Opening Night Extravaganza

St Lou Fringe Opening

*St Lou Fringe Festival 2018 Opening Night Extravaganza Party* Join us in the (air conditioned) Small Top at the Big Top for a festival kick-off party featuring 2017 Spirit of the Fringe award winners Same Difference!

Aphrodite's Refugees

MonTra Performance

Animation, storytelling & live art come together to paint a dreamlike picture that is one part true, one part possible... The fate of four teenage refugees is merely a high-stakes card game played by the Greek Gods. It was said that Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, emerged from the sea and onto the island of Cyprus. In addition to this mythological fame, Cyprus has a little-known, yet complex history. Wedged between Turkey, Syria and Greece, the island has been desired by ruling empires for centuries. ~A portion of proceeds will be donated to Doctors Without Borders~

Matthew Marcum - Pollock: A Frequency Parable

The Unconventional Empire

*A Fringe Award Winner - Artistic Interpretation* Matthew Marcum's multi-award winning Pollock: A Frequency Parable returns to The St. Louis Fringe Festival for an encore weekend run at the Kranzberg Blackbox Theatre August 17th - 19th, 2018. Winner of The Artistic Interpretation Award at the St. Louis Fringe Festival 2017, The Fringiest of the Fringe Award at the Asheville Fringe Arts Festival 2018, and most recently the Encore Producers' Award at The Hollywood Fringe Festival 2018, Pollock: A Frequency Parable sonic-ally collages personal quotes from Jackson Pollock with experimental vocals and stunning visuals, giving new meaning to the term “expressionist”. For more information on this show or to purchase tickets check out www.theunconventionalempire.com or www.st.louisfringe.com.

The Devil's Passion

Bankside Repertory

“…eloquent, compelling…”, “…at times darkly funny…” this unique retelling of “the greatest story ever told” challenges the comfortable complacency and insidiousness through which individuals and institutions have used that story to perpetrate some of the worst behaviors visited person upon person. A timely, whirlwind of a ride through the last days of Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of the man who put it all together – Satan himself. The “greatest story” has been politically usurped and perhaps it is only the Devil himself who can make us see the truth.

The Vicious Hillbilly or Dating in the Deep South

Dawn Larsen

It all began when Dawn was ordering songs on a CD released in March 2016. She realized the songs were literally a chronicle of her very pathetic love life through online dating since moving to the deep South. See, she figured out that the best way for her to work through obsessing over something(one) was to write a song about it and perform it. Thus, this show. Dawn has uncovered eleven valuable lessons, which she shares with you in this story of her discovery of who she is, what she wants, and that love is her divine right.

As We Stumble Along

Desiré Declyne

*A Late Night Drag Cabaret* "As We Stumble Along - A Drag Queen's Guide to Life and Theatre" is a mashup of "Whose Line Is It Anyway," "McGuyver," and "RuPaul's Drag Race," with the magic of Broadway thrown in for good measure. Audience members of all ages will be thrilled to witness the comedic magic of our girls and will want to come back for more! The show is a great fit for the Fringe audience, even those of you that have never been to a Fringe event ever. It's the perfect mix of laughs, songs and entertainment for a late night crowd. I'm terrible at making proposals, that's why when I proposed to my fiancé, I just changed the status on facebook and tagged him in it with a question mark. lol. But I know this show is really fun and you're gonna love it! Des.

#MeToo, Her Voice Must be Heard

Until You've Walked In Her Shoes, Inc.

*The 2018 #VoicesUnleashedSTL Featured Show* #MeToo, Her Voice must be Heard is a project that highlights the stories of sexual abuse/assault/harassment survivors through poetry, monologues, dance, music and more. In the wake of recent stories coming to light in Hollywood and other industries, we wanted to give local women in the community, who are our sisters, girlfriends, co-workers, etc., the opportunity to have her voice heard in the community that otherwise may not get heard in Hollywood, on TV or any other famous arena.

The Gringo

Colin Healy/Fly North Music

*Local Headline Act* "The Gringo" is a contemporary musical that looks at culture and privilege to ask the essential question: Is home a place you find or a place you fight for? On the same day local favorite street artist El Fantasma is gunned downed by police, a new notably talented, and notably white, artist named Ishamel arrives on the scene. Composer, music director, and arts educator Colin Healy presents his new full-length musical "The Gringo" during the festival’s opening weekend.

