Know Theatre gears up for 7th Annual Fringe Festival, readies for new marquee

Published May 25, 2010 at 12:00 a.m.
Know Theatre is feverishly preparing for the 7th Annual Cincinnati Fringe Festival which has now become Ohio's largest performing arts festival.  This year's installment of performance and visual art will take place between Tuesday, June 1 and Saturday, June 12.  More than 190 artists from across the country will be on-hand to "push the boundaries of the norm and experiment with style and content."

Eric Vosmeier, Know Theatre's managing artistic director, says that this year's artist makeup includes 80 artists from outside of Cincinnati - up from the previous high of 45 at last year's festival.

"Staff spent time going around to other Fringe Festivals and did some recruiting, but artists talk highly of our festival to other artists which helps out as well," Vosmeier explained.  "We are a very artist-centric festival and I think that's why so many of our artists love us."

To build on that artistcentricity, this year's Cincinnati Fringe Festival will include playwriting and clowning workshops, and even yoga classes throughout the festival for the artists.  Those attending the festival will also experience new features like the Fringe Bar Series, Fringe Prom put on by the artists and the 22.5 Hour Play Project which will give participants 22.5 hours to write, direct, produce and perform a new play.

Aside from the upcoming Cincinnati Fringe Festival, the Know Theatre is also moving forward with its new marquee made possible through two $50,000 grants from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation and the City of Cincinnati.  Roughly 40% of the $100,000 will go towards the new marquee that will be installed no later than November 1, 2010, with the rest going towards other capital improvements at the theatre.

"We'll be making some equipment purchases including new chairs, lighting and sound equipment that will improve the theatre experience for our attendees for years to come," Vosmeier said.

All tickets for the 2010 Cincinnati Fringe Festival are $12 and can be purchased online.  Full Frontal Fringe passes are available for $200 and provide access to everything the festival has to offer, while six show passes are available for $60.  Tickets and passes may alse be purchased by calling (513) 300-5669, or during the festival at the Know Theatre's box office (map) or at any of the individual venues 30 minutes prior to show times.

Writer: Randy A. Simes
Photography by Tiffani Fisher
Stay connected by following Randy on Twitter @UrbanCincy


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