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During the global coronavirus pandemic, FringeArts is pivoting the focus of our podcast to checking in with our artists, our audiences, and our community partners during these unprecedented times. Since we can't gather, we'll chat remotely about how we respond to this crisis, and how the role of art during a pandemic shifts. In this episode, FringeArts Community Engagement Manager Tenara Calem chats with Blast Theory, a performance company based in the United Kingdom that creates interactive art to explore social and political questions. Blast Theory was in Philadelphia last summer in 2019 for the opening of the Mutter Museum's pandemic exhibit Spit Spreads Death, in which they organized a processional to commemorate the victims of the 1918 Flu Pandemic in Philadelphia. Tenara chats with Blast Theory artists Matt Adams and Nick Tandavanitj about the prophetic nature of their project and how art can imagine a different future. Plus - look out for a special Part 2 episode on April 8th with two of the brains behind the Spit Spreads Death exhibit about the role of community organizing and performance in the medical humanities.
On this episode of Happy Hour on the Fringe, hosts Raina and Tenara chat with Artistic Producers Katy and Zach about what audiences can look forward to in our upcoming High Pressure Fire Service, a presentation series of new works from Philadelphia’s leading performers. Come see the HPFS performances April-May 2020!
Happy Hour on the Fringe hosts Raina and Tenara sit down with Georgia Schlessman, Technical Director, and Evelyn Swift Shuker, Master Electrician, to talk about the upcoming Theater Technician Job Fair at FringeArts (Monday, February 10th!), the relationship between technicians and artists, and the role of design in an audience's experience. To RSVP for the Job Fair, visit our website at www.FringeArts.com.
The FringeArts Ambassador Program is a cohort of volunteers, artistic participants, long-time fans of FringeArts, and community stakeholders from all professional and personal backgrounds who serve as connectors between FringeArts and new audiences. Ambassadors work with the Audience Engagement Coordinator, Tenara Calem, to bring new audiences to FringeArts. Ambassadors are active volunteers in the organization, filling a variety of roles and representing a wide range of Philadelphia communities. In this week's episode, Tenara clinks glasses with two Ambassadors to celebrate another year of the Fringe Festival and what they're looking forward to seeing this year. If you are interested in learning more about the Ambassador Program, please reach out to Tenara at tenara@fringearts.com. Fringe Festival tickets are on sale now! To purchase tickets, visit www.fringearts.com or call 215.413.1318. Tickets and also be purchased through the FringeArts app.
Zach and Tenara phoned it in this week (drink orders not included), but you wouldn't know it as they talk with the Half Straddle's Artistic Director, Tina Satter, about her production, Is This a Room, for this year's Fringe Festival. Is This a Room is a dramatization of the transcripts of Air Force linguist, Reality Winner, who was charged with leaking evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 election, as she was arrested at her home by FBI agents. Is This a Room will run from September 13-15 at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on the University of Pennsylvania's campus. For tickets, visit www.fringearts.com or download the Fringearts app.
In this episode, Tenara and Raina clink glasses (and a mug of hot chocolate) to FringeArts’ Artistic Producers, Zack Blackwood and Katy Dammers. Zach and Katy will discuss some of the exciting presentations for the 2019 in the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, including the the Festival Bookstore and this year’s Late Night Programing. The Fringe Festival teaser is now available, and you can expect to see Fringe Festival Guides circulating this August! Plan your days to view groundbreaking performances in the City of Brotherly Love this September.
On this episode of Happy Hour of the Fringe, Raina and Tenara share a drink with poet, noise musician and Afro-futurist Camae Ayewa and discuss her latest project, Circuit City. Known as a force of nature in the Philadelphia Arts scene, Camae has also made her mark world wide as the one-woman band, Moor Mother. Camae discusses how Circuit City explores what the concept of freedom really is, through the lens of the housing crisis and its effects on those who've spent their lifetime in their community. Circuit City runs from June 20-22 as part of our High Pressure Fire Service.
Tenara and Zach sit down with FringeArts ambassador and Le Super Grand Continental alum Cecily Chapman. The trio discuss the importance of public practice performances and Cecily goes into detail about her personal experience as a performer in a large-scale production. She talks about the physical, mental, and social aspects of the process and even gives some advice to those who are curious about performing in the future. The conversation acts as wonderful insight for people interested in getting involved in the 2019 Fringe Festival participatory piece, Úumbal: Nomadic Choreography for Inhabitants. Learn more about Úumbal and how to participate in the Step Library here!
You’ve heard from many of the artists and community members who have worked with FringeArts this year; why not learn more about the people on the other side of the mic? On this very special end-of-year episode of Happy Hour on the Fringe, all four hosts, Raina, Zach, Tenara, and Katy, sit down together and reflect on their journeys to FringeArts, what they’ve accomplished over the course of the last year, and what they hope 2019 holds in store for them. Sit back and relax over your holiday break and get to know our hosts a little better, then let us know what your 2019 resolutions are! Show Notes: Learn more about the upcoming FringeArts’ programming mentioned on this episode: Blue Heaven: https://fringearts.com/event/blue-heaven-comedy-festival/ High Pressure Fire Service: https://fringearts.com/programs/high-pressure-fire-service/ Learn more about FringeArt's exciting new accessibility initiatives: https://fringearts.com/accessibility/ Follow FringeArts on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat and visit us on the web at https://fringearts.com. Leave a comment or share your thoughts on social media using the hashtag #HHOF.
Tal, Tenara, and Nathan giggle about football nonsense, debate whether disliking musicals is inherently homophobic, and interview an incredible 3rd Sara about Jewish identity and weight lifting!! Plus, Sara gives us some hot tips about rugs + carpets. (ps. We had some recording trouble during the interview which is why it sounds a little funky, but don’t worry we’re really figuring our stuff out and are even gonna order our own legit recorder! The next eps are gonna sound so hot!)
Nathan, Tal, and Tenara open up a bottle of moscato, talk about bad dates, boring straight men, interview Tenara's friend Sara/SJ, and have SOME THINGS TO SAY about the recent film, A Star is Born.
In which three friends, Nathan, Tal, and Tenara open up a bottle of champagne, learn how to make their first ever podcast episode, interview Nathan's friend Sarah, and finish with a tipsy conversation about Queer Eye. Also, Tal's dog Levi makes a definite appearance.