACTS: THE SANDERS THEATRE

A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE - Scrambled Egg Theatre Company

Scrambled Egg Theatre Company – London, UK

Runtime: 60 Minutes

Performance Dates & Times

Friday, September 8, 2023
7:00 PM

Saturday, September 9, 2023
1:00 PM  &
7:40 PM
 
Sunday, September 10, 2023
1:30 PM

ABOUT THE PIECEA MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE does not have spoken word – there is no written text. The story is delivered through the physicality of five actors, using an improvised ad-hoc gibberish language and a sophisticated soundtrack. The piece is a spoof of classic secret agent movies with numerous visual gags and comic sequences. It features an accident-prone wannabe agent on a mission to save MI6 who generates chaos, mishap and romantic adventure. Norman – a man of no importance – works as a cleaner at MI6, the headquarters of British Intelligence.  He dreams of becoming a secret agent like James Bond. At work he is ignored and mistreated by colleagues until a strange series of events cause him to discover a secret and dangerous plot.The production is timed to a musical score inspired by spy and secret agent movies of the 1960s and 70s.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Scrambled Egg Theatre Company

Scrambled Egg was formed in 2015 by Keith Homer and Michael Woodwood specifically to create performances for international theatre festivals. Scrambled Egg productions are visual and physical in style, usually with minimal spoken dialogue, and are ideal for an international audience.

Past productions in festivals have included:

Journeys:

  • 2015 – Westhouter, Belgium – IATA World Festival
  • 2015 – Telsiai, Lithuania – Theatre Zemaites Festival
  • 2016 – Friedrichshafen, Germany  – Festival Theatertage am See

The Coat (a one-woman show):

  • 2018 – Kathmandu, Nepal – Festival of one-person-shows
  • 2019 – Telsiai, Lithuania – Theatre Zemaites Festival

Bump!

  • 2018 – Prague, Czech Republic – Spring Festival of Theatre
  • 2018 – Venice, Florida, USA – AACT Festival of International Theatre       (awarded ‘Best Production of the Festival’, ‘Best Direction’ and ‘Most Popular Actress of the Festival’)
  • 2019 – Fort Worth, TX, USA – FW Fringe Festival

A Man of No Importance

  • 2018 – Donzdorf, Germany – Action Theatre Festival
  • 2022 – Venice, Florida with a new production (six awards including best production)
COMETAS by Rob Bosquez - SceneShop

SceneShop – Fort Worth, TX

Runtime: 30 Minutes

Performance Dates & Times

Friday, September 8, 2023
4:50 PM

Saturday, September 9, 2023
2:20 PM &
6:50 PM
 
Sunday, September 10, 2023
2:50 PM &
6:10 PM

ABOUT THE PIECE – When their parents abruptly separate, two Mexican American brothers are split apart. The older brother remains in south Fort Worth, heavily invested in his community. The younger brother moves to a radically different environment, and his life is altered by the opportunities presented him. A death in the family brings them together, after decades. Will the reunion result in reconciliation, or confrontation? For the answer, they may look to the night sky.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER – SceneShop was founded in the summer of 1996, as a theatrical alternative. Since that time, the grassroots troupe has presented over 300 new works, both scenes and monologues. A typical evening with SceneShop runs the dramatic gamut, with comic and dramatic scenes comprising an evening of works gathered around a loose theme. SceneShop has also performed at many festivals and is always glad to be a part of the Fort Worth Fringe festival.

MOM AS A TEENAGER a 4 piece post-modern indie rock band

Mom As A Teenager – Denton, TX

Runtime: 50 Minutes

Performance Dates & Times

Saturday, September 9, 2023
3:10 PM &
9:00 PM

ABOUT THE BAND –

Mom As A Teenager are a 4 piece post modern indie rock band lead by a Chicana singer, writer, & artist. Their songs deal with domestic violence, racism and generally being sad and confused in the world we live in.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER – Mom as a Teenager is a post modern indie rock band who have been making music together for 5 years. We are a collaborative ensemble of artists with backgrounds in a multitude of different artistic disciplines. We stive to help those without a voice to be heard.

