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For our 15th festival, we are thrilled to bring Rochester 715 performances of 297 productions at 45 venues over 12 extraordinary days. Artists from Rochester and around the world will fill downtown and beyond with theatre, comedy, music, dance, circus, spoken word, film, visual art—and performances that gleefully resist classification. Over the past 14 years, Fringe has presented 6,797 performances and events, growing into one of the country’s largest fringe festivals and New York State’s largest multidisciplinary performing arts festival. The New York Times has called Fringe “one of the country’s more prominent multidisciplinary events,” and CITY readers have named us Best Arts Event three years running.

Our longstanding commitment to free, outdoor art reaches thrilling new heights this year with Circus in the City. On September 18 and 19, Parcel 5 and Gibbs Street become a playground for contemporary circus, with Québec’s internationally acclaimed FLIP Fabrique, Aloft, Circus EVO, Big Teeth Performance Collective, 3AM Circus, Rochester’s own Roc City Circus, and more—bringing breathtaking aerial artistry, acrobatics, juggling, dance, and pop-up surprises to the heart of downtown.

Erica Fee CEO & Festival Producer

Inside the Spiegeltent, Fringe favorites Matt and Heidi Morgan return from Las Vegas for the world premiere of Cirque du Fringe: Anchors Away—an all-new voyage packed with astonishing talent and outrageous comedy. Across the Festival’s 45 venues, discover everything from breakout comedy and intimate theatre to electrifying music, dance, a cappella, poetry, and performances that could only happen at Fringe.

Mark A. Costello Board Chair

INTRODUCTION

WELCOME TO THE 2026 ESL ROCHESTER FRINGE FESTIVAL!

There is no single way to Fringe. Circle the guide. Take a chance. Bring a friend. See something unexpected. See you at the shows. LET’S GO!

A WORD FROM OUR TITLE SPONSOR

Welcome to the 2026 ESL Rochester Fringe Festival! We’re proud to return as title sponsor and celebrate all that Fringe brings to our community. Each year, this festival creates spaces for artists, performers, and neighbors to come together, share their work, and connect in meaningful ways.

Fringe and the arts also play an important role in strengthening our local economy. As more than 40 venues in and around downtown welcome attendees to festival performances, the Fringe invites people to explore our Rochester

We’re grateful to partner with Fringe and to stand alongside so many who care deeply about the role the arts play in everyday life. The arts help to tell shared stories with our neighbors, connect people across backgrounds and experiences, and remind us of what’s possible when creativity and community come together. We thank you for being part of this year’s festival and give special thanks to the dedication of the Fringe team, volunteers, vendors, host venues, and artists who all play a significant role in shaping the festival experience.

Tom Rogers President & CEO, ESL Federal Credit Union

We hope you take it all in and enjoy what makes Fringe extraordinary.

®I LOVE NEW YORK is a registered trademark and service mark of the New York State Department of Economic Development; used with permission.

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

At ESL, our north star and purpose is to help our community thrive and prosper. Supporting Fringe is one meaningful way we bring that purpose to life, by investing in programming to support the energy of downtown Rochester, creating opportunities for artists, and inviting residents and visitors to experience all there is to offer during this 12-day festival.

communities, enjoy our local restaurants, and support small businesses. This economic activity supports the people and places that define our city’s character, while strengthening the vitality of our community.

INTRODUCTION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mark Mark A. A. Costello Costello (Board Chair) (Board Chair) Of Of Counsel, Counsel, Bond Bond Schoeneck Schoeneck & & King King LLP LLP Erin Erin DiVincenzo DiVincenzo (Vice (Vice Chair) Chair) Independent Independent Marketing Marketing Consultant Consultant Erica Erica Fee Fee (President) (President) CEO CEO & & Festival Festival Producer Producer Council Council Member, Member, New New York York State State Council on the Arts Council on the Arts Alexa Alexa Scott-Flaherty Scott-Flaherty (Vice President) President) (Vice Senior Senior Lecturer, Lecturer, RIT RIT School School of Performing Arts of Performing Arts Director, Actor, Actor, and and Producer Producer Director, Missy Missy Pfohl Pfohl Smith Smith (Vice (Vice President) President) Director Director of of the the Institute Institute of of Performing Arts Arts and and the the Program Program Performing of of Dance Dance & & Movement, Movement, University University of of Rochester Rochester and and Artistic Artistic Director, Director, BIODANCE BIODANCE

Robert Robert M. M. Vigdor Vigdor (Corporate Secretary) (Corporate Secretary) Attorney Attorney

CEO Festival CEO & & Festival Festival Producer Producer Festival Lighting Lighting Designer Designer Erica & Erica Fee Fee & Production Production Consultant Consultant Emily Emily Stork Stork Assistant Assistant Producer Producer Stevie Burggraaf Senior Director Stevie Burggraaf Senior Director of of Chetna Chandrakala Chetna Chandrakala Production Production Experiential Designer and (Treasurer) Experiential Designer and Sean Gleason (Treasurer) Sean Gleason Operations Operations Coordinator Coordinator CFO, CFO, Anthony Anthony Jordan Jordan Health Health Cameron Boshnack Logistics Cameron Boshnack Center Center Logistics Connor Crouse Operations Manager Operations Manager Connor Crouse Martin Presberg Ellie Pedone Martin Presberg Ellie Pedone Chief Chief of of Festival Festival Services Services Independent Independent Business Business Consultant Consultant Creative Director Director Dr. Xela Creative Dr. Xela Batchelder Batchelder and Leadership Coach Bonnie and Leadership Coach Bonnie Miguel Miguel Director Director of of Festival Festival Services Services Publicist Mady Dave Rivello Publicist Dave Rivello SophieThetard McClung Corrie Carter Assistant Corrie Carter Assistant Professor Professor of of Director of Festival Festival Services andServices Jazz Director of of Sponsorships Sponsorships (Remote) Jazz Studies Studies and and Contemporary Contemporary Director Company Manager Shanna Media, Sophie McClung Shanna Pagán Pagán Mady Thetard Media, ESM ESM Director, Director, New Jazz Ensemble, ESM Media Buyer and New Jazz Ensemble, ESM Volunteer Media Buyer and Volunteer Coordinators Coordinators Marketing Lisa Marketing Consultant Consultant Lisa Vitale Vitale Dr. Jefferson Svengsouk Dr. Jefferson Svengsouk Gloria Julia Gloria Smith Smith Julia Ispentchian Ispentchian Emergency (Media Emergency Medicine Medicine and and (Media Connection) Connection) Palliative Care Physician Palliative Care Physician Grantwriter Grantwriter (URMC) Liz (URMC) and and Musician Musician Liz Forster Forster (LCF (LCF Grant Grant Consulting) Consulting) Maya Temperley Maya Temperley Director of Food Associate Vice President, Director of Food & & Beverage Beverage Associate Vice President, Renee Anderson Renee Anderson Government & Community Government & Community Relations, RIT RIT Relations,

ESL ESLRochester RochesterFringe FringeFestival Festival

Pres. Pres. DeAnna DeAnna R. R. Burt-Nanna Burt-Nanna (MCC) (MCC) Rich DiMarco Rich DiMarco Bob Duffy Duffy Bob Pres. Pres. Maureen Maureen F. F. Finney Finney (Nazareth) (Nazareth) Kevin Gibson (ESM) Kevin Gibson (ESM) Grove Grove Street Street Association Association Vice President (RIT) Vice President Vanessa Vanessa J. J. Herman Herman (RIT)

LEADERSHIP TEAM

A A SPECIAL SPECIAL THANK THANK YOU YOU TO TO THE THE FOLLOWING FOLLOWING Ed Ed Hourihan, Hourihan, Esq. Esq. Dave Houser Dave Houser Dr. Dawn Dawn F. F. Lipson Lipson Dr. Pres. Pres. Sarah Sarah Mangelsdorf Mangelsdorf (URochester) (URochester) Faheem Faheem Masood Masood John John Mealey Mealey Vice Vice President President Shaun Shaun Nelms Nelms (URochester) (URochester)

Nannette Nannette Nocon Nocon & & Karl Karl Wessendorf Wessendorf Tom Rogers Rogers Tom Pres. Gerry Gerry Rooney Rooney (SJFU) (SJFU) Pres. Pres. Pres. William William H. H. Sanders Sanders (RIT) (RIT) Ron Ron Schneider Schneider Dean Dean Kate Kate Sheeran Sheeran (ESM) (ESM)

VENUE MANAGERS VENUE MANAGERS

Aerial Arts of Rochester ........................................ William Dovidio The Little ....................................... Cate Fox, Susie Sieling, Lisa Stein Aerial Arts of Rochester......................................... William Dovidio The Little........................................ Cate Fox, Susie Sieling, Lisa Stein Biltmore Bar & Lounge ............................................. Jacob Rakovan La Marketa at the International Plaza........................... Jason Barber Biltmore Bar & Lounge.............................................. Jacob Rakovan La Marketa at the International Plaza............................ Jason Barber Blackfriars Theatre ...................Brynn Tyszka, Mary Tiballi Hoffman Memorial Art Gallery .....Melanie Fazio, Kimberly Jones, Katie Nguyen Blackfriars Theatre....................Brynn Tyszka, Mary Tiballi Hoffman Memorial Art Gallery......Melanie Fazio, Kimberly Jones, Katie Nguyen MuCCC ................................ Karen Craft, Kevin Indovino, Doug Rice Bop Shop Records.......................................................... Tom Kohn MuCCC................................. Karen Craft, Kevin Indovino, Doug Rice Bop Shop Records........................................................... Tom Kohn Photo City Music Hall...........................Gregory Burt, Daniel Nielsen Centerstage Theatre at the JCC .............Ralph Meranto, Marc Cataldi Photo City Music Hall............................Gregory Burt, Daniel Nielsen Centerstage Theatre at the JCC..............Ralph Meranto, Marc Cataldi Central Library of Rochester ..................................... Alicia Gunther RIT City Arts Space .........................................................John Aasp Central Library of Rochester...................................... Alicia Gunther RIT City Arts Space..........................................................John Aasp Century Club at the Strathallan ..................Brian Combs, Larry Moss RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium ..................................... Jim Bader Century Club at the Strathallan...................Brian Combs, Larry Moss RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium...................................... Jim Bader Downtown United Presbyterian Church ....................... Eileen Dietsch ROC Cinema................................................Kristina Dinino-Jeffords Downtown United Presbyterian Church........................ Eileen Dietsch ROC Cinema.................................................Kristina Dinino-Jeffords Eastman School of Music ................................Katharine Schimmer Roc City Circus .........................................................Mandy Raville Eastman School of Music .................................Katharine Schimmer Roc City Circus..........................................................Mandy Raville Rochester Contemporary Art Center................................. Bleu Cease The Focus Theater ................................................... Roger Sutphen Rochester Contemporary Art Center.................................. Bleu Cease The Focus Theater.................................................... Roger Sutphen Garth Fagan Dance ...................Natalie Rogers-Cropper, Alec Shiman The Rose Room ......................................................... Mike Thibault Garth Fagan Dance....................Natalie Rogers-Cropper, Alec Shiman The Rose Room.......................................................... Mike Thibault Salena's .............................................. Aaron Metras, Callan Metras George Eastman Museum ................... Eliza Benington, Emma Rathe Salena's............................................... Aaron Metras, Callan Metras George Eastman Museum.................... Eliza Benington, Emma Rathe The Harley School .....................................Beth Bailey, Art Rothfuss School of the Arts ................................. Andrea Gregoire, Alan Tirré The Harley School......................................Beth Bailey, Art Rothfuss School of the Arts.................................. Andrea Gregoire, Alan Tirré The Hochstein School . Gary Palmer, David Zaccaria, Rebecca Batzold St. Paul's Episcopal Church ...........................................John Sherer The Hochstein School.. Gary Palmer, David Zaccaria, Rebecca Batzold St. Paul's Episcopal Church............................................John Sherer Inn on Broadway ................................................... Shanique Service University of Rochester ...................................... Missy Pfohl Smith Inn on Broadway.................................................... Shanique Service University of Rochester ....................................... Missy Pfohl Smith Java's Cafe ............................................ Mike Calabrese, Andy York Java's Cafe............................................. Mike Calabrese, Andy York JCC .....................................................Ralph Meranto, Marc Cataldi JCC......................................................Ralph Meranto, Marc Cataldi Joseph Ave Arts and Culture Alliance ................Ramona Englebrecht Joseph Ave Arts and Culture Alliance.................Ramona Englebrecht Thank Thankyou youtotoour oursite-specific site-specificlocations: locations: Austin Steward Plaza, Delmonico and Dugdale Austin Steward Plaza, Delmonico and DugdaleStrings, Strings,Downtown DowntownRochester, Rochester, Genesee Genesee Valley ValleyTrails, Trails, Mt. Mt. Hope Hope Cemetery, Cemetery, RMSC Garden of Fragrance, Rochester Contemporary Art Center RMSC Garden of Fragrance, Rochester Contemporary Art Center(RoCo), (RoCo),and andWashington Washington Grove. Grove. Most Most Fringe Fringe venues venues manage manage and and program program themselves. themselves. The Fringe The manages Spiegeltent, Dawn's Spiegelgarden, The GardenParcel Studio, 5, Gibbs and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park,. Fringethe manages the Spiegeltent, Dawn's Spiegelgarden, 5, Parcel Gibbs Street andStreet Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park,.

BAR STAFF Wendy Andrews Sandy Gallagher Kaitlyn Haines Eileen Hammond Lauren Harmon Erica Kelly Andie AndreaKopf (Andie) Kopf Pamela Landers Cam Lewis Raheem Miller Paul M. Minniti Patrick O’Connor John Perry Lindsay Robach Tim Schmidt Peter Sinopoli Kristina Storrin Kat Sweeney Seth Trapani BOOKKEEPER (ON-SITE) Christopher Hennelly BOOKKEEPING ASSOCIATES Michael Lill Tracey Mykins Roger Ramsay

Tim Gilbride GRANTWRITING ADVISOR Agency) (Forty-Two Carolyn Kourofsky Matt DeTurck (Excelsior Editorial Consulting)DESIGNERS GRAPHIC Courtney Krise GUIDE EDITOR Meghan Murphy Janice Bullard ADDITIONAL ADDITIONAL GUIDE COPY GUIDE COPY Gary Craig Gary Craig

MAINTENANCE CHIEF FESTIVAL Jeff White PHOTOGRAPHER Erich Camping CHIEF FESTIVAL

PHOTOGRAPHER PHOTOGRAPHERS ErichSchlia Camping John Keith Bullis PHOTOGRAPHERS David Schiffhauer Keith Bullis Katherine Kuo Alyssa Marzolf-DeWitt Katherine Kuo PRODUCTION David Schiffhauer ASSISTANTS John Schlia Cullen Burke Diana Kariaka PRODUCTION Shea Vasko ASSISTANTS Cullen Burke SOCIAL MEDIA Diana Kariaka MANAGER Madeline Slack Emily Swanson Shea Vasko SOCIAL MEDIA & MERCHANDISING SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST MANAGER Searnie Knight Emily Swanson

STAGE MANAGERS Jennifer DeHollander Joe Valek HOUSE MANAGER SPIEGELTENT HOUSE Mark Di MANAGER Nitto Mark Di Nitto STREET BEAT COORDINATOR STREET BEAT Will Young COORDINATOR William Young TECHNICAL DIRECTOR TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Bets Quackenbush Bets Quackenbush (HamiltonQ AV) (HamiltonQ AV) TENTMASTER TV COMMERCIALS Dario Vazquez & VIDEO TV COMMERCIALS Martin Leary Martin Leary (AdHouse Productions) (AdHouse Productions) WEB DESIGN & VIDEOGRAPHER DEVELOPMENT Krit Upra Mark Lombardi (Launch Creative) Meaghan Kaste VOLUNTEER SCHEDULER Bethany Creager WEB DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT Mark Lombardi (Konex)

This list is current at time of printing. For a full staff list go to: rochesterfringe.com.

Comprehensive Campaign Campaign 08 Comprehensive

in the City Pedestrian Drive-in 40 Circus 44

Fringe Information Information 11 Fringe Tickets & & Box Box Office Office 17 Tickets

Day Circus in the City 50 44 Kids Beat Kids Day 53 50 Street

Spiegeltent 18 Spiegeltent

Key Street Beat 53 SHOWS 56

Cirque du du Fringe: Fringe: Anchors Anchors Away Away 20 Cirque

SHOWS Comedy Key 57 56 SHOWS SHOWS Dance Comedy 69 57 SHOWS

A Young Man Dressed as a

YoungDressed Man...as an Old Man 23 AGorilla Sits Rocking in... Marcel Lucont: Lucont'sWhine WhineList List 24 Marcel Shotspeare Othello 25 Shotspeare:

Fringe SHOWS Kids Dance 74 69 SHOWS and Circus SHOWS Multidisciplinary Kids Fringe 77 74 SHOWS

Gospel Lucont: Sunday Les Enfants Terribles SHOWS Music Multidisciplinary & Circus 26 Marcel 85 77 SHOWS SHOWS Spoken Music Word Marcel Lucont: Les Enfants Terribles 100 26 Dram-o-cracy 85 SHOWS SHOWS Theatre Spoken Word Thomas Warfield: Let the Music Heal You 101 27 Dram-o-cracy 100 SHOWS Warfield: Gospel Sunday 27 Thomas Let the Music Heal You

SHOWS Visual TheatreArt & Film 108 101 SHOWS

Schedule SHOWS Visual Art & Film Disco is Fat at Carnegie Hall 112 Judy Garland 29 Silent 31 108 Day-by-Day SilentDavidson Disco 33 31 Pete

Day-by-Day Schedule 118 112 Venues

Venues Spiegelgarden 123 Pete Davidson 34 118 Index 33 Dawn's Studio: Tea Party at the end Dawn's Spiegelgarden Index 36 126 34 Garden 123 Map of the world, Just to be close to you The Garden Studio: 38 36 Bushwhacked Tea Party at the End of the World and Just to Be Close to You Pedestrian Drive-in 40 38 Bushwhacked

126 Map

Visit ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM for the most up-to-date information

HONORARY BOARD Dr. Sylvie Beaudette Director of Summer@Eastman and A Assoc. ssoc. Professor, Eastman School of Music

Dr. Grant Holcomb Director Emeritus, Memorial Art Gallery

Mike Calabrese Owner, Java’s and Good Luck

Dr. Elaine Spaull Executive Director, Center for Youth

Mark Cuddy Artistic Director, The Classics Company

Darren Stevenson Founder and Artistic Director, PUSH Physical Theatre

Dr. Luane Davis Haggerty Principal Lecturer (Retired), NTID/RIT

Thomas Warfield Founder/Artistic Director, PeaceArt International

Dorian Hall Community Activist and DJ

Heidi Zimmer-Meyer Interim President, Rochester D Downtown owntown Development Corporation

Summer Break Summer by FLIPBreak Fabrique by FLIP cover Fabrique art by Matt DeTurck

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

COMPREHENSIVE CIRCUS CURATOR CAMPAIGN Ariele Ebacher MANAGER COMPREHENSIVE Jane Geever CAMPAIGN CUSTOMER MANAGER SERVICE TEAM Jane Geever Josefina Acosta CUSTOMER Anna Kneeland SERVICE TEAM Marina Pacheco-Walker Josefina Acosta Cassandra Sanzotta Anna Kneeland Sara Shaw Olivia Skye-Moore Olivia Skye-Moore Cassandra Sanzotta GRANTWRITING Sara Shaw ADVISOR Marina Pacheco-Walker Carolyn Kourofsky DESIGNERS (Excelsior Editorial Consulting) Matt DeTurck Tim Gilbride GUIDE EDITOR (Forty-Two Agency) Janice Bullard Courtney Krise MeghanDESIGNERS Murphy GUIDE

HR Director ON-SITE Trish Baier MAINTENANCE Jeff White ON-SITE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

STAFF

SPONSORS & PARTNERS

We thank the following for their support of the 2026 festival: TITLE SPONSOR

COMMUNITY SPONSORS

Ames Amzalak

memorial Trust

PUBLIC SUPPORT

FOUNDING HIGHER ED PARTNERS

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

CO-PRODUCING SPONSORS

Mary Mulligan Trust

Elaine P. & Richard U. Wilson Foundation

The Rubens Family Foundation OFFICIAL BEER

OFFICIAL HOTEL PARTNERS

PRINT MEDIA PARTNER

DIGITAL PARTNER

TELEVISION PARTNER

BUSHWHACKED SPONSOR

OFFICIAL LIQUOR

ONE FRINGE PLACE SPONSORS

OFFICIAL VIDEO PARTNER

ASSOCIATE PRODUCING SPONSORS The Spindler Family Foundation

KIDS DAY SPONSORS

OFFICIAL CONSTRUCTION PARTNER

STREET BEAT SPONSORS

SUPPORT FOR FLIP FABRIQUE

OFFICIAL PRINTER

FRINGE FRIENDS

THE LITTLE SPONSOR

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

GOSPEL SUNDAY SPONSOR

SPONSORS & PARTNERS

ASSOCIATE HIGHER ED PARTNERS

COMPREHENSIVE CAMPAIGN ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

WITH WITH APPRECIATION GRATITUDE Every gift to the Fringe's A partial Comprehensive list of donors Campaign to Fringe's helps Comprehensive us dream big, Campaign build boldly, and secure the future of ourhelps nonprofit festival including of future our very Spiegeltent. Your support us dream big, — build boldly,the andpurchase secure the of own our nonprofit festiWe gratefullyval—including acknowledge the ofour donors $1,000 or more. thegenerosity purchase of verycontributing own Spiegeltent. Every gift matters. We are deeply grateful to all who have supported the Comprehensive Campaign. COMPREHENSIVE CAMPAIGN DONORS Anonymous • 7Crest Financial Partners • The Ames Amzalak Memorial Trust • Drs. Ted & Judy Baumhauer • Marguerite COMPREHENSIVE CAMPAIGN DONORS Bates • BIODANCE • Dan Bresnan • Keith A. Bullis • Carly & Farley • City Blue Imaging • Mark Costello and Jennifer Anonymous • 7Crest Financial Partners • The Ames Amzalak Memorial Trust • Deanna Baker • Drs. Ted & Judy Baumhauer • Jones • Bonnie R. Crawford • Mark Cuddy and Christina Selian • Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation • The Davenport-Hatch Marguerite Bates • BIODANCE • Dan Bresnan • Keith A. Bullis • City Blue Imaging • Mark Costello and Jennifer Jones • Foundation • Erin and John DiVincenzo • Ron Dougherty • In Memory of Bob Downs • Duda Family Foundation • The Max Bonnie R. Crawford • Mark Cuddy and Christina Selian • Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation • The Davenport-Hatch Foundation • and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation • Erica Fee • In Memory of Joe Flaherty • Timothy and Rebecca Fuss • The Gallina Erin and John DiVincenzo • Ron Dougherty • Karen Downs • Duda Family Foundation • The Max and Marian Farash Charitable Family Foundation • Bonnie Garner • Jane Geever • The Glazer Family in Honor of Jane and Larry Glazer • Joanna and Mike Foundation • James Farley • Erica Fee • Gifts in Memory of John C. Fee IV • Timothy and Rebecca Fuss • The Gallina Family Foundation • Grosodonia • Lynn Harris • The Kenlou Foundation at the Rochester Area Community Foundation • Jennifer Leonard and Bonnie Garner • Jane Geever • The Glazer Family • Joanna and Mike Grosodonia • Lynn Harris • Karen Kenyon • The Kenlou Foundation • David Cay Johnston • Katherine Lewis • Dr. Christine M. Licata • Dr. Dawn F. Lipson • Maxine Manjos • J.M. McDonald • Jennifer Leonard and David Cay Johnston • Katherine Lewis • Dr. Christine M. Licata • Dr. Dawn F. Lipson • Maxine Manjos • Foundation • Karen R. McLaughlin • Daniel M. Meyers • Randi and Nick Minetor • The Hon. Karen Morris • Suzanne NasipakJ.M. McDonald Foundation • Karen R. McLaughlin • Daniel M. Meyers • Randi and Nic Minetor • The Hon. Karen Morris • Chapman and Allan Chapman • Nannette Nocon • William J. O'Connor Jr. • Kiyomi Oliver & Benjamin McRae • Missy Suzanne Nasipak-Chapman and Allan Chapman • Nannette Noconand Karl Wessendorf • William J. O'Connor Jr. Pfohl Smith • Martin Presberg • Allan Richards and Bernard Parker • Dave Rivello • The Estate of Marianne Rohack • Paul • Kiyomi Oliver & Benjamin McRae • Missy Pfohl Smith • Martin Presberg • Allan Richards and Bernard Parker • Dave Rivello • The Rohack Rohack • The Rohack Family in Honor of Margaret E. Rohack • Nellie Rosenberg • Rubens Family Foundation • Bud and Joan Family • The Estate of Marianne Rohack • Paul Rohack • Nellie Rosenberg • Rubens Family Foundation • Bud and Joan Rusitzky • Rusitzky • Laura Sadowski • The Kilian J. and Caroline F. Schmitt Foundation • Alexa Scott-Flaherty • Meredith and Adam Laura Sadowski • The Kilian J. and Caroline F. Schmitt Foundation • Elizabeth Scott • Alexa Scott-Flaherty • Meredith and Adam Smith • Smith • Kayleigh Rae Stampfler • Sharon Stiller • Jefferson Svengsouk, MD • Maggie Symington • James Tabbi • Sam and Mimi Kayleigh Rae Stampfler • Sharon Stiller • Jefferson Svengsouk, MD • Maggie Symington • James Tabbi • Sam and Mimi Tilton • The Vigdor Tilton • The Vigdor Family • In Memory of Justin and Louise Vigdor • Jill Vigdor-Feldman and Johnathan Feldman • Lisa Family • Jill Vigdor-Feldman and The Hon. Jonathan Feldman • Gifts in Memory of Justin L. Vigdor • Justin and Louise Vigdor • Vigdor-Peck and Jeffrey Peck • Rob and Becky Vigdor • Wendy Vigdor-Hess • The Waldron Rise Foundation • The Westport Lisa Vigdor-Peck and Jeffrey Peck • Robert and Rebecca Vigdor • Wendy Vigdor-Hess and Bill Hess • The Waldron Rise Foundation • Fund • Carol J. Whitbeck • John Williams • Louis S. and Molly B. Wolk Foundation • Diane C. Woods • Barbara Anne Zinker The Westport Fund • Carol J. Whitbeck • John Williams • Louis S. and Molly B. Wolk Foundation • Diane C. Woods • Barbara Anne Zinker

Every gift matters. We are deeply grateful to all who have supported the Comprehensive Campaign.

COMPREHENSIVE CAMPAIGN LEADERSHIP COMPREHENSIVE CAMPAIGN LEADERSHIP

HONORARY CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRS Justin L. Vigdor* Of Counsel, Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC Founding Board Chairman Jennifer Leonard Past President & CEO Rochester Area Community Foundation Daniel M. Meyers President Emeritus Al Sigl Center Community of Agencies

*deceased

STEERING COMMITTEE

VICE CHAIRS

Chair: Robert M. Vigdor Board Secretary Attorney

Missy Pfohl Smith Smith* Board Vice President Director of the Institute of Performing Arts and the Program of Dance & Movement (University Movement, University of of Rochester Rochester)and and Artistic Artistic Director, Director, BIODANCE BIODANCE

Mark A. Costello Chair of the Board of Directors Of Counsel, Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC Erica Fee Board President CEO & Festival Producer Alexa Scott-Flaherty Board Vice President Senior Lecturer, School of Performing Arts, RIT Director, Actor, Producer Laura Sadowski Community Volunteer

Dave Rivello Board Member Assistant Professor and Director of the New Jazz Ensemble, Eastman School of Music Leader, The Dave Rivello Ensemble Thomas Warfield Honorary Board Member Founder/Artistic Director, PeaceArt International

Create a lasting tribute beneath every step.

COMPREHENSIVE COMPREHENSIVE CAMPAIGN

Be Part of the Spiegeltent Forever

Leave Your Mark on the Spiegelt Secure the Future of the Fringe

Claim Your Floorboard Make Your Gift

We are undertaking a transformational Comprehensive Campaign to secure the future of Fringe, and we need your help to reach the finish line! To date, we’ve raised more than 85% of our $1.575 million goal! Every dollar gets us closer.

Youror floorboard Honor your name, that inscription donation of $1,000 —or gift in any amount— of someone youwill love, helpwith the Fringe: •Purchase our own historic an individually branded Spiegeltent French oak floorboard •Expand support for artists and performances that will live on as part •Build infrastructure to sustain of the spiegeltentthe itself. festival

This campaign includes the purchase of our very own Spiegeltent, expanded support for artists, and infrastructure to sustain the largest multidisciplinary arts festival in New York State.

Spiegeltent Forever Now you can become a permanent part of the Spiegeltent magic while supporting our future.

Looking for Something Even Bigger? Additional naming opportunities are available, including stained glass windows, mirrors, the Spiegeltent bar, VIP booths and more.

Make Your Gift

Sponsor an individually branded French oak floorboard in the Spiegeltent and have your name, or that of someone you love, become part of the venue for years to come.

Looking for Something Even Additional naming opportuni are available, including: • Stained glass windows • Mirrors • The Spiegeltent bar • A VIP booth in your name

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Beneath Every Step.

Circolombia: Corazon Photo: Erich Camping

Dedicate a Floorboard in the Spiegeltent

Your gift of $1,000 (payable ov five years) will name your floo • Tax Deductible! • Limited number available • Floorboards are rearranged • When the Spiegeltent trave named floorboard travels w

Reserve Your Floorboard To reserve your floorboard or to learn more, Learn more about how to support scan the QR to visit the Fringe, scancode, the QRgo code, rochesterfringe.com/donate, email or rochesterfringe.com/donate development@rochesterfringe.com or contact at (585) 957-9837 call (585) us 957-9837.

BONUS: Donations to the nonprofit Fringe are tax-deductible andFringe may beFestival pledged over a period oforganization up to 5 years. with an EIN of 45-28 Rochester is a 501(c)(3)

Rochester Fringe Festival is a 501(c)(3) organization with may an EINbe of 45-2840652. Your donation tax-deductible, as provided by the law. No goods Your donation may be tax-deductible, as provided by the law. No goods or services were provided in return for this contribution.

services are provided in return for this contribution.

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

in and around Downtown Rochester

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM @Rochester Fringe Festival @RochesterFringe @RochesterFringe @RochesterFringeFestival

#rocfringe26

Search our hashtag to find info from shows, venues, and fans – and don’t forget to tag your own posts to join the conversation!

FRINGE FESTIVALS: A BRIEF HISTORY In 1947, eight theatre groups showed up—uninvited—to perform at the newly established Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland. Although not listed in the official program, the groups performed anyway, at venues they found for themselves. The following year, a Scottish journalist coined the term “festival fringe” to describe these non-curated shows that began turning up annually. The Edinburgh Fringe is now the largest arts festival in the world: it breaks records year after year for performances, venues, audiences, and ticket sales. With more than 53,942 performances of 3,893 shows in 301 venues in 2025, the breadth and diversity of talent offered were astounding. Today, there are more than 250 Fringe festivals worldwide,

with nearly 50 in the United States alone. The ESL Rochester Fringe Festival was the first in upstate New York and is now one of the most attended in the country.

What is a Fringe Festival?

The U.S. Association of Fringe Festivals agrees on the following definition: Performing arts-focused: Fringes are a performing arts smorgasbord that typically includes theater, comedy, dance, music, spoken word, and the like. Some—like Rochester’s Fringe— include film and visual arts as well. Uncensored: No one gets too fussy

about swearing or nudity, but squeakyclean content isn’t discouraged either. Low-entry participation: Fees are low for both audiences and artists.

Show selection varies from festival to festival, but generally runs the gamut from emerging to superstar. Multi-everything: Lasting a few days to several weeks, Fringe Festivals involve lots of people at multiple venues. Rapid-fire: Typically, technical requirements (sets, lighting, etc.) are minimal and shows run an hour or less. Original always: Fringes feature a wide array of original material because they are, by nature and design, highly attractive to those looking to be creative.

INFORMATION

September 15–26

The Rochester Fringe is a proud member of the U.S. Association of Fringe Festivals and World Fringe.

ABOUT ESL ROCHESTER FRINGE Set-Up & Organization

One Part Fringe-Curated:

the Fringe hosts headline events, including large-scale, accessible performances in public spaces, everything in the Spiegeltent and Dawn’s Spiegelgarden, stunning circus at Parcel 5, our comedy headliner at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, and Street Beat at MLK Park. One Part Venue-Curated: The vast majority of the shows are curated by

History Planning began back in 2008 with a small group of like-minded cultural organizations that grew into the current not-for-profit Rochester Fringe Festival. Since debuting in 2012, the Fringe has drawn nearly 1 million visitors from all over the world to attend 6,797 diverse performances and events. In fact, Rochester’s not-for-profit Fringe has been noted by the New York Times as one of the country’s more prominent multidisciplinary events. It is the largest multidisciplinary performing arts festival in New York state, and one of the

region’s most anticipated festivals each year. We are thrilled that ESL joined us as our title sponsor in 2025.

How do I participate? Onstage: The artist online application process for presenting a Fringe show opens each spring at rochesterfringe.com.It is absolutely FREE to apply. Offstage: Become a Fringe volunteer (we know you want to) and sign up at rochesterfringe.com mid-July after we announce our entire Fringe lineup for September. We welcome the help. Not to mention, volunteers can qualify for a nifty t-shirt and free tickets. Win/win.

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Rochester is based on the Edinburgh model, in that the vast majority of shows are curated by the venues themselves. Like Philly Fringe, Rochester is a bifurcated festival. That means:

the venues themselves, from artist applications submitted in the spring.

INFORMATION

VISITOR INFORMATION Accessibility

The Fringe has partnered with the Center for Disability Rights and the Mary Cariola Center to provide current accessibility assessments for all our partner venues. Details are available at rochesterfringe.com/ visitor-info/accessibility. In addition, individuals being dropped off may pull up to the front of any venue. For the Spiegeltent, please use the corner of Main & Gibbs Streets. Details on ASL interpretation may be found by using the ASL filter in the show search bar. For further assistance, please contact us at accessibility@rochesterfringe.com.

Accommodation

Stay at the center of Fringe in one of the festivals’ two hotel partners: the

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Hyatt Regency Rochester or the Inn on Broadway. Each is centrally positioned

to be your Fringe hub during the festival. For exclusive offers at our hotel partners, go to rochesterfringe.com/ visitor-info. Book now and enjoy Fringe in fine comfort and style, minutes away from Rochester’s best cultural attractions. Looking for more options? Excellent information on Rochester accommodations can be found at

Visit Rochester: visitrochester.com.

Enjoy your stay in our favorite city.

Box Office & Info Booth

The Justin L. Vigdor Box Office and Fringe Info Booth are both located at One Fringe Place (across from Eastman Theatre, corner of Main & Gibbs) and will be open daily beginning Sunday, September 13th. For hours and details, see page 17.

Cash or Credit? All Fringe

venues, bars and food trucks, as well as our Box Office and Fringe Store, accept cash, credit and debit cards. Fringe hassle-free.