The Depths

State of Clayton

Sam and Rachel’s tumultuous relationship has come to a breaking point. Unfortunately, they are trapped with each other. Literally. In a cave. That’s when Sam decides to break the news to Rachel that he’s breaking off their engagement. Rachel demands to know why. Light is running out. Air is running out. Time is running out. Sam and Rachel are not running out. Because they are trapped. In a cave. Clayton Smith’s new comedy explores the fragility of relationships, the complexity of communication, and spice racks.

Now Playing Third Base for the St. Louis Cardinals...Bond, James Bond

Midnight Company

*A Fringe Award Winner - Lifetime Achievement* It's a play about theatre. And baseball. In St. Louis. So it's about race. And the weather. And it's about James Bond. And The Beatles. And WWII. And killing a President. But mostly, it's about theatre. A new play by and starring Joe Hanrahan, directed by Shane Signorino with video projections by Michael Perkins.

Empathy on Sale

Krish Mohan

Comedy is a great vehicle to communicate and talk about big ideas. Using comedy, this new hour is about the current climate of divide and how we've misunderstood the idea of progressivism. This show focuses on Native American culture, our obsession with war and violence, race & immigration to see if we can find a solution out of these behaviors. I explore these ideas from the perspective of an Indian American Immigrant, someone outside looking in. It's important to start having conversations about these topics rather than yelling at each other. Comedy can help facilitate the conversation and I'm hoping that's what the show will do.

The Countdown

Open House Theatre

After losing his family in a tragic car accident, a man wakes up to see timers hovering over peoples heads that count down to their death. After coming to terms with the fact that he can’t beat death, he finds his own timer over his head. Locking himself in a hotel room, the man recounts his cursed tale while trying to figure out how to survive the dreaded countdown. In this production, we find Cameron Cooper sitting on a bed in his hotel room as he recounts losing his family and the curse that followed. Through the 45 minute play, Cameron goes through every possible stage of death while he comes to terms with his own impending death. The audience will bear witness to the raw emotions of a man that’s completely broken from the pains of his past and the possible absence of a future.

Perennial Growth

Whale of the People

In a show without spoken dialogue, PERENNIAL GROWTH uses music, gesture, movement, and leitmotifs to explore the simultaneous brilliance and folly of humankind. Two scientists engineer a plant intended to solve the climate change crisis. What they create, unknowingly, is beyond their control; it changes the history of the human race, of Earth, and eventually, of the galaxy. What if mending the world’s human-made crises meant giving up the power people wield on Earth? What would it mean if we are no longer the greatest sentient minds in our universe? If we can maintain the planet’s habitability, but at the expense of most other plants and animals, should we? And if the being we create spends its lifetime in isolation, are humans responsible for its existential crisis?PERENNIAL GROWTH is the inaugural show of the experimental multimedia collective Whale of the People, a collaborative project led by Augie Boyne, Madelyn Boyne, and Lana Dvorak.

Pain

Tony Marr, Jr.

*2017 Future of Fringe Award Winner* This year’s show reveals what happens to the mental state of a man whose only desire is to provide for his family but is unable to do so no matter what length he goes to. Facing the threat of eviction, the story follows Aaron and his limited options that he has stop his family from becoming homeless. Will Aaron be able to come up with the money in time to keep the apartment, or will the mental stress of his life drive him to make a permanent solution to his never-ending problem? As Marr says, "It's hard being black in America.” As an artists and a a black man, he knows firsthand America's perception about black men is one of misunderstanding. Striving to give a voice to the voiceless, his art work dives deep into the aspect of black states of being in America.

The Bothered

Rogue Theatre Company

Why do we hide away the things we fear? We answer it with, “because we fear it.” But it is much more than that. A simple answer is not what we are looking for. Utilizing the five senses we delve into a world much like our own, but then again, different in every way, forced to confront these lingering anxieties and the enigmatic occurrences that come to follow. There are ideas lurking that we try to force away, but we do not have that choice anymore. They are here and the only question left is what will remain, and who?

Intervals

MillHill Productions

A new one act play by JM Chambers, “Intervals” features the lives of three people dealing with the effects of working homelessness. All three characters in the play will be performed by one actress, Bre Love. The story explores the challenges of working while homeless, delves into the emotions felt by people who have this challenge and hopefully is a call for understanding and action.

Too Short: A Tale of a Tiny Dancer

Melissa Allen

*Aerialist & Dancer Melissa "Mo" Allen Returns to Fringe* Middle-aged Trained Poodle? Airmom? Not A Lot Gets Me Off (The Ground) These Days? All these, and more possible titles, could not begin to describe what you might learn from Melissa Allen’s one-woman show, “Too Short: A Tale of a Tiny Dancer”. Part storytelling, part insider information on the world of the circus, part dance, with a few trapeze routines thrown in; this show doesn’t have it all, but it has something! From showgirl to Clayton housewife, has she done it all? Come find out...

Broadway Favorites

Debut Theater Company

*A Fringe Family Event!* Debut Theatre Company is pleased to present their Broadway favorites, including songs from past and future Acting Against Cancer (AAC) productions. Debut is thrilled to make their second Fringe Festival appearance, last year they performed for the Fringe Family Day. DTC is a youth founded and directed 501c3 with a mission to allow inexperienced youth the chance to make a difference in their community while working alongside seasoned peers. At the end of each AAC show, they have made art and a difference by donating 100% of their profits to local cancer research through Pedal the Cause. Thank you for your support of the Arts and youth who want to make a difference!

Political Snarkasm

The Riccardi's

*A One-Night-Only Cabaret with Sandi and Richard Riccardi* A dynamic comedy and cabaret duo, the Riccardis mix solid musical chops with satirical lyrics to lightly skewer contemporary society. It's all done in good fun, but with a definite attitude. Their show "Polical Snarkasm" will be featured at the Fringe Festival. This show is intended for Mature Audiences.

Grim Tales, Horrific Vignettes

Spooky Scary Productions

*Produced by 2015 Fringemeister Pete Papavlasopoulos* Who doesn’t love a good, old-fashioned scare? "Grim Tales, Horrific Vignettes" brings the standard horror anthology to the stage. Come watch 6 original horror tales performed for your displeasure.

Race Cars & Romance

St Lou Fringe

*National Headline Act!* A Fringe Family-Friendly Event! Starring "Something Rotten!'s" Kate Bailey and Ralph Meitzler, and directed by St. Louis native and Broadway star Brandon Bieber. Race Cars and Romance is a fast-paced, hilarious, rom-com that tells the story of a young woman mechanic fighting to earn professional respect in the male-dominated world of stock car racing. She is torn between her desires to find love in a traditional relationship and the reality of her agitated, greasy, masculine working conditions. Her fortunes turn for the better after an unexpected meeting with an old foe and down-and-out race car driver leads to a winning relationship on the track but troubled romance off the track. Meanwhile, traditional relationships are redefined when her best friend, the playful Louraine finds her first “respectful” relationship, former shop owner Paw Paw offers dear Grandma Myrtle appreciation that’s long overdue, and other colorful customers find their connections while keeping the oil change business in non-stop laughter.

Tall Tale Camp Tale

On a Wing and a Prayer

*A Family-Friendly Fringe Event* The brave and environmentally conscious Ranger Grizzly Alan along with his faithful Deputy Smife thwart scheming, low-down animal poachers in the sleepy western town of Eureka. As Poacher Preston is caught red-handed and cited for his environmental offense, he sneakily turns the tables and challenges the two Rangers to duel at high noon. As townsfolk gather in the village diner, the local fry cook serves up an "order of doubtfulness" that challenges Grizzly's agenda. Always a man with a plan, Grizzly proves the best virtues are fortitude and politeness.

Ectopic: A hypersexual play

Tesseract Theatre

*2017 Fringemeister Taylor Gruenloh's Invitational Show* A young woman dances around the issue of her hypersexuality as it starts to affect her various relationships. Does everyone around her simply reflect a culture that dislikes exceptional sexual behavior or is she hiding something deeper behind the facade of sexual exploration? Written and Directed by Taylor Gruenloh, featuring Laurell Stevenson & Darrious Varner

Til the Cold Winter's Through

because, why not?

*Suggested for Mature Audiences due to subject matter.* 'Til the Cold Winter's Through, a new dramatic work by Shannon Geier and River A. Dowdy, explores the devastation surrounding the issues of human trafficking and child exploitation, by tracing the stories of those who have suffered and survived. The many facets of these modern tragedies are examined in a way that gives voice to those who are often silenced and raise awareness of issues that are often deemed too painful to explore. Mature Audiences Only.

Any Man in America

Declaration Stage Company

A short form, small scale musical that tells the story of life through the eyes of any man in America. Experience insights, thoughts, and feelings that your dad, brother, son, husband, or boyfriend would share with you . . . . . . if they really wanted to talk about it.

2018 Closing Ceremony

St Lou Fringe Closing

*Join us to give all the performers one last round of applause and see who will be crowned the 2018 St Lou Fringemeister!*