A MUDDLE OF MASKS - Maverick Theatre Company

The Maverick Theatre Company – Arlington, TX

Runtime: 55 Minutes

Performance Dates & Times

Friday, September 8, 2023
3:40 PM

 

Saturday, September 9, 2023
4:20 PM 
 
Sunday, September 10, 2023
3:40 PM

ABOUT THE PIECE – A MUDDLE OF MASKS whisks an audience away on a journey through various vignettes of European-Style Character Mask: a birthday party goes sideways, a portrait artist struggles to survive, cookies crumble, a doctor saves the day, and an elderly couple powerlifts the play! Sit back, relax and enjoy a form of theatre rarely performed in the USA!

This is a family-friendly theatrical experience.

This production was written and developed by an ensemble of 9 actors and 1 director.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER – The Maverick Theatre Company (MTC) is proud to be presenting with the Fort Worth Fringe Festival, having presented original mask and clown shows in previous years at the Festival. MTC is the University of Texas at Arlington Theatre Company. Any UT Arlington graduate, current student, and faculty/staff member is considered to be a member of the MTC. The MTC produces plays on campus as a part of the regular UTA Theatre Department season as well as new play commissions and devised productions outside of the regular season, like A MUDDLE OF MASKS. This production was created and workshopped by 9 members of the MTC, with the support of The University of Texas at Arlington, under the guidance of Faculty Member and BFA Acting Head, Felicia Bertch. The work presented has a foundation in the European-style Character Mask training of Jacques LeCoq and also draws from the training developed by the late Paola Coletto. Special Thanks to Texas Nonprofit Theatres, Inc., The Fort Worth Community Arts Center, and The University of Texas at Arlington Department of Theatre Arts and Dance!

MYSTERY BOX - imPULSE Dance Project

imPULSE Dance Project – Double Oak, TX

Runtime: 55 Minutes

Performance Dates & Times

Friday, September 8, 2023
5:40 PM

Saturday, September 9, 2023
5:30 PM 
 
Sunday, September 10, 2023
4:50 PM

ABOUT THE PIECE – In this series 4 choreographers come together to embark on a unique choreographic challenge. The process began with each choreographer drawing from a Mystery Box filled with items provided by the dancers of imPULSE. Whatever item the choreographer drew from the box is what sparks the creation process for their new work for this series. There was a pomander, slinky, head massager, blindfold, photo frame, and thread drawn from the box. Each one of these items sparked the creation of a dance. This is such an exciting task meant to challenge the choreographer to create from something one would never think of creating a dance from!

ABOUT THE PRESENTER – imPULSE dance project, founded in 2012 by Anastasia Waters, has a vision to enrich communities with the Art that is Modern Dance. imPULSE has been serving the North Texas community through their unique projects, offering great classes, and educational training workshops, and performances. imPULSE dance project has had the honor of performing in many Texas dance and art festivals including the Barefoot Brigade Dance Festival (2013), Out of the Loop Fringe Festival (2013), CDFW Modern Dance Festival at the Modern (2014), the Brazos Contemporary Dance Festival (2014 and 2016), Heart and Soul Festival (2018 and 2019), {254}-Dance Fest (2017, 2019), and Dallas Dances (2017 and 2018) and has produced numerous evening length productions. The company is currently in the midst of their 11th season. imPULSE dance project aspires to continue to impact the dance community through their passion for dance.

DANGEROUS WOMEN - Va Va Voom

Va Va Voom – Arlington, TX

Runtime: 45 Minutes

Performance Dates & Times

Friday, September 8, 2023
9:10 PM

Saturday, September 9, 2023
10:10 PM

ABOUT THE PIECE – Va Va Voom specializes in vintage burlesque entrtainment; this includes song, ensemble dance, and classic strip tease.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER – Deborah (Deb) Wood, Founder-Director-Producer previously had over 30 years of corporate and management experience.  Deb is an accomplished actor-singer-dancer and has received favorable reviews for her choreography in Dallas theatres in the 80’s & 90’s Her artistic inclination tempers her sharp business sense with an understanding and love of the creative process.

2023 FW FRINGE ACTS: THE GALLERY THEATRE

MEANINGLESS - Next Stage

Next Stage-  Oklahoma City, OK

Runtime: 45 Minutes

Performance Dates & Times

Friday, September 8, 2023

3:50 PM & 7:40 PM

Saturday, September 9, 2023
8:10 PM
Sunday, September 10, 2023
2:20 PM

ABOUT THE PIECE – How do we find meaning in an upside-down world? What actions should we take? Do our efforts even matter? “Meaningless” presents the unedited, uncensored, ancient book of Ecclesiastes in a one-act, one-person performance packed with timeless riddles and timely wisdom.

From wine to wealth, concubines to snake charming, “Meaningless” examines the meaning of everything under the sun. This modern presentation of a 2,000-year-old meditation on the human experience weaves the universal themes of wisdom, foolishness, pleasure, and suffering into an unforgettable live performance that is at once funny, pensive, and tragic.

“Meaningless” is performed by Oklahoma City-based actor Rodney Brazil and directed by Emily Etherton. “Meaningless” makes its Texas premiere, following engagements in New York City, Atlanta, Denver, Kansas City, Omaha, and Oklahoma City.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER – Rodney Brazil is a writer, director, performer, and producer. Original works as a playwright include All My Ex-Boyfriends are Gay, Worthy Causes, The Ultra-Conservative Theatre Summit, and Naked Brunch, which streamed live at the 2020 Theatre Crude Fringe Festival.

ON THE EXHALE by Martin Zimmerman - Brazosport Center Stages

Brazosport Center Stage-  Clute, TX

Runtime: 54 Minutes

Performance Dates & Times

Friday, September 8, 2023

9:00 PM

Saturday, September 9, 2023
3:30 PM & 9:30 PM
 
Sunday, September 10, 2023
1:00 PM

ABOUT THE PIECE – When a senseless act of violence changes her life forever, a liberal college professor finds herself inexplicably drawn to the very weapon used to perpetrate the crime – and to the irresistible feeling of power that comes from holding life and death in her hands. Peering down the barrel of a uniquely American crisis, she begins to suspect that when it comes to gun violence, we’re all part of the problem.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER – Center Stages is the longest continuously performing community theater on the Texas Gulf Coast having its first production in 1943. Brandy Todd is a seasoned performed for Brazosport Center Stages. She has performed in productions including The Miracle Worker, Peter and the Starcatcher, Vanya Sonya Masha and Spike, and Murder on the Orient Express.

 
PLEADING INFINITY by T.J. Walsh

T.J. Walsh –  Grapevine, TX

Runtime: 55 Minutes

Performance Dates & Times

Friday, September 8, 2023
6:20 PM

Saturday, September 9, 2023
2:10 PM & 4:50 PM
 
Sunday, September 10, 2023
5:40 PM

ABOUT THE PIECE – Pleading Infinity by T. J. Walsh

In this funny and moving solo play Bob Donovan, Hollywood screenwriter, wrestles with life’s big questions including miraculous births, the nature of art, near death experiences, the creation of the universe, and, finally, the meaning of life. “A polished and mature piece…very funny and touching monologues chronicling the life of screenwriter Bob Donovan.” Austin American Statesman

Pleading Infinity was developed in Austin, Texas at FronteraFest, the premier fringe festival of the Southwest and performed at the New York International Fringe Festival and the Hollywood Fringe Festival. “As the play progresses the emotional arc of Bob’s journey moves to the fore. This is Walsh’s real accomplishment, and is all the more remarkable for the subtlety with which it occurs.” NYTheatre.com

ABOUT THE PRESENTER –T.J. Walsh (playwright, director) is a Professor of Theatre at Texas Christian University where he teaches theatre history, survey of theatre, playwriting, directing and acting. He was the Founding Artistic Director of the Trinity Shakespeare Festival where he received four Outstanding Directionawards from the Dallas Fort Worth Theatre Critics Forum. His book: Playwrights and Power:The Making of the Dramatists Guild was published in 2016 by Smith and Kraus. He can be reached at t.walsh@tcu.edu.