Fringe Store

You love the Fringe. Why not keep it with you year-round? Located at One Fringe Place (across from Eastman Theatre, corner of Main & Gibbs) for the duration of the festival. Limited edition merchandise and collectibles are forever popular.

Lost & Found

Don’t panic! Anything turned into the Fringe will be held at the Fringe office until the end of the festival. Contact the Fringe admin team at info@rochesterfringe.com or stop by the Box Office & Info Booth at One Fringe Place (corner of Main & Gibbs) to check.

One cannot Fringe on an empty stomach. We have some great spots for refueling. Eat, drink, and be merry!

Parking

One Fringe Place is in downtown Rochester’s East End. Most venues are within walking distance of one another, which allows for one-time parking. Please check the map on page 126 prior to departure, however, as some of our venues are in satellite locations. The Fringe recommends one of the many lots and parking garages located near One Fringe Place (corner of Main & Gibbs). See map on page 126 for parking recommendations. Please note that the University of Rochester charges a flat fee of $7/car for East End Garage festival parking.

Bike Parking

Venues

We have incredible venues in and around downtown Rochester. Experience them all. GO. For a list, see page 118. For a map, see page 126.

Additional Questions? Helpful Answers:

www.rochesterfringe.com info@rochesterfringe.com

Venue Favorites

Grab a bite from our rotating lineup of outstanding food trucks. Chase it with a drink at the many bars on site to take care of that big thirst.

(OPEN DURING SHOWS)

Spiegeltent (One Fringe Place across

(795 E. Main St.) - snacks and small bar

from Eastman Theatre): the crown jewel of Fringe; open September 15th-26th during shows only (see page 18 for show list) vintage glam bar featuring beer, wine, and cocktails.

Dawn’s Spiegelgarden (One Fringe

Place across from Eastman Theatre): urban lounge open for the entire festival September 15th-26th (see page 34 for Spiegelgarden open hours) - Theatre Bar and food trucks Parcel 5 (next to One East Ave.)

opening during events on September 18 & 19 – food trucks & bars Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park

open during Street Beat on September 26 – food trucks

Biltmore Bar & Lounge

(47 State St.) - restaurant and bar Blackfriars Theatre

Brown Hound Bistro

(Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Ave.) – restaurant Center City Lounge and Terrace

(Hyatt Regency, 125 E. Main St.) –restaurant and bar Char Steak and Lounge

(550 East Ave. at Strathallan) restaurant and bar The Duke

(Focus Theater, 260 E. Main St.) restaurant Java’s Cafe

(16 Gibbs St) – café and coffee The Little

(240 East Ave) – café and bar Photo City Music Hall

(543 Atlantic Ave.) - full bar, no food ROC Cinema

(957 S. Clinton Ave.) – café and bar Salena’s

(Village Gate, 302 N. Goodman St.) – restaurant Vanni's Jazz Lounge

(Inn on Broadway, 26 Broadway) – bar and restaurant

WORKSHOPS FOR FRINGE ARTISTS Have your act together? Get ready to take it on the road! There are 250 Fringe festivals around the world just waiting for your application. We have FREE workshops to help you get there— and all the way to the biggest one, the Edinburgh Fringe! Use this QR code or go to rochesterfringe. com/about-fringe/workshops-for-shows for the schedule.

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

We’re big fans of pedal pushers. Because the Fringe is a pedestrianfriendly event, it’s also an ideal venue for those traveling by bicycle. One Fringe Place is easily accessible from East Avenue with many bike racks and loops nearby. Traveling into the city from the ‘burbs? Throw your bike in the car, park in one of the many city side streets off East Avenue, and bike in from there. Rochester also has bike-sharing locations downtown. As always, lock your bike and wear a helmet. Let's not ruin your Fringe.

Fringe Bars & Eats

INFORMATION

FRINGE EATS & SIPS

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

person at at ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM 1 Online 4 InJUSTIN (No additional fees) L. VIGDOR :

Buying tickets could not be easier and takes only a couple of minutes! Visit our website to get your tickets right away. You can print your tickets at home or download directly to your smartphone. Paper tickets can also be printed at the Justin L. Vigdor Fringe Box Office at One Fringe Place starting Sunday, September 13.

phone (585) 957-9837 2 By (Additional phone admin. fees apply.) :

BEFORE SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 Phones will operate as a voicemail-only for questions and sales. Leave your name and contact information, and you can expect a call back from the box office within one business day. PHONE HOURS BEGINNING SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 Phone lines are open during the Fringe Box Office hours.

person: VENUES 3 InTickets may be purchased at the door, if

available, starting one hour before curtain. All venues accept cash, debit, and credit cards. See page 118 for a list of all Fringe venues. All tickets will be sold this year by the Fringe via the methods described above

LOCATION One Fringe Place (corner of Main & Gibbs Streets, Rochester, NY 14604 - across from the Eastman Theatre) Open hours listed below. The Fringe Box Office accepts cash, debit, and credit cards. BEFORE FRINGE Sunday, Sept. 13: Noon-4pm Monday, Sept. 14: 2pm-5pm DURING FRINGE Tuesday, Sept. 15: 5pm-10pm Wednesday, Sept. 16: 5pm-10pm Thursday, Sept. 17: 5pm-10pm Friday, Sept. 18: 4pm-11pm Saturday, Sept. 19: Noon-11pm Sunday, Sept. 20: Noon-10pm Monday, Sept. 21-Thursday, Sept. 24: 5pm-10pm Friday, Sept. 25: 4pm-11pm Saturday Sept. 26: Noon-11pm PLEASE NOTE: ALL SHOWS AND TIMES IN THIS GUIDE ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PLEASE CHECK ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

All ticket sales are final. Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.

Having trouble?

We’re here to help! Send us an email at boxoffice@rochesterfringe.com

MANAGE YOUR FRINGE ON OUR APP! 5Download the Official Fringe App! Explore the

full lineup, buy tickets, and stay up to date on all the festival happenings! Search “Rochester Fringe Festival” in Apple or Google Play stores. Your Fringe experience starts here. Don't miss a moment!

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

PETE N DAVIDSOS T E TICK

FRINGE BOX OFFICE BUY TICKETS HERE FOR ALL FESTIVAL SHOWS

FRINGE WEEKEND TICKETSFINALE & BOX OFFICE

5 WAYS TO PURCHASE FRINGE TICKETS

SPIEGELTENT

THE

SPIEGELTENT

What happens in the Spiegeltent stays in the Spiegeltent.

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

In 2013, Rochester first swooned over our jewel box of a venue direct from Belgium: the Spiegeltent. Originally created as traveling dance halls in the early 1900s, only a handful of these magical “Mirror Tents” exist in the world today.

This beloved piece of history boasts stained-glass windows, magical faceted mirrors, a velvet draped ceiling, VIP booths fit for royalty, and a truly spectacular vintage bar. For 12 days, the Palais im Park Spiegeltent lives in Rochester as an indelible and scintillating part of the Fringe, attracting the young and the forever-young.

LOCATION

One Fringe Place across from the Eastman Theatre,

at Main & Gibbs Streets, Rochester, NY 14604.

See map on page 126.

SEATING OPTIONS VIP Booths: These fabulous booths seat six and include dedicated table service. Entrance is via the right-hand side door. Single Seats (First or Second Row): Many shows have

dedicated seating in the first or second rows allowing you to get “up close and personal” to the action. Entrance is via the right-hand door. Single tickets (General Admission): All seats are

first-come, first-served. Entrance is via the left-hand door. Arrive early!

All shows on the 7Crest Financial Partners Stage are presented in-the-round. The Spiegeltent is wheelchair accessible.

8 TAILS!

FOR DE

Cirque du Fringe: Anchors Away • page 20 A Young Man Dressed as a Gorilla Dressed as an Old Man Sits Rocking in a Rocking Chair for Fifty-Six Minutes and Then Leaves • page 23 Marcel Lucont’s Whine List • page 24 Shotspeare • page 25 Marcel Lucont: Les Enfants Terribles • page 26 Gospel Sunday • page 26 Dram-o-cracy • page 27 Thomas Warfield: Let the Music Heal You • page 27 Judy Garland is Fat at Carnegie Hall • page 29 Silent Disco • page 31 The Palais im Park Spiegeltent was designed and built in Antwep, Belgium by Magic Mirrors. Photo by Erich Camping. Lighting Design: Emily Stork

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

LIMITED ADMITTANCE

ENTRANCE AND TICKETING DETAILS:

SPIEGELTENT

HELP U BUY TH S SPIEGE E LTENT SEE PA ! GE

SPIEGELTENT

“Matt and Heidi are brilliant clowns.” — Las Vegas Weekly

CIRQUE DU FRINGE

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

High Seas. High Stakes. High-Flying Circus!

Featuring an all-new international cast with credits spanning Cirque du Soleil, America’s Got Talent, Las Vegas’s Absinthe and more, Anchors Away is packed with jaw-dropping talent from around the globe!

“The banter ... is just window dressing for the breathtaking acts of physical theater on display inside the Spiegeltent.” — CITY Magazine (on Cirque du Fringe Claws Out)

Let our crew whisk you away on a cruise of a lifetime that will leave you feeling like a cheeky sunset cocktail on the open sea. Hosted by the highly strung, overly familiar, and self-proclaimed “irresistibly charming” cruise director, Hilly VonMorgan, this night promises to be a night you won’t soon forget. Anything is possible on the HMS Spiegeltent! Miraculous acrobatic feats, mesmerizing aerialists, and…murder? Help a couple of international cruise guests find out if it was the Russian Siren? The seemingly innocent jump-roper? Fabio and Ashley, the adorable aerial duo? Or possibly Lou from Henrietta?! Join us nightly inside the Spiegeltent to find out who the culprit may be!

Spiegeltent

LOCATION

One Fringe Place across from the Eastman Theatre,

at Main & Gibbs Streets, Rochester, NY 14604

See map on page 126.

Se th

ram

Tues., Sept. 15: 7:30pm Weds., Sept. 16:7:30pm Thurs., Sept. 17:7:00pm Fri., Sept. 18: 7:00pm Sat., Sept. 19: 7:00pm Sun., Sept. 20: 7:30pm

Tues., Sept. 22: 7:30pm Weds., Sept. 23*: 7:00pm Thurs., Sept 24: 7:00pm Fri., Sept. 25: 7:00pm Sat., Sept 26: 2:30pm** and 7:00pm

Doors: 30 mins before showtime Evening Shows: 13+ : Kids Day Matinee (9/26): 5+  90 mins, including a 20-minute intermission.

ro ia B

Ing

SPIEGELTENT

MULTIDISCIPLINARY & CIRCUS

The Spiegeltent’s beautiful INTERIOR BAR in the Lipson Lounge will be open for ticketholders 30 minutes prior to curtain and again at intermission.

fre lda Ono a r e m s E

TICKETS SUNDAY THRU THURSDAY NIGHTS: Single Ticket: $38 (Increases to $43 on 9/12) Front Row: $52 (increases to $59 on 9/12) VIP Booths (Seats 6): Starting at $199 (increases on 9/12)

Sa i‘len

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS: Single Ticket: $46 (increases to $56 on 9/12) Front Row: $59 (increases to $69 on 9/12) VIP Booths (Seats 6): Starting at $239 (increases on 9/12)

Jae

KIDS DAY FAMILY-FRIENDLY MATINEE (9/26): Kids 12 and Under: $23 (increases to $25 on 9/12)

ger

Single Ticket (adults & teens age 13 and up): $34 VIP Booth (Seats 6): Starting at $149 (increases on 9/12)

UPGRADE TO A VIP BOOTH! Ashle

Enjoy a VIP booth! The Spiegeltent has a handful of VIP booths available per performance, which all sit 6 individuals. VIP booths have dedicated table service throughout the show

y Wol ffe

*Wednesday, Sept. 23rd show will be

ASL interpreted

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

(increases to $39 on 9/12)

Rochester Fringe Festival

“Annual”

- The Guardian “The gorilla is obviously crucial to the event” - Edinburgh Evening News.

COMEDY Spiegeltent

Thurs., Sept. 17 at 9 pm Doors: 30 mins. before showtime  56 mins 16+ FREE / Tip the Fringe

One performance only. Turn up early; full house expected.

The Spiegeltent’s beautiful INTERIOR BAR will be open for ticketholders 30 minutes prior to curtain and throughout the show.

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

“Raises serious questions about Orlando’s cultural character” - Orlando Weekly.

SPIEGELTENT

A Young Man Dressed as a Gorilla Dressed as an Old Man Sits Rocking in a Rocking Chair for Fifty-Six Minutes and Then Leaves

SPIEGELTENT “Fresh, accessible and hilarious” –The Guardian

“Excellently dry.”

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

–The Times (of London)

COMEDY Spiegeltent

Fri., Sept. 18 & Sat., Sept. 19 at 9pm and Sun., Sept. 20 at 5pm Doors: 30 mins. before showtime  90 mins, incl. a 15-minute intermission 18+

TICKETS:

The multi-award-deserving deadpan Frenchman brings his acclaimed interactive show, in which he serves up a unique Whine List from the audience’s past woes and misdemeanors. A kind of group therapy experience, but one where everybody will probably leave more depressed. As seen on Live At The Comedy Store (Comedy Central), The John Bishop Show (BBC), and Set List (Sky Atlantic).

SINGLE TICKETS: $33 (increases to $38 on 9/12)

FRONT ROW CENTER:

$43 (increases to $43 on 9/12)

VIP BOOTHS (SEAT 6): starting at $199

Our spectacular VIP booths have dedicated table service.

The Spiegeltent’s beautiful INTERIOR BAR will be open for ticketholders 30 minutes prior to curtain and throughout the show.

“Fun, bawdy and completely irreverent.” –The Clothesline (Australia)

With rave reviews from New York, Las Vegas, Adelaide Fringe, and previous Rochester Fringe engagements, Shotspeare puts the “Lit” in Literature!

You may know the Bard, but you’ve never experienced him like THIS, Rochester! The Spiegeltent’s beautiful INTERIOR BAR in the Lipson Lounge will be open for ticketholders 15 minutes prior to curtain and throughout the show.

“Brilliantly conceived.”

–Time Out New York

Spiegeltent

Tues. Sept 22, Weds., Sept. 23*, Thurs., Sept. 24, Fri., Sept. 25, Sat., Sept 26 at 9pm Doors: 30 minutes before showtime  90 mins, incl. a 10-minute intermission

21+ Please Note: this show contains adult subject matter and is unsuitable for anyone under the age of 21. Admittance is with ID only.

TICKETS Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday SINGLE TICKETS: $31 (increases to $37 on 9/12) FRONT ROW SINGLE TICKETS: $46 (increases to $54 on 9/12) VIP BOOTHS (SEAT 6): from $179 (increases on 9/12)

Friday, Saturday SINGLE TICKETS: $46 (increases to $52 on 9/12) FRONT ROW SINGLE TICKETS: $62 (increases to $72 on 9/12) VIP BOOTHS (SEAT 6): From $239 (increases on 9/12) Our VIP Booths seat 6 individuals and have dedicated table service throughout the show. *Wednesday, Sept. 23rd show will be

ASL interpreted

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Five sword-wielding actors, one lucky audience member, a ton of booze, the Wheel of Soliloquy, and an entire work of Shakespeare – all in 90 minutes. Equal parts bacchanal and classical theater, Shotspeare’s adaptation of Othello takes the world's most beloved playwright, soaks him in beer, and flips him on his head.

COMEDY

SPIEGELTENT

Back by Popular Demand!

SPIEGELTENT

ONE SHOW ONLY! The award-winning Marcel Lucont (Comedy Central) presents a wild family gameshow, in which kids get to be pests, politicians — and worse! — to compete to be crowned the most awful child of the day. See what happens when international insouciance meets infantile exuberance as everyone’s favorite French comedian channels his acerbic humor and quickfire wit into a series of tasks for the younger generation, which is every bit as entertaining for adults as it is for children.

KIDS Spiegeltent

Sat., Sept. 19 at 2:30pm Doors: 30 minutes before showtime  60 mins (no intermission) ALL AGES

WIN BEST KIDNSER, S LEICESTEHOW, R COMEDY FESTIVAL (UK)

TICKETS: KIDS 12 AND UNDER: $23 (increases to $25 on 9/12) SINGLE TICKET (age 13 and up): $27 (increases to $29 on 9/12) VIP BOOTH (Seats 6): Starting at $159 (increases on 9/12)

“An absolute gem... If you don’t have kids, borrow someone else’s... a treat from beginning to end”

Upgrade to a VIP Booth! Our VIP booth accommodate 6 individuals and have dedicated table service through the show.

The Spiegeltent’s beautiful INTERIOR BAR will be open for ticketholders 30 minutes prior to curtain and throughout the show.

Photo: Dr. Rickey Harvey. Credit: Erich Camping.

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

FREE!



– Edinburgh Festivals Magazine

Gospel SUNDAY S

A Fringe favorite for the whole family. Sing, Sunday, SING. Dr. Rickey Harvey leads an afternoon of sacred song featuring Unity of Toone, TN, Divine Nature of Rochester, and Truly Committed of Rochester. Not to be missed.

The

most soulful, spiritual, MUSIC

Spiegeltent

Sunday, September 20, 1pm  90 mins ALL FREE No tickets required. Seating is general admission and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

uplifting

experience at

Fringe!

MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Fri., Sept. 18 at 5pm Doors: 30 mins. before showtime  60 mins 21+

TICKETS: Single Tickets: $27 (increases 9/12) INCLUDES 5 PREMIUM TASTINGS

The Spiegeltent’s beautiful INTERIOR BAR in the Lipson Lounge will be open for ticketholders 30 mins prior, & throughout the show.

SPIEGELTENT

Take one of the first nips of the official 2026 Fringe Whiskey in this exclusive insider tasting experience—where you will also help choose next year’s official Fringe Whiskey! Finger Lakes Distilling founder Brian McKenzie will lead guests through a tasting of four premium, unreleased Finger Lakes Distilling whiskeys before a vote to choose 2027’s Fringe favorite. Discover what makes each pour unique.

MULTIDISCIPLINARY & CIRCUS Spiegeltent

Sat., Sept. 26 at 4:45pm Doors: 30 minutes before showtime  75mins ALL AGES

TICKETS: Experience the restorative power of song with international performing

(increases on 9/12)

artist and creative activist Thomas Warfield. Let the rhythm, melody, and

Enjoy a VIP booth! The Spiegeltent has a handful of VIP booths available per performance, which all seat 6. VIP booths have dedicated table service throughout the show.

resonance of sound guide you on a journey that is physically, emotionally, and spiritually liberating. With music ranging from Broadway to pop, gospel, and jazz, this award-winning singer and dancer excels as a consummate communicator and entertainer. Warfield “fills every word and every movement with meaning.”—The Morning Star.

“Warfield is building a different kind of magical world onstage.” –Rochester writer and dancer Sydney Burrows in CITY

The Spiegeltent’s beautiful INTERIOR BAR will be open for ticketholders 30 minutes prior to curtain and throughout the show. This show will be

ASL interpreted

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

SINGLE TICKETS: $17 KIDS’ TICKETS (12 and under): $5 BOOTHS (SEAT 6): From $89

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Spiegeltent

F R O M

E D I N B U R G H

F R I N G E

JUDY

GARLAND IS

FAT

COMEDY Spiegeltent

Mon., Sept. 21 at 7:30pm

TICKETS: Single Tickets: Starting at $47

(increases to $57 9/12) VIP Booth (Seats 6): Starting at $279 (increases 9/12) BOOTHS HAVE DEDICATED TABLE SERVICE!

The Spiegeltent’s beautiful INTERIOR BAR in the Lipson Lounge will be open for ticketholders 45 mins prior, & throughout the show.

CARNEGIE

HALL

When Judy Garland played Carnegie Hall on April 23, 1961, everything was on the line: her livelihood, her legacy, her relationship with her body. Sixty-five years later, NYC-based artists Xena Fauxbia (Kaela Mei-Shing Garvin) and Soda Pressed (Adin Lenahan) resurrect “the greatest night in show business history” in a messy, virtuosic, lip-sync extravaganza.

HORS D’OEUVRES INCLUDED! Your ticket includes a generous selection of hors d’oeuvres—so come hungry and make a night of it in the Spiegeltent! Devour the dazzle, order your favorite bevvies from the bar, and bring singles—you’ll want to tip up a storm.

WITH OPENING ACT ANNA CREW-SIS! PLEASE NOTE: THIS SHOW CONTAINS ADULT SUBJECT MATTER AND IS SUITABLE FOR MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY.

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Doors: 45 mins. before showtime  90 mins, including a 15-min intermission 21+

SPIEGELTENT

D I R E C T

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Spiegeltent

Friday, Sept. 18 at 11:00pm Saturday, Sept. 19 at 11:00pm Friday, Sept. 25 at 11:00pm Saturday, Sept. 26 at 11:00pm The glamorous Spiegeltent will be filled once again with a giant dance party. But with a twist: you don’t hear a sound until you slip on a set of headphones. Wait! Is that ABBA on one channel, Anyma on the second, and Ella Langley on the third? A three-channel system and live DJs let you switch up your music (and mood) at the touch of a button. Hugely popular at Coachella and Burning Man, it’s an unforgettable experience you have to see—and not hear—to believe! AVOID THE LINES: Headphones collection available starting at

10pm, following check-in. Arrive early to avoid the lines and get your groove on at the THEATRE BAR in Dawn's Spiegelgarden.

 3 rockin’ hrs 18+ with ID (disco) 21+ with ID (bar)

TICKETS

SPIEGELTENT

DANCE

SINGLE TICKETS: (General Admission): $20 STUDENTS (with ID): $16 Please Note: Headphone use with ID or credit card only. Returned upon exit.

The Spiegeltent’s beautiful INTERIOR BAR in the Lipson Lounge will be open throughout. Last call at 1:30am.

Photos by John Schlia & David Schiffhauer | DJs supplied by Wildbyrd

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

2026 FRINGE COMEDY HEADLINER

COMEDY HEADLINER

PETE DAVIDSON

COMEDY Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre

Friday, Sept. 25 at 8pm  90 mins

18+

This show will be

ASL interpreted

This event will be a phone-free experience. Use of phones, smart watches, and accessories will not be permitted in the performance space. Upon arrival at the venue, all phones, smart watches, and accessories will be secured in individual Yondr pouches that will be opened at the end of the event. Guests maintain possession of their devices and can access them only in designated phone use areas. Anyone seen using a device during the performance will be escorted out of the venue by security. We appreciate your cooperation in creating a phone-free viewing experience.

EARLY ARRIVAL IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

TICKETS From $53

Pete Davidson is a celebrated stand-up comedian, actor, writer and producer. He is currently starring in the video podcast The Pete Davidson Show on Netflix and will soon appear on the big screen in How to Rob a Bank, directed by David Leitch for Amazon MGM. Davidson starred in Peacock’s Bupkis, a semi-autobiographical comedy series he also co-created, co-wrote and executive produced. Davidson was a cast member on NBC’s Saturday Night Live from 2014 to 2022, where his singular Weekend Update features and original music videos garnered millions of views. In 2020, Davidson co-wrote, executive produced, and starred in the critically acclaimed film The King of Staten Island. Island. His prolific film work includes Dumb Money, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Trainwreck, Big Time Adolescence, Set It Up, Meet Cute, and Bodies Bodies Bodies. Bodies. Upcoming projects include The Home,Wizards!, and I Slept with Joey Ramone. Ramone.

DAWN’S SPIEGELGARDEN ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Everyone’s favorite pop-up urban lounge.

“Meet me in the Spiegelgarden” is a common call for friends who gather at the Fringe. The central location and laid-back vibe of this downtown pop-up garden make it an ideal place to chill. Right next to the Spiegeltent, Dawn’s Spiegelgarden is the No. 1 spot to find rest, relaxation, refreshments, and friends during the festival. Here you’ll be greeted with a green-themed haven, gorgeously outfitted with lush plant life from Broccolo Tree & Lawncare, comfy lounge furniture, giant games, fire pits, and outdoor movies. This is where you’ll find the fabulous Theatre Bar, serving curated wines and a selection of beers including our very own Fringe Beer from Three Heads! And come hungry—an ever-changing lineup of food trucks arrives each night to satisfy every craving. (Daily lineup: @rochesterfringe)

Dawn’s Spiegelgarden is also the location for site-specific shows and events, a hotly contested trivia challenge, outdoor movies under the stars, and full-on shenanigans.

LOCATION

The Fringe Hub is conveniently anchored by One Fringe Place across from the Eastman Theatre at Main & Gibbs Streets. That’s where you’ll also find the Spiegeltent, Dawn’s Spiegelgarden, The Garden Studio, the Justin L. Vigdor Box Office, Info Booth, Fringe Store, restrooms, an ATM and more.

SPIEGELGARDEN OPEN HOURS Tuesday, Sept. 15......... 5pm-10pm Wednesday, Sept. 16.... 5pm-10pm Thursday, Sept. 17....... 5pm-10pm Friday, Sept. 18........... 4pm-11pm Saturday, Sept. 19...... 12pm-11pm

Sunday, Sept. 20......... 12pm-10pm Mon., Sept. 21 thru Thurs., Sept.24 .............. 5pm-10pm Friday, Sept. 25............ 4pm-11pm Saturday, Sept. 26....... 12pm-11pm

Please note: Admittance to Dawn's Spiegelgarden after 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays is limited to those with tickets to Silent Disco only.

Plants: Broccolo Tree and Lawncare Tents and Furniture: McCarthy Tents & Events Lighting Design: Emily Stork Construction: The Pike Company Movie Screen and Projector: Hamilton Q A/V

OPEN ALLS! 12 NIGHT

DAWN’S SPIEGELGARDEN

CREDITS

Shows & Events in Dawn’s Spiegelgarden ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Bushwhacked Big Boozy Joy Fun Time Revival...............38 Bushwhacked Big Joy Fun Time Revival........................38 Bushwhacked: Tim and Pammy Shea’s Pamper Camper.. 38 Just To Be Close To You...............................................37 Disco Kids.................................................................50 Kids Day including Chalk Art and Pumpkin Painting.75-76 National Day of Play...................................................75 Pedestrian Drive-In................................................40-41 Tea Party at the End of the World.................................36

Photo by Keith Bullis

DAWN’S SPIEGELGARDEN ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Discover something new at The Garden Studio — Direct from La Jolla Playhouse’s WOW Festival!

ONLY 30 TICKETS PER PERFORMANCE— TICKETS ARE STRICTLY LIMITED!

As a guest at this intimate tea party, you’ll be served exquisite tea and parlor games—and when the end comes, no need to panic: you won’t be alone. Inspired by creator Jessica Creane’s time in the Arctic Circle, this playful, multi-sensory experience explores how we connect and find purpose in a beautiful, disappearing world.

THEATRE

“Creane shines as host.” — Broad Street Review

LOCATION:

One Fringe Place, across from the Eastman Theatre, at Main & Gibbs Streets, Rochester, NY 14604. See map on page 126.

The Garden Studio

Thurs., Sept. 17: 5:30pm Fri., 9/18: 7pm Sat., 9/19: 12:30pm, 2:30pm & 4:30pm Sun., 9/20: 2:30pm & 4:30pm Mon 9/21 at 7:45pm Thurs., 9/24: 6pm Fri., 9/25: 6:30pm & 8:15pm Sat., 9/26: 2pm & 4pm  80 mins 16+

TICKETS: Single Ticket: $29 (increases to $33 on 9/12)

New Y Premi ork ere!

Meet Carl Poteraychke, a dreamy lounge singer ready to serenade, seduce, and show you what it means to love—just for an hour. Equal parts absurdist comedy and heartfelt longing, Cam Poter’s ten-time award-winning contemporary clown show uses character comedy and audience interaction to turn one man, one song, and an increasingly desperate need for connection into something hilariously surreal.

DAWN’S SPIEGELGARDEN

— our new studio space at One Fringe Place!

COMEDY

“A clowning masterclass.” — The Skinny (Edinburgh)

“A looping, increasingly surreal experience.” — San Diego Union-Tribune

Tues., 9/15: 8pm Weds., 9/16: 7:30pm Thurs., 9/17: 7:30pm Fri., 9/18: 8:45pm Sat., 9/19 8:15pm Sun., 9/20 7:45pm

Tues., 9/22 7:45pm Weds., 9/23 7:45pm Thurs., 9/24 8pm Fri., 9/25: 10pm Sat., 9/26: 7:30pm

Doors: 30 mins. before showtime  60 mins, no intermission 13+

TICKETS:

Monday - Wednesday Nights SINGLE TICKETS: $22 (increases to $24 on 9/12) Thursday - Sunday Nights SINGLE TICKETS: $25 (increases to $27 on 9/12)

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

The Garden Studio

DAWN’S SPIEGELGARDEN ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

LOCATION:

The Garden Studio

Bushwhacked Big Joy Fun Time Revival

Bushwhacked Big Joy Fun Time Revival is an interactive, high -energy comedy spectacle where salvation comes in the form of pure, unfiltered joy. Hosted by the wildly charismatic Tim & Pammy Shea Fakker, this “revival” trades fire-andbrimstone for bubble guns and questionable life advice. The inspirational duo will lead audiences through absurd testimonials, musical numbers, and miraculous transformations fueled entirely by laughter and good vibes. Come ready to clap, cheer, and possibly be “healed” from your afflictions in the most ridiculous way possible 13+. FROM $27. SEE PAGE 58 FOR SHOWTIMES.

Bushwhacked Big Boozy Joy Fun Time Revival

Bushwhacked Big Boozy Joy Fun Time Revival is an interactive, high-energy comedy spectacle where salvation comes with a buzz and joy flows freely. Hosted by the wildly charismatic Tim & Pammy Shea Fakker, this “revival” swaps fire-and-brimstone for bubble guns, questionable life advice, and a couple of well-earned drinks. With spirits high in every sense, come ready to sip, clap, cheer, and maybe get “healed” in the most gloriously ridiculous way possible! 21+. $49 SEE PAGE 57 FOR SHOWTIMES.

LOCATION:

Dawn’s Spiegelgarden

Bushwhacked: Tim and Pammy Shea’s Pamper Camper

Step right up and be blessed by the radiant chaos of Bushwhacked: Tim and Pammy Shea's Pamper Camper, a revival of laughter inside one joyful little trailer. Tim and Pammy invite you to testify, testify, TESTIFY as they deliver improvised miracles of comedy straight to your soul. Expect open hearts and a whole lot of playful nonsense dressed up like divine intervention. You’ll leave renewed, restored, and gloriously Bushwhacked—hallelujah and pass the shea butter! Only 4 tickets per performance! 13+. $33 SEE PAGE 58 FOR SHOWTIMES.

RV GENEROUSLY SUPPLIED BY:

SITE-SPECIFIC

SHOW?

A theatrical production with a specially adapted location other than a standard theatre. AVenues theatrical with a parked specially adapted other have thanall a standard suchproduction as phone booths, cars, buses,location and elevators hosted site theatre. Phone booths, parked cars, buses, and elevators have all hosted site-specific work. The Fringe embraces this sort of unorthodox theatre and its ability to engage audiences in unexpected and often far-reaching ways.

IN THE SPIEGELGARDEN SOLD

Invisible No More

OUT!

Dashboard 3D Sound Experience in the Dramas XII

Mt. Hope Cemetery (South Entrance) Memorial Site

Immersive Igloo This multidisciplinary performance

Dawn's Spiegelgarden

SEE PAGE 80 FOR SHOWTIMES

SEE PAGE 60 FOR SHOWTIMES

Multidisciplinary A total sell-out eleven under the direction of choreographer 50 mins 13+ Anne $16Harris Wilcox pays tribute to the theatre years running, this intimate Spiegelgarden experience is unlike any other. You'll hundreds of people from the 19th 46 for more detailsalmshouse, insane asylum, and find yourself immersed in See fourpage all-new century ten-minute plays as you rotate from one penitentiary who were re-buried after car to the next. Don’t miss this hilarious, their discovery during a 1984 excavation heartwarming, weird, and most of all, of Highland Park. one-of-a-kind show. Only 8 tickets per performance! Spoken Word  60 mins ALL FREE National Day of Play Spiegelgarden / Parcel 5 Dawn's Spiegelgarden EcoVibesSee – Oil and page 94 for more details and Parcel 5

Complimentary Heckling

Water Don’t Mix

Austin Steward Plaza

SEE PAGE 75 FOR SHOWTIMES

Celebrate National

Day of Play with Healthi Kids and the the space between Oil and water don’t mix. Western NY IPA with the biggest play SEE PAGE 79 FOR SHOWTIMES

Watch this clash between performers ALL Rochester Dance  60 mins day FREE has ever seen! We’ll have of multiple forms of art: team oil Spiegelgarden & East Main Street and supplies to get your lots of activities (representing fossil fuel hegemony) See page 69 for more details imagination going. versus team water (representing the Genesee River and its surrounding ecosystem). Worry and anger turn into ROC’ing the Streets action and power. – a Downtown

Forest Music

Washington Grove

SEE PAGE 90 FOR SHOWTIMES

Illumina

Rochester Contemporary Art Center: Side Lawn

SEE PAGE 103 FOR SHOWTIMES

Festivalgoers are invited to become both creators and participants in a shared work of illuminated art under the open sky. As each person adds light to the installation, their actions merge into a larger, radiant image, revealing the power of collective effort.

Downtown Rochester

SEE PAGE 83 FOR SHOWTIMES

This free, curated public event brings local artists and musicians to sidewalks, plazas, parks, and other spaces downtown during the final day of the Fringe. Discover live music, creative energy, and unexpected performances.

Roc River Ride

Genesee Valley Trails

SEE PAGE 82 FOR SHOWTIMES

Join a rolling audience on your bike to discover Rochester’s natural beauty and cultural wealth along the trails along the Genesee River and Erie Canal. Roc River Ride returns for its fifth year with new performers along a new route. Riders ages 8-13 must be accompanied by an adult.

Bushwhacked: Austin Steward Plaza Crystal Magic Wonder Palace SEECabinet PAGE 100 FOR Tent SHOWTIMES

Comedy  60 mins 13+ $15 Experience a uniquely historical area Spiegelgarden in Rochester, from the spot where it See page 58 for more details happened. Join Matt Rogers of the Lost Borough for a special episode of Hidden History, for another unbelievably true story. Using wireless headphones available on site, audience members will experience stories of vice, curiosities, success, failure, and more. a chair 13+ Bring$18 Theatre 60 mins or blanket. Spiegelgarden

Dashboard Dramas IV

See page 102 for more details

Wander & Wonder VI

RMSC Garden of Storychick Rochester Fragrance Storybooth Wander & Wonder

SEE PAGE 73 FOR SHOWTIMES

ALLbeautiful Spoken Word FREE grounds of takes place on the Spiegelgarden Rochester Museum & Science Center, See page by 96Ethan for more details curated Beckwith-Cohen and Missy Pfohl Smith/BIODANCE. Audiences delight in the unforgettable work of local dance and music artists, whose work responds to and is in conversation with the site.

Window Scrolling Delmonico and Dugdale Strings

SEE PAGE 85 FOR SHOWTIMES

In a storefront where visibility replaces audibility, performance becomes an act of longing. Audiences gather on the street, watching through glass as a series of string-based works unfold—string quartets, duos, solos, and avant-garde compositions.

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Experience the magic of live music in the city of Rochester’s only old growth forest. Wander the trails and follow your ears to the multiple performance spaces throughout Washington Grove.

Music Crawl

The Sights and Sounds District

SITE-SPECIFIC SHOWS

WHAT IS A

DAWN’S SPIEGELGARDEN ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

FREE!

PEDESTRIAN DRIVE-IN VISUAL ART & FILM

DAWN’S

Spiegelgarden

Enjoy movies outdoors in Dawn's Spiegelgarden! Grab a drink, a snack from a food truck, and experience a one-of-a-kind film event: outdoor movies on the big screen with personalized audio via our Silent Disco headphones. Seating is first-come, first-served. Please Note: headphone use with deposit of your license/ID (to be returned upon exit).

Photo by Keith Bullis

The THEATRE BAR will be open every night for the duration of Pedestrian Drive-In for your libations-with-movie pleasure.

Tuesday, Sept. 15: 8:00pm

Thursday, Sept. 17: 7:30pm

(R, 1984, Rob Reiner, 82 mins.) Crank the headphones to 11 for this groundbreaking and cult favorite rock mockumentary. As evidenced by the recent sequel, Spinal Tap and its classics like “Stonehenge” and “Big Bottom” endure. There is a bit of melancholy with this film, the directorial debut of the late Rob Reiner, who, along with his wife, Michele, was killed in December. (Reiner also acted in the film.)

(PG-13, 2025, Chloé Zhao, 126 mins.) A reimagining of the creation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, this film centers on the familial trauma after the death of Shakespeare’s young son. The cast, including the youthful actors, is stellar and mesmerizing, but none more so than Jessie Buckley, whose viscerally painful portrayal of Shakespeare’s wife, Agnes, earned her a best actress Oscar. Despite the anguish in the film, the finale is remarkably uplifting.

This Is Spinal Tap

Wednesday, Sept. 16: 7:45pm

Sister Midnight

(R, 2024, Karan Kandhari, 110 mins.) Vaudevillian slapstick meets Lynchian surrealism in this Indian film focused on an arranged marriage of two utterly incompatible people. They share one glaring trait: both are misunderstood misfits in their Mumbai working-class world. Radhika Apte as the wife, Uma, takes us on a chaotically nutty and increasingly dark journey as she challenges societal norms, including the expectations of matrimony.

Hamnet

Friday, Sept. 18:

DOUBLE BILL 7:30pm

The Wedding Singer

(PG-13, 1998, Frank Coraci, 97 mins.) One of the silver screen’s most underrated comic couples may be the pairing of Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore; the two share an onscreen chemistry that adds spark to each film. This was their first film together, a rom-com in which they find each other after missteps and bad choices in love and life.

9:15pm

15 Things You Didn’t Know About Bigfoot

(Not Rated, 2019, Zach Lamplugh, 84 mins.) This satiric film resonates even more now because the “clickbait” world has only ballooned. 15 Things follows a cynical reporter who treks into the Appalachian woods in search of the mythical Sasquatch. What, after all, could be a bigger news “get” and career affirmation than finding Bigfoot? Sure, the creature is the mysterious centerpiece of the search, but a wacky cryptozoologist steals the show.

DOUBLE BILL 7:15pm

Captain America: Brave New World

(PG-13, 2025, Julius Onah, 118 mins.)

A new cinematic Captain America is at the heart of this film but, let’s face it, having Harrison Ford find a spot in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the real treat. It only makes sense that Indy Jones/ Han Solo would be at home in a superhero world. Anthony Mackie, taking up the Cap America mantle, does so with his own swagger and style.

Tuesday, Sept. 22: 8:00pm

Hairspray

(PG, 1988, John Waters, 92 mins.) This film marks cult filmmaker John Waters’ move to mainstream. It became a Broadway musical and generated another film based on the musical. Tracy Turnblad, overweight and outside the popular circles, finds a home as a dancer on a teen pop TV show in Baltimore. Drag legend Divine portrays Tracy’s mother. Unafraid to mix social issues with merriment, the film also takes on segregation in 1960s Baltimore. Presented by ImageOut.

9:15pm

Extra Ordinary

(R, 2019, Mike Ahern and Enda Loughman, 94 mins.) Imagine a comedic version of “The Exorcist,” set in Ireland, with an older Linda Blair now working as a driving instructor who vanquishes spirits. Maeve Higgins stars as the shy, exorcising driving teacher in this riotous Irish comedy. Bonus: Will Forte portrays a bad-haired American pop star who has made a pact with the devil. Presented by Anomaly Film Festival.

Sunday, Sept. 20: 7:30pm

The King of Staten Island

(R, 2020, Judd Apatow, 137 mins.)

For comedian-actor Pete Davidson, this Judd Apatow-directed film is semiautobiographical. His character, Scott Carlin, lost his firefighting father in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, just as did Davidson. The role is a perfect fit for the hangdog Davidson, who vulnerably embodies the struggles of a high school dropout trying to find his footing in the world.

The Ballad of Wallis Island

(PG-13, 2025, James Griffiths, 100 mins.) This charming British dramedy can tug at your heartstrings, but in all the right ways. Neither mawkish nor manipulative, it is the story of a folk duo, once a romantic couple, lured to the isolated Wallis Island for a performance. Tom Basden and Carey Mulligan portray the songsters, but Tim Key steals the film as the bumbling lottery winner who has brought them to Wallis Island.

DOUBLE BILL 7:30pm

Waiting for Guffman

(R, 1996, Christopher Guest, 84 mins.) We all miss the natural wit of comedy icon Catherine O’Hara, who died in January, but thankfully it is preserved for us in her films and TV shows. This improv mockumentary is one of her showcase films. O’Hara portrays the lead actress in a community theatre production. Egos and eccentricities abound, and the all-star ensemble– among them O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Fred Willard, and Parker Posey–perfectly captures the hopes of hometown thespians.

9:15pm

Beatriz at Dinner

TriviaCITY

Wednesday, Sept. 23: 7:30pm Join journalists from CITY Magazine as they host an arts, culture, and all-things-Rochester trivia night in Dawn's Spiegelgarden!!

(R, 2017, Miguel Arteta, 82 mins) Fans of Mike White, the creator of The White Lotus, know that he sets his stories amid the privileged, contrasting entitlement with characters on lower economic rungs. This Mike White work is similar yet more pointed. Rochesterborn John Lithgow portrays an uberwealthy developer who, over a dinner, exchanges barbs with a working-class immigrant, portrayed by Salma Hayek. This could have fallen into onedimensional messaging but offers nuance and depth.

Saturday, Sept. 26: 7:30pm

Thursday, Sept. 24: 7:30pm

Hamilton

(PG-13, 2022, Gina Prince-Bythewood, 135 mins.) Loosely based on history, The Woman King tells of the all-female African warrior regiment, the Agojie. Oscar winner Viola Davis inhabits the role of the fierce General Nanisca, who leads the regiment. The film was a passion project for Davis, who worked for years to bring it to the screen.

Rarely has Broadway moved to the screen as adeptly as Hamilton. This is not a remake of the musical but instead a direct stage-to-film version, one that faithfully captures the hip-hop buoyancy of the original. At America’s 250th, the musical serves as a reminder of our foundational tenets. It does so with actors, lyrics and characters who, contagiously singing and dancing, leap from the pages of history.

The Woman King

(PG-13, 2020, Thomas Kail, 160 mins.)

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Monday, Sept. 21: 8:00pm

Friday, Sept. 25:

DAWN’S SPIEGELGARDEN

Saturday, Sept. 19:

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

FRI & SAT ON THE FRINGE

FREE & OUTDOORS!

CIRCUS IN THE CITY!

A FREE grand spectacular celebration downtown at Parcel 5 (next to One East Ave) and Gibbs Street, with food, drink, and circus arts both days!

MULTIDISCIPLINARY & CIRCUS ESL Rochester Rochester Fringe Fringe Festival Festival

Parcel 5 and Gibbs Street

Friday, Sept. 18 and Saturday, Sept. 19 from 5:00-10:00pm ALL FREE See map on page 126 FLIP Fabrique's appearance is made possible, in part, due to support from

FLIP FABRIQUE

The show is an immersive experience on Gibbs Street and Parcel 5. Wear comfortable shoes as you’ll be standing and walking. Get your phones out and tag us with #rocfringe26. We want to see your WOW.

ALOFT CIRCUS EVO

Limited bleachers seating will be available, with priority given to those in need. In order to protect the safety of the performers, lawnchairs will be allowed in separate, dedicated areas only.

Food & Drink

Grab a bite from our outstanding array of local food trucks and a drink from one of the Fringe bars. Please, no outside food or drink allowed.

Parking

See map on page 126 for garage locations; also see Visitor Information on page 12.

Weather

In the event of inclement weather, please look for announcements and updates at rochesterfringe.com and and Fringe Social on Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter) Bluesky and TikTok.

Special Rules

For the safety of all, we will not allow any of the following: firearms, pets, backpacks, skateboards, bikes, hoverboards, or longboards. No smoking allowed.

FRI & SAT ON THE FRINGE

How to enjoy Circus in the City

FRI. SEPT. 18 & SAT. SEPT. 19 SCHEDULE Parcel 5 Parcel 5 ROC CITY CIRCUS

5:15pm - 5:45pm Flotsam & Jetsam by Big Teeth Collective 6:00pm - 6:45pm The Pieces by Aloft 6:45pm - 7:00pm Lost to Me by Circus EVO

FLIP FABRIQUE

7:00pm - 7:30pm Summer Break by FLIP Fabrique

Wit Perforh Pop-Up ance Versam -Style by !

8:00pm - 8:45pm The Pieces by Aloft 8:45pm - 9:00pm Lost to Me by Circus EVO 9:00pm - 9:30pm Summer Break by FLIP Fabrique Gibbs Street

Gibbs Street

5:00pm – 7:00pm Juggle Jam by the Rochester Juggling Club 5:15pm - 5:35pm 3AM Theatre 6:00pm - 6:30pm Freeze Frame!

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7:30pm - 8:00pm Flotsam & Jetsam by Big Teeth Collective

6:30pm - 8:30pm Roc City Circus 7:00pm - 7:20pm 3AM Theatre

FRI & SAT ON THE FRINGE

ROC CITY CIRCUS

FLIP FABRIQUE

3AM THEATRE

A Circus and Street 7:00pm | 9:00pm

SUMMER BREAK BY FLIP FABRIQUE

ESL Rochester Rochester Fringe Fringe Festival Festival

Parcel 5

Québec-based FLIP Fabrique rolls up to Parcel 5 in a school bus for its all-new, stunning Summer Break. The world-class troupe, a regular at the most prestigious international circus institutions and festivals, brings a playful take to storytelling and acrobatics.

6:00pm | 8:00pm

THE PIECES BY ALOFT Parcel 5

Direct from Chicago, Aloft Circus Arts brings The Pieces, a mesmerizing showcase of resilience and collective effort. The Chicago-based troupe uses

breath, friction and suspension to create live architecture that evolves before our eyes in a compelling reminder of strength in partnership.

6:45pm | 8:45pm

5:15pm | 7:30pm

North Carolina-based Circus EVO brings the audience close in Lost to Me, a dreamlike exploration. EVO’s outdoor activations transform the familiar into the extraordinary, turning city locations like Parcel 5 into arenas of wonder.

FLOTSAM & JETSAM BY BIG TEETH PERFORMANCE COLLECTIVE Parcel 5

Flotsam & Jetsam premieres at the Fringe in a dynamic, colorful show for all ages by Big Teeth Performance Collective. Founded in Vermont in 2017, Big Teeth uses the tools of physical theater and acrobatic dance in service of “grisly truths, toothsome questions, and facesplitting joy.”

LOST TO ME BY CIRCUS EVO Parcel 5

5:15pm | 7:00pm

3AM THEATRE Gibbs Street

Built from a shared fascination of physical storytelling, innovative stage design, and the lighting states found in early morning hours, New York City’s

BIG TEETH PERFORMANCE COLLECTIVE

Theatre Takeover of Fringe! Friday, Sept. 18 & Saturday, Sept. 19

3AM Theatre draws on backgrounds in contemporary circus and modern dance to dissolve boundaries and create transformative experiences.

5:00pm

JUGGLE JAM WITH THE ROCHESTER JUGGLING CLUB Gibbs Street

6:00pm

FREEZE FRAME Gibbs Street

A perennial favorite, local jugglers from Red Tie Variety in Rochester create a high-energy, family-friendly show with wild juggling, hilarious magic, and nonstop laughs.

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Local jugglers who meet at Village Square will share their craft at Gibbs Street. Watch tricks and methods, and learn a few of your own!

for learning, practice and sharing the passion of circus arts. Their Gibbs Street presence will include aerial silks, dance trapeze, aerial sling, globe walking and more!

FRI & SAT ON THE FRINGE

ALOFT

6:30pm

ROC CITY CIRCUS Gibbs Street

University Avenue’s Roc City Circus was founded in 2019 to provide space CIRCUS EVO

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

FRINGE FINALE WEEKEND

Kids Day Little Fringe. BIG fun. Welcome to Kids Day at the Fringe!

Saturday, Sept. 26

An ENTIRE day devoted to the youngest Fringers in downtown Rochester. Ready for a full day of kid-friendly events, shows, and activities the whole family can enjoy?

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

NATIONAL DAY OF PLAY FREE

Spiegelgarden

It’s a big party for pint-size partiers OUTDOORS! Welcome to Fringe’s not-so-silent disco.

Celebrate National Day of Play with Healthi Kids and the Western NY IPA with the biggest play day Rochester has ever seen! Want to build a fort with Jenga blocks? Create a masterpiece with sidewalk chalk? Invent a new game? Awesome! We’ll have lots of activities and supplies to get your imagination going. Whether you stop by on your way to another show or spend the whole day playing with us, there will be fun for all ages.

12noon – 2pm

12noon-3:00pm

All events appropriate for all ages.

12noon – 2:00pm

DISCO KIDS FREE

Spiegelgarden

PUMPKIN PAINTING

$7 per pumpkin, at the door only Spiegelgarden

12noon-3pm

Celebrate the beginning of fall by painting your own Fringe-tastic pumpkin. From faces to crazy designs, from spooky to silly, we want to see what your creativity brings to these pumpkin pallets!

12noon – 3pm

CHALK ART FREE

Spiegelgarden

One of the most popular FREE, familyfriendly events of the Fringe. Kids transform Dawn's Spiegelgarden into a tapestry of color. We bring the chalk; you bring the creativity!

9TH AVENUE CIRCUS FREE

Spiegelgarden

A duo performance featuring multiple circus skills simultaneously combined, forming a kinesthetic compilation far greater than the sum of its parts. Balancing, spinning, juggling, hula hooping, teetering on unstable surfaces—all at the same time! Geriatric acrobatics and audience participation, a multitasking marvel for family friendly fun in the Spiegelgarden.

12:30pm – 5pm (Prelims 12:30–3pm; Finals 3:30–5pm)

FRINGE STREET BEAT FREE

Dr. MLK Jr. Park

Got moves? We’ve got the battle. From

breakdancing to all-style, teams bring their A-game to the floor leading to the final dance showcase. Complete with live DJ, MC, and judges from all over the country. FREE to watch. See page 53 for details.

2:30pm – 4pm

CIRQUE DU FRINGE: ANCHORS AWAY Kids’ Tickets from $23 Spiegeltent

Let the cirque crew whisk you away for a kid-friendly cruise of a lifetime! Anything is possible on the HMS Spiegeltent! See page 20 for details. Appropriate for those aged 5 and up.

3pm-3:30pm

PORT-A-GLOBE PUNCH AND JUDY FREE

SOTA: Commons

No matter your age, this classic puppet show is guaranteed to make you laugh. See page 75 for details.

7:30pm-9:15pm

PEDESTRIAN DRIVE-IN: HAMILTON (PG-13, 2020, Thomas Kail, 160 mins.) FREE Spiegelgarden

Outdoors on a giant screen with our Silent Disco headphones. Grab a beanbag, sit back, and enjoy a FREE movie under the stars. See page 40 for other kidfriendly movies on other nights.

10AM • BELONG by Gianna Stewart @ Rochester Contemporary Art Center: Side Lawn • FREE • Visual Arts & Film (pg.108) 10AM • RITPO • Chamber Music Showcase @ The Little Theatre, Theatre 1 • Free • Music (pg.95) 10AM • Fine Art and Fabulous Paper with Bill Finewood @ Central Library: Harold Hacker Hall • FREE • Visual Arts & Film (pg.79) 10:30AM • Craft Roulette @ Century Club at the Strathallan: Century Club At Strathallan - First Floor • $15.00 • Kids Fringe (pg.74) 11AM & 1PM • The Old Ball Game: LiveScored Baseball Silent Films @ George Eastman Museum: Dryden Theatre • $15.00 • Kids Fringe (pg.81) 11:30AM • Latin Rhythm Dance Club @ The Little Theatre: Theatre 1 • FREE • Dance (pg.71) 11:30AM • Rich The Magic Man Total Pandemonium Magic Show @ CenterStage Theatre at the JCC: JCC Ballrooms • Std: $15.00, Kids 12 & Under: $10.00 • Kids Fringe (pg.76) 12:00PM • Bella and the Witch @ SOTA: Black Box Theatre Standard: $15.00, Students (w/ ID): $10.00, Kids 12 And Under: $10.00 • Multidisciplinary & Circus (pg.77) 12:00PM & 7:30PM • Sound of Sanctuary (SOS) @ Downtown United Presbyterian Church: Sanctuary • $10.00 • Multidisciplinary & Circus (pg.84) 12:00PM • Twinkle twinkle little star @ SOTA: Allen Main Stage Theatre • Standard: $15.00, Students (w/ ID): $10.00, Kids 12 And Under: $10.00 • Kids Fringe (pg.76)

1PM • Port-a-Globe Punch and Judy @ SOTA: Commons • FREE • Kids Fringe (pg.75)

4PM • ROC'ing the Streets, A Downtown Music Crawl @ Downtown Rochester • FREE • Multidisciplinary & Circus (pg. 83)

1PM • Cirque 101 Workshop @ Joseph Avenue Arts and Culture Alliance • FREE • Kids Fringe (pg.74)

4:30PM • Seafaring Songs & Pirate Shanties @ Century Club at the Strathallan: Century Club At Strathallan • $15.00 • Music (pg.96)

1PM • Sub-Zero Science @ SOTA: Ensemble Theatre • $10.00 • Kids Fringe (pg.76) 1PM • Three Short Stories - A Puppet Show @ Blackfriars Theatre • $5.00 • Kids Fringe (pg.76) 1PM • Indie Books & Zine Fair @ RIT City Art Space • FREE • Visual Arts & Film (pg.110) 1:10PM • WADAIKO Performance @ The Little Theatre: Theatre 1 • FREE • Music (pg. 99) 1:30 PM • Fairy Magic @ SOTA: Club SOTA • Standard: $10.00, Kids 12 And Under: $4.98 • Kids Fringe (pg.74) 2:00PM • And Now ... with Extra Bit @ SOTA: Allen Main Stage Theatre • $15.00 • Dance (pg.69) 2:00PM • Folk Music From Around the World @ Downtown United Presbyterian Church: Taylor Chapel • $15.00 • Music (pg. 90) 2:30PM • Well-Balanced Dads @ Blackfriars Theatre • $15.00 • Theatre (pg.107) 3PM & 4PM • Script-in-Hand Players @ Central Library: Kate Gleason Auditorium • FREE • Theatre (pg.106) 3PM • Stages of the Game Teen Improv Troupe @ MuCCC • $15.00 • Comedy (pg.67) 3PM & 7PM • The ABBA Reunion Tribute Show @ St. Paul's Episcopal Church: Front of Sanctuary • $25.00 • Music (pg.86) 3:45PM • Courtyard @ The Little Theatre: Theatre 1 • FREE • Music (pg.89) 4PM • A Pete Seeger Tribute @ Downtown United Presbyterian Church: Celebration Hall • $13.00 • Music (pg.94)

5PM & 6:15PM • Dick Tracy - Live Radio Drama Double Feature @ Biltmore Bar & Lounge • $12.00 • Theatre (pg.102) 5:10PM • RIT Improv @ The Little Theatre: Theatre 1 • FREE • Comedy (pg.66) 5:30PM • WHELMED! @ Downtown United Presbyterian Church: Celebration Hall • $18.00 • Theatre (pg.107) 6:15PM • RIT Players Presents: When Jack Met Jill @ The Little Theatre: Theatre 1 • FREE • Comedy (pg.66) 7PM • The GateSwingers Big Band @ The Hochstein School: Hochstein Performance Hall • Standard: $20.00, Seniors: $15.00, Students (w/ ID): $15.00, Kids 12 And Under: $10.00 • Music (pg.91) 7PM • Illumina @ Rochester Contemporary Art Center: Side Lawn • FREE • Theatre (pg.103) 7PM • Window Scrolling @ Delmonico & Dugdale Strings • FREE • Multidisciplinary & Circus (pg.85) 7:25PM • Out of Sync @ The Little Theatre: Theatre 1 • FREE • Visual Arts & Film (pg.110) 8PM • Stew Cutler and Friends @ Bop Shop Records • $20.00 • Music (pg.98) 8:30PM • A Funk Affair @ Downtown United Presbyterian Church: Celebration Hall • $15.00 • Music (pg.91) 9:15PM • Spirit Songs: Parte Dos @ The Little Theatre: Theatre 1 • FREE • Music (pg.97)

filled, dance extravaganza that is the talk of kid town. Music, grooving, and glow sticks. Welcome to the Fringe’s not-so-silent disco. Mimosas will be available in the Theatre Bar. (You’re welcome, adults.)

PLEASE NOTE: Disco Kids

is not Silent Disco for kids. There are no headphones involved. Only DJs. And loads and loads of fun.

KIDS

DAWN’S

Spiegelgarden

Saturday, Sept. 26 at 12noon-2:00pm  90 min

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Back by popular demand. Big party for pint-size dance machines takes over Dawn's Spiegelgarden at One Fringe Place. The next generation of club kids is here, popping and pouting up a storm. Disco Kids is a nonstop, fun-

4:45PM • Thomas Warfield: Let the Music Heal You @ Spiegeltent • Std: $17.00, Kids 12 & Under: $5.00, VIP Booths (seat 6): $89.00 • Music (pg.27)

FRINGE FINALE WEEKEND

MORE SHOWS ON SATURDAY, SEPT. 20 FOR ALL AGES!

ALL AGES FREE

DJs supplied by Wildbyrd

A Magician

with Jordan Rooks

Comedy magic for all

"PURE MAGIC! "Broadway World

TICKETS: DATES: 9/25- 6PM 9/26- 4PM

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

School of the Arts - Allen Main Stage

OUTDOOR PROJECTION

The epic dance-off competition returns!

Now in its 11th year, Fringe Street Beat is an all-out dance battle featuring top talent from across the Northeast, featuring DJ ha-MEEN (Ithaca) and a panel of judges from NYC and beyond. From breakdancing to allstyle, teams bring their A-game – and their adrenaline – to every eye-popping round, starting with preliminary trials and leading to the final dance battle.

Upstate NY’s Largest All Styles Dance Battle!

DANCE

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park

FRINGE FINALE WEEKEND

FREE!

Saturday, Sept. 26 PRELIMS: 12:30pm-3pm FINALS: 3:30pm-5:00pm

FREE to watch

Please Note: look for announcements and updates at rochesterfringe.com and and on our social media channels in the event of inclement weather.

Rochester Fringe Festival

3 x 3 All Styles Max of 3 members per crew $1200 cash prize

Street Beat Radio Sponsor

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

ALL Street Beat is sponsored in part by:

DJ HA-MEEN

Wanna compete? Have a team in mind? Sign-ups start NOW: rochesterfringe.com/streetbeat Remaining competing teams’ slots will fill starting at 11:30am day-of at MLK Park. $5 per team. Photo by D Bennett

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

SHOW KEY

CONTENTS 57 Comedy

85 Music

69 Dance

100 Spoken Word

74 Kids Fringe

101 Theatre

77 Multidisciplinary

108 Visual Art & Film

SHOWS ARE ARRANGED by genre, and then alphabetical by show title. To find a specific show, browse the Show Index on page 123, or use the “Find a Show” search at rochesterfringe.com.

Ready to go? Purchase tickets 24/7, online at ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM For in-person or phone orders, see the Tickets & Box Office information on page 17.

HOW TO READ THE SHOW LISTINGS Charming Disaster’s Musical Oracle

Show title

You can search for these in the Index on page 116.

Venue name

Venue addresses are part of the Venue Listings, starting on page 112 and Map on page 119.

SOTA: Black Box Theatre Thu., Sep. 17 8pm • Fri., Sep. 18 8pm • Sat., Sep. 19 8pm À 60 mins 13+ $18 NYC goth-folk duo Charming Disaster returns to Rochester with an interactive cabaret-concert where audience members determine the set list by drawing cards from the Charming Disaster Oracle Deck— a Tarot-style divination that makes each performance unique. Featuring the duo’s playfully dark original songs inspired by myth, magic, monsters, and mortality (including brand new, unreleased material). What mysterious destiny awaits? Find out before it’s too late…

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

http://charmingdisaster.com/rff

Charming Disaster

PLEASE NOTE:

Show descriptions were written by the shows themselves, with minimal Fringe editing for grammar, punctuation and clarity. Efforts have been made to ensure this guide is correct at the time of publication, but all shows and times in this guide are subject to change. Please check ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM for the most up-to-date information.

Show dates and times

A chronological listing of all shows happening on each day of the Fringe starts on page 106.

Icons  Show runtime

ASL interpreted

All Ages 5+ 13+ 16+ 18+ 21+ MA Age guidance (All audiences, ages 5 and up, 13 and up, 18 and up, mature audiences) These icons suggest the age group that the show is suitable for. Please note that these are recommendations only (unless stated otherwise). Audience members should decide what is suitable for themselves and members of their group. Ticket price Some shows have multiple ticket prices (children, students, seniors, etc.). Shows labeled FREE are free, non-ticketed events. Arrive early for seating or standing room.

Show description Production company Sponsor Website

Find more information on the show, the production company, or a member of the cast and crew.

Broadguess

Salena's

Sat., Sep. 19 7pm • Sun., Sep. 20 3pm À 60 mins All Ages $25

Wed., Sep. 23 7pm À 60 mins 21+ $10 “4 Idiots and a Bottle” is back for its fourth time! Notes of chocolate, hints of oregano, aftertaste of petroleum? How on earth do they come up with those absurd tasting notes? Find out as four expert idiots give real time, blind reviews of the most random bottles and food we can find. Audience participation is highly encouraged as we laugh, cry, and have fun. This will be an experience like no other as you leave with an appreciation of your own taste buds.

School of the Arts: Ensemble Theatre

The Office and Second City alum Dee Ryan performs in this interactive, comic solo show. “Who is William Shakespeare and why is he getting away with MURRRDER?!” Detective Broadguess, working the Elsinore Castle beat (Ghosts. Again), gets a hot tip about a well-dressed young woman drowning in a brook by the castle and becomes entangled in the COMEDY and TRAGEDY of the Shakespearean world. Zounds, there is something rotten in Denmark... and Verona... and Scotland!! BEWARE, there will. Be. Improv. www.broadguess.com

Battle Royale Improv Tournament The Focus Theater Thu., Sep. 17 9pm • Sat., Sep. 19 9pm • Thu., Sep. 24 9pm • Sat., Sept. 26 9pm À 60 mins 16+ $15 Three teams enter, one team leaves. Who survives? That’s up to the audience. The Focus Theater is proud to bring a Fringe favorite, the Rochester Fringe Festival Battle Royale Tournament! With multiple years of sold-out shows, you’ll want to get your tickets fast. The winner from each show will advance to the Tournament of Champions, where fame, fortune, and the praise of adoring fans awaits them, and a cash prize which doesn’t hurt too much either! www.focus.theater

The Focus Theater

Blackout Bingo

Broadguess

Bushwhacked Big Boozy Joy Fun Time Revival The Garden Studio Fri., Sep. 18 5:30pm • Mon., Sep. 21 6pm • Tues., Sept 22 at 6pm • Fri., Sep. 25 5pm À 60 mins 21+ $49

VISUAL ART & FILM COMEDY

4 Idiots and a Bottle: 4th Time’s a Charm

“Bushwhacked Big Boozy Joy Fun Time Revival” is an interactive, high-energy comedy spectacle where salvation comes with a buzz and joy flows freely. Hosted by the wildly charismatic Tim & Pammy Shea Fakker, this “revival” swaps fire-andbrimstone for bubble guns, questionable life advice, and a couple of well-earned drinks. With spirits high in every sense, come ready to sip, clap, cheer, and maybe get “healed” in the most gloriously ridiculous way possible. Bushwhacked

Blackfriars Theatre

Get ready for a bingo experience like no other! Hosted by Mrs. Kasha Davis (RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 7 and All Stars 8) alongside her husband DJ Mr. Davis, this high-energy drag bingo show is packed with laughs, outrageous games, and nonstop audience participation. Play for your chance to compete in fabulous challenges and win prizes, with the audience deciding who takes home the biggest rewards. It’s not your average bingo—it’s a hilarious, interactive party where everyone gets in on the fun! Drag Me To The Stage

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Tue., Sep. 15 9pm • Wed., Sep. 16 9pm • Sat., Sep. 26 10pm À 60 mins 18+ $25

VISUAL ARTCOMEDY & FILM ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Bushwhacked Big Joy Fun Time Revival The Garden Studio Tue., Sep. 15 6pm • Wed., Sep. 16 6pm • Sat., Sep. 19 6:30pm • Sat., Sep. 19 9:45pm • Sun., Sep. 20 6:15pm • Wed., Sep. 23 6pm • Sat., Sep. 26 6pm À 60 mins 13+ $27 An interactive, high-energy comedy spectacle where salvation comes in the form of pure, unfiltered joy. Hosted by the wildly charismatic Tim and Pammy Shea Fakker, this “revival” trades fire-and-brimstone for bubble guns and questionable advice. The inspirational duo will lead audiences through absurd testimonials, musical numbers, and miraculous transformations fueled by good vibes. Come ready to clap, cheer, and possibly be “healed” from your afflictions in the most ridiculous way possible. Bushwhacked

Bushwhacked: Tim and Pammy Shea’s Pamper Camper Dawn's Spiegelgarden Tue., Sep. 15 8:30pm • Wed., Sep. 16 9pm • Thu., Sep. 17 6pm • Thu., Sep. 17 8pm • Fri., Sep. 18 7:30pm • Sat., Sep. 19 4pm • Sun., Sep. 20 4pm • Sun., Sep. 20 8pm • Mon., Sep. 21 8:30pm • Tue., Sep. 22 8:30pm • Wed., Sep. 23 8:30pm • Thu., Sep. 24 7pm • Thu., Sep. 24 8:30pm • Fri., Sep. 25 6:30pm • Fri., Sep. 25 8:30pm • Sat., Sep. 26 3pm • Sat., Sep. 26 8pm • Sat., Sep. 26 9:30pm À 60 mins 13+ $33 Step right up and be blessed by the radiant chaos of “Bushwhacked: Tim and Pammy Shea’s Pamper Camper,” a revival of laughter inside one joyful little trailer. Tim and Pammy invite you to testify, testify, TESTIFY as they deliver improvised miracles of comedy straight to your soul. Expect open hearts and a whole lot of playful nonsense dressed up like divine intervention. You’ll leave renewed, restored, and gloriously Bushwhacked—hallelujah and pass the shea butter! Only 4 tickets per show!

WHAT THE

FRINGE!?

Catharsis Time! School of the Arts: Ensemble Theatre Sat., Sep. 19 5pm • Sat., Sep. 26 7pm À 50 mins 13+ $15 Join us for our fourth year of “Catharsis Time!” Created by local author Sara Zavacki-Moore and playwright Matthew Dwight Moore, the show features a terrific cast of hand-picked creatives. This year’s theme will be “resilience,” and will feature some of Rochester’s best storytellers. As a special bonus, we will be offering a free expressive writing workshop to explore the benefits of creative writing and mental health. https://tinyurl.com/37jc97us Ad Hoc Players

Cloudy with a Chance of Science: A Night of Science, Weather, and Humor School of the Arts: Ensemble Theatre Wed., Sep. 16 7pm À 60 mins 18+ $15 A meteorologist, three comedians, and the RMSC walk into a Fringe Festival show for an interrogation of atmospheric proportions. Find out what happens when you let three comics interview and learn from a mystery guest meteorologist. Emceed by the Rochester Museum & Science Center. Join us for some laughs while learning about something that makes all Rochesterians run hot and storm off. RMSC.org/FringeCloudyScience

Comedy Is A Drag The Focus Theater: The Duke at The Mercantile on Main Wed., Sep. 16 8pm • Fri., Sep. 18 8pm À 60 mins 16+ $25 Life's a mess, so why not laugh about it? Comedy is a Drag brings the unstoppable Aggy Dune to Rochester Fringe for a night of razor-sharp wit, outrageous stories, and unapologetic glamour. Blending stand-up, drag, and pure camp, Aggy turns everyday chaos into laugh-out-loud brilliance. Bold, biting and wildly entertaining, this is the comedy event you don't want to miss. Grab your tickets now! www.aggydune.com

Divas of Drag Entertainment

Daddy Strong Legs

Photo City Music Hall: Front Stage

The Hochstein School: Hilda D Taylor Recital Hall

Fri., Sep. 18 6pm À 60 mins 16+ FREE

Sat., Sep. 19 4pm • Sun., Sep. 20 4pm • Mon., Sep. 21 7pm • Tue., Sep. 22 7pm À 60 mins 18+ $10

Welcome to Comedy Therapy, with your host Brandon WayOfTheLock Langill. A local comedian of the 585 Rochester area just making a name for himself in the comedy scene. He tells tales of his past and current life that only his therapist would know. Tales of his drunken father, or funny stories of his mother and siblings. Come join the fun and share some laughter and good vibes. www.youtube.com/@TheWarlock1st

ComedySportz Buffalo The Focus Theater Sun., Sep. 20 7pm À 60 mins All Ages $15 ComedySportz is improvisational comedy played as a sport! Two teams of professional comedians compete in a fast-paced, short-form improv match filled with games, songs, scenes, and jokes inspired by audience suggestions. A referee calls fouls, Loyal Fans vote for their favorite team, and a Voice declares the winner. Best of all, it’s clean, family-friendly comedy that's fun for all ages. www.buffalocomedycollective.com/ Buffalo Comedy Collective, LLC

Conspiracy Council

Daddy Strong Legs is a one-man comedy extravaganza created by Garrett Buss. See standup, sketches, songs and stunts galore in an unforgettable spectacle that combines bad boys, skeletons who skateboard and the ghost of Stan Lee. Celebrated at festivals around the country, like Moontower Comedy Festival and Austin Sketch Fest, this will be Daddy Strong Legs’ debut performance in New York! Come see what all the fuss is about, you’re guaranteed to adore this one man, one ghost, one skeleton show!