 
WHY WE DANCE by C. David Hill - Our Time Productions

Our Time Productions –  Blooming Grove, TX

Runtime: 30 Minutes

Performance Dates & Times

Friday, September 8, 2023
3:00 PM

Saturday, September 9, 2023
1:20 PM &
6:10 PM
 
Sunday, September 10, 2023
4:50 PM

ABOUT THE PIECE – “Reflections in a disco ball eye. A gay man peering into the windmills of his mind, life, books, movies and personal happiness. It’s a personal story written by the actor after the death of his husband.  He looks back at his childhood and his crush on Quentin from Dark Shadows, his love of going to the library and youth theater. Then he talks about chaperoning a LGBT prom with his boyfriend who happens to be on the Dallas city council. Then he looks at the Kennedy assassination and how his grandparents were on their way to eat with Kennedy and L.B.J that evening.  Fifty years later he is attending a memorial with his Hispanic husband. Texas has come along since the movie of Giant, but we still haven’t fixed all the problems.  After the death of his husband how he joins the Silver Pride Project for older LGBT citizens to decrease social isolation and educate the community on senior related issues. We dance because we stand on the back of those who came before us, we dance because we are the backs of today and tomorrow. We dance because Gloria Gaynor told us we would survive! Then he ends the piece with how he found his own voice to tell his story, fight for social change and encourage people to make their own music and dance.

David spends too much of his time at theaters and reading.  Reflections in a Golden Eye is one of his favorite books by Carson McCullers.  So, this is his life looking back through a disco ball haze.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER – Our Time Productions was formed to tell stories that we like and present them our way. It was formed by C. David Hill.

His day job is working at the Dallas Public Library. He has worked throughout the DFW area.  He spent a lot of time at New Theater Company, WaterTower and Theater Three. Outside the area he was the Youth theater director at the Warehouse Living Arts Center in Corsican and the Executive Director of the Henderson County Performing Arts Center.  He is also on the board of the Theatre Network of Texas.  He presented this piece at TEXFest this spring in Victoria Tx and at the Lubbock Community Theatre.

JENNY LIND PRESENTS P. T. BARNUM

Shelly Cooper –  Moline, IL

Runtime: 50 Minutes

Performance Dates & Times

Friday, September 8, 2023
5:10 PM

Saturday, September 9, 2023
7:00 PM
 
Sunday, September 10, 2023
3:40 PM

ABOUT THE PIECE – When Jenny Lind came to America, to tour with “The Greatest Showman”, P.T. Barnum, she witnessed a nation torn apart over slavery. She embarked on headline-grabbing tour that shared the spotlight with a political maelstrom. This one woman opera show, fact checks The Greatest Showman, and that the real reason Jenny Lind (also known as the “Swedish Nightingale”) quit the tour. Jenny Lind was uncomfortable with Barnum’s relentless marketing of her and his questionable moral compas , or lack there of. Eavesdrop on Jenny’s final, brave confrontation of PT Barnum and enjoy some operatic gems from Jenny Lind’s concert tour.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER – Shelley Cooper is an Off-Broadway Award Winning Solo Theatre performer, SDC Director, tenured professor and no stranger to the Fringe circuit! Her one woman show, La Divina: The Last Interview of Maria Callas is the winner of the Best One Woman show at United Solofest Off-Broadway, Orlando Fringe Critic’s choice award for best Individual Performance in a Drama and Hollywood Fringe “Pick of the Fringe” (among many others). Shelley has performed all over the world for a number of companies such as Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Orlando Fringe, Steinmetz Hall, The Whitefire Theatre, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Monroe Symphony, Opera Quad Cities, Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse, Orlando Repertory Theatre, Shawnee Summer Theatre, Redhouse Arts Center, Varna Opera Theatre, Bangkok Theatre Festival, and the Venetian Macao in Macau, China.

Thanks to the 2023 FW Fringe Sponsors