Dads for Democracy The Focus Theater Mon., Sep. 21 9pm À 60 mins 13+ $15 D4D returns to the Fringe stage for re-election. Eno, JP, JFT and Keith form this improv coalition. Running on a platform of characters, concepts, silliness and whimsy, they are sure to win over their base. Rally around for a performance of long-form improv inspired by our constituents. *This show will likely contain no political elements and the name and description are merely a play on a theme.

VISUAL ART & FILM COMEDY

Comedy Therapy

@Dads4DemocracyImprov Dads for Democracy

The Focus Theater Sun., Sep. 20 9pm • Fri., Sep. 25 7pm À 60 mins All Ages $15

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

You are formally invited to the next meeting of the Conspiracy Council. At this meeting, five special guests will pitch their favorite conspiracy theories, and you, our audience of Council initiates, will be able to pick your favorite conspiracy to be crowned the new “canonically true” conspiracy! Come watch, laugh and ponder the mysteries of the vast network of conspiracy theories created by your friendly, local, global Conspiracy Council!

VISUAL ARTCOMEDY & FILM

Dashboard Dramas XII

Dirk Darrow: Magic of Future Past

Dawn's Spiegelgarden

JCC CenterStage Theatre: Ballroom Stage

Tue., Sep. 15 5:30pm • Tue., Sep. 15 6:30pm • Wed., Sep. 16 5:30pm • Wed., Sep. 16 6:30pm • Thu., Sep. 17 5:30pm • Thu., Sep. 17 6:30pm • Fri., Sep. 18 5:30pm • Fri., Sep. 18 6:30pm • Sat., Sep. 19 1pm • Sat., Sep. 19 2pm • Sat., Sep. 19 3pm • Sat., Sep. 19 5pm • Sun., Sep. 20 2:30pm • Sun., Sep. 20 3:30pm • Sun., Sep. 20 5:30pm • Sun., Sep. 20 6:30pm • Tue., Sep. 22 5:30pm • Tue., Sep. 22 6:30pm • Wed., Sep. 23 5:30pm • Wed., Sep. 23 6:30pm • Thu., Sep. 24 5:30pm • Thu., Sep. 24 6:30pm • Fri., Sep. 25 5:30pm • Fri., Sep. 25 6:30pm • Sat., Sep. 26 2pm • Sat., Sep. 26 3pm • Sat., Sep. 26 5pm • Sat., Sep. 26 6pm À 50 mins 16+ $33

Wed., Sep. 16 6:30pm • Thu., Sep. 17 8pm • Fri., Sep. 18 6pm • Sat., Sep. 19 4:30pm À 60 mins 5+ $20

A total sell-out eleven years running, this intimate theatre experience is unlike any other. You'll find yourself immersed in four all-new ten-minute plays as you rotate from one car to the next. Don't miss this hilarious, heartwarming, weird, and most of all, one-of-a-kind show. Only 8 tickets per performance!

David Kilimnick: Thoughts From A Waiting Room School of the Arts: Club SOTA

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Thu., Sep. 17 7pm • Wed., Sep. 23 8pm À 60 mins 13+ $15

Comedy in Crisis…Yes! A stand-up show about sickness! Three years in the waiting room and now David shares the reality of love, hardship and joy with you in laughs. Ever spent time in the ICU, nursing home, or living room with a cousin complaining about a toothache? From crushed ice to controlling your couch in the waiting room. From cancer to aneurysm. From tearful joy of being with Mom and Dad to missing them daily. Life’s a hoot with David Kilimnick. “Father of Anglo Comedy”—Jerusalem Post. www.davidkilimnick.com

Off The Wall Comedy

Fringed. AND PROUD OF IT.

From 21-time Fringe award winner Tim Motley … Gritty 1930s film-noir retro collides with futuristic sci-fi in this hilarious time-traveling stage magic spectacle! Gasp at mindreading revelations that will shatter your reality & propel you back to the future. “Incredible”— Edmonton Journal. “My absolute favorite”—Rochester Beacon. “Wonderful skills”—Winnipeg Free Press. “Had us all laughing out loud, completely mesmerized”—Fourth Wall Media. www.timmotley.com

Racing Sloth Productions

DRAGMASTER School of the Arts: Club SOTA Sat., Sep. 19 8pm • Thu., Sep. 24 6:30pm À 60 mins 18+ $20 Based off the hit Fringe and TV show, “Taskmaster!” Kyla Minx is the DRAGMASTER and she's looking to put some of the funniest people in Rochester to the ultimate test! Vivian Darling is by her side and is overseeing these challenges as the DRAGMASTER’s assistant. Who will make a fool of themselves? Who will annoy their teammate? Who will win the ultimate trophy—Kyla’s Golden Tucking Panties? The insanity has only just begun. Vivian Darling Productions

Eno and Dan French DEUX The Focus Theater Sun., Sep. 20 3pm À 60 mins 18+ $15 Eno and Dan have gone French ... again! Prepare yourself for a multimedia comedy mashup. Join comedians Eno and Dan as they share their love (and questionable knowledge) of French culture. Watch as this madcap duo explores the language, the food, the music of France. Prepare for a night of sound, movement, and slapstick silliness as Eno and Dan hope to capture the je ne sais quoi of it all. Comedy ... eh?

Guilt & Mirrors Improv Troupe

School of the Arts: Black Box Theatre

The Focus Theater

Sat., Sep. 19 2pm • Sun., Sep. 20 2pm • Sat., Sep. 26 2pm À 60 mins 18+ $15

Sat., Sep. 19 7pm • Thu., Sep. 24 7pm À 60 mins 16+ $15

Kelly Dee, who has blended the community-building buzz of a rummage sale with a bounty of big laughs in this hilarious hybrid of one-woman comedy and shopping opportunity, returns to Rochester with a second act of her play, “the estate sale: more stories to tell and sh!t to sell.” Be warned: This “estate sale” will inspire you to clear out your literal and metaphorical attic, if only to make room for more must-have finds. https://estate-sale.co/

Stewpendous Productions

Get ready to meet the bold, the bizarre, and the unforgettable in "She’s a CharactHER!" a brand-new show from Guilt & Mirrors Improv Troupe, the comedy queens known for their spicy, irreverent, and quirky humor. These quick-witted comediennes spin outrageous personalities and larger-than-life scenes inspired by audience suggestions and everyday chaos. You’ll fall in love with Guilt & Mirrors … they’re always original and honestly hysterical. www.facebook.com/GuiltandMirrors The Guilt & Mirrors Gals

Extra Credit Comedy School of the Arts: Club SOTA Fri., Sep. 25 8pm À 60 mins All Ages $10 A pastor and two teachers walk into a school, and the lesson is laughter. Take your seat for an hour of stand-up comedy about class, family, and the strange homework assignment known as adulthood. Johnny B is joined by fellow middle school teacher Mike Levy and host Pastor Matt. It’s clean, clever comedy that earns a solid A+ for laughs—no studying required.

Fowl Play at Fringe

I Don’t Get It... Memorial Art Gallery: Bausch & Lomb Parlor Sat., Sep. 19 2pm • Sun., Sep. 20 12:45pm À 45 mins 16+ $20 Laugh, learn, and hold your breath as you listen to a true story of Chloe’s unique journey told through the lens of coming out as a trans woman to one of her former teammates. She takes you inside the world of her college football locker room, time spent as a bouncer, and her internal thoughts as a woman in some of the most masculine environments. Suspense builds as she learns more about herself, what she must do, and the price it takes to be oneself.

VISUAL ART & FILM COMEDY

the estate sale

www.chloe-corcoran.com

The Little: Theatre 1 Sat., Sep. 26 8:25pm À 30 mins 18+ FREE

Jackboxxing The Focus Theater Mon., Sep. 21 7pm • Sat., Sep. 26 3pm À 60 mins 13+ FREE Join your favorite local improvisers and comedians to duel it out in the digital sphere. Your weapon is your cellphone, and the arena is inside the world of JACKBOX. But the fun isn't only for our competitors; the audience can sway the vote and help determine who is the champion. This is a free event and is happening TWICE at The Focus Theater ... Please join us! http://focus.theater

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Do you enjoy comedy, laughter, and a good time? Introducing: “Fowl Play at Fringe!” Featuring RIT’s Fowl Play Comedy Troupe, this show is packed with original sketches written, directed AND preformed by our members. At Fringe, we present our favorites from the vault—each one featuring unique characters, moments, and punchlines. Whether you've seen our sketches before or are brand new to the fun, we can guarantee you won’t be bored. Now, let’s get a little bit “Fowl” together!

The Focus Theater

VISUAL ARTCOMEDY & FILM

Just To Be Close To You The Garden Studio Tue., Sep. 15 8pm • Wed., Sep. 16 7:30pm • Thu., Sep. 17 7:30pm • Fri., Sep. 18 8:45pm • Sat., Sep. 19 8:15pm • Sun., Sep. 20 7:45pm • Tues., Sept 22 7:45pm • Wed., Sep. 23 7:45pm • Thu., Sep. 24 8pm • Fri., Sep. 25 10pm • Sat., Sep. 26 7:30pm À 60 mins 13+ From $22 Direct from Edinburgh! New York Premiere! Meet Carl Poteraychke, a dreamy lounge singer ready to serenade, seduce, and show you what it means to love—just for an hour. Equal parts absurdist comedy and heartfelt longing, Cam Poter’s ten-time award-winning clown show blends character comedy and audience interaction into one hilariously surreal search for connection. “A clowning masterclass.” — The Skinny

Lunatics Lounge, Live ROC Cinema Sat., Sep. 19 6:30pm • Fri., Sep. 25 7pm À 60 mins 13+ $10 Returning for a fourth year, (585) magazine columnist Taylor Terrance is back with a live performance of another journey into the absurd, accompanied by all the lunatics in her life. Hear stories about white water rafting misadventures, the unconventional punishment methods she endured as a child, and how she became a grizzled manufacturing veteran before the age of 10. www.585mag.com/magazine_author/taylor-terrance/ 585 Magazine

Madelein Murphy: Lesbian American Princess The Harley School: BCCE Sat., Sep. 19 4pm • Sat., Sep. 19 6pm • Sat., Sep. 19 8pm À 60 mins 18+ $20 Madelein Murphy returns to Rochester Fringe! Fresh off of the release of her debut special, Madelein is back in her hometown to bring another fast-paced hour of stand-up comedy. Expect sharp crowd work, personal life stories (like the time a cop wrote her a ticket made out to "Muddin") and lots of heart. Madelein opened for Tig Notaro at the 2023 Fringe Festival, and workshopped her special at the 2024 Fringe Festival! www.madeleinmurphy.com

solo show

A Magic Problem! The Harley School: BCCE Sat., Sep. 19 10:30am • Sun., Sep. 20 1pm À 60 mins All Ages $12 In a world where magicians bask in prestige and jugglers are dismissed as mere novelty, one juggler has had enough! “A Magic Problem” is a fast-paced, farcical, and thoughtprovoking solo show that explores the clash between the art of juggling and the illusion of magic. “A Magic Problem” is a witty, skillful exploration of craft verses illusion—perfect for anyone who’s ever fought to have their hard work truly seen! All profits will be donated to C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association. https://redtievariety.com Red Tie Variety

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Marcel Lucont’s Whine List

Spiegeltent Fri., Sep. 18 9pm • Sat., Sep. 19 9pm • Sun., Sep. 20 5pm À 90 mins 18+ From $33 The multi-award-deserving deadpan Frenchman brings back his acclaimed interactive show, in which he serves up a unique Whine List from the audience’s past woes and misdemeanors. A kind of group therapy experience, but one where everybody will probably leave more depressed. As seen on BBC1’s “The John Bishop Show,” Comedy Central’s “Live At The Comedy Store,” and Sky Atlantic’s “Set List.”

Thu., Sep. 24 7pm • Fri., Sep. 25 7pm • Sat., Sep. 26 3pm À 60 mins 13+ $22 In this funny, multi-award-winning, true odyssey, Dockery negotiates the giddiness, terror, and absurdities in travel and love as he journeys across the Sahara in search of an Epiphany. Any Epiphany at all. A wildly hilarious adventure to Timbuktu. Best-of-Fest Awards: Adelaide, Vancouver, London, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Ottawa, and Orlando. 5 Stars–CBC. “Made the audience roar … Beautifully polished.”–Pioneer Press, Minneapolis. “A one-man storytelling tornado.”–The Stage, Edinburgh. www.MartinDockery.com

COMEDY

School of the Arts: Ensemble Theatre

Mouth Harpo’s Final First Fringe Tour II: Electric Boogaloo The Focus Theater

Tue., Sep. 15 7pm • Sat., Sep. 26 5pm À 60 mins 16+ $15

Join Rochester’s only improvisational indie rock band for a night of comedic musical shenanigans! Due to their extremely hard-rocking rock-and-roll lifestyle, the members of Mouth Harpo have forgotten every song they've ever written. Once you name those tunes, they'll perform them, right in front of your salad! You might even get invited to perform a guest air guitar solo. http://instagram.com/mouthharpo

Mouth Harpo

Martin Dockery

Microbiome Murder Mystery!

Movie Night The Focus Theater

Photo City Music Hall: Front Stage

Wed., Sep. 16 9pm À 60 mins All Ages $15

Sat., Sep. 26 2pm À 45 mins 16+ FREE

Haven’t had time to watch your favorite movie? Been wanting to cross something off your watchlist? Then come on out to “Movie Night” and watch some of Rochester’s esteemed improvisors perform a completely improvised movie remake from your suggestion. From dramas to westerns, classics to flops, this group will be sure to bring the magic of cinema to the Focus Theater stage.

Hey everybody! Here comes the Microbiome Murder Mystery! Part stand-up comedy show and part science experiment gone wrong, this show features some of the funniest bacteria-related jokes ever heard at the Fringe. What are people saying about Microbiome Murder Mystery? “Must be seen to be rejected!” We say come join the fun and Karl O. and Co. be a part of our circus!

Misery Loves Company Blackfriars Theatre

Nerds in a Basement The Focus Theater Wed., Sep. 16 7pm • Fri., Sep. 18 9pm À 60 mins 18+ $15

She’s his number one fan. He’s her captive. “Misery Loves Company” is an improvised horror comedy starring Joe Liss (“Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” “SpongeBob Squarepants”) and Dee Ryan (“The Office,” “United States of Tara”). Based on audience suggestions these two Second City Alums will reimagine the Stephen King classic, “Misery,” in new horrifying and hilarious ways for a “cockadoodie” good time!

DnD meets improv where a dungeon master guides improvisors through a one-of-a-kind adventure. The world is brought to life on stage before your eyes, completely unscripted. The audience helps build the characters’ quest and setting. With unique and memorable non-player characters, creatures, and live skill checks, this interactive show is a must for audience members of all nerdy backgrounds. Now with live musical accompaniment! https://www.facebook.com/profile. php?id=61555748684997

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Thu., Sep. 24 6pm • Fri., Sep. 25 5pm • Sat., Sep. 26 4pm À 50 mins 16+ $25

https://tinyurl.com/2s384vw3

VISUAL ART & FILM COMEDY

Martin Dockery: Wanderlust

Joe Liss

Rochester Institute of Technology is proud to be a sponsor of the 2026 ESL Rochester Fringe Festival. RIT is renowned for intertwining the arts with technology and innovations and the campus is home to three world-class galleries. Now you can see RIT’s arts community come to life at the Fringe with more than 30 performances and exhibits. All performances are free. 11

ONGOING EVENTS September 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 City Art Space 1

Josh Owens 9/17 1pm-5pm 9/18 1pm-8pm 9/19 1pm-8pm 9/20 1pm-5pm

Indie Book Zine Fair 9/26 1pm-5pm

A Cappella Time with Eight Beat Measure and Vocal Accent 3:05pm-3:50pm

12 PITCH!

4:05pm-5:05pm 13 Desert Rhythms Belly Dance

5:30pm-6:20pm 14 Velocity: RIT's Urban Dance Crew

6:30pm-6:45pm 15 Fringe-A Festival for the City

7:00pm-7:25pm

24 WADAIKO Performance

1:10pm-1:55pm 25 A Cappella Time with Surround Sound,

Brick City Singers and Encore 2:30pm-3:15pm

26 Courtyard

3:45pm-4:45pm 27 RIT Improv

5:10pm-5:55pm 28 RIT Players present When

Jack met Jill 6:15pm-7:00pm

16 Comic Art Slideshow

Friday, September 18 The Little Theatre 1 3

Mid-Century Modern Jazz Quartet 5:00pm-6:00pm

4 Documentary Film Shorts: RIT

Photojournalism � 6:30pm-7:30pm

The Poetry of Tarot: A Reading Inspired by Tarot images 8:00pm-9:00pm Powder Jay 9:20pm-9:55pm

Saturday, September 19 The Little Theatre 1 7

Tiger Steel Steelband Ensemble 10:00am-11:00am

8 Brick City Boppers Showcase

11:45am-12:15pm 9

Signatures and Wordsmiths: Open Mic Night 12:30pm-1:30pm

7:40pm-8:40pm

29 Out of Sync

7:25pm-8:05pm 17 Obsidian Star

9:00pm-10:00pm

30 Fowl Play at Fringe

8:25pm-8:55pm

Thursday, September 24 The Little Theatre 1 18 Best Films! RIT School of Film and

31 Spirit Songs: Parte Dos

9:15pm-10:15pm

Animation � 5:00pm-8:30pm

Friday, September 25 The Little Theatre 1 19 Sleepy Lester & The Insomniacs

View a digital schedule:

rit.edu/fringefest

5:00pm-6:00pm 20 A Cappella Time with Kaminari, Proof

of Purchase and Grace Notes 6:45pm-7:30pm

Tag your social media posts with:

#RITFRINGE

21 Banjos and Juggling: A World

Vaudeville Adventure 8:15pm-9:15pm

Saturday, September 26 The Little Theatre 1

For more information, visit rit.edu/fringefest. Or contact Susie Sieling, Associate Director, Conference and Special Events, Government and Community Relations, 585-475-2075, sesgrl@rit.edu

22 RITPO-Chamber Music Showcase

10:00am-10:45am 10 Hands Tell What Voices Cannot

1:50pm-2:50pm

23 Latin Rhythm Dance Group

11:30am-12:30pm

Interpreted Performance � Captioned

A Cappella Time: Eight Beat Measure and Vocal Accent 13

A Cappella Time: Kaminari, Proof of Purchase and Grace Notes 21

A Cappella Time: Surround Sound, Brick City Singers and Encore 29

VISUAL ARTCOMEDY & FILM

The Night of 1000 Johns: An Alternative Comedy Show

RIT Players Presents: When Jack Met Jill

The Focus Theater

The Little: Theatre 1

Tue., Sep. 15 9pm À 60 mins 18+ $15

Sat., Sep. 26 6:15pm À 45 mins All Ages FREE

What is better than one John? One THOUSAND Johns, of course! Well, we have three Johns which is close enough. John Mungovan, Johnny B. and John F. are three unique Rochester- based comedians who have been entertaining audiences throughout New York state and beyond. Hosting the show is local comedian and ordained minister Shawn Hennessy. This will be an unforgettable night of alternative comedy that you will not want to miss!

You never know what moments will be pivotal. An existential crisis, or a change in your soda-drinking habits. An unfathomable loss, or a moment of uncertainty about whether you’re looking at a possum or not. For Jack and Jill, it’s all of the above, as moments across time (and sometimes, between realities) converge into a poignant collage rendering of their relationship.

Pete Davidson Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre Fri., Sep. 25 8pm

Rochester Premier À 90 mins 18+ $52.50

Pete Davidson is a celebrated comedian, actor, writer and producer. He is now starring in The Pete Davidson Show podcast on Netflix and will soon appear on the big screen in How to Rob a Bank for Amazon MGM. Davidson’s prolific work includes Peacock’s Bupkis, a semi-autobiographical series he co-created, co-wrote and produced. Davidson was a cast member on NBC’s Saturday Night Live from 2014 to 2022, where his features and original music videos garnered millions of views.

RIT Improv ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

The Little: Theatre 1

Sat., Sep. 26 5:10pm À 45 mins All Ages FREE RIT Improv has plenty of silly games and improv to make anyone chuckle! Their performers are a collection of RIT Improv comedy club’s performing troupe members that have years of combined experience and style! Home to BrainWreck, the Improvessionals and Off-Topic! Everything is done on the spot and will never be done again, so have your suggestions ready for these performers! http://@ritimprov

http://ritplayers.org

RIT Players

The Roustabouts The Focus Theater Thu., Sep. 17 7pm • Tue., Sep. 22 7pm À 60 mins 18+ $15 Some are gone and some remain but the Roustabouts are back … for the most part! Who are they, you contemplate! What do they do, you ask! Well its simple enough, before Covid they were a group of local comedians who sat down and wrote comedy sketches and made funny videos. Now they are back together and joined by some more local comedians to create a clever show of fun for all to enjoy. So take a chance and see them perform in this year’s Fringe self produced Festival.

Shotspeare Spiegeltent Tue., Sep. 22 9pm • Wed., Sep. 23 9pm • Thu., Sep. 24 9pm • Fri., Sep. 25 9pm • Sat., Sep. 26 9pm À 90 mins 21+ from $31 With rave reviews from New York, Las Vegas, Adelaide Fringe, and previous Rochester Fringe engagements, Shotspeare puts the “Lit” in Literature! Five sword wielding actors, one lucky audience member, a ton of booze, the Wheel of Soliloquy, and an entire work of Shakespeare—all in 90 minutes. Equal parts bacchanal and classical theater, Shotspeare's adaptation of Othello takes the world's most beloved playwright, soaks him in beer, and flips him on his head. 21+ only.

The Focus Theater The Duke at The Mercantile on Main Mon., Sep. 21 8pm • Tue., Sep. 22 8pm • Wed., Sep. 23 8pm • Thu., Sep. 24 8pm À 60 mins 18+ $20 "Sorry 4 Da Weight" features Drew Jemison, Dre Gray, and Mike Gamble, alongside a surprise guest host and standout featured performers. Known for commanding stages and delivering explosive, high-energy sets, this showcase blends sharp storytelling, fearless crowd work, and unapologetic humor rooted in real-life experiences. Expect big laughs, big personalities, and a comedy experience audiences won’t forget. https://focus.theater/collections/all-shows

Stages of the Game Teen Improv Troupe MuCCC Sat., Sep. 19 3pm • Sat., Sep. 26 3pm À 60 mins All Ages $15 Get ready for a hilarious outburst of improv performed by some of the brightest and wittiest teen minds in our area. Join us for a fast-paced, family friendly, interactive experience where the audience becomes part of the show—unique and goofy ideas are encouraged! Produced by A Magical Journey Thru Stages, and performed by Stages of the Game Improv Troupe. You’ll howl with laughter at the madcap comedy created by some pretty creative kids! http://www.mjtstages.org

A Magical Journey Thru Stages

Soup du Journalism: 25 Years of Deadline Drama

Stand Up for Drag

Memorial Art Gallery: M&T Bank Ballroom

The Focus Theater: The Duke at The Mercantile on Main

Fri., Sep. 18 3:30pm • Sat., Sep. 19 1:45pm À 60 mins 13+ $25

Tue., Sep. 15 8pm • Wed., Sep. 23 6pm À 60 mins 18+ $20

Melissa started her journalism career asking Kim Cattrall what she scraped on her toast. These days, chatbots scrape her listicles. From swinging samurai swords and sorting diamonds to explaining cryptocurrency (an oxymoron), she shares a quarter-century of chasing stories—then turns the notebook on herself.

A fabulous evening of some of the best performers Rochester has to offer including queens of drag and hilarious stand up comedians. Musical performance and stand up comedy providing all types of laughter for an all-inclusive night of enjoyment! Featuring the incredible talents of King Bey, Cindy Arena, Kyla Minx and Kevin Markman. Our mission is to bring together our community one “Stand Up for Drag” family member at a time.

VISUAL ART & FILM COMEDY

Sorry 4 Da Weight

https://www.facebook.com/standupfordrag/

Stage Coaches

@kevinmarkman

The Focus Theater Sat., Sep. 19 5pm • Tue., Sep. 22 9pm À 60 mins 13+ $20

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

In this one-of-a-kind comedy experience, a team of improvisers transforms audience-suggested football plays, penalties, and coaching calls into fast-paced, completely unscripted scenes. And just when things spiral out of control, a “stage coach” steps in to break it all down. Football fan? You will catch every reference. Don’t know a blitz from a biscuit? You are in the right place. Come for the comedy. Stay because you might accidentally learn what offside means.

VISUAL ARTCOMEDY & FILM

Stand-Up Through the Ages School of the Arts: Club SOTA Fri., Sep. 18 8pm • Sat., Sep. 19 6:30pm • Fri., Sep. 25 6:30pm • Sat., Sep. 26 6:30pm À 60 mins 18+ $12 2026 marks 10 years in the Rochester Fringe Festival, and this show gets better every year! Seven comedians, ages from early thirties to late eighties, share their unique and hilarious observations, proving that whatever your age, life is definitely a laughing matter. The popular performers from previous sold-out shows return, bringing original jokes galore. Enjoy the wit of Kelsey Claire Hagen, Tori Hosier, Charlie Frusci, Miriam Zinter, Bob Holzwarth, Dan Mulcahy, and host Phyllis Reed. www.facebook.com/Stand-Up-Through-the-Ages

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Blackfriars Theatre Wed., Sep. 16 7:30pm À 60 mins 13+ $15 You know Fringe is awesome. But you can’t possibly see all the shows! That’s why "Unleashed!" will happily perform their interpretations of other people’s shows for you! Not only that, they’ll be significantly shorter than the originals, so you can really cram way more Fringe into your life! The troupe hilariously improvises pieces based on Fringe Guide descriptions. So look over the guide, suggest the one you want to see most and then watch what happens. “Ingenious.”—CITY Magazine. https://tinyurl.com/57rcktbb

Unleashed! Improv

Stand-Up Through the Ages

Thank You Kiss Presents: Please Excusememe The Focus Theater Fri., Sep. 18 7pm • Sat., Sep. 26 7pm À 60 mins 18+ $18 Satire and wit abound at Thank You Kiss (TYK) sketch comedy shows. Critics have lauded the group as “laugh-out-loud funny” with “‘hell yes’ social commentary.” TYK blends satire, sincerity, and silliness through sketch, improv, and video. Marc D’Amico, Megan Mack, John Forrest Thompson, and Beth Winslow have studied and worked at renowned comedy theatres including iO, The Second City, and The Annoyance. The group is a winner of The Missouri Review’s prestigious Miller Audio Prize for Humor. http://www.facebook.com/thankyoukiss

Unleashed! Improv Presents: Other People’s Shows

Wizard and a Fool Magic Show School of the Arts: Club SOTA Sat., Sep. 19 2pm • Sun., Sep. 20 3pm À 60 mins 13+ $15 Over the past five years, John Fava-Licata’s magic career has taken him to stages across the United States, from Las Vegas to Boston. Now he’s bringing his all-ages magic show to Rochester. His shows are always packed full of surprises with original acts that you won’t see performed anywhere else. In John’s inaugural Fringe performance there will be: sleight of hand, juggling, a tense escape act, mind reading, and maybe even a card trick. https://www.instagram.com/john.fava.licata

A Young Man Dressed as a Gorilla Dressed as an Old Man Sits Rocking in a Rocking Chair for Fifty-Six Minutes and Then Leaves Spiegeltent Thu., Sep. 17 9pm À 56 mins 13+ FREE A Young Man Dressed As A Gorilla Dressed As An Old Man Sits Rocking In A Rocking Chair For Fifty-Six Minutes And Then Leaves. One performance only. Turn up early, sellout expected. “Annual” - The Guardian “The gorilla is obviously crucial to the event” - Edinburgh Evening News “Raises serious questions about Orlando’s cultural character” - Orlando Weekly

MuCCC

Belly Dance: On The Edge of Wonderland

Sun., Sep. 20 3pm À 40 mins 5+ $10

Biltmore Bar & Lounge

Come to the MuCCC! Break down the wall between you and the performers ... be an unruly audience! Starring the fabulous Elyssia Primus Nanako Horikawa Mandrino and Amya Brice, directed by Donna Davenport, this is a zany show with dance, spoken word, stuffed animals, and unpredictable performances. Premiered at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in March 2025, the fun has serious undertones ... walls are complicated. Bring your wisdom with you. Dances at MuCCC

Thu., Sep. 24 8pm • Fri., Sep. 25 8pm À 60 mins All Ages $15

And Now ... with Extra Bits

Belly Dance: On the Edge of Wonderland—a surreal adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s timeless classic, told through both traditional and fusion belly dance. Come and see your favorite characters shimmy, sway and even sing their way through wonderland! Starring some of Rochester’s most mesmerizing belly dancers, this show will be sure to entertain! This event is brought to you by Rochester Raqs Productions ... Don’t be late for these very important dates! Rochester Raqs Productions

School of the Arts: Allen Main Stage

BIODANCE’s 20th Anniversary

Thu., Sep. 17 8pm • Sat., Sep. 26 2pm À 50 mins All Ages $15

School of the Arts: Allen Main Stage

Paradigm Shift Dance Company presents a spectacle of theatrical sophistication, technical excellence, and absolutely avoidable mishaps! Audience favorites shine alongside equally disastrous premieres in a production full of costume snafus, molting ballerinas, mechanical mishaps, and emotional meltdowns. Think “Swan Lake” meets “The Play That Goes Wrong,” or “Singin' in the Rain” meets “Monty Python”—each piece performed with complete commitment and varying degrees of success. www.paradigmshiftdancecompany.com/upcoming-shows Paradigm Shift Dance Company (Austen Kelly)

Wed., Sep. 16 8pm • Thu., Sep. 24 8pm À 75 mins All Ages $15 Celebrate our 20th Anniversary with repertory favorites, current and returning performers and collaborators, with a mix of new work and a hint of nostalgia! Choreography by artistic director Missy Pfohl Smith and special guests, with media by W. Michelle Harris, will highlight this incredible group of collaborative dancers and multidisciplinary artists! www.biodance.org/

BIODANCE

Brick City Boppers Showcase

The Belly Dance Bazaar

The Little: Theatre 1

Memorial Art Gallery M&T Bank Ballroom

Sat., Sep. 19 11:45am À 30 mins All Ages FREE

Step into The Grand Bazaar, a belly dance performance that whisks you into a bustling marketplace of dance, music, and global tradition. Prepare to be dazzled by swirling veils, flashing swords, fluttering fans, and the chime of finger cymbals, set against a backdrop of costumes shimmering with glitter and gold! Producers Dylaina Alexandria and Holly Dagger, joined by their talented friends, lead you through traditional and fusion Belly Dance from Egypt, Turkey, America and beyond! Dylaina Alexandria Belly Dance & Holly Dagger

Immerse yourself in a show that will have your toes tapping and hands clapping with the Brick City Boppers! The Brick City Boppers are the members of RIT's swing dancing club. They regularly learn and practice Lindy Hop, a historically African American dance. With the club being active for over 25 years, they are excited to continue the tradition of leaving audiences in awe with their dynamic dance moves!

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Sat., Sep. 19 12pm • Sun., Sep. 20 1:15pm À 60 mins 5+ $20

DANCE

All Walls

DANCE

Cardio Charleston The Rose Room

Fringe Street Beat Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park: The Bowl

Mon., Sep. 21 6pm À 55 mins 13+ FREE

Sat., Sep. 26 12:30pm À 270 mins All Ages FREE

Come on out for a free cardio workout class where all the steps are classic moves from the Jazz Age! We’ll sweat it out while dancing to the hottest jazz of the early 20th century, doing the granddaddy of all dance crazes: the Charleston! If you’ve never tried authentic vernacular jazz dance, this is a fantastic way to get started. All kinds of dancers and movers and all fitness levels are welcome. www.cardiocharleston.com Groove Juice Swing

The excitement, the energy, the adrenaline-pumping action that is Fringe Street Beat returns to downtown Rochester for the final night of Fringe 2026. Fresh talents from Rochester and beyond participate in 3-on-3 team battles, facing off for a chance at winning the title of Fringe Street Beat Champions and a cash prize of $1,200. From breaking to popping and locking, teams bring their Agame to the floor and DJ ha-MEEN brings the beats!

Contra Dancing

Garth Fagan Dance

The Rose Room

Thu., Sep. 17 7:30pm À 150 mins All Ages FREE Looking to try something new at Fringe? Contra dance is a joyful, community-oriented social dance with live music, easy instruction, and lots of laughter. No dance experience or partner needed. Come solo or with friends and enjoy an evening of movement, connection, and welcoming community. Contra dance is substance and fragrance free, beginner friendly, and open to all. Dance, laugh, and meet new people with us at Fringe! https://cdrochester.org

Garth Fagan Dance: Studio Theater

Thu., Sep. 17 7pm • Fri., Sep. 18 7pm • Sat., Sep. 19 2pm • Sun., Sep. 20 2pm À 60 mins All Ages $20 Celebrating 55 years of groundbreaking artistry, Garth Fagan Dance returns to the Rochester Fringe Festival with “Never Top 40,” “Priestess Hill,” and “Messages To The Storm,” plus special matinee performances by the GFD Student Ensemble. Founded by Tony Award-winning Garth Fagan, choreographer of Broadway’s The Lion King, the company remains unmistakably original through its fusion of modern, post-modern, Afro-Caribbean, and ballet influences. www.garthfagan-dance.org/

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Desert Rhythms Belly Dance

Garth Fagan Dance

The Little: Theatre 1

I Can(not) Undo My Being

Sat., Sep. 19 5:30pm À 50 mins All Ages FREE

School of the Arts: Allen Main Stage

Discover an exciting American Cabaret Belly Dance experience from Rochester's 40-year continuously performing troupe, Desert Rhythms! This show features an engaging, unique showcase of isolating movement, expressive choreography, and music from all over the world. Delight in an array of belly dance styles and use of props that is sure to get you immersed in the performance. This family-friendly event is welcoming to an audience of all ages!

Thu., Sep. 24 6pm À 60 mins All Ages $16

www.desert-rhythms.com

I Can(not) Undo My Being: An exploration of the links between human experience and nature through the perspective of travel. As a response to excessive immigration actions in the United States, Grassroots Dance Exploration uses movement to tie humans to our roots, while critiquing US policies. The ocean, seeds, birds, and humans use travel as a means of prosperity. www.instagram.com/grassroots_dance/ Grassroots Dance Exploration

KIDS FRINGE

DANCE DANCE

Latin Rhythm Dance Club

On Birds and Caves

The Little: Theatre 1

School of the Arts Allen: Main Stage Theatre

Sat., Sep. 26 11:30am À 60 mins All Ages FREE

Fri., Sep. 18 6pm À 45 mins All Ages $12

The Latin Rhythm Dance Club at the Rochester Institute of Technology is open to all levels of experience and exhibits a wide variety of styles— including salsa, bachata, and merengue —through lessons, performances, and events. The club also engages with the Latin dance community in Rochester by attending local dance events, hosting events, and hiring instructors who are knowledgeable in other styles of dance. Come out to our Latin dance showcase and dance with us!

Featuring choreography by Marisa Guzmán Colegrove, Ellie Pedone, Jillian VanLare, and Elton “Vil” Ward, this show is a reverence to those we've lost, a deep breath, and a step forward. It creates sweeping natural landscapes contrasted with moments of cavernous isolation. A world premier, “On Birds and Caves” invites its audience to contemplate loss and life, and if we can have one without the other.

Lindy Jam The Rose Room

Wed., Sep. 23 8:30pm À 120 mins 16+ FREE Rochester is home to a thriving community centered around Authentic Jazz dance forms including the Lindy Hop. Join us for a free Lindy Hop lesson, and dance to great Swing tunes from the 1920s to today! Come see what social dance is all about, and learn a bit about the rich history of this vibrant Black American art form. No dance partner necessary! www.groovejuiceswing.com/events/rochester-lindy-jam. Groove Juice Swing aspx

The Nocturne Club The Rose Room

Photo by Adam Farid, Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

Roaring 20s Time Machine The Rose Room

Fri., Sep. 25 7pm À 240 mins 16+ $25 Dust off your glad rags and get ready to cut a rug! Step back in time for a real hotsy-totsy evening where you’ll learn partnered Charleston and dance 'til you drop to a real live Jazz band. Sneak on down to our subterranean speakeasy for some choice giggle water at the cash bar and get ready for your close-up in our vintage photo booth. Whether Flapper or Dapper, you’ll be the bee’s knees if you dress the part. Don’t be a flat tire! Join us for a night that’s bound to be the cat’s pajamas! www.groovejuiceswing.com

Groove Juice Swing

ROCeltic: Myths, Legends, and Folklore School of the Arts: Allen Main Stage Theatre

Join your host for an hour of decadent glamour and unapologetic sensuality at “The Nocturne Club,” where the spectacle of vintage burlesque meets the modern day. With a diverse cast curated from the best of upstate New York and beyond, “The Nocturne Club” pays homage to early burlesque and jazz, and celebrates the modern artists keeping the stage alive today. From feather fans to rhinestone headdresses to three-piece suits, prepare to be dazzled and left wishing for more.

Sat., Sep. 19 6pm À 60 mins All Ages $15

www.instagram.com/the.nocturne.club

“ROCeltic: Myths, Legends, and Folklore” merges storytelling and dance to bring Ireland’s rich heritage to life through captivating stories, vibrant music, and energetic motion. Irish heritage finds its heart within ROCeltic’s unique amalgamation of music, dance, and storytelling. “ROCeltic: Myths, Legends, and Folklore” will take you on an unforgettable journey and will surely excite, intrigue, and captivate artists and audiences of all ages. www.roceltic.com

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Sat., Sep. 26 7pm À 60 mins 18+ $20

DANCE

Rochester City Ballet: Two Tales of Dr. Seuss

Tales From The Bush

School of the Arts: Allen Main Stage

Thu., Sep. 17 6pm À 50 mins 16+ $15

Sat., Sep. 19 2pm • Sun., Sep. 20 2pm À 60 mins All Ages $25

Community. Perseverance. Humanity. Womanhood. These are a few of the themes you can find in “Tales From The Bush,” an evening of dance, song, and spoken word created by mother-daughter duo Roseanne DiMaria and Neyda Colón-DiMaria. Drawing from numerous vernacular and concert dance traditions to tell women’s stories, the multigenerational artists of this show span Rochester’s performance scene with connections to SOTA, Sankofa, Bush Mango, Borinquen Dance, BIODANCE, and more!

Rochester City Ballet’s Seuss-inspired program will include two complementary works: the revival of “Green Eggs and Ham,” choreographed by David Palmer, and the creation of a brand-new ballet inspired by “The Sneetches.” Palmer’s “Green Eggs and Ham” incorporates ASL to help open up the world of ballet to all. Together, these family friendly ballets will bring the timeless messages and imaginative worlds of Dr. Seuss to life through dynamic storytelling and dance! www.rochestercityballet.com

School of the Arts: Allen Main Stage Theatre

www.instagram.com/talesfromthebushroc

Rochester City Ballet

TETRA Dance: Throughlines Shibari

School of the Arts: Allen Main Stage Theatre

Aerial Arts of Rochester: Aerial Arena

Sat., Sep. 19 4pm À 60 mins All Ages $15

Sat., Sep. 26 6pm • Sat., Sep. 26 9pm À 60 mins 18+ $25 A live Shibari performance exploring trust, vulnerability, and emotional connection through rope. Using traditional Japanese tying techniques, the performers move through a slow progression of restraint, suspension, stillness, and release. The piece centers on attention, presence, and the unspoken communication that develops between two people as tension, surrender, intimacy, and playfulness emerge through movement and suspension.

Table For Two & Friends ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

The Rose Room

Sat., Sep. 19 9pm • Sun., Sep. 20 7:30pm À 60 mins 16+ $20 In Table For Two’s second year at Rochester Fringe Festival, Bast and Mechalke weave together theater, comedy, and contemporary dance seamlessly… unless, of course, they want you to see the seams. Brought to you by GrachelbehalkeeDanceCo, where the splote, feverable minds of Rachel Bast and George Mechalke combine. The show includes additional works by Can Afaraci and Aida Baserehkasmaei. www.instagram.com/grachelbehalkeedanceco/ GrachelBehalkeeDanceCo

TETRA Dance Company presents a powerful afternoon of contemporary and street dance works exploring identity, resilience, connection, and transformation. Blending repertory, improvisation, hip hop, and contemporary movement, the company creates emotionally charged performances rooted in musicality and human experience. The program features both new and returning works by Rochester-based choreographer and director Iyana Voltaire. https://sites.google.com/view/tetradanceco/home TETRA Dance

Threads of Motion School of the Arts: Allen Main Stage

Fri., Sep. 18 8pm À 60 mins All Ages $15 Celebrate artistry, movement, and joy as Rochester dancers take the stage. Emilee Pratt presents new works exploring connection, community, and the fleeting beauty of live performance. Witness the magic of collaboration as these artists come together for a special night of entertainment, sharing their collective passion for movement, dance, and play.

The Little: Theatre 1

RMSC: Garden of Fragrance

Sat., Sep. 19 6:30pm À 15 mins All Ages FREE

Sun., Sep. 20 12pm À 90 mins All Ages FREE

Velocity: RIT’s Urban Dance Crew is a student-run dance team known for their high-energy performances and a positive, welcoming culture. Through creative routines and powerful stage presence, Velocity delivers an engaging performance featuring talented dancers from diverse backgrounds who express their individuality through http://@rit_velocity their unique choreography.

In its sixth year, Wander & Wonder is a site-specific performance that takes place outdoors on the beautiful grounds of Rochester Museum & Science Center, curated by Ethan Beckwith-Cohen and Missy Pfohl Smith/BIODANCE. Audiences delight in the work of local dance and music artists, whose work responds to and is in conversation with each unique site. The show invites all to notice the natural environment in ways they have never before. Join us for this unforgettable walking tour www.biodance.org BIODANCE of dance.

DANCE

Velocity: RIT’s Urban Dance Crew Wander & Wonder VI

Versa-Style Street Dance Company University of Rochester: Sloan Performaing Arts Center

Sat., Sep. 19 7:30pm • Sun., Sep. 20 7:30pm À 90 mins All Ages $15 Consisting of committed, highly skilled street dance artists, directed by Jackie “Miss Funk” Lopez and Leigh “Breeze-Lee” Foaad, Versa-Style Street Dance Company performs in Rochester for the first time! Paying homage to Street Dance styles such as Waacking, Popping, and House, as well as a blend of Afro-Latin styles such as salsa and West African, “Rooted Rhythms” is an unforgettable evening of dance representative of the diverse experiences of the BIPOC communities of Los Angeles.

www.sas.rochester.edu/PerformingArts/events/index.html UR Institute for the Performing Arts

The Volition Project School of the Arts: Allen Main Stage

Sun., Sep. 20 6pm À 60 mins 16+ $12

www.instagram.com/volition.project/

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Reclaim agency - break the silence resilience and resistance - sensuality in truth: a collection of works choreographed by artists from central and western New York highlighting the conflict between expected femininity, women’s mental health, and the autonomy women grapple with maintaining when it comes to the bodies they were born in. Trigger warning: themes of SA, mental health, abortion and other various issues that women deal with.

KIDS FRINGE

Cirque 101 Workshop

Fairy Magic

Joseph Avenue Arts and Culture

School of the Arts: Club SOTA

Sat., Sep. 19 1:00pm • Sat., Sep. 26 1:00pm À 55 mins ALL AGES FREE Have you always wanted to run away and join the circus? Or maybe just learn some of those great circus skills? Here's your chance! You get to skip the hardships of living on the road! Who knows, maybe this will launch your own “cirque” career!? Ted Baumhauer of Red Tie Variety will host these two fun sessions on the basics of balancing and juggling. Come to either one or both sessions for beginners or intermediate jugglers!

Sat., Sep. 19 3:30pm • Sat., Sep. 26 1:30pm À 40 mins All Ages $10

Red Tie Variety

Karen Kazaam

Craft Roulette Strathallan: Century Club Wed., Sep. 16 7:15pm • Thu., Sep. 17 7:15pm • Sun., Sep. 20 3pm • Sun., Sep. 20 7:15pm • Sat., Sep. 26 10:30am À 60 mins 5+ $15 Take a new craft for a spin as you step into a hands-on maker experience where creativity rules the room. Guided by teaching artists from Teaching Artists ROC, you can explore a variety of craft stations throughout the hour, trying different art forms, techniques, and materials at your own pace. Drop in, experiment, make something unexpected, and discover the joy of creating alongside others in this playful Fringe-style art experience. https://teachingartistsroc.org/rocfringe Teaching Artists ROC

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Disco Kids

A fairy themed magic show including bubbles, flowers, beads and bells! A unicorn puppet will help entertain, given the mystical bond between fairies and unicorns, and the natural affinity between children and puppets. No magic wand needed here: pixie dust reigns supreme. Bubbles will turn into orbs, flowers appear from nowhere, individual beads will magically adhere and grow. A bell will mysteriously ring: a clear sign fairies are near. Attend in fairy attire for free admittance!

Dawn's Spiegelgarden Sat., Sep. 26 12pm À 120 mins All Ages FREE Back by popular demand. Big party for pint-sized dance machines takes over Dawn's Spiegelgarden at One Fringe Place. The next generation of club kids is here, popping and pouting up a storm. Disco Kids is a nonstop, fun-filled dance extravaganza that is the talk of kid town. Lights, music, and glow sticks. Welcome to the Fringe's not so silent disco.

Freeze Frame: A Juggling Experience! Gibbs Street Fri., Sep. 18 6pm • Sat., Sep. 19 6pm À 30 mins All Ages FREE Freeze Frame with John and Ted is a high-energy, family-friendly show where you are the star! With wild juggling, hilarious magic, and nonstop laughs, these two comedic pros put volunteers right in the heart of the action. It’s all about creating unforgettable, picture-perfect moments—live and on stage. Forget selfies—Freeze Frame is your time to shine! https://redtievariety.com/upcoming-shows/ Red Tie Variety

It’s About Time! Strathallan: Century Club Sun., Sep. 20 1pm • Wed., Sep. 23 7pm • Thu., Sep. 24 7pm À 60 mins All Ages $10 Time travel, magic, and bubbles bigger than your head. Using their combined performing experience of 50+ years, Doug Rougeux and John Wolfson curate unforgettable moments by blending magic, fleeting bubble sculptures, juggling, and hilarity. At this show the egg definitely comes before the chicken so buy your ticket before it is too late to find out how half past bubbles and watermelon o’clock can be the same moment. www.abouttimeshow.com

Doug Rougeux of BubbleMania and Jon Wolfson Magic

National Day of Play

Dawn's Spiegelgarden

Sat., Sep. 26 12pm À 180 mins All Ages FREE

The kiddie fun continues with street Chalk Art, one of the most popular, FREE, family-friendly events at the Rochester Fringe Festival. Kids transform the central Dawn’s Spiegelgarden into one giant, colorful tapestry of color during this artistic extravaganza. We bring the chalk, you bring the creativity! Fun for all ages, including parents, of course.

LIKAH!

Healthi Kids and Western NY Chapter of the International Play Assocaiton

ROC Cinema Sun., Sep. 20 12:30pm À 60 mins All Ages $5 Be the first to experience LIKAH! (LEE-Kah.) A Puppy Musical Movie! Filled with toe-tapping songs, family-friendly humor, and engaging performances, this special screening will feature sing-a-longs and live puppeteers — with their nutty squirrel puppets! And - meet the real Border Collie who inspired the musical tool! LIKAH!’s enchanting spirit inspires audiences of all ages to greet each new day with the joy of new adventures. http://www.deeparts.org

DEEP Arts

Marcel Lucont: Les Enfants Terribles-A Gameshow for Awful Children Spiegeltent

The award-winning Marcel Lucont (Comedy Central) presents a wild family gameshow, in which kids get to be pests, politicians -- and worse! -- to compete to be crowned the most awful child of the day. See what happens when international insouciance meets infantile exuberance. Voted Top 10 Kids Shows of the Edinburgh Fringe 2022 by Time Out. Winner of Best Kids Show at the UK Kids Comedy Festival 2022.

National Day of Play - Parcel 5 Parcel 5 Fri., Sep. 18 5pm • Sat., Sep. 19 5pm À 120 mins All Ages FREE Celebrate National Day of Play with Healthi Kids and the Western New York chapter of the International Play Association with the biggest play day Rochester has ever seen! Want to build a fort with Jenga blocks? Create a masterpiece with sidewalk chalk? Invent a new game? Awesome! We’ll have lots of activities and supplies to get your imagination going. Whether you stop by on your way to another show or spend the whole day playing with us, there will be fun for all ages.

Port-a-Globe Punch and Judy School of the Arts: Commons Sat., Sep. 19 3pm • Sun., Sep. 20 3pm • Sat., Sep. 26 1pm À 30 mins All Ages FREE Back at Fringe for its fourth year by popular demand, the legendary Punch and Judy Show, the funniest puppet show in the history of English puppetry. It’s the story of the bungling Mr. Punch, his smarter wife Judy, their baby, and characters including a clown, a doctor, a crocodile, a swarm of bees, and several others. This is a laugh-out-loud show in which the audience is invited to shout out advice to the puppets. “One of the best options for kids”—CITY Magazine. https://portaglobepuppets.com

Port-A-Globe

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Sat., Sep. 19 2:30pm À 60 mins All Ages $27

KIDS FRINGE

Kids Chalk Art

KIDS FRINGE

Pumpkin Painting

Sub-Zero Science

Dawn's Spiegelgarden

School of the Arts: Ensemble Theatre

Sat., Sep. 26 12pm À 120 mins All Ages FREE

Sat., Sep. 26 1pm À 50 mins 5+ $10

Celebrate the beginning of fall by painting your own Fringe-tastic pumpkin. From faces to crazy designs, from spooky to silly, we want to see what your creativity brings to these pumpkin pallets. Fun and kid-friendly, this is an activity for the whole family to join in on. Paint your pumpkin and then bring it home to show off your skills!

Join presenters from the Rochester Museum and Science Center for an explosive dive into the extreme science of liquid nitrogen! At -320.5°F, this show reveals the mind-blowing effects of temperature on matter through dramatic phase-change demonstrations. Watch solids shrink, hot dogs shatter, levitating fog, and a gas-powered pingpong ball take flight—culminating in a volatile liquid nitrogen explosion that’s as educational as it is unforgettable. RMSC.org/FringeSubZero

Rich The Magic Man Total Pandemonium Magic Show JCC CenterStage Theatre: Ballroom Stage Sat., Sep. 19 11am • Sat., Sep. 26 11:30am À 60 mins All Ages $15 Get ready for "Total Pandemonium!" Rich The Magic Man brings 40 years of high-energy, interactive magic, comedy, audience participation, surprises, and nonstop laughs to the Rochester Fringe Festival! Kids and adults will learn magic tricks, become part of the show, and have the best day ever! A one-of-a kind, must see experience! Limited tickets available, so get yours before they disappear! www.RichTheMagicMan.Fun

Rich The Magic Man

The Hochstein School: The Chapel

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Sun., Sep. 20 11:30am À 40 mins All Ages $10

Blackfriars Theatre Tue., Sep. 15 6pm • Sat., Sep. 26 1pm À 60 mins All Ages $5 Step into a world of mischievous puppets with “Three Short Stories!” Buencanto Productions brings “The Fisherman and His Wife,” “King Midas and the Golden Touch,” and “Anansi and the Pot of Wisdom” to life in humorous, cautionary tales about the dangers of greed and vanity. With clever tricks, lively puppetry, magical storytelling, and playful characters, this family-friendly show delights and teaches timeless lesBuencanto Productions sons for all ages.

Twinkle twinkle little star

SleepyTime Concerts Shh! Step out of the noise and daily busyness. Come to an oasis, where classical music will be performed on the quiet, gentle toy piano. Delight in hearing music of great composers on this tiny, magical instrument. Sit, lie down, dance! Perfect for the young, young-at-heart, and those who like quirky! Pianist Paula Rodney Bobb has performed on toy piano in concert with dancers and a Mozart concerto with the RPO. www.tickletheivoriesmusic.com

Three Short Stories A Puppet Show

Paula Rodney Bobb

SOTA: Allen Main Stage Theatre Sat., Sep. 26 12pm À 60 mins All Ages $15 A fun children's theatre show. A little girl is trying to go to bed, she reads her favorite book with her friend "little star." With her book she meets your favorite nursery characters. The cow and the moon, Kittens and Mittens and more. In the end our favorite little girl dreams while dancing among the stars. Written and choreographed by Joshua Lang. Most appropriate for children ages 4 to 12. https://rochesterfringe.com/tickets-and-shows/twinkletwinkle-little-star Joshua Lang

Bella and the Witch

Gibbs Street

School of the Arts: Black Box Theatre

Fri., Sep. 18 5:15pm • Fri., Sep. 18 7pm • Sat., Sep. 19 5:15pm • Sat., Sep. 19 7pm À 20 mins All Ages FREE

Sat., Sep. 19 4pm • Sat., Sep. 26 12pm À 30 mins All Ages $15 Kids ticket $10

Join 3AM Theatre on the streets in the crepuscular hours of the ESL Rochester Fringe Festival as they bring contemporary circus performance straight to you. While you make your way to or from a show, make sure to stop by for an unforgettable 20 minutes of hand balancing, contortion archery, acrobatic juggling, tight wire work, and original music.

Inspired by the story of Baba Yaga, “Bella and the Witch” is a dance theater piece by Laurie MacFarlane with props by Martha Schermerhorn and music by Parker Callister. When Bella’s mom sends her on an errand to her mysterious aunt’s house, Bella must use her wits, charm, and even some magic to defeat the witch and return safely home. Called a “bizarre world of witches, moving trees, and stolen light” by City Magazine, “Bella and the Witch” is fast-paced, funny, and just a little bit scary! https://www.facebook.com/commotiondancetheater

9th Avenue Street Circus Bright Threads

Dawn's Spiegelgarden Sat., Sep. 26 12pm À 180 mins All Ages FREE A duo performance featuring multiple circus skills simultaneously combined, forming a kinesthetic compilation far greater than the sum of its parts. Balancing, spinning, juggling, hula hooping, teetering on unstable surfaces—all at the same time! Geriatric acrobatics and audience participation, a multitasking marvel for family friendly fun in Dawn's Spiegelgarden. http://instagram.com/Dan_Wasdahl 9th Avenue Street Circus

At the Masquerade Ball Roc City Circus

Step into a world of mystery and enchantment in “At the Masquerade Ball,” where secrets hide behind every mask. Rochester’s own Roc City Circus blends breathtaking aerial artistry, mesmerizing juggling, and heart-pounding flying trapeze performances. Audiences will be swept away by the glamour, suspense, and gravitydefying feats that define this unforgettable spectacle. Join us for an evening where illusion and reality collide, and every moment is a thrilling surprise. http://roccitycircus.com

Wed., Sep. 16 6pm • Sun., Sep. 20 5pm À 60 mins All Ages $20 Mount Hope World Singers (artistic director: Annika Bentley), composers and musical artists Ken Luk, (mbira), Leah Ou, (pipa), and Alyssa Rodriguez, (nyckelharpa), and choreographer Donetta Tchoroleev will present an immersive, multidisciplinary concert which will draw on and reinterpret global historical examples of music as medicine, creating a transformative new work and audience experience focused on common humanity and emphasizing healing connection. http://mounthopeworldsingers.org Mount Hope World Singers

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Fri., Sep. 18 8pm • Sat., Sep. 19 2pm • Sat., Sep. 19 7pm • Sun., Sep. 20 4pm À 75 mins All Ages $30

Blackfriars Theatre

MULTIDISCIPLINARY & CIRCUS

3AM Theatre

ROC City Circus

MULTIDISCIPLINARY & CIRCUS ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Cirque du Fringe: Anchors Away Spiegeltent

DANDELION SOTA: Black Box Theatre

Throughout the Festival À 90 mins 13+ From $38

Wed., Sep. 16 6pm • Thu., Sep. 24 8pm À 60 mins 16+ $12

All New for 2026! Is there a doctor in the house?! You may just need one to treat you for all the heart-stopping entertainment that awaits you on board the beautiful HMS Spiegeltent! Let our crew whisk you away on a cruise of a lifetime that will leave you feeling like a cheeky sunset cocktail on the open sea. Hosted by the high strung, overly familiar, and “charming” cruise director, this night promises to be a night you won’t soon forget. High Seas. High Stakes. HighFlying Circus!

Created and performed by Cat D. Olson / CAT + THE COYOTE, “DANDELION” is an evolving contemporary performance memoir built from collections of personal histories and imagined futures. Begun in 2022, the work explores nostalgia, survivorship, aging, self-perception, family, loss, and the shifting meanings of memories over time. Blending movement and theatrical performance, “DANDELION” invites audiences into an intimate meditation on how we carry, revise, and relive our personal histories.

Commotion Dance Theater and Friends The Rose Room

http://www.catandthecoyote.com

CAT + THE COYOTE

DIY Oracle Card: Design Your Future

Sat., Sep. 19 6pm • Sun., Sep. 20 6pm World Premier À 60 mins 13+ FREE

SOTA: Commons

Dance, music, and poetry in the South Wedge: Dancers Ruben T. Ornelas, Alaina Olivieri, Nanako Horikawa Mandrino and Ryley St. Rose-Finear present whimsical dances to music by Mexican composers Manuel Ponce, Felipe Villanueva, and Silvestre Revueltas, performed live by Kevin Wang on piano, and Cynthia Qiyue He on violin. The show will also include “Mostly Red,” a dance theater work by Laurie MacFarlane performed to music by Dan Farkas.

Thu., Sep. 17 7pm • Fri., Sep. 18 7pm À 55 mins 5+ FREE

Ruben T. Ornelas

Oracle Hour: come in and create your own mystical oracle cards. Drop by to design one or more personalized affirmation cards with your own divinely-channeled artwork to guide your spiritual journey. Pop in and we'll supply all the materials and prompts needed to inspire. Simply bring an openness to explore and interpret. Step out of the past and into your future. With artistic guidance from Sha-Mom Jan. www.instagram.com/janfeldmanartist/

jan feldman

Dram-o-cracy Spiegeltent Fri., Sep. 18 5pm À 60 mins 21+ $27 Sample four premium, unreleased, single malts from the award-winning Finger Lakes Distilling in this exclusive, insider tasting experience led by president Brian McKenzie. Set in the Spiegeltent at happy hour, guests will sip, savor, and learn about the whiskey-making process - then cast their vote. The winning whiskey will be laid down and bottled as the official 2027 Fringe Whiskey. Bold spirits, expert guidance, and a Fringe twist: at Dram-o-cracy, every sip -and every vote- counts.

Austin Steward Plaza Sat., Sep. 19 11am • Sat., Sep. 19 1pm À 60 mins All Ages FREE Oil and water don’t mix. Watch this clash between performers of multiple forms of art: team oil (representing fossil fuel hegemony) versus team water (representing the Genesee River and its surrounding ecosystem). Cheer, jeer, and decide which side is best! This experience will challenge and inspire the audience to take worry and anger about climate change and turn it into action and power! www.instagram.com/ecovibesroc/

The Ego & The Oracle Blackfriars Theatre

Flotsam & Jetsam by Big Teeth Collective Parcel 5 Fri., Sep. 18 5:15pm • Fri., Sep. 18 7:30pm • Sat., Sep. 19 5:15pm • Sat., Sep. 19 7:30pm À 30 mins All Ages FREE Big Teeth Performance Collective is thrilled to premiere Flotsam & Jetsam at Rochester Fringe! Flotsam and Jetsam is new work by existing company Big Teeth Performance Collective: a dynamic, colorful, 30-minute outdoor show for all ages. When their worlds fall apart and the characters find themselves falling through time and space, they learn, in extravagant and everyday ways, how to reach out to each other for support.

Frequency and Flow

Fri., Sep. 25 10pm • Sat., Sep. 26 8pm À 75 mins 18+ $20

JCC CenterStage Theatre: Ballroom Stage

Part improvisational theater, part cabaret, part audience participation, "The Ego & The Oracle" is a live stage spectacular where shuffle play meets the I-Ching. Audience members are invited on stage to ask personal questions of the Oracle. They then spin a giant wheel containing songs by Jim's Big Ego. When the wheel stops, the band performs the chosen song, which is then interpreted as the answer to the question by author Shawn Peters.

Wed., Sep. 23 7:30pm À 60 mins 16+ $15

https://bigego.com/bio/the-ego-and-the-oracle/ Jim's Big Ego

https://tinyurl.com/yc5effp4

Et al. - Queerky Science on the Fringe SOTA: Allen Main Stage Theatre

Et al. - Queerky Science Nights is an after-hours science series where top scholars present in a queer bar, and we dance. Now the show goes Fringe, on stage! Live science (colors?), dance, music, and a mystery expert whose field will make you question everything your senses tell you. You'll be part of it. Who gets to call something a fact? Come find out. Intentionally uncensored. Gloriously unresolved. Et al.

Grow 2 B U

From the Depths Memorial Art Gallery: Centennial Sculpture Park Fri., Sep. 18 3pm • Sat., Sep. 19 3pm • Sun., Sep. 20 3pm À 360 mins All Ages FREE Join SUNY Geneseo and a 65-foot inflatable kinetic sculpture of a sperm whale by artist Billie Lynn for environmental art that will explore human (dis)connections with the ecosystems that help us survive and thrive. The program will include cello and dance performances, eco-film screenings, literary readings, science talks and more. Or simply drop by to see the whale sculpture and learn more about ecology, whales, and how art can help us connect with the environment around us. http://www.billiegracelynn.com/#/havewhalewilltravel/ SUNY Geneseo

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Fri., Sep. 25 8pm À 60 mins All Ages $20

http://www.etalia.me

Step into an immersive experience where sound, movement, and light come together in a living work of art. From LA to NYC, notable artists Alana Cahoon, Lisa Gates and ensemble create a sensory journey designed to be both witnessed and felt. Flowing movement, crystal singing bowls, harp, gong, drums, and voices invite the audience to witness and feel the power of vibration, awakening deeper states of awareness and resonance.

MULTIDISCIPLINARY & CIRCUS

EcoVibes - Oil and Water Don’t Mix

MULTIDISCIPLINARY & CIRCUS ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Gameshow! Gameshow! Gameshow!: A Games Show

Invisible No More

The Focus Theater

Sat., Sep. 19 2pm À 45 mins 13+ FREE

Wed., Sep. 23 9pm • Fri., Sep. 25 9pm • Sat., Sep. 26 1pm À 60 mins All Ages $15

“Invisible No More” is a multidisciplinary performance of dance, music, poetry, history, movement choir, and communal reflection. Under the direction of choreographer Anne Harris Wilcox, this re-dedication tribute is made in deference to the Mount Hope Cemetery site where hundreds of people from the 19th century almshouse, insane asylum, and penitentiary were reburied after they were discovered during an excavation of Highland Park in 1984.

Winner of the Hollywood Fringe Award for Immersive & Games. In “Game Show! Game Show! Game Show!” a mischievous host pits one side of the audience against the other in a riveting showdown! Be ready to leave your seat and compete in over 40 games, from trivia and physical challenges to custombuilt video games made just for this show. Charge your cell phones! Hailed by one audience member as “one of the best shows I’ve ever seen!” www.gameshowgameshow.com

Hephaestus SOTA: Allen Main Stage Theatre Wed., Sep. 16 6pm À 60 mins All Ages $15

Mt. Hope Cemetery

https://sas.rochester.edu/dan/news-events/calendar.html Anne Wilcox & Ward Hartenstein

John Terlazzo - Singer/ Songwriter/Poet /Storyteller JCC CenterStage Theatre: Ballroom Stage Sat., Sep. 26 6pm À 75 mins All Ages $10

“Hephaestus,” by composer Glenn McClure and librettist Wes Kennison is a jazz-infused, high-energy folk opera romp that follows the Greek god Hephaestus: from his mother tossing him out of Olympus to his redemption into becoming a master artist. Performed by School of the Arts students who participated in the New York State BOOST Grant Summer Program.

John Terlazzo is a singer-songwriter, poet, and storyteller with hundreds of original songs, decades of performance experience, three books and a dozen albums to his name. His work has been described as “Marc Chagall gone aural,” “Leonard Cohen meets Rumi,” “Modern Surrealist Gypsy Folk,” with “a depth, weight, and insight ... that only comes from a life well-lived and a willingness to explore the http://johnterlazzo.com mystery of one’s own soul.”

Hungry Ghost

Juggle Jam by the Rochester Juggling Club

SOTA

Downtown United Presbyterian Church: Hallock Lounge Thu., Sep. 17 9pm • Fri., Sep. 18 9pm À 60 mins All Ages $15 Hungry Ghost is what happens when a guitar forgets it's a guitar. A musician loops drones, textures, and broken voices into slow, ceremonial soundscapes while a dancer improvises through the haze, giving the sound a body. Earthy, otherworldly, equal parts meditation and séance. Nothing rehearsed, nothing repeated. Just two performers conjuring spirits in real time. Come for the sound. Stay for whatever it summons.

Gibbs Street Fri., Sep. 18 5pm • Sat., Sep. 19 5pm À 120 mins All Ages FREE Join the members of the Rochester Juggling Club for a fun, interactive juggling jam! Watch skilled jugglers demonstrate a variety of props and techniques, including balls, clubs and more. Curious to give it a try? Club members will be on hand to offer tips and basic instruction to anyone who wants to learn. Stop by and discover the fun of juggling!

Noise in Neon— The Mandela Effect

Parcel 5 Fri., Sep. 18 6:45pm • Fri., Sep. 18 8:45pm • Sat., Sep. 19 6:45pm • Sat., Sep. 19 8:45pm À 15 mins All Ages FREE Circus EVO’s “Lost to Me” is an intimate performance inspired by original lyrics written by composer Bella Nona. The piece is as much about music as it is about acrobatics and storytelling. Inspired by the loss of human touch in our society, “Lost to Me” explores relationships through letters, words, paper, and more. The audience sits close, invited into our world of dreams. Papers fall from the sky. What do we have to say? Where did all of our thoughts go in a world full of technology?

Lyrical Grooves

Biltmore Bar & Lounge Fri., Sep. 25 11:59pm À 60 mins 13+ $5 Black lights, music, and a story? “Noise In Neon—The Mandela Effect” is a one-person music and storytelling experience about a woman who wakes up to find herself in an alternate timeline following a solar eclipse. Featuring music ranging from rock to electronic dance, Rochester DJ and musician Rachel “Raye Black” Ratcliff narrates and performs a one-of-a-kind show that blurs the lines between concert, theatre, and reality itself. http://noiseinneon.blog

The Raye Black

The Old Ball Game: Live-Scored Baseball Silent Films

SOTA: Ensemble Theatre Sun., Sep. 20 5pm À 60 mins 13+ $20

George Eastman Museum: Dryden Theatre

Join us for an evening with the music of Jimmie Highsmith Jr. and the poetry and spoken word of Lu Highsmith. This dynamic couple will be joining creative forces to tell their story of life, love, inspiration and hope! Grammy-nominated musician Jimmie Highsmith Jr. has been on the music scene in Rochester—and beyond—for over 40 years. Poet Lu Highsmith has been elevating the poetry scene for over 20 years! Join them in their “Lyrical Grooves” as they journey from inspiration into legacy! Lucreations Productions

Sat., Sep. 26 11am • Sat., Sep. 26 1pm À 60 mins All Ages $15 The Old Ball Game celebrates America's pastime through live music, poetry, and silent film. Led by Rochester native Jared Engel, the Musicians’ Baseball Club of Brooklyn presents two award-winning live-scored films: Day of the Catch, about the Grapefruit League’s forgotten and hilarious origin, and The Mascot Race, a fast-moving baseball story set in modern-day New York. The program also features baseball-themed clips from silent-era films with original live scores. Fun for the whole family!

Miles Davis Animated

The Musicians’ Baseball Club of Brooklyn

The Hochstein School: Performance Hall

Ozma Bemshi!

Sat., Sep. 19 7pm • Sun., Sep. 20 2pm À 60 mins 5+ $20

http://www.davechisholmmusic.com

cjgroovin

MuCCC Sat., Sep. 19 4:30pm À 60 mins 13+ $8 Ozma Bemshi is a dazzling fusion of silent film, vintage music, and mythic fantasy, plunging audiences through shimmering courts, haunted orchards, and jeweled underworlds in a visually astounding theatrical descent and ascent. This original production draws inspiration from Ozma of Oz and the story of the Divine Comedy. Shadow, projection, and music collide in a luminous theatre both Word Consortium dreamlike and dangerously alive!

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

The music of Miles Davis’ groundbreaking 1950s–60s era comes to life with a creative twist. Audiences will experience cartoon illustrations from Dave Chisholm’s acclaimed graphic novel, “Miles Davis and the Search for the Sound,” and a moving soundscape of live jazz and tap dance. In concert are trumpeter and cartoonist Dave Chisholm, pianist Greg Woodsbie, saxophonist Colin Gordon, bassist David Arenius, drummer/percussionist Aaron Staebell, with Cheryl Johnson and Laurie Coles on tap.

MULTIDISCIPLINARY & CIRCUS

Lost to Me by Circus EVO

MULTIDISCIPLINARY & CIRCUS ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

The Pieces by Aloft Parcel 5 Fri., Sep. 18 6pm • Fri., Sep. 18 8pm • Sat., Sep. 19 6pm • Sat., Sep. 19 8pm À 45 mins All Ages FREE The Pieces is an acrobatic show where six artists explore eight ordinary ladders to build towers, cranes and bridges. Alone, the ladders and artists are wobbly and unsure, but in a metaphor for our times, when they come together they are strong, brave and can achieve great things. In a cultural moment defined by division and noise, The Pieces offers something physical and immediate: a reminder that resilience is built collectively, and that strength is not domination, but support.

Public Service Announcement MuCCC Thu., Sep. 17 7pm • Sat., Sep. 19 6pm À 45 mins MA $15 A riveting one-man show that follows a Black scholar amid major political shifts. Through music, monologue, lecture, and spoken word, Lamar the Therapist examines the intersections of systemic racism, mental health, criminal “justice” and social reform. Under Reuben J. Tapp’s visionary direction, he transforms personal narrative into collective reckoning, showing that art is both social movement and public service. http://instagram.com/brainiactivity Mental Wealth Records

Roc City Circus on Gibbs Street Gibbs Street Fri., Sep. 18 6:30pm • Sat., Sep. 19 6:30pm À 120 mins All Ages FREE Experience the amazing art of circus featuring your hometown aerialists from Roc City Circus. Enjoy performances on aerial silks, dance trapeze, aerial sling, corde lisse, aerial straps, globe walking and more. Then learn how you can visit our Roc City Circus center for aerial dance on University Ave and share in the passion for circus arts yourself!

Roc River Ride Genesee Valley Park Sat., Sep. 26 10am • Sat., Sep. 26 10:15am • Sat., Sep. 26 10:30am • Sat., Sep. 26 10:45am • Sat., Sep. 26 11am • Sat., Sep. 26 11:15am • Sat., Sep. 26 11:30am À 120 mins 13+ $15 Join a rolling audience on bicycles to discover Rochester's natural beauty and cultural wealth along the trails by the Genesee River and Erie Canal. Roc River Ride returns for its fifth year with new performers along a new route. Routes range from 10 miles (first hour) to 7 (11am and 11:15 departures) to 3 miles (11:30am). Bring your own bike! https://rochesterswrotary.org/event/5th-annual-roc-river-ride/ Rotary Club of Rochester-Southwest

Downtown Rochester

Shootin Starzz Showcase: Resurrection—The Rise of a Star JCC CenterStage Theatre: Ballroom Stage

Sat., Sep. 26 4pm À 240 mins All Ages FREE

Fri., Sep. 25 8:30pm À 90 mins All Ages $20

Twelve performers. Twelve locations. One downtown. This free, curated public performance event brings local artists and musicians to sidewalks, plazas, parks, and other public spaces throughout downtown Rochester during the final day of the Rochester Fringe Festival. Wander from location to location and discover live music, creative energy, and unexpected performances around every corner. Presented by Downtown ROCs, dedicated to cleaning, beautifying, and activating downtown Rochester.

“Resurrection—The Rise of a Star” is a live fashion, music, and theatrical experience by Shootin Starzz Institute x Shootin Starzz Productions for the Rochester Fringe Festival. Inspired by Mecca Starzz’s EP “Welcome Back,” the production explores healing, heartbreak, identity, and self-discovery through runway, acting, and live music performances that tell a story of transformation, resilience, and rising back into your power.

http://Instagram.com/shootinstarzzinstitute

http://downtownrocs.org

Shootin Starzz Creative Network

Sanctified Sauna

Skybound Takedown

St. Paul's Episcopal Church: Outdoors

Aerial Arts of Rochester

Throughout the Festival. À 75 mins 18+ $34

Fri., Sep. 18 6:30pm • Fri., Sep. 18 9pm • Sat., Sep. 19 2pm • Sat., Sep. 19 7pm À 60 mins All Ages $20

Breath in... and release. Sanctified Sauna embodies traditional European sauna rituals in an immersive performance to create a unique theatrical wellness experience. You’ll feel waves of heat, steam, and scents of essential oils unique for your journey. From deep restorative warmth to the invigorating cold, you'll leave the toxicity of daily life behind and discover the story of purification and wellness. Set yourself apart at the hottest and coolest fringe show to date and claim your ticket NOW! http://sanctifiedsauna.com

Gus Pro Studio

Step into the ring and look up! “Skybound Takedown” mashes cirque and pro-wrestling into a high-flying, laugh-out-loud family friendly event. Expect bigger-than-life characters, playful rivalries, and surprising feats as aerialists battle overhead, wrestlers bring the drama on the ground, and jugglers keep the energy popping in both. It’s campy. It’s silly. It’s spectacular! You’ll leave cheering for your favorite character. https://www.aerialartsrochester.com Aerial Arts of Rochester

MULTIDISCIPLINARY & CIRCUS

ROC’ing the Streets A Downtown Music Crawl

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

MULTIDISCIPLINARY & CIRCUS ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Sock Puppet Secrets

Spirits

Java's

The Biltmore Bar & Lounge

Thu., Sep. 17 6pm • Sat., Sep. 19 6pm À 180 mins All Ages FREE

Wed., Sep. 16 10:30pm • Wed., Sep. 23 6pm À 60 mins 18+ $15

Step right into an interactive experience of being heard. Folks, this is no puppet show. It’s not creative things to do with leftover laundry. A genuine sock puppet with a few loose threads waits to hand over your special question. Close the curtain. Summon your silly. Or say the first thing that comes to mind. Sock puppets are the best listeners. Say it to the sock! Bonus: Your anonymous answer could be part of October's RIT City Art Space show about our common threads.

Spirits is a performance of poems, songs and stories from Jacob Rakovan, National Endowment for the Arts and New York Foundation for the Arts poetry fellow and career bartender. It will explore the intersections of memories, survivor’s guilt, ghosts and alcohol. Expect Appalachian murder ballads, Low-fi hillbilly blues, invocations of ghosts, moonshine and whiskey.

Stages Stardust Diner

Sound of Sanctuary (SOS)

Salena's

Downtown United Presbyterian Church Sanctuary

Sun., Sep. 20 5pm À 60 mins All Ages $10

Sat., Sep. 26 12pm • Sat., Sep. 26 7:30pm À 60 mins All Ages $10

Come join us for an unforgettable evening featuring some of your favorite local talent performing iconic Broadway hits using the entire restaurant as a stage. These performances will surprise, delight and entertain you! Eat and drink while being captivated, as the evening will be complemented by a special theatrically themed menu. All proceeds from the event will go to A Magical Journey Thru Stages.

Join featured artists in listening and conversation. “Sound of Sanctuary (SOS)” is a listening session, interview, and live-performance of selected tracks from the upcoming album “SOS: A Sonic Snapshot of Rochester’s first- and secondgeneration voices.” Recorded at Wicked Squid Studio and made possible by the GVCA’s Aid to Localities Grant, “SOS” weaves co-authored original songwriting, interviews, and field recordings into a live album exploring the sound of Rochester as a sanctuary city. www.anaglogmusic.com

Anaglog

Spicy Tarot Salena's Wed., Sep. 16 6:30pm • Wed., Sep. 23 6:30pm À 60 mins MA FREE Spice up your night with an erotic tarot reading! Tarot readers Mace and Gene will provide erotic and romantic readings for singles, couples, throuples, foursomes, and moresomes! Bring your pals, partners, and polycules over to their tables for sexy foresights, insights, and good views. Be nice and maybe they'll be naughty. Readings are first come, first served. http://www.instagram.com/spiciest_tarot/

www.salenas.com

Summer Break by FLIP Fabrique Parcel 5 Fri., Sep. 18 7pm • Fri., Sep. 18 9pm • Sat., Sep. 19 7pm • Sat., Sep. 19 9pm À 30 mins All Ages FREE Québec-based FLIP Fabrique is renowned around the world for its joyful and stunning acrobatics. The troupe includes world-class artists crafting new shows such as Summer Break, a playful take on youthful experiences. Performing free at the Fringe, FLIP Fabrique has been performing since 2015, including in the most prestigious international circus institutions and festivals .

21: A Tribute to Adele

Dawn's Spiegelgarden

Thu., Sep. 17 6pm À 60 mins 13+ $20

Wed., Sep. 23 7:30pm À 90 mins 16+ FREE

Experience a powerful live performance celebrating the 15-year anniversary of Adele’s iconic album “21.” Performed by seasoned Fringe musicians who brought you shows like “Dark Side of the Moon” and “Allison’s Angry Girl Era,” this show will pay tribute to the #1 best-selling album of the 21st century, featuring moving performances of Adele’s biggest hits, including “Rolling in the Deep,” “Set Fire to Rain,” and more!

Join journalists from CITY Magazine as they host an arts, culture, and all-things-Rochester trivia night. Test your knowledge on topics ranging from the Rochester Royals to chicken french to the White Lady and more! Score fun prizes, tickets, and maybe even something from the 2018 Fringe lost-and-found. Gather your team—up to a max of six players—for a trivia night in Dawn’s Spiegelgarden under the stars. Not to be missed!

JCC CenterStage Theatre: Ballroom Stage

MUSIC

Trivia CITY: An Arts & Culture Quiz

www.facebook.com/AllisonEberhardtMusic

Window Scrolling Delmonico & Dugdale Strings Window Front Thu., Sep. 24 7pm • Sat., Sep. 26 7pm À 120 mins All Ages FREE In a storefront where visibility replaces audibility, performance becomes an act of longing. Audiences gather on the street, watching through glass as a series of string-based works unfold— string quartets, duos, solos, and avant-garde compositions with mannequin-like movers suspended between motion and stillness. At select moments, a few audience members may be invited inside, crossing the threshold from observer to participant. Within, sound returns—intimate, immediate, and immersive.

Your Fringe Wedding School of the Arts: Club SOTA Sun., Sep. 20 4:30pm À 60 mins 18+ $15

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Do you love a wedding? Of course you do! There is dancing! Fancy outfits! And Cake! Who is getting married? Anyone who wants to! Grab yourself a marriage license and a spouse to be! We will read some vows, you kiss-em and then we dance! Want to get married to more than one person!? We have paperwork-free marriages available, too! Don't want to get wed at all! Perfect— every wedding needs guests! Dress code: Over the top and outrageous! Email the officiant for more: Genes Good Entertainment Gallagej@gmail. com

MUSIC

The ABBA Reunion Tribute Show

All These Pretty Things

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Memorial Art Gallery: Lynne Lovejoy Parlor

Sat., Sep. 26 3pm • Sat., Sep. 26 7pm À 75 mins 5+ $25

Fri., Sep. 18 3:30pm • Sat., Sep. 19 1pm • Sun., Sep. 20 1:30pm À 60 mins 21+ $25

Direct from a London West End producer, “The ABBA Reunion Tribute Show” gives ABBA fans the opportunity to re-live the iconic ABBA phenomenon that swept the airwaves and discos during the ’70s and ’80s in a truly authentic, feel-good, party-style tribute concert. Featuring timeless classics including “Mamma Mia,” “Super Trouper,” “Take a Chance,” “Dancing Queen,” and many more! https://www.theabbareuniontributeshow.com

Across the Sea: Finding My Voice SOTA: Ensemble Theatre

Across the Sea: Finding My Voice is an intimate concert blending jazz, opera, pop, and original music, tracing vocalist Sandra Keerthi’s journey through identity, artistry, and belonging. Through reimagined covers, original songs, and personal storytelling, she shares her evolution from performing jazz in India to operatic repertoire and discovering her path as a singer-songwriter. A reflective and heartfelt musical experience. SKG Sounds

All The Blues You Can Use: Bill Schmitt and the Bluesmasters ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Biltmore Bar & Lounge

Tue., Sep. 22 8:30pm • Sat., Sep. 26 9pm À 60 mins All Ages $10 This ain’t your granddad’s blues show! Bill Schmitt and the Bluesmasters, one of the region’s most indemand blues bands, brings a slice of its high-energy stage show to the Rochester Fringe Festival! A staple of clubs and festivals, Bill Schmitt and the Bluesmasters has gained a dedicated following for the band’s high-level musicianship and interactive, danceable blues shows. Get ready to put on your dancing shoes and have a natural ball with The Bluesmasters! http://thebluesmasters.net

https://traceyyarad.com/all-these-pretty-things

Araspel Biltmore Bar & Lounge

Fri., Sep. 18 7pm À 45 mins 13+ $10

http://sandrakeerthi.com/fringefestival

Award-winning one-woman musical memoir by Tracey Yarad. When a 23-year marriage implodes, heartbreak becomes a fearless, funny, and deeply moving journey through music and storytelling. Performed internationally, including acclaimed seasons at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Adelaide Fringe, this razor-sharp show explores reinvention, resilience, and starting over.

Sat., Sep. 19 8pm • Sun., Sep. 20 8:30pm • Mon., Sep. 21 6pm • Mon., Sep. 21 7:15pm À 75 mins All Ages $20 A concert dedicated to Armenian piano music. Araspel is the awardwinning third album by pianist and mathematician Laura Farré Rozada, who specializes in contemporary music. The repertoire is a constant dialogue between Armenian composers and authors from other European countries. Featuring works by Komitas, Nenov, Spendiaryan, Chebotarian, Debussy and Babadjanian. https://www.laurafarrerozada.com/

Laura Farré Rozada

The B-Sides of Broadway: A Cabaret of Cut Songs Downtown United Presbyterian Church: Hallock Lounge Sat., Sep. 19 2:30pm • Wed., Sep. 23 7:30pm À 60 mins 13+ $10 In the DNA of every classic musical are the B-sides that were cut from the show. Join actor Connor McGuire and pianist Dane Noble-Rosema for an intimate cabaret exploring the songs that never made it to Broadway and the stories behind them. Featuring rarely heard music by Stephen Sondheim, Alan Menken, Kander and Ebb, among others, experience modern and genderbent interpretations of their most niche offerings! Additional vocals by Brittany Quinzi and vocal direction by Deborah Conquest.

A Capella Time with Eight Beat Measure and Vocal Accent

The Little: Theatre 1

Fri., Sep. 25 8:15pm À 60 mins All Ages FREE

Sat., Sep. 19 3:05pm À 45 mins All Ages FREE

Brian Tomaszewski blends banjo, guitar, live looping, juggling, percussion, and storytelling into a high-energy, one-man vaudeville adventure inspired by musical and performance traditions from around the world. Experience rhythms, languages, instruments, and vaudeville arts woven into a fast-paced theatrical journey where every live loop is created on the spot then deleted forever—making each performance unique.

Join us for a lively hour of a cappella music featuring three of RIT’s standout vocal groups! The always entertaining Brick City Singers, known for their signature Hawaiian shirts, will kick things off with a mix of classic pop hits. Then, enjoy smooth jazz selections from Grace Note, RIT’s newest a cappella ensemble. The show wraps up with Proof of Purchase, RIT’s original co-ed group, delivering highenergy, feel-good tunes that are sure to leave you smiling.

https://briantomaszewskimusic.com/ff/

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Banjos & Juggling: A World Vaudeville Adventure

www.rit.edu/ntid/sunshine

A Capella Time with Proof of Bennie Jaye Polishing My Craft Songs Set to Poems by Martha Kelch Purchase, Grace Notes and Kaminari The Little: Theatre 1

Biltmore Bar & Lounge Tue., Sep. 15 5pm • Wed., Sep. 16 5pm À 75 mins 13+ FREE Bennie Jaye performs songs set to poems written by her late partner, Martha Kelch, who passed away in 2020 leaving behind a stack of poems a foot tall and very few other material things. While many of Martha’s poems explore serious topics, her distinct voice and humor add levity and unexpected emotional twists. Fair do’s: songs are of a sexual nature; you’ve been warned! https://benniejaye.com

Brazilian Jazz Quartet St. Paul’s Episcopal Church: Front of Sanctuary Fri., Sep. 18 7pm • Sat., Sep. 19 7pm À 60 mins 5+ $15

https://dreamfloatmusic.com/

Dream Float

Experience the vibrant sounds of RIT’s a cappella scene as three dynamic groups take the stage! First is Encore, RIT’s first soprano/ alto group, delivering everything from early 2000s hits to today’s pop favorites. Next up is Vocal Accent, another powerhouse soprano/alto group known for its bold blend of rock, soul, and modern pop. Closing out the evening is Kaminari, RIT’s only Japanese a cappella group, performing a unique and exciting mix of songs from across Japanese music genres.

A Capella Time with Surround Sound, Brick City Singers and Encore The Little: Theatre 1 Sat., Sep. 26 2:30pm À 45 mins All Ages FREE Join us for a memorable evening of music featuring two of RIT’s standout a cappella groups! Eight Beat Measure, RIT’s original a cappella ensemble with over 30 years of history, will showcase a wide-ranging repertoire spanning multiple genres. Then, enjoy the rich harmonies of Surround Sound, RIT’s premier barbershop group, as they perform everything from barbershop classics to pop hits—and maybe even a Disney tune or two!

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An exciting blend of modern jazz and Brazilian rhythms, Dream Float presents: Chris Palace Brazilian Jazz Quartet. Performing Brazilian styles including Samba, Baião, Forró, Afoxé, Maracatu, and Bossa Nova. The band features Chris Palace on drums, Thomas Mariano on keys, Eric Heveron -Smith on bass/trombone, and Ava Sauer on vocals performing Brazilian standards infused with adventurous improvisation and spontaneous interaction.

Fri., Sep. 25 6:45pm À 45 mins All Ages FREE

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Carmen Adores Drag Roulette ALL STARS

Cobbs Hill Consort

ROC Cinema

Sat., Sep. 19 11am • Sun., Sep. 20 11am À 60 mins All Ages $10

Sat., Sep. 19 8pm À 60 mins 13+ $10 Join your current reigning Miss Gay Rochester, Carmen Adore, and her wheel of songs as your favorite Rochester entertainers take a spin to see what song they will have to perform on the spot without any practice. This popular show is full of twists, and you’ll never know what to expect. For one night only, Carmen brings Drag Roulette to the legendary ROC Cinema for a show like no other. You won’t want to miss this! www.roccinema.com

Carmen Adore Ent.

Memorial Art Gallery: Bausch & Lomb Parlor

The Cobbs Hill Consort is a unique Rochester acoustic ensemble featuring Native American flute and world flutes, supported by living sounds of guitar, harp, drums and percussion. Soothing, emotive, and transporting music engages you in a journey of the heart. With over a dozen Fringe performances, Jefferson Svengsouk (Native American flute) and Sandy Gianniny (harp) of University of Rochester Medicine Palliative Care return to share the gift of their healing energies and creative http://cobbshillconsort.com collaboration.

Charming Disaster’s Musical Oracle Coldwater Blues SOTA: Black Box Theatre

JCC CenterStage Theatre: Ballroom Stage

Thu., Sep. 17 8pm • Fri., Sep. 18 8pm • Sat., Sep. 19 8pm À 60 mins 13+ $18 NYC goth-folk duo Charming Disaster returns to Rochester with an interactive cabaret-concert where audience members determine the set list by drawing cards from the Charming Disaster Oracle Deck— a Tarot-style divination that makes each performance unique. Featuring the duo’s playfully dark original songs inspired by myth, magic, monsters, and mortality (including brand new, unreleased material). What mysterious destiny awaits? Find out before it’s too late… http://charmingdisaster.com/rff

Charming Disaster

Chile and Chocolate ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Sat., Sep. 19 3pm • Thu., Sep. 24 7pm À 60 mins All Ages $10 Join mezzo-soprano Mariami Bekauri and pianist Hilda Collins for an operatic performance ideal for chocolate and poetry lovers alike. Celebrate the music of American composers Peter Lieberson and Lee Hoiby with “Neruda Songs,” a setting of the words of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, and the one-woman opera “Bon Appétit!,” a whimsical musical monologue on Julia Child’s recipe for chocolate cake. www.mezzomariami.com Mariami Bekauri, mezzo-soprano

Sat., Sep. 26 8pm À 90 mins 13+ $18 With a shared passion for the blues and an eclectic collection of musical influences, Coldwater Blues is sustained by the joy of performing for others. The band is led by Myriah Marsh-Hall, whose range and style pay homage to blues and blues rock legends like Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt, Koko Taylor, The Allman Brothers and the Tedeschi Trucks band, to name a few. Myriah is joined by Jim Rappleye (guitar), Joe Mulrooney (piano), Steve Walters (base), and Pete Steltmann (drums). http://coldwaterblues.com

Coldwater Blues

Composers’ Concert, Featuring Eastman Student Composers Eastman School of Music: Hatch Recital Hall Thu., Sep. 24 7:30pm À 75 mins All Ages FREE From its inception in 1921, Eastman School of Music has been a center for music composition and for the performance of new and recent music. Made up entirely of music written by Eastman student composers, this concert features the best of tomorrow’s household names, and is a celebration of the next generation of contemporary composers. The Composers’ Concert is free and open to the public!

The Little: Theatre 1

Daniel Cainer: What Am I, Chopped Liver?

Sat., Sep. 26 3:45pm À 60 mins All Ages FREE

JCC CenterStage Theatre: Ballroom Stage

Courtyard is a fully independent band from Rochester. When asked what genre they play, they ... stumble. Guitarist/Vocalist Max Klot, bassist Michael Reineke, saxophonists Ryan Richter and Everett Gianni, percussionist Ryan Keller, and pianist Roman Barnes each offer their own area of musical expertise and create a cohesive and unique sound featuring hints of rock, pop, jazz, and soul.

Wed., Sep. 23 8pm • Thu., Sep. 24 6:15pm US Premier À 75 mins 13+ $18

https://courtyardtheband.com/

Cupid’s Boomerang Biltmore Bar & Lounge Thu., Sep. 17 12am • Fri., Sep. 25 10:30pm À 60 mins 16+ $15 Cupid’s Boomerang brings a darkwave dream to the Fringe. Fronted by Suzi Willpower and guitarist Jeff Gulino, the band features Professor Don Anonymous on keys, Jay Repp on guitar, Todd Sharp on bass, and Greg Andrews on drums. Blending post-punk, power-pop, shimmering guitars, haunting keys, and driving rhythms, their immersive live show is equal parts underground club, neon nostalgia, and theatrical spectacle. www.reverbnation.com/cupidsboomerang

The Dancing Viola

A razor-sharp, richly warm and funny collection of songs inspired by current affairs, family affairs and affairs of the heart. As seen on TV, as heard on radio and as enjoyed in concerts all over the world, including seven runs off-Broadway. The multi-award-winning creator of Jewish Chronicles and Gefilte Fish & Chips returns. “Genius”—ThreeWeeks. “Lovingly detailed shaggy-dog storytelling”—Time Out. “Heartbreaking and laugh-out-loud funny”—Edinburgh Festival Guide. www.danielcainer.com

MUSIC

Courtyard

Daniel Cainer

Deep Fields: A Synambient Journey RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium Thu., Sep. 17 7:30pm • Fri., Sep. 18 7:30pm • Sat., Sep. 19 7:30pm À 60 mins All Ages $20 Lose yourself in the stillness of our vast, uncharted universe. Synambient (composers Gerry Szymanski & James Tabbi) invites you on a visceral, emotional journey. As live, shimmering ambient electronic soundscapes merge with breathtaking James Webb Space Telescope imagery, you’ll feel the profound quiet wonder of our infinitesimal presence in the great cosmos. Surrender to a sonic and visual mystery, feeling intimately connected to something greater than ourselves. rmsc.org/fringe Synambient Music Productions

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Thu., Sep. 17 7:30pm À 60 mins All Ages $15

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What if every dance told a different story? This globe-trotting program for organ, piano, and viola travels from Eastern Europe to Argentina through folk dance, theatrical drama, and tango’s unmistakable intensity. From village celebrations and salon charm to tango heat, galloping wit, and cinematic fantasy, each work unfolds as a vivid scene— rustic, elegant, fiery, playful, or dreamlike—in which the viola becomes singer, storyteller, and dancer.

MUSIC

Dust Bowl Faeries: The Cloven Pendulum, A Gothic Murder Mystery

The Fiddle Witch

SOTA: Black Box Theatre

The Fiddle Witch returns to Fringe with a collaboration with ambient musician Luminous Shade! Experience the Nordic magic of the keyed fiddle, the nyckelharpa, surrounded by lush ambient soundscapes. This show of traditional and original Nordic music will transport you to a faraway forest land filled with mystique. This show is bound to sell out again!

Thu., Sep. 24 6pm • Fri., Sep. 25 6pm • Sat., Sep. 26 8pm À 60 mins 18+ $22 Join Dust Bowl Faeries for a night of musical intrigue as we deconstruct the mysterious death of the band’s taxidermy spirit animal, Hazel the ram. Hazel lives on in the afterlife as a re-gendered faerie familiar, but her spirit cannot rest until the truth about her death is revealed and justice is served. Help us solve the mystery while enjoying an evening of dark cabaret music. Audience members are invited to participate as murder suspects and jury members in this macabre musical tableau. http://www.dustbowlfaeries.com/

Dust Bowl Faeries

Emo Yoga Photo City Music Hall Sat., Sep. 26 12pm À 90 mins 18+ $10 Trade in the mosh pit for the yoga mat for one night only! Caitlin will lead you through a 60-minute yoga class, filled with the best emo and punk pop hits and deep cuts. Flow with bands like Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance, and rock out on the mat. Caitlin is a 200-hour World Yoga Foundation certified instructor, and a successful YouTuber. As well as a lifelong emo kid. It was never a phase.

Europa at the International Plaza ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

The International Plaza Sat., Sep. 19 1pm À 240 mins All Ages FREE As part of the 2026 Rochester Fringe Festival, the International Plaza presents Europa, a high-energy tribute to Carlos Santana. Enjoy powerful renditions of classics like “Black Magic Woman,” “Oye Como Va,” and “Europa” in a vibrant, open-air celebration of Latin rock, culture, and community. Bring your dancing shoes for an unforgettable afternoon. https://tinyurl.com/hkfy8fjj

Ibero American Development Corp

The Rose Room Fri., Sep. 18 8pm • Tue., Sep. 22 7pm À 60 mins 13+ $20

www.flowercityfiddle.com

Folk Music From Around the World Downtown United Presbyterian Church: Taylor Chapel Wed., Sep. 23 7pm • Thu., Sep. 24 7pm • Fri., Sep. 25 8pm • Sat., Sep. 26 2pm À 60 mins All Ages $15 The Archive Ravens present “Folk Music From Around the World,” a showcase of traditional folk melodies transported into the soundscape of the modern age. This performance will feature songs from Japan, Armenia, Bulgaria, Lebanon, Mali, Brazil, and more. While each comes from a unique and rich cultural landscape, there are many commonalities that weave them together into a cohesive musical set. http://thearchiveravens.com

The Archive Ravens

Forest Music Washington Grove Sat., Sep. 19 4:30pm À 90 mins All Ages FREE Experience the magic of live music in the city of Rochester’s only old growth forest. Wander the trails and follow your ears to the multiple performance spaces throughout Washington Grove. This is a walking tour with uneven terrain, some steep slopes, and no formal seating. Respectful children and leashed pets are welcome. Main entrances at Cobbs Hill Reservoir and Tay House Lodge trailheads. http://friendsofwashingtongrove.org/forest-music/

The GateSwingers Big Band

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

The Hochstein School: Performance Hall

Mon., Sep. 21 7pm • Fri., Sep. 25 7pm À 60 mins All Ages $15

Sat., Sep. 26 7pm À 60 mins 5+ $20

The Greece Jazz Band is a 20-piece big band that started in 1997 as a new performing group in the Greece Performing Arts Society. The band is made up of volunteer musicians with diverse careers from music teachers to engineers, all united by their common love of performing big band jazz for enthusiastic audiences. Their set includes music from the big band era, latin jazz, pop, rock and more! They are looking forward to performing an exciting set list with something for everyone. Greece Jazz Band

A Funk Affair Downtown United Presbyterian Church: Celebration Hall Sat., Sep. 26 8:30pm À 60 mins All Ages $15 Jamall Youngblood and Soul Of The City is one of the region’s premier R&B, funk, soul bands, known for electrifying performances. Led by charismatic vocalist Jamall Youngblood, the group blends classic soul with modern energy. The band’s lineup—Doc McGowan (drums), Glenn Beard (bass), Paul Phillips (keys), Andrew Grieder (sax), Roger Williams (guitar), and backing vocalists Tameka Avant & Alexandria Brown—delivers a seamless mix of musicianship and sophistication. http://jamallyoungbloodsotc.com

Jamall Youngblood and Soul Of The City

“The GateSwingers Large Band” brings the timeless energy of swing and contemporary jazz to life for today’s audiences! From bar rooms to ball rooms, from the Fairport Canal Days, to the Rochester International Jazz Festival and the Rochester Fringe Festival, and from weddings to jazz clubs and everything in between, the band consistently earns enthusiastic responses from audiences. The GateSwingers will keep the music up and the audience http://theGateSwingers.com dancing in the aisles!

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From Swing to Spain to Spotify

Glitch Video Game Band Memorial Art Gallery: Bausch & Lomb Parlor Sun., Sep. 20 4pm À 60 mins All Ages $10 Glitch is a high-energy band that brings video game soundtracks to life with rocking, nostalgia-packed covers. Glitch, based in Rochester, features bass, drums, and keyboardplaying video game melodies. From Nintendo to PlayStation classics, the group’s performances hit every level. With two albums, including their latest, “Bug Bytes,” on Spotify, Glitch blends retro vibes with modern edge. http://facebook.com/glitchvideogameband

Glitch

The Good Old Days JCC CenterStage Theatre: Fireside Lounge Thu., Sep. 17 6pm • Wed., Sep. 23 2:30pm À 60 mins 16+ $10

Memorial Art Gallery: M&T Bank Ballroom

Take a musical journey through time with an “aging Aquarian” who is trying to figure out if she is 17 or 70! Baby Boomers—the “forever young” generation—are being blamed for a lot of today’s problems, but they also created music that younger folks still like! Award-winning singer-songwriter Bonnie Abrams took on middle age in her CD, “Welcome to my Midlife Crisis.” In “The Good ’Old’ Days”, she takes on aging with an equal amount of undignified humor!

Sat., Sep. 19 3:30pm À 60 mins All Ages $15 Whether rocking out to familiar tunes at your favorite bar or bringing the fire to a New Orleans-style second line, the Funkyard Brass Band is looking to bring the fun… and the funk! Established in 2022, the group transcends genres, blending traditional sounds with new pop hits in pursuit of a good time. Grab a chair, or better yet, your dancing shoes, and get ready for a party!

Bonnie Abrams & Friends

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Funkyard Brass Band

https://funkyard.band/

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Gospel Sunday Spiegeltent

Jake War & Mike McNeill Duo Bop Shop Records

Sun., Sep. 20 1pm À 60 mins All Ages FREE

Tue., Sep. 22 8pm À 60 mins All Ages $20

The most soulful, spiritual, uplifting experience at Fringe returns. Sing, Sunday, SING. Dr. Rickey Harvey leads an afternoon of sacred song featuring Unity of Toone, TN, Divine Nature of Rochester, and Truly Committed of Rochester. A Fringe favorite for the whole family! No tickets required. Seating is general admission and available on a first come, first-served basis. Arrive early; this event has reached standing room only capacity every year!

Jake Wark is a saxophonist and composer based in Rochester. Jake has been active in Chicago’s jazz and improvised music community for over a decade, where he regularly performed at the city’s leading outlets for creative music. Jake is joined by Michael McNeill, a pianist, improviser, and composer from Western New York. He performs in jazz settings with John Bacon, Griff Kazmierczak, Dave Phillips, and the Buffalo Jazz Composers Workshop, and in chamber www.fourletterwordsmusic.com music settings.

Ian Campbell ROC Cinema Sat., Sep. 19 5pm À 60 mins All Ages $15 Ian Campbell is a Vermont-based roots rock songwriter bringing his storyteller show back to Fringe for the third year in a row. Acoustic guitar, real stories, the kind of songs that sit with you after the drive home. Influenced by Springsteen, Ray LaMontagne, and a lot of late nights with a notebook. If you still believe a good song and a better story is worth your attention, this is your show. http://officialiancampbell.com

Joe Fonda and Bass of Operations Bop Shop Records Tue., Sep. 15 8pm À 60 mins All Ages $25 Joe Fonda and Bass of Operation is a quartet with Jeff Lederer playing clarinet, flute and piccolo, Michael Rabinowitz on bassoon, Harvey Sorgen on drums and Joe Fonda on bass. The ensemble plays compositions by bassist Harvey Sorgen. The texture and sound of the combination of the bassoon with either clarinet, flute or piccolo gives the quartet a chamber music feeling. Fonda’s compositions are a perfect fit for this unique chamber ensemble sound. Join us for a thrilling musical experience!

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

If Music Be the Food

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Johnny Dowd

Sun., Sep. 20 3pm À 60 mins All Ages FREE

Biltmore Bar & Lounge

"If Music Be the Food" is a chamber music series featuring world-class musicians uniting to benefit Rochester’s Foodlink and helping to bring awareness of food insecurity in our community. Artistic Director Mimi Hwang will curate a program for all to enjoy, in the stunning setting of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on East Avenue. Admission: cash donation or non-perishable food items. www.ifmusicbethefood.com

Tue., Sep. 15 6:30pm • Wed., Sep. 16 6:30pm • Thu., Sep. 17 6:30pm À 75 mins 21+ $15 Welcome to the music of Johnny Dowd in all its thorny beauty. For over thirty years Dowd has been taking the unexpected path, an iconoclast with few mates ... While songs about longing, loneliness, missteps, and murder are nothing new to the Americana songbook or Johnny Dowd’s work, Dowd continually reinvents his approach to these topics in a way that finds renewed energy and purpose. https://www.johnnydowd.com/

School of the Arts: Ensemble Theatre Tue., Sep. 22 7pm À 60 mins All Ages $15 Scott Bradley is the musical director and creator of audio tracks that accompany Connie FredericksMalone’s one woman show, “Alone With My Music.” Although Connie and Scott have collaborated on many music projects, “Just The Two of Us” marks the first time they will perform together. “Just The Two Of Us” is part of the SOTA POPS! series for the 2026 Rochester Fringe Festival.

Love Songs in Winter Biltmore Bar & Lounge Wed., Sep. 16 9:15pm • Mon., Sep. 21 8:30pm • Wed., Sep. 23 7:15pm • Fri., Sep. 25 6:15pm À 60 mins All Ages $10 Love Songs in Winter: A love story about the years we lose while we are busy living. Over the years two people who once couldn’t live without each other stopped paying attention. Now they sit across from each other at the same table they’ve always shared. Told through original songs and intimate, unflinching dialogue, Life on the Ground asks the question many of us are afraid to answer: when love becomes invisible, is it still there? Performed by the Front Porch Project The Front Porch Project and Project 7.

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Just the Two of Us/ Connie Fredericks-Malone and Scott Bradley

www.conniefredericksmalone.com Connie Fredericks-Malone

La Diva de L’Empire

Many Rivers Band Biltmore Bar & Lounge Fri., Sep. 18 9:30pm À 60 mins All Ages $9

Sat., Sep. 19 7:30pm À 60 mins 16+ $15 Forget the concert hall: Donatella Fermata shows you that classical music is better with a stiff drink in hand. A classically trained opera singer and drag performer, Donatella seeks to push the boundaries of classical music. Join her for an evening of French and German cabaret selections, contemporary songs by Queer composers, and musical theatre chestnuts in her recital “La Diva de L’Empire.”

The Many Rivers Band is a contemporary musical collective that has garnered attention for its fluid, genre-defying sonic palette. Characterized by an evocative blend of soul, dynamic instrumentation, and collaborative vocal performances, the group creates music designed to resonate with the head, heart and soul. The band’s latest evolution is marked by the introduction of Natascha Iannitti, a versatile vocalist who joined to collaborate for a new layer of atmospheric soulful music. https://manyriversband.com

Liz Hogg

Mid-Century Modern Jazz Quartet

Downtown United Presbyterian Church: Hallock Lounge

The Little: Theatre 1

Wed., Sep. 16 7pm À 60 mins 13+ $20

Fri., Sep. 18 5pm À 60 mins All Ages FREE

Liz Hogg will perform original music and classical guitar selections at Hallock Lounge as part of Rochester Fringe Festival. For her sophomore album—“Goodbye World Hello Something”—alt-rocker and guitar player extraordinaire Liz Hogg devised a rigorous songwriting routine, though you’d never know it listening to the 10 songs that compose the cycle. Hogg, a Brooklyn-born songwriter and classical guitarist, wrote these 10 lush tracks over 20 days between September and October 2024.

The Mid-Century Modern Jazz Quartet plays straight-up jazz from the period known in design circles as Mid-Century Modern, basically the ’40s through the ’60s. The MCMJQ features RIT Professor Emeritus Al Biles on trumpet & flugelhorn, Chuck Dye on 7-string guitar, Bruce Goldman on upright bass, and Steve Gates on drums. Their eclectic repertoire includes unique arrangements of tunes by Miles, Monk, Mobley, Rollins, Porter, Shorter, Golson, Gershwin, Ellington, Mancini, Jobim, and many others.

https://www.michaelgalvinbass.com/donatella-fermata

http://lizhogg.com

https://mcmjq.com/

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Downtown United Presbyterian Church: Hallock Lounge

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Miller and the Other Sinners Photo City Music Hall Sat., Sep. 26 4pm À 120 mins 16+ $15 Vibing out of Buffalo, N.Y., nationally touring Miller and the Other Sinners brings its brand of southern soul to every stage! Blend a little Chris Stapleton with some Tower of Power funk, Memphis gospel and some Allman Brothers jamming guitars and you are tasting Miller and the Other Sinners’ southern soul style. An infectious rhythm section, mind blowing keyboard/organ work, masterful horns, soulful vocals and slide guitar playing, all riding well crafted moving melodies and grooves. https://photocitymusichall.com/

A Modern Marriage: A Disco Rock-Opera

Fri., Sep. 18 7:30pm À 90 mins All Ages FREE Eastman student ensembles Musica Nova and the Eastman Percussion Ensemble come together to celebrate American contemporary composer Steve Reich in honor of his 90th birthday. Repertoire will include Reich’s Percussion Quartet, Radio Rewrite and Double Sextet! Led by Eastman faculty members Brad Lubman and Michael Burritt. This concert is free and open to the public! The Eastman School offers more than 1000 free and low-cost concerts per year. We hope you will join us throughout the year!

Obsidian Star The Little: Theatre 1

Fri., Sep. 18 10:45pm À 60 mins All Ages $10

Sat., Sep. 19 9pm À 60 mins All Ages FREE

“A Modern Marriage: A Disco Rock-Opera” is a Rochester supergroup composed of the members of Public Water Supply and Briana Horton and Abby Celso of The Swooners, and is written by Kris Schramm (Señor Jefe, Stars Malign, K Robin Guitars). This original concept tells the story of a married couple facing the midlife, marital doldrums, and ultimately finding their way back to each other—all against the backdrop of high energy, dance-funk, disco-pop music.

Obsidian Star is an alternative rock band based in Rochester that focuses on performing original compositions. The band formed from at RIT over a shared love of bands like the Smashing Pumpkins and Green Day. The group is a collaboration among drummer Noah Shin, bassist Nick Lee, guitarist Bradley Wilkinson, and guitarist, vocalist, and primary songwriter Shane Raab.

Music That’ll Move Ya’! ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Eastman School of Music: Kilbourn Hall

Biltmore Bar & Lounge

k-robin guitars

Musica Nova & Eastman Percussion Ensemble Joint Concert— All Steve Reich

SOTA: Allen Main Stage Theatre Sat., Sep. 19 8pm • Sun., Sep. 20 4pm À 60 mins All Ages $18 As seen on “Today” and “America’s Got Talent,” Ball in the House brings over 25 years of powerhouse R&B, pop, and soul to the stage. From opening for legends like The Beach Boys and The Temptations to headlining international festivals, “R&B royalty” delivers smooth harmonies, high energy, and timeless hits that celebrate generations of iconic music. www.ballinthehouse.com

https://linktr.ee/obsidianstar?utm_source=linktree_admin_share

A Pete Seeger Tribute Downtown United Presbyterian: Church Celebration Hall Thu., Sep. 17 5pm • Fri., Sep. 18 5pm • Sat., Sep. 19 8pm • Sun., Sep. 20 7pm • Wed., Sep. 23 5:30pm • Thu., Sep. 24 4:30pm • Fri., Sep. 25 5:30pm • Sat., Sep. 26 4pm À 60 mins All Ages $13 "Stand Up and Siiiinnnngggg!!!" A Pete Seeger Tribute for all ages, exploring the many years and songs of America’s great folk singer. Seeger inspired countless musicians and helped popularize folk with hits such as "If I Had a Hammer." Canada’s Woody’s Choice invites you to join your heart and voice with the collective in a sing-a-long you will long remember! You will leave the show inspired by the true Woody’s Choice meaning of "freedom" of the heart.

The Little: Theatre 1

Ricky Ford Quartet Bop Shop Records

Sat., Sep. 19 4:05pm À 60 mins All Ages FREE

Fri., Sep. 25 8pm À 60 mins All Ages $30

“PITCH!” is a new musical revue based on the true story of Paul and Jane Wargo, told in a reflective style by their granddaughter, performer Jessica Ann Best. “PITCH!” tells the story of Paul, a Rochester Red Wings pitcher from Pennsylvania, who meets and marries the sweet singer and secretary, Jane, after World War II. “PITCH!” brings the “Great American Pastime” and the “Great American Songbook” to life in a beautiful and true love story that leaves an impression on many generations.

Ricky Ford has been one of the leading tenor saxophonists in jazz since he burst on the scene in the 1970s working with the Duke Ellington Orchestra and Charles Mingus. His annual visits to the Bop Shop have become eagerly anticipated. He will return with his quartet including John Kordalewski on piano, Tony Marino on bass, https://bopshop.com and Thurman Barker on drums.

www.jessicaannbest.com

RITPO - Chamber Music Showcase

Pluck Yeah! Renaissance & Baroque Hits

The Little: Theatre 1

The Hochstein School: Hilda D Taylor Recital Hall Tue., Sep. 15 7:30pm • Thu., Sep. 17 7:30pm À 60 mins All Ages $10 Travel from the courts of the Renaissance to the vibrant streets of Argentina—all in one unforgettable Fringe performance. Guitarist and lutenist Kenneth Kam brings the Renaissance lute and classical guitar to life, weaving early masterpieces together with the fiery passion of tango. From delicate, intimate melodies to driving rhythmic intensity, this concert celebrates the timeless power and expressive range of plucked strings across centuries and https://kennethkam.wordpress.com continents.

Powder Jay The Little: Theatre 1

Jamie Cheeseman is a singersongwriter and Central New York native who performs under the stage name "Powder Jay." He will be providing a blend of folk and hiphop utilizing beatbox, a guitar, and a loop station. He will be performing original works that span his 30 years as an underground recording artist. This will be Jay’s first performance in the Rochester area. Join us for his live song-building experience! https://youtube.com/powderjay1 Blaze-A-Lot Records

Sat., Sep. 26 10am À 45 mins All Ages FREE Young talents of the RIT Philharmonic Orchestra will present a diverse program featuring various combinations of string, woodwind, and brass instruments. While pursuing STEM degrees across the institution, these students continue to perform at a remarkably high musical level. The repertoire spans classical masterworks as well as contemporary arrangements, showcasing both the versatility of chamber music and the extraordinary talents of RIT students. www.rit.edu/performingarts/rit-philharmonic-orchestra Rochester Institute of Technology

Róisín Dubh JCC CenterStage Theatre: Ballroom Stage Sat., Sep. 19 8:30pm À 60 mins All Ages $15 For 25 years, the musicians of East Rochester’s Róisín Dubh have brought their unique style of highenergy Irish music to audiences in western New York and beyond. Heard on NPR’s famous Thistle & Shamrock, Róisín Dubh has performed more than 500 times, released five albums, and shared the stage with some of the top Irish musicians from our region and the world. www.blackrosetrad.org

Róisín Dubh

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Fri., Sep. 18 9:20pm À 35 mins 18+ FREE

MUSIC

PITCH!

MUSIC

RPO @ Fringe: Contemporary Works with Theremin

Seafaring Songs & Pirate Shanties

Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre: Kodak Hall

Thu., Sep. 24 4:30pm • Thu., Sep. 24 8pm • Sat., Sep. 26 4:30pm • Sat., Sep. 26 8pm À 60 mins All Ages $15

Sat., Sep. 19 7:30pm À 75 mins All Ages $30 The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra explores the outer edges of orchestral sound in a high-energy program driven by rhythm, electronics, and the otherworldly theremin. Virtuoso Carolina Eyck performs Régis Campo’s “Dancefloor with Pulsing,” while Mason Bates’ “Mothership” fuses orchestra and electronic beats. The concert closes with the exhilarating “Grand Pianola Music” by John Adams—a bold, playful ride through modern orchestral color. https://tinyurl.com/y68j8kra

Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra

The Sacred and Profane: Two Sides of 1920s Popular Music

Strathallan: Century Club

Ahoy! Sea Shanties fer the discerning Scallywag! A rollicking collection of piratey, sailing and drinking songs with British, Celtic and Norse influences. There be two options fer yer fun pleasure: The 4:30pm show be fer folks of ALL ages! The 8pm show features bawdy ballads and lusty ditties (fer the more randy and salty tastes!) Be ye warned and pick the right performance! Performed by Merlyn Mischief (of the Renaissance Faire band Merry Mischief). http://MerryMischief.net

Silver Rein II: A Goth-Folk Music Experience Downtown United Presbyterian Church: Sanctuary

Biltmore Bar & Lounge

Fri., Sep. 18 7:30pm • Sat., Sep. 19 7:30pm À 60 mins 16+ $18

Tue., Sep. 15 9:30pm • Tue., Sep. 22 6pm À 60 mins 18+ FREE

Electric cellist and operatic enchantress Silver Rein returns with a full cast of singers and music-makers for a whirlwind show like never before. Join us for a candlelit ritual of song and dance. Soft-to-soaring vocals, medieval motifs, and cello-driven scores pierce straight to the heart and transform mournful contemplation into triumph over despair. Described as “cinematic” “ethereal” and “a spiritual experience,” Silver Rein casts spells of the ages.

Step back into the 1920s, a decade split by a stark cultural divide. This talk explores the friction between two distinct sonic worlds: the "sacred," sentimental popular music that reinforced white middle-class domesticity, and the "profane," gritty blues of Black America that voiced the raw, unfiltered realities of urban life. Discover how these competing soundscapes collided, challenged American moral boundaries, and laid the groundwork for a modern musical revolution.

https://tinyurl.com/v9sfu8fv

Silver Rein Music

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Sleepy Lester and the Insomniacs

The Little: Theatre 1 Fri., Sep. 25 5pm À 60 mins All Ages FREE Join Sleepy Howie Lester (three-time winner at the International Folk Music Festival) as the inspired Insomniacs keep him awake to perform, on fiddle and exotic indigenous instruments, songs and stories from around the world and moon. Sometimes surreal, never mundane. Awarded for both preserving and updating folkloric tradition—and music learned while asleep! All kinds of fun! HOWARD LESTER

SOTA Screen Serenades School of the Arts Vocal Cabaret

JCC CenterStage Theatre: Ballroom Stage

SOTA: Ensemble Theatre

Wed., Sep. 23 6pm À 60 mins All Ages $10

Sun., Sep. 20 1pm À 60 mins All Ages $12

Join award-winning songwriter Paul Vincent Nunes—aka Vincent Nunes, P.V. Nunes and the Occasional Saints—for an intimate and interactive show blending wit, warmth, and unforgettable original songs. From playful, award-winning children’s tunes to soulful, grown-up reflections on love, aging, and hope, Paul takes you behind the scenes of his diverse songwriting life. It’s part concert, part confessional, all true and Lighthouse Records all at the same time.

“SOTA Screen Serenades” is a vibrant vocal cabaret presented by Rochester School of the Arts students as part of the Rochester Fringe Festival. Featuring iconic songs f rom film, television, and stage, this evening celebrates storytelling through live performance, powerhouse vocals, and creative artistry. From nostalgic classics to modern favorites, students bring cinematic music to life in an unforgettable night of entertainment.

Songs in the Key of Eastman: Casey Jones Costello Sings Songs of the Victorian and Edwardian Eras

https://sites.google.com/view/sotachoirs School of the Arts - Vocal Dept.

Sound Signal Bop Shop Records

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Sun., Sep. 20 8pm À 60 mins 16+ $20

Wed., Sep. 16 7pm • Wed., Sep. 23 7pm À 75 mins All Ages $16

A composer-led ensemble performs from a shared improvisational system shaped by color. Four core performers—Charles Pillow, woodwinds; Dave Rivello, synth; Nathan Smith, saxophone; and Benjamin Magruder, viola—guide a group of nine instrumentalists as a single projected color field slowly shifts throughout the performance. As the color changes, the musicians respond in real time, translating visual information into evolving texture, harmony, and gesture.

Tenor and Nazareth University alum Casey Jones Costello returns to the Rochester Fringe to resurrect the music George Eastman himself loved: operetta, art songs, and parlor songs from the late 19th and early 20th centuries that filled American homes and concert halls in their day and have since faded from view. Costello performs in cabaret style, with stories about the songs, their writers, and the world that sang them. www.caseyjonescostello.com

Songs to Drink Wine to: Prosecco Edition Blackfriars Theatre

Sweet and enchanting soprano Sophia Mostafa invites you to the Prosecco edition of her fun and flirty “Songs” saga. Featuring a collection of art songs and arias primarily from Italy, with a few surprise guest countries, Mostafa’s lush sound takes audiences to the joys, sorrows, and all of the human emotions in between. By artists such as Puccini, Donizetti, Tosti, and more; these songs cross over from big halls to small salons. www.youtube.com/@vvarholhbbty

Spirit Songs: Parte Dos The Little: Theatre 1 Sat., Sep. 26 9:15pm À 60 mins All Ages FREE A powerful fusion of music and storytelling, this performance brings to life the struggles, resilience, and triumphs of peoples across the Americas. Folk and popular song, along with vivid narratives, immerse the audience in the strife, hope, and joy that echo across generations and borders. This is a celebration of voice, spirit, and connection— a Rochester Fringe Festival experience that is not to be missed!

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Tue., Sep. 15 7:30pm • Sun., Sep. 20 7pm À 60 mins 13+ $16

MUSIC

Songs for Every Age, All at the Same Time

MUSIC

Steve Hahn Music for Chapman Stick Biltmore Bar & Lounge Fri., Sep. 18 6:30pm • Sat., Sep. 19 6:30pm • Fri., Sep. 25 5pm À 75 mins All Ages $15

Thomas Warfield: Let the Music Heal You Spiegeltent Sat., Sep. 26 4:45pm À 75 mins All Ages From $17

Witness award-winning musical artist Steve Hahn perform on the Chapman Stick, a fascinating 10-string tap instrument blending bass, guitar, and percussion into a mind-bending performance. Fusing prog-rock, jazz, and ambient textures, his solo arrangements are a sonic spectacle. Secure your tickets today and experience the range and versatility on this single instrument!

www.deepchocolate.com DeeP Chocolate Productions, Inc.

Experience the restorative power of song with international performing artist and creative activist Thomas Warfield. Let the rhythm, melody, and resonance of sound guide you on a journey that is physically, emotionally, and spiritually liberating. With music ranging from Broadway to pop, gospel, and jazz, this award-winning singer and dancer excels as a consummate communicator and entertainer. Warfield “fills every word and every movement with meaning.”—“The Morning Star.”

Stew Cutler Trio

Tiger Steel Steelband Ensemble

Bop Shop Records

The Little: Theatre 1

Sat., Sep. 26 8pm À 60 mins All Ages $20

Sat., Sep. 19 10am À 60 mins All Ages FREE

In a career spanning over four decades, jazz/blues/gospel guitarist/ composer Stew Cutler has established himself as a bandleader and composer. With eight record releases to his credit as a leader and playing on countless recordings as a sideman, Cutler’s prolific career is a walk through musical history. As a guitarist composer and storyteller, Stew Cutler's journey is a testament to the transformative power of music, bridging genres with his unmistakable soulful sound. www.stewcutler.com

Discover the vibrant energy of Tiger Steel playing on authentic steel drums. As students at RIT pursue their advanced studies, many continue to be performing artists, dancers, actors, and musicians, celebrating the full community of arts and sciences. From pulsating calypsos to American pop music, you’ll enjoy a musical journey as Tiger Steel performers share their passion for this unique musical tradition. Tiger Steel

Stew Cutler

Sugar Nova ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Biltmore Bar & Lounge

Fri., Sep. 18 11:59pm

Rochester Premier À 60 mins 18+ $20

Sugar Nova is a Denver-based live electronic dance/pop duo made up of vocalist Rachel Eisenstat and producer/multi-instrumentalist Luke Miller of the band Lotus. Together, they deliver an engaging and polished live show that pulses with the same warmth and radiance found in their recordings. Blending shimmering synths, danceable rhythms, and dreamy vocals, Sugar Nova crafts a lush, emotionally resonant brand of electronic pop to keep you vibing ’til dawn. https://sugarnovamusic.com

Titanic: Music From and About the Unsinkable Ship St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Tue., Sep. 22 7pm À 75 mins All Ages FREE Travel back to 1912 to the fateful maiden voyage of the Titanic through music performed on board and written afterwards in honor of the victims as the story of the "unsinkable" ship is told along with multimedia artwork. Music by Edward Elgar, John Phillip Sousa, Scott Joplin and much more all performed by the world-renowned concert organist, John Sherer. www.johnsherer.com

Photo City Music Hall

Vocal Point with the YellowJackets JCC CenterStage Theatre: Ballroom Stage

Wed., Sep. 16 6:30pm À 210 mins 16+ $15 Rochester’s premier classic swing orchestra will be teaming up with Bob Greco, lead singer of Nik & The Nice Guys, and guest Makaily Courtwright in a “Tribute to Frank Sinatra and the Music of Las Vegas.” Break out your shark skin suits, martini glasses and be prepared to swing and sway to Bob, Makaily, and the fabulous Music Makers Band in our tribute to the Music of Sin City! A good time will be had by all!! www.themusicmakersband.com

Music Makers Band

Fri., Sep. 18 8:15pm • Sat., Sep. 19 6:45pm À 60 mins All Ages $15 Vocal Point is the University of Rochester’s historically female, gender-inclusive a cappella group founded in 1969. We’re excited to be joined by the YellowJackets, the University of Rochester’s all-male a cappella singing group, founded in 1956. We’re thrilled to continue the tradition by performing www.urvocalpoint.com at this year’s Fringe Festival!

WADAIKO Performance

Uncle Shoehorn’s Big Easy

The Little: Theatre 1

Biltmore Bar & Lounge

Sat., Sep. 26 1:10pm À 45 mins All Ages FREE

Sat., Sep. 19 9:30pm • Sat., Sep. 19 11pm • Sun., Sep. 20 11pm À 60 mins 16+ $15 Nine-piece Uncle Shoehorn’s Big Easy conjures the magic of New Orleans’ rich musical tapestry, paying homage to the indelible mark NOLA makes on American culture. Performing hits from: the Meters, Neville Bros, Dr. John, Prof. Longhair, Jon Cleary, Preservation Hall, Dirty Dozen Brass, Galactic, Trombone Shorty, Rebirth Brass, and more! Also: soul/R&B hits, rock & roots blues, Voodoo Dead, and infectious original material! www.UncleShoehorn.com

The Vierling Duo Biltmore Bar & Lounge

Folk rock songwriters from northeastern Pennsylvania, The Vierling Duo emphasize tight vocal harmony and unique acoustic arrangements of your favorite songs, with original material sprinkled throughout. With years of live performance experience between the two, expect a soulful, dynamic concert that will keep you listening and coming back for more. www.thevierlingduo.com

VIERLING MUSIC, LLC

We are WADAIKO—Rochester’s one and only taiko group! Based at the Rochester Institute of Technology, WADAIKO is here to bring everyone the joy and energy of Japanese taiko drumming. Join us as we play a selection of our favorites: traditional Japanese songs, modern Western taiko compositions, and even a self-composed piece. In addition to drums, our songs also use instruments such as a Japanese flute and bells. https://campusgroups.rit.edu/wdk/home/

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YUM Every night #foodtrucks

} ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Sun., Sep. 20 9:45pm • Sat., Sep. 26 7:30pm À 60 mins All Ages $20

MUSIC

Tribute to Sinatra and Las Vegas

SPOKEN WORD

Between Flesh & Faith ROC Cinema

Poetry of Tarot: A Reading Inspired by Tarot Images

Thu., Sep. 24 6:30pm À 45 mins 18+ $5

The Little: Theatre 1

Say you found yourself “soul-searching” all the way into a famous actor’s bed. What if that led you into an emotional love affair with a Hindu monk and God? Fleabag meets your hot pink furry diary in this world premiere spoken word show set in novelist Leah McGuire’s old London flat. Come explore the awkward space you enter when you’re not enlightened, but you’re trying really hard to be.

Fri., Sep. 18 8pm

www.instagram.com/leahthecreativewriter/

Have I ever told you about...? Focus Theater Sun., Sep. 20 5pm • Wed., Sep. 23 7pm À 60 mins 13+ $20 Did Penny Sterling ever tell you about the snowball fight that lasted three days? What about how rum raisin ice cream got her out of trouble with the KGB? No? Then you need to see “Have I Ever Told You About ... ?”: stories, songs & stuff from Rochester’s favorite transgender storyteller! Even though Penny has performed four other autobiographical shows at Rochester Fringe, there’s still lots of strange and hilarious adventures she's yet to talk about ... until now! Penny: for your Thoughts

Mister Aubs. Downtown United Presbyterian Church: Hallock Lounge

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Thu., Sep. 24 7pm • Fri., Sep. 25 8pm • Sat., Sep. 26 7pm À 60 mins 16+ $10

100

“Mister Aubs.” is the artistic voice of Aubrey K. Barnes—a poet, educator, performer, and community arts facilitator whose work lives at the intersection of storytelling, healing, literacy, and human connection. Rooted in Rock Island and shaped by influences ranging from hip-hop and spoken word to literary writers such as James Baldwin, Mister Aubs. creates poetry that blends rhythmic performance with vulnerable reflection, social commentary, and emotional honesty. www.misteraubs.org

À 60 mins 18+ FREE

Tarot cards have been used for centuries as tools for both fortune telling and deep self reflection, two practices that meet at the crossroads of narrative and storytelling. Symbols on each card carry archetypal meaning, inviting the reader to interpret, imagine, and project their inner world outward. In this experience, tarot cards become a creative catalyst: a spark for poetry, a framework for collective storytelling, and a bridge for genuine human connection.

The Sights and Sounds District Austin Steward Plaza Fri., Sep. 18 5pm • Sat., Sep. 19 5pm • Fri., Sep. 25 5pm À 30 mins 13+ $22 Experience a uniquely historical area in Rochester, from the spot where it happened. Join Matt Rogers of the Lost Borough for a special episode of Hidden History, for another unbelievably true story. Using wireless headphones available on site, audience members will experience olde Rochesterville to present day; with stories of vice, curiosities, justice, success, failure, and a river flowing north. It is recommended to bring a chair or blanket as this episode is best experienced seated. www.thelostborough.com

The Lost Borough

Signatures & Wordsmiths Open Mic The Little: Theatre 1 Sat., Sep. 19 12:30pm À 60 mins All Ages FREE Signatures and Wordsmiths are clubs dedicated to collect and publish RIT students' work in literature. The lead team in both Signatures and Wordsmiths invite RIT and Rochester area community members to our Fringe open mic, where everybody is invited to tell us the poems, prose or short story they've been working on during this past semester! Join us for a great experience sharing and talking www.rit.edu/liberalarts/signatures about the pieces!

Baby Jane, Baby Jane

School of the Arts: Allen Main Stage

Wed., Sep. 16 8pm • Sun., Sep. 20 4pm • Sat., Sep. 26 4pm À 45 mins 13+ $18

Wed., Sep. 23 8pm • Sat., Sep. 26 6:30pm À 90 mins 13+ $20 The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a wildly funny musical where six fiercely competitive middle schoolers battle for spelling glory, one word at a time. As they navigate the bee, the spellers reveal hilarious, awkward, and surprisingly touching glimpses into their lives. Featuring audience participation and a score that’s as charming as it is clever, this Tony Award-winning musical is packed with enough laughter and spelling anxiety to make anyone grateful they’re not on stage. Sunrise Theatre Company

Another Middle Earth Press Conference School of the Arts: Club SOTA Fri., Sep. 18 6:30pm • Sun., Sep. 20 6pm • Thu., Sep. 24 8pm À 45 mins 13+ $16 The mouth of Sauron is back to give an update to the people of Middle Earth. In the wake of the War of the Ring, Sauron's press secretary returns to give answers to your burning questions about the All Seeing Eye and the current state of Middle Earth. Another interactive comedy from writer and director Brad Craddock, author of the sellout Fringe shows “A Middle Earth Press Conference,” “An Afternoon Seance,” “The Elites,” “Something Wicked,” and “Learning Targets.” https://sites.google.com/rcsd121.org/mr-craddock/home Tyger Underground

Anti-Gone The Biltmore Bar & Lounge

“Anti-Gone” is a daring adaptation of the beloved classic. Audiences take action to determine the outcome of the thrilling drama, utilizing the most popular invention of Ancient Greece—the democratic vote. Is a happy ending for Sophocles’ “Antigone” possible? Will we be able to find what has not been found in 2,500 years—a solution? “Anti-Gone” was the most-awarded show of the 2025 NYC Fringe Festival. www.instagram.com/needsmoreworkproductions/ Needs More Work Productions

Whatever REALLY happened to Baby Jane and Blanche Hudson? Find out in this original comic thriller by playwright Brad Craddock, author of the sold out Fringe shows “Learning Targets,” “The Elites,” “Something Wicked,” “An Afternoon Seance,” “The Fighting Girls Guide to Politics,” and “A Middle Earth Press Conference.” Fast, witty, and unexpected, “Baby Jane, Baby Jane” is a glitter-dusted battle royale with a bloody heart beating beneath the sequins.

https://sites.google.com/rcsd121.org/mr-craddock/home Tyger Underground

Bright Half Life MuCCC Sun., Sep. 20 7:30pm • Thu., Sep. 24 7pm À 90 mins 13+ $15 A lyrical, nonlinear portrait of love, “Bright Half Life” follows Erica and Vicky as their relationship unfolds in fragments across decades—moments of joy, strain, risk, and reinvention. Leaping through time like memory itself, Tanya Barfield’s play captures how a life together is built from fleeting instants, revealing the tenderness, complexity, and resilience at the heart of an enduring partnership. www.outofpocketinc.com

Out Of Pocket Inc.

Clutter Is My Life Partner JCC CenterStage Theatre: Ballroom Stage Tue., Sep. 15 6:30pm • Sat., Sep. 19 12:15pm À 55 mins 18+ $10 Overwhelmed by clutter? Think you’re the only one who still has her prom gown from 1973? Afraid to open your front door to company? You’re not alone! Popular local clutterbug speaker Diane Zielinski finally tells her own hilarious story of a lifetime of clutter and everything she’s done to break up that toxic relationship. eBay! Garage sales! Keeping only what “sparks joy”! Dating her cleaning guy! Now is her last chance: she’ll be giving it away during her show.

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Thu., Sep. 17 5pm • Fri., Sep. 18 5pm • Sat., Sep. 19 5pm • Sun., Sep. 20 5pm À 75 mins All Ages $25

School of the Arts: Black Box Theatre

THEATRE

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

101

THEATRE

Dealbreaker Memorial Art Gallery: Lynne Lovejoy Parlor Sat., Sep. 19 4pm • Sun., Sep. 20 3:30pm À 60 mins 18+ $25 Dealbreaker is a one-woman show about herpes, heartbreak, and the death of the one-night stand. Lauren Kee blends storytelling with comedy to share what it’s like dating with herpes, handling disclosure, and the path to healing. This show is for anyone who’s ever feared they might die alone because of herpes or anything else. Directed by Francesca Sobrer. Creative consultation by Lisa Burton. www.instagram.com/_laurentellsstories/

Lauren Kee

Dick Tracy - Live Radio Drama Double Feature The Biltmore Bar & Lounge Sun., Sep. 20 6:10pm • Sun., Sep. 20 7:15pm • Sat., Sep. 26 5pm • Sat., Sep. 26 6:15pm À 60 mins All Ages $12 Experience Dick Tracy at the WHAM radio studio in 1946, recreated by screen plays with live Foley effects, vintage commercials, and a seven-actor ensemble. Presented as a “broadcast,” these adventures feature Tracy navigating mystery, danger, and romance in the jazz-era 1930s. Act One follows The Case of the Big Top Murders at a circus. Act Two tackles The Case of the Diamond Double-Cross, with Tracy searching for a missing diamond amid rising threats. Enjoy nostalgia and unexpected twists. https://www.facebook.com/ScreenPlaysonStage

Dear Evan Hansen

Screen Plays - Hollywood's Golden Age on Stage

JCC CenterStage Theatre: Ballroom Stage

Dinner Where Everything Goes Wrong Seventeen-year-old Evan Hansen has

Sun., Sep. 20 12:30pm • Tue., Sep. 22 6:30pm À 150 mins 13+ $15

felt invisible his entire life. But when a tragedy shocks his community and thrusts him into the center of a rapidly evolving controversy, Evan is given the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to be somebody else. As his web of well-intentioned lies begins to unravel, though, Evan is forced to confront the fact that the price of belonging may be far steeper than he bargained for. www.musicaltheatreeducation.com

MT Ed

The Dice Is Right! ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

JCC CenterStage Theatre: Ballroom Stage

102

Tue., Sep. 15 8pm • Wed., Sep. 16 8pm • Sat., Sep. 26 4pm À 60 mins 13+ $16 The moon is in the right phase, the runes shine softly on the ground, the stars above are aligned—everyone can make it back to the table! It’s the D&D-themed game show you never thought you wanted—leveled up and back for your amusement. The wizard, his trusty artificer, and our heroes spin all-new tales of adventure and glory! Through wit, cunning, and the roll of a giant, inflatable, 20-sided die, they will save—or rue—the day. No matter how the dice roll, it's always a story! Icosahedron Collective

Salena’s

Wed., Sep. 16 7pm À 60 mins All Ages $5 An ordinary night out for dinner at the local Mexican restaurant turns out to be anything but when everything starts to go wrong. Mystery, chaos, confusion, laughter and good food.* Guests are not only viewing the show, but they are also part of the show. *Dinner not included in ticket price. Dinner purchase not required, but you are missing out if you don’t.

Dizzy Miss Lizzie’s Roadside Revue presents The Saints The Biltmore Bar & Lounge Wed., Sep. 23 8:30pm • Thu., Sep. 24 9:15pm • Fri., Sep. 25 9:15pm • Sat., Sep. 26 10:15pm À 60 mins 16+ $15 Written and performed by Debra Buonaccorsi and Steve McWilliams (“equal parts devotion, subversion and wit”—Washington Post), a satirical folk-rock-variety-show based on the fantastical, gruesome, salacious, inspiring stories of Catholic saints, ranging from the famous—St. Francis of Assisi—to the obscure—St. Ursula and the 11,000 Virgins. Blends vaudeville and a wide range of musical styles, and hearkens back to story wagons and medicine shows. @getdizzywithlizzie Dizzy Miss Lizzie's Roadside Revue

Ground Zero

JCC CenterStage Theatre: Ballroom Stage

Aerial Arts of Rochester: Aerial Arena

Thu., Sep. 24 8pm • Fri., Sep. 25 6:30pm À 75 mins 16+ $20

Sun., Sep. 20 4pm À 180 mins All Ages $20

“The First Jew in Canada” is the incredible true story of Jacques LaFargue... the 18th Century Transgender Man You’ve Never Heard Of! A wild journey in story, crossing oceans, religions, genders, and centuries overlayed with the personal account of S. Bear Bergman, a Jewish transgender man whose modern life mirrors Jacques’s in startling, hilarious, exhausting and illuminating ways. “Skillful…deeply affecting…funny and sad and sweet and difficult and true, a “Bear” hug of a show—Broadway World.

Ground Zero crashes back into the Rochester Fringe Festival for a second year of high-impact wrestling action! Witness Ground Zero Champion Chael Connors defend his dominance alongside the explosive tag team champions Prime Time and a stacked roster of fan favorites and rising stars. Expect hard-hitting matches, unforgettable moments, and nonstop energy as Ground Z brings the chaos, passion, and spectacle that made last year a must-see event!

THEATRE

The First Jew in Canada

www.groundzerowrestling.com

www.jcccenterstage.org CenterStage Theatre at the JCC

The Gator MuCCC Sun., Sep. 20 4:30pm • Sat., Sep. 26 4:30pm À 60 mins 13+ $8 Harris, a man obsessed with a mass casualty event, finds himself entangled in a conspiracy after discovering a pirate radio band hosted by a shadowy figure called the Gator, whose communications with “the Prophet” seem to predict tragedies before they happen. When the Prophet predicts that Harris’ wife will soon become a victim, Harris races to solve the mystery of the Gator before it’s too late.

Hands Tell What Voices Cannot The Little: Theatre 1 Sat., Sep. 19 1:50pm À 60 mins 13+ FREE Echoes In Motion presents “Hands Tell What Voices Cannot,” a visually rich ASL poetry performance exploring identity, love, struggle, resilience, humor, and community. Through movement, rhythm, and expressive storytelling, performers transform silence into a powerful artistic language. Accessible to Deaf and hearing audiences alike, this show reveals how communication transcends sound—living instead in connection, emotion, and the poetry of the hands. www.echoesinmotion.com

Echoes In Motion

The Geriactors Return MuCCC Sun., Sep. 20 6pm • Wed., Sep. 23 7pm À 55 mins 13+ $15

https://sites.google.com/view/geriactors/home Geriactors

Rochester Contemporary Art Center: Side Lawn Fri., Sep. 18 7pm • Sat., Sep. 19 7pm • Fri., Sep. 25 7pm • Sat., Sep. 26 7pm À 60 mins All Ages FREE In this collaboration between MCC’s On the Edge Theatre Troupe and RoCo, festivalgoers are invited to become both creators and participants in a shared work of illuminated art. As each person adds light to the installation, their actions merge into a larger, radiant image, revealing the power of collective effort. Set beneath the open sky, the finished piece will reveal a simple, yet resonant idea: change begins with each of us, but shines brightest when we work together. MCC’s On The Edge Theatre Troupe

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The Geriactors, Rochester’s longrunning company of agile, mature actors, returns to the Fringe with more original short scenes by Rochester area playwrights written especially for us, some funny, some serious, but all new to the Fringe and some world premieres. If you’ve seen us before, these plays will be new to you; if you haven’t seen us before it’s time to give us a try!

Illumina

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In His Own Words: An Evening With Robert Frost

A Magician—by Jordan Rooks

JCC CenterStage Theatre: Ballroom Stage

Fri., Sep. 25 6pm • Sat., Sep. 26 4pm NY State Premier À 45 mins 13+ $20

Wed., Sep. 16 6pm • Sat., Sep. 19 5pm • Thu., Sep. 24 2:30pm • Sat., Sep. 26 2pm À 75 mins 13+ $15 Who was Robert Frost? Why did he write poetry? What were his poems about? Two years in the making, including visits to Frost family homes in Franconia and Derry, New Hampshire, and South Shaftsbury, Vermont, the author and actor brings this four-time Pulitzer Prize winning poet to life by offering audiences an intimate look into the man— his poetry, relationships, and inner life. www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLyPKETwcN4

Myself

Inescapable by Martin Dockery School of the Arts: Ensemble Theatre Wed., Sep. 23 8pm • Sat., Sep. 26 5pm À 50 mins 13+ $22 Twilight Zone + Samuel Beckett in a mind-bending comedic thriller! Rapid-fire comedy mixes with slow boiling tension as two friends uncover a lifetime of secrets and betrayals just as quickly as they forget them. Best of Fest, Ottawa Fringe; Best Script: Orlando Fringe. Critics Pick–Orlando Weekly, Orlando Sentinel, Now Toronto. “Will fill your inner geek with glee!”–CBC. “5 STARS: Hilarious … mind-bending … pitch-perfect.”–Winnipeg Free Press. www.MartinDockery.com

School of the Arts: Allen Main Stage

Returning to Rochester Fringe, magician Jordan Rooks brings his award-winning life memoir show. This isn’t your typical magic show— it’s a whimsical story of the life of a Las Vegas magician. From growing up in the cornfields of Indiana, to working with the greatest entertainers of our time, this show is about the perseverance of a man on his path to success. Jordan Rooks

MASS DRAG: How the Church Blessed Gay Couples—Again The Biltmore Bar & Lounge Tue., Sep. 15 8pm • Wed., Sep. 16 8pm • Thu., Sep. 17 8pm • Fri., Sep. 18 8pm À 75 mins 16+ $23 Five drag nuns walk into a gay bar. This is their church. They reveal a Roman Catholic secret: the Church once blessed same-sex unions. MASS DRAG is a world-premiere musical blending original songs, ritual, humor, history, and glitter into a joyful excavation of Christianity’s forgotten stories. Part comedy, part liturgy, part act of recovery, it’s a celebration of love, memory, and belonging. http://massdrag.org

Martin Dockery

Life and Death in Cowboy Country The Mothman Cometh ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

School of the Arts: Black Box Theatre

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Sat., Sep. 19 6pm • Tue., Sep. 22 8pm À 30 mins 13+ $10 When a bounty hunter’s quarry is only mortally wounded rather than outright killed, the hunter decides to talk to the dying man about the nature of life and death, asking the final question: “You only got so many thoughts left in that head of yours; I’m wantin’ to know where they’re headed.” The Orange Cat Company presents its debut show, “Life and Death in Cowboy Country,” by Andrew Tyrell-Smith; directed by Hope Kollarik. The Orange Cat Company

The Rose Room

Tue., Sep. 22 8:30pm • Sat., Sep. 26 9pm À 60 mins 16+ $15 Darkness... we’re told to fear it. Mothman says otherwise. Dance. Sing. Play. Scream into the void. Sink into the abyss. Come. Join Mothman. Follow him into the unknown and embrace the darkness together. Best Comedy: Edinburgh Spooky Awards Audience Choice: Green Bay Fringe. “5 Stars- One of the finest, oddest experiences... Seek out the Mothman”—Starburst Magazine. This show is performed mostly in the dark, lit by Mothman’s glowing red eyes. It has haze and frequent audience participation. https://thewhispertheatre.wixsite.com/whisper/general-4 Whisper Theatre

MuCCC

Century Club At Strathallan

Fri., Sep. 18 7pm • Sat., Sep. 26 6pm À 50 mins 16+ $10 “I’m supposed to give this lecture, okay? I mean I’m going to give it. My wife, she told me I should, and so I will. It’s on a topic of broad, general, interest. It’s “On the Harmful Effects of Tobacco.” So that’s what I’ll be talking about. And just that. Except… Well, never mind. There’s really nothing more to be said about it. But I shall venture to hope, so to speak, that you’ll find it quite beneficial, in fact. It’s really, um, important.” Don’t miss this revival of a www.brianabyrne.com Chekhov classic.

Central Library: Kate Gleason Auditorium Sat., Sep. 19 4:30pm • Wed., Sep. 23 6pm À 60 mins 16+ FREE On a rain-soaked platform where time stands still, a man burdened by his past waits for a train that may never come—and for something more. “Platform Seven” is a haunting, intimate journey through memory, regret, and redemption, where faith, forgiveness, and grace arrive when least expected, and every arrival could be a second chance … or a final goodbye. Written and directed by Frank Irace. Performed by Impact Theatre: Steve Stamp, Doug Femec, Lisa Wheeler. Impact Theatre

Playing Siege 2: The Game Inside MuCCC Mon., Sep. 21 7pm • Tue., Sep. 22 7pm À 45 mins 16+ $15

The Russell Beckett Show School of the Arts: Black Box Theatre Sun., Sep. 20 6pm • Sat., Sep. 26 6pm À 55 mins 18+ $15 A young woman surprises a doctor and his wife with a donation that affects all of their lives, especially the couple’s. Another woman recounts a stream of memories with only her mouth to be seen, but are the memories really from her life? Canadian author Craig Russell's thoughtful comedy “Donation” and Samuel Beckett’s powerful monologue “Not I” complete this unique double bill from the TANYS-winning theater company Aspie Works. https://facebook.com/aspieworks

Aspie Works

Samuel Clemens: Tales of Mark Twain Downtown United Presbyterian Church: Celebration Hall Thu., Sep. 17 7pm • Fri., Sep. 18 7pm • Sat., Sep. 19 2pm • Sun., Sep. 20 12pm À 65 mins 16+ $12 Fans of Mark Twain, history, and storytelling will love this original, award-winning solo show. Writer/ performer Joe Baer brings history and literature to life in a way that resonates today. Samuel Clemens relates the story of his alter ego Mark Twain’s incredible successes and spectacular failures. Told with wit, satire, and humor, the story follows Twain over nearly eight decades and an everchanging America. Historical projections accompany the show, capturing context of the Gilded Age. https://baerhandstheater.com

Baerhands Theater

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Come see “Playing Siege 2,” the incendiary pseudo-sequel to last year’s “Playing Siege!” A lord, his steward, and a young protege find themselves responsible for hundreds of lives, as their castle has been surrounded by the enemy. Will they surrender, throwing themselves upon the mercy of conquerors, or will they defy their assailants with the points of their blades? From the team behind “Cell Outs” and “Triple Jeopardy” comes this suspenseful one act play! Tattered Hat Productions

Welcome back to Cleaver High, home of the unstoppable Cleaver Beavers. “Better than my own high school reunion!” “Had me laughing all night!” “The best high school reunion ever.” This is improvisational, interactive theater at its funniest. Ruby, Queen of the Reunion, will keep you laughing with stories, games, and more. Join your former “classmates” and get ready to “slap that tail” with our Beaver mascot at the best dam reunion ever. $15 tkts show only; $50 tkts include dinner. @SmilesWithRuby www.happyfacesentertainment.biz/rhsr Happy Faces Entertainment

Platform Seven

bit.ly/theatresoul

Wed., Sep. 16 7pm • Thu., Sep. 17 7pm • Fri., Sep. 18 6pm • Fri., Sep. 18 8pm • Sun., Sep. 20 4pm • Sun., Sep. 20 6pm À 60 mins 16+ $15

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On the Harmful Effects of Tobacco Ruby’s High School Reunion

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Script-in-Hand Players

Tea Party at the End of the World

Central Library: Kate Gleason Auditorium

The Garden Studio

Sat., Sep. 19 1pm • Sat., Sep. 19 2pm • Sat., Sep. 26 3pm • Sat., Sep. 26 4pm À 50 mins All Ages FREE

Thu., Sep. 17 5:30pm • Fri., Sep. 18 7pm • Sat., Sep. 19 12:30pm • Sat., Sep. 19 2:30pm • Sat., Sep. 19 4:30pm • Sun., Sep. 20 2:30pm • Sun., Sep. 20 4:30pm Mon., Sept 21 at 7:45pm • Thu., Sep. 24 6:00pm • Fri., Sep. 25 6:30pm • Fri., Sep. 25 8:15pm • Sat., Sep. 26 2pm • Sat., Sep. 26 4pm À 80 mins 16+ From $29

Live, local, and lightly rehearsed! An hour of original short plays, essays, and monologues—comic, touching, and satirical—performed by Rochester writers and artists in the style of Readers’ Theater. No sets or costumes—just strong voices, rich language, and stories that stir the imagination. Experience live literature spoken with humor, heart, and Script-in-Hand (Readers’Theatre) a local spark.

Small Talk Theater Central Library: Harold Hacker Hall Sat., Sep. 26 10:30am À 360 mins All Ages FREE A tiny festival within the grand Fringe. A gathering of little performance spaces, meant for audiences of one. One performer and one viewer at a time. Some for kids, some not. In a world dominated by the digital, gorged by holiday animatronics, lorded over by slick spectacle, by the artificial, and by excess in every realm, “Small Talk Theatre”brings all the magic, all the potential, the full array of theatrical shenanigans, down to the personal, immediate, individual scale.

Tarot Cabaret School of the Arts: Black Box Theatre

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Thu., Sep. 17 6pm • Fri., Sep. 18 6pm • Fri., Sep. 25 8pm À 60 mins 13+ $15

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Come spend an evening at the Tarot Cabaret! Returning for their second Fringe, Tarot Cabaret is an award-winning interactive group Tarot reading where every card of the Major Arcana is associated with a unique performance piece. Each evening at the Tarot Cabaret, 11 audience members pull cards to create a oneof-a-kind set list! Through theatrical songs and classic hits, you'll gain personal insights and community connection. Presented by Sunday Stages Theatre Company, a queer-led organization. instagram.com/sunday_stages Sunday Stages Theatre Company

As a guest of this intimate tea party, you are presented with exquisite tea and parlor games, and when the end comes, no need to panic, you won’t be alone. Inspired by the creator’s time in the Arctic Circle, the ritual comfort of loose-leaf tea, and the unfathomable cost that being alive in a beautiful and disappearing world exacts on our ability to connect and find purpose, this is a small-audience, multi-sensory experience inviting participants to remain playful as a key to survival.

This City Will Eat You Alive Downtown United Presbyterian Church: Celebration Hall Wed., Sep. 23 7:30pm • Thu., Sep. 24 8:30pm • Fri., Sep. 25 9pm À 60 mins 16+ $15 A depressed clown pontificates on Mayor Mamdani! An overworked teacher struggles to get her class in order! An addicted iPad kid spirals into digital chaos! Complete with interactive fraction lessons, Minecraft gameplay, and the worst stand-up you’ve ever seen, “This City Will Eat You Alive” pieces together the fractured lives of three people distracting themselves from a pain they cannot bring themselves to name, tumbling into absurdity as they go. By Co. Arts Theater Co. www.coarts.co

Co.Arts Theater Co.

The Trivia Guy Inn on Broadway: Vanni's Jazz Lounge Thu., Sep. 17 7pm • Thu., Sep. 17 9:30pm À 60 mins 16+ $20 Charismatic trivia enthusiast Jeff hosts his first live podcast while struggling to write a best man speech for his son Danny’s wedding, which is in three hours. As Jeff connects with the audience over trivia and stories, the clock ticks toward the ceremony. Jeff must find the right words as well as the courage to face a truth he’s been avoiding all night. Dark Water Theater Company

Warhol: Bullet Karma

MuCCC Sat., Sep. 19 8pm • Fri., Sep. 25 7pm • Sat., Sep. 26 8pm À 60 mins 16+ $18 The Velvet Noose is highly stylized, avant-garde physical poetry. A multidisciplinary theatre troupe, well-regarded in its unique approach to storytelling. For each Fringe Fest, themes rooted in Greek literature are explored to therapeutic tenacity, resulting in story that is felt viscerally, as their display spans the entire range of the human experience. The Velvet Noose's professionally produced, sold-out performances continue to leave Fringe audience members in awe. Theatre you can feel! www.instagram.com/thevelvetnoose/

JCC CenterStage Theatre: Ballroom Stage Wed., Sep. 16 8pm • Sat., Sep. 19 1.45pm À 75 mins 13+ $15 It was called “the front door to freedom.” From 1892 to 1930, Ellis Island was the first experience of life in America for millions of immigrants. “Voices from Ellis Island” follows seven immigrants from different parts of Europe as they cross the Atlantic Ocean and confront unexpected challenges in their new country at Ellis Island. Their stories are amusing, frightening, inspiring and true. Presented by One’s Company with Pippa White. www.pippawhiteonecompany.com One’s Company Productions

Voices from the Resistance JCC CenterStage Theatre: Ballroom Stage

A solo show stuffed to the brim with great characterizations from Warhol’s artistic heyday. Take a trip all the way back in time to the Factory for an eye-opening lesson in pop culture history! “Roost's performance really brings these characters to life.”—Upside Adelaide. See what Lou Reed, Capote, and Edie Sedgwick say about “Drella,” and what he says about them! www.garryroost.co.uk

Garry Roost

Who were they? Just ordinary people: school teachers, plumbers, bus drivers, shop keepers, bakers, housewives, students, even children. But they led Jews to freedom, rescued Allied soldiers, printed newspapers, blew up bridges, and risked their lives every day to do what they could to cripple the Third Reich. Using diaries, letters, oral histories and autobiographies, Pippa White will introduce you to five World War II resistance fighters: their stories are frightening, inspiring, and true!

Well-Balanced Dads Blackfriars Theatre Thu., Sep. 24 9pm • Fri., Sep. 25 6:30pm • Sat., Sep. 26 2:30pm À 60 mins 5+ $15 Grab your finger guns, comb your ‘stache, and brace yourselves for the “Well-Balanced Dads!” Dick and Dale are taking the audience on a camping trip full of dad jokes, dance moves, acrobatics, movie references, and easy going audience participation. This hilarious duo balances levity with deeper themes like finding your inner child, hyper-masculinity, and navigating life after the kids have flown the nest. “6 stars from this dad, 5 from the rest of the family!”—Good Dad. https://thewhispertheatre.wixsite.com/whisper/well-balWhisper Theatre anced-dads

WHELMED! Downtown United Presbyterian Church: Celebration Hall Thu., Sep. 24 6:30pm • Fri., Sep. 25 7:30pm • Sat., Sep. 26 5:30pm À 60 mins All Ages $18 “WHELMED!” is a musical parody of parents and their adult children— a witty telling of Adam and Eve, sons Cain and Abel, Noah and Missus, with their eldest son, Lamech, who did not go on the ark. It is humorously expressed in an entertaining yet touching way. Written by the creators of “The Fifth Horseman” and composer of “Are You My Mother,” this classic spoof brings to life familiar characters (and some not so familiar) in a family-friendly hour of pure enjoyment! Be overwhelmed with WHELMED! www.rarebirdsode.com

Rare Birds Ode

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Sat., Sep. 19 3:30pm • Wed., Sep. 23 5.45pm • Thu., Sep. 24 7pm À 75 mins 13+ $15

One's Company with Pippa White

Wed., Sep. 23 6pm • Thu., Sep. 24 8pm • Fri., Sep. 25 5pm À 55 mins All Ages $15

The Velvet Noose

Voices from Ellis Island

www.pippawhiteonecompany.com

ROC Cinema

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The Velvet Noose

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15 Things You Didn’t Know About BELONG by Gianna Stewart Bigfoot Rochester Contemporary Art Center:Side Lawn Dawn's Spiegelgarden Fri., Sep. 18 9:15pm À 86 mins 18+ FREE This satiric film resonates even more now because the “clickbait” world has only ballooned. “15 Things” follows a cynical reporter who treks into the Appalachian woods in search of the mythical Sasquatch. What, after all, could be a bigger news “get” and career affirmation than finding Bigfoot? Sure, the creature is the mysterious centerpiece of the search, but a wacky cryptozoologist steals the show.

The Ballad of Wallis Island

www.rochestercontemporary.org/exhibitions/belong/

Mon., Sep. 21 8pm À 100 mins 13+ FREE

Best Films! RIT School of Film and Animation

This charming British dramedy can tug at your heartstrings, but in all the right ways. Neither mawkish nor manipulative, it is the story of a folk duo, once a romantic couple, lured to the isolated Wallis Island for a performance. Tom Basden and Carey Mulligan portray the songsters, but Tim Key steals the film as the bumbling lottery winner who has brought them to Wallis Island.

Dawn's Spiegelgarden Fri., Sep. 25 9:15pm À 82 mins 16+ FREE

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

BELONG is composed of words deemed unsavory, or “woke” by the current U.S. administration. In 2025, organizations documented the removal of these words from government publications and websites. This triptych by Gianna Stewart incorporates PEN America’s list into the letters BELONG, also a censored word, showing the power of language and the importance of naming to prevent erasure. Here the words are presented openly, in public space, in direct opposition to their removal from public discourse.

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Beatriz at Dinner

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Tue., Sep. 15 12am • Wed., Sep. 16 12am • Thu., Sep. 17 12am • Fri., Sep. 18 12am • Sat., Sep. 19 12am • Sun., Sep. 20 12am • Mon., Sep. 21 12am • Tue., Sep. 22 12am • Wed., Sep. 23 12am • Thu., Sep. 24 12am • Fri., Sep. 25 12am • Sat., Sep. 26 12am À 1435 mins All Ages FREE

Fans of Mike White, the creator of “The White Lotus,” know that he sets his stories amid the privileged, contrasting entitlement with characters on lower economic rungs. This Mike White work is similar yet more pointed. Rochester-born John Lithgow portrays an uberwealthy developer who, over a dinner, exchanges barbs with a working-class immigrant, portrayed by Salma Hayek. This could have fallen into one-dimensional messaging but offers nuance and depth.

The Little: Theatre 1 Thu., Sep. 24 5pm À 210 mins 13+ FREE Enjoy the very best animation, fiction, documentary, and experimental films made by students during the 2025-2026 academic year and selected by the faculty of Rochester Institute of Technology’s famed School of Film and Animation. Witness the future of media in one evening of delightful and diverse entertainment from a new generation of film artists. www.rit.edu/artdesign/school-film-and-animation RIT School of Film and Animation

Captain America: Brave New World Dawn's Spiegelgarden Sat., Sep. 19 7:15pm À 118 mins 13+ FREE A new cinematic Captain America is at the heart of this film but, let’s face it, having Harrison Ford find a spot in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the real treat. It only makes sense that Indy Jones/Han Solo would be at home in a superhero world. Anthony Mackie, taking up the Cap America mantle, does so with his own swagger and style.

The Little: Theatre 1

Fine Art and Fabulous Paper with Bill Finewood

Sat., Sep. 19 7:40pm À 60 mins 18+ FREE

Central Library: Harold Hacker Hall

Comics on the big screen! Part performance and part visual art show! Hear from the artists themselves as they bring their comics to life with a slideshow. A slate of local comics artists with varied styles will read and perform their stories while accompanying art is projected on the big screen. The Comics Slideshow Reading has long been a favorite event at the Rochester Indie Comics Expo and now you can catch it at Fringe!

Tue., Sep. 15 9am • Wed., Sep. 16 9am • Wed., Sep. 16 6pm • Thu., Sep. 17 12pm • Fri., Sep. 18 9am • Sat., Sep. 19 10am • Mon., Sep. 21 9am • Tue., Sep. 22 9am • Wed., Sep. 23 9am • Thu., Sep. 24 9am • Fri., Sep. 25 9am • Sat., Sep. 26 10am À 585 mins All Ages FREE

www.wnycomicarts.org/

WNY Comic Arts

Documentary Short Films: RIT Photojournalism The Little: Theatre 1 Fri., Sep. 18 6:30pm À 60 mins All Ages FREE Visual storytelling is about empathy, depth, and substance. This facultyselected program presents cinematic, documentary short films created by photojournalism students from RIT’s School of Photographic Arts and Sciences. Each film brings humancentered awareness to the stories of people, social issues and events from Rochester and beyond. These are the capstone projects for students completing their BFA degrees in photography with a focus on photojournalism.

Extra Ordinary Dawn's Spiegelgarden Sat., Sep. 19 9:15pm À 94 mins 16+ FREE

Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County

Fringe - A Festival for the City The Little: Theatre 1 Sat., Sep. 19 7pm À 25 mins 13+ FREE In 2012, Rochester launched its first Fringe Festival, transforming the city for a few days into a vibrant stage for bold, boundary-pushing performances. This 26-minute documentary captures the energy of that inaugural moment, featuring the gravity-defying work of Bandaloop, the inventive spirit of PUSH Physical Theatre, and a diverse lineup of local and international artists. /www.instagram.com/takeonfilmproductions/ Take On Film Productions

Hairspray (1988) Dawns Spiegelgarden Tue., Sep. 22 8pm À 92 mins 5+ FREE This film marks cult filmmaker John Waters’ move to mainstream. It became a Broadway musical and generated another film based on the musical. Tracy Turnblad, overweight and outside the popular circles, finds a home as a dancer on a teen pop TV show. Unafraid to mix social issues with merriment, the film also takes on segregation in 1960s Baltimore. Presented by ImageOut.

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Imagine a comedic version of “The Exorcist,” set in Ireland, with an older Linda Blair now working as a driving instructor who vanquishes spirits. Maeve Higgins stars as the shy, exorcising driving teacher in this riotous Irish comedy. Bonus: Will Forte portrays a bad-haired American pop star who has made a pact with the devil.

Fine Art and Fabulous Paper with Bill Finewood: Join the Central Library and Artist Bill Finewood as we tour his paintings, paper sculpture and illustrations. This exhibit will be on display throughout the duration of the Fringe festival during Central Library open hours. Join us for a special Artist Talk with Bill Finewood at the Central Library on Wednesday. https://tinyurl.com/3hjknubz

VISUAL ART & FILM

Comics Art Slideshow

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Hamilton

Josh Owen

Dawn's Spiegelgarden

RIT City Art Space

Sat., Sept. 26 7:30pm À 160 mins 13+ FREE Rarely has Broadway moved to the screen as adeptly as “Hamilton.” This is not a remake of the musical but instead a direct stage-to-film version, one that faithfully captures the hiphop buoyancy of the original. At America’s 250th, the musical serves as a reminder of our foundational tenets. It does so with actors, lyrics and characters who, contagiously singing and dancing, leap from the pages of history.

Dawn's Spiegelgarden

The King of Staten Island

Thu., Sep. 17 7:30pm À 126 mins 13+ FREE

Dawn's Spiegelgarden

A reimagining of the creation of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” The cast is mesmerizing, especially Jessie Buckley, whose viscerally painful portrayal of Shakespeare’s wife, Agnes, earned her a best actress Oscar. Despite the anguish in the film, the finale is remarkably uplifting.

RIT City Art Space Sat., Sep. 26 1pm À 240 mins All Ages FREE

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Josh Owen is an award winning, internationally renowned industrial designer, author, and educator. His studio’s work is produced by significant manufacturers in the United States and Europe, and his projects are featured in many permanent museum collections around the globe. This solo show offers a rarely-seen glimpse into Owen’s studio practice, on view at RIT City Art Space’s new gallery location in the Neighborhood of Play.

https://www.rit.edu/cityartspace/

Hamnet

Indie Books & Zine Fair

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Thu., Sep. 17 1pm • Fri., Sep. 18 1pm • Sat., Sep. 19 1pm • Sun., Sep. 20 1pm À 240 mins All Ages FREE

This fair brings together book artists, photographers, writers, independent publishers, and DIYers from the Rochester area and beyond showcasing alternative, independent publishing. Artists’ books, zines, photo-bookworks, magazines, chapbooks, digital publishing, prints, stickers, as well as publishing resources will be available to peruse and purchase. http://smallpressbookfair.com

Zaftig Press

FRINGE IT UP:

Because you can Netflix and Chill all winter.

Sun., Sep. 20 7:30pm À 137 mins 16+ FREE For comedian-actor Pete Davidson, this Judd Apatow-directed film is semi-autobiographical. His character, Scott Carlin, lost his firefighting father in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, just as did Davidson. The role is a perfect fit for the hangdog Davidson, who vulnerably embodies the struggles of a high school dropout trying to find his footing in the world.

Lake Ontario: A Body in Light Central Library: Rundel Arts Room Thu., Sep. 17 5:30pm • Sat., Sep. 19 2:30pm À 120 mins All Ages FREE An emotive, beautiful photographic installation and live performance event centered on Lake Ontario. Presented as part exhibition and part live program, the event weaves together photography, poetry readings, and live music. The result is an immersive gathering that invites us to consider our relationship with the water that defines our region. www.alyssamdewitt.com/lake-ontario-a-body-in-light Alyssa DeWitt Art

This is Spinal Tap

The Little: Theatre 1

Dawn's Spiegelgarden

Sat., Sep. 26 7:25pm À 40 mins All Ages FREE

Tue., Sep. 15 8pm À 82 mins 16+ FREE

“Out of Sync” is an ongoing project based on RIT instructor and alumni Chuck Miller’s graduate research in visual communication design exploring the conversation between performer and performance. By blending his outsider electronics of Grebben with a variety of visual content mixed in a live setting, Miller treats audiences to a uniquely organic show that https://grebben.bandcamp.com/ is always evolving.

Sister Midnight Dawn's Spiegelgarden Wed., Sep. 16 7:45pm À 110 mins 18+ FREE Vaudevillian slapstick meets Lynchian surrealism in this Indian film focused on an arranged marriage of two utterly incompatible people. Radhika Apte as the wife, Uma, takes us on a chaotically nutty and increasingly dark journey as she challenges societal norms, including the expectations of matrimony.

Crank the headphones to 11 for this groundbreaking and cult favorite rock mockumentary. As evidenced by the recent sequel, Spinal Tap and its classics like “Stonehenge” and “Big Bottom” endure. There is a bit of melancholy with this film, the directorial debut of the late Rob Reiner.

Waiting for Guffman Dawn's Spiegelgarden Fri., Sep. 25 7:15pm À 84 mins 16+ FREE We all miss the natural wit of comedy icon Catherine O’Hara, who died in January, but thankfully it is preserved for us in her films and TV shows. This improv mockumentary is one of her showcase films. O’Hara portrays the lead actress in a community theatre production. Egos and eccentricities abound, and the all-star ensemble perfectly captures the hopes of hometown thespians.

Solitude

The Wedding Singer

Central Library: Kate Gleason Auditorium

Dawn's Spiegelgarden

Sat., Sep. 19 3:30pm • Thu., Sep. 24 5pm À 30 mins 5+ FREE

Fri., Sep. 18 7:30pm À 97 mins 13+ FREE

www.dorothylovelace.com

One of the Silver Screen’s most underrated comic couples may be the pairing of Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore; the two share an onscreen chemistry that adds spark to each film. This was their first film together, a rom-com in which they find each other after missteps and bad choices in love and life.

The Woman King Dawn's Spiegelgarden

12 DAYS. 45 VENUES. 700+ WOWs!

Thu., Sep. 24 7:30pm À 135 mins 13+ FREE Loosely based on history, “The Woman King” tells of the all-female African warrior regiment, the Agojie. Oscar winner Viola Davis inhabits the role of the fierce General Nanisca, who leads the regiment. The film was a passion project for Davis, who worked for years to bring it to the screen.

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Running 20 minutes, “Solitude” follows a lone protagonist who enters the woods and slowly realizes they are not alone. What follows is not a conventional chase, but a mounting sense of dread. Tension builds through pacing, sound, and image rather than shock or spectacle. Though considered a horror film, it contains no violence or gore, and no dialogue.

VISUAL ART & FILM

Out of Sync

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VENUES

FRINGE VENUES In and around downtown Rochester

Fringe venues are located in our main East End footprint, with satellite locations in the Neighborhood of the Arts, in the University of Rochester area, in the historic Joseph Avenue and Upper Falls Neighborhoods, and in the Brighton/Henrietta area.

ONE FRINGE PLACE

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Corner of Main & Gibbs Streets, Rochester, NY 14604 GPS Address: 71 Gibbs Street, Rochester, NY 14604 Located across from the Eastman Theatre, our Fringe central includes the fabulous Spiegeltent, the new Garden Studio, Dawn's Spiegelgarden, The Justin L. Vigdor Box Office & Info Booth, food trucks, the Fringe Store, free entertainment, and some site-specific shows.

SPIEGELTENT

This year’s Spiegeltent is the historic Palais im Park from Beligum; a larger tent with stained glass windows, a velvet draped ceiling and VIP booths fit for royalty. All shows are presented round. See page 18 for more details and a list of shows.

DAWN’S SPIEGELGARDEN & THE GARDEN STUDIO

Host location for Fringe’s new studio theatre, plus Pedestrian Drive-In, Dashboard Dramas and Bushwhacked's Pamper Camper! Plus, the Theatre Bar: a festival lounge iwth a magical vibe. See page 34 for details and a list of shows.

OUTDOOR VENUES Near East Avenue and Main Street, Rochester

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING GIBBS STREET 26 Gibbs Street JR. MEMORIAL PARK: Rochester, NY 14604 THE BOWL Friday, Sept. 18, 5-9pm Location of Fringe Street Beat.

Saturday, Sept. 19, 5-9pm

353 Court Street Rochester, NY 14607

See page 44 for more details.

Saturday, Sept. 26, 12:30-5pm

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Throughout downtown Rochester

A variety of entertainment with a specially adapted location other than a standard venue.

PARCEL 5

285 East Ave., next to One East Ave., Rochester, NY 14604

Friday, Sept. 18, 5-10pm Saturday, Sept 19, 5-10pm. The orange dots indicate a venue’s number(s) on the map on page 126.

See page 53 for more details.

SITE-SPECIFIC SHOWS/VENUES

Austin Steward Plaza Austin Steward Plaza, Rochester, NY 14614

Delmonico & Dugdale

Genesee Valley Park: Waterways Center

88 Elm St Ste 102, Rochester, NY 14604

131 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY 14611

Mt. Hope Cemetery

22 791 Mt. Hope Ave,

Rochester, NY 14620

Rochester Museum and

33 Science Center: Garden of Fragrance

657 East Ave., Rochester, 14607

Washington Grove

44 80 Culver Road

Rochester, NY 14620

118

1046 University Ave. Suite C Rochester, NY 14607 www.aerialartsrochester.com

The Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County consists of two buildings, the Rundel Memorial Library building, opened in 1936, and the Bausch & Lomb Public Library Building, opened in 1997. Located in the heart of downtown Rochester, at 115 South Avenue, the library offers the residents of the city and county a large collection of print and electronic books and magazines, music, movies, and more.

Aerial Arts of Rochester is a circus arts training school offering a variety of alternative fitness and dance classes using apparatuses such as the trapeze and silk fabrics. The venue also hosts many showcases and themed productions throughout the year. AerialArtsRochester

aerialartsrochester

Biltmore Bar & Lounge

RocCentralLibrary

139 State St, Rochester, NY 14614 www.thebiltmoreroc.com

The Biltmore Bar and Lounge is a cozy, art-filled hideaway where quirky charm, inviting cocktails, and offbeat energy create a uniquely memorable escape from the ordinary. A downtown haven where eclectic artists and oddballs escape the digital noise for authentic music, shows, and drink. Biltmore Bar and Lounge

biltmoreroc

Blackfriars Theatre

795 E. Main St. Rochester, NY 14605 www.blackfriars.org

Blackfriars Theatre is a mid-sized semiprofessional theatre that has entertained audiences for over 75 years in downtown Rochester, New York. Our mission is to enrich, entertain and inspire our community through exceptional theatrical arts while engaging local talent. BlackfriarsTheatre

bfriarstheatre

Bop Shop Records

1460 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618 www.bopshop.com

Bop Shop Records is an independently owned record store that specializes in fine-condition vinyl records and CDs. We frequently host jazz, folk and blues concerts at the store, featuring internationally renowned as well as up-and-coming artists. BopShopRecords

BopShopRecords

CenterStage Theatre at the JCC

1200 Edgewood Ave, Rochester, NY 14618 www.jccrochester.org/arts-culture/centerstage

CenterStage Theatre is the professional theatre company of the Jewish Community Center in Brighton; offering new spaces to accommodate both traditional and non-traditional performances. There is plenty of free parking and all venues are fully accessible. Come FRINGE with us at the JCC! jcccenterstage

jcccenterstage

roccity_library

Century Club at the Strathallan

566 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14607 www.mcmanagementrochester.com/centuryclubrochester

Teaching Artists ROC and Strathallan at Century Club are partnering to bring unique events to the Rochester Fringe Festival. Hosted at the Century Club, a beautiful mansion and event space on Rochester’s East Avenue, Teaching Artists ROC provides programming for visitors of all ages, from traditional stage shows to multiroom mysteries. theCenturyClubofRochester thecenturyclubofrochester

10 Downtown United Presbyterian Church 121 N. Fitzhugh Street, Rochester, NY 14614 www.downtownpresbyterian.org

DUPC is a historic church structure in downtown Rochester across from City Hall with many performance spaces available. The church is committed to social justice and expression through music and art. All spaces are handicap accessible. DowntownUnitedPresbyterianChurch

12 Eastman School of Music

26 Gibbs Street, Rochester, NY 14604 www.esm.rochester.edu

Long regarded as one of the world’s premier schools of music, the Eastman School of Music offers a uniquely inspiring array of artistic, scholarly, and creative opportunities. Situated in the heart of downtown Rochester, the home of the world-renowned Rochester Philharmonic, Eastman’s stellar faculty, enduring legacy and entrepreneurial edge place our students at the spark point where great music is made to matter. EastmanSchool

eastman.school

Fringe:

MORE IS MORE

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Central Library of Rochester

115 South Ave, Rochester, NY 14604 www.roccitylibrary.org/location/central/

VENUES

1.1 Aerial Arts of Rochester

119

VENUES

13 The Focus Theater and The Duke 260 E Main Street, Rochester, NY 14604 www.focus.theater

19 The Hochstein School

50 N. Plymouth Ave., Rochester, NY 14614 www.hochstein.org

The Focus Theater and The Duke are both performance venues centrally located downtown in the historic Sibley Building on Main Street, which once housed Sibley's department store. The Focus Theater is an intimate venue of 100 seats on the third floor. The Duke is larger and is directly off Main Street on the first floor. Both venues provide world-class entertainment year-round. thefocustheater

Founded in 1920, The Hochstein School is a cornerstone of the Rochester arts community. Its historic campus features three beautiful performance spaces, including the renowned Hochstein Performance Hall, where students and professional artists share music and dance with audiences year-round. HochsteinSchool

thefocustheater

14 Garth Fagan Dance

Inn on Broadway

52 Chestnut Street, Rochester, NY 14604 www.garthfagandance.org

Garth Fagan Dance is the region’s leading artistled, predominately Black cultural institution that develops young dancers, especially those of color. The company has recently been welcomed into the Library of Congress archives and designated a 20th century dance treasure, with Garth acclaimed as the longest-running Black choreographer on Broadway for his work on Disney’s The Lion King. GFD is headquartered in a 10,008-square-foot space of a 100+-year-old building downtown. Garth Fagan Dance Company

InnOnBroadway

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

120

18 The Harley School

1981 Clover Street, Rochester, NY 14618 www.harleyschool.org

The Harley School is a caring, close-knit independent community where students discover their passions, find joy in learning, and prepare for an ever-evolving world. We nurture confident explorers who value imagination, tackle challenges, and embrace mistakes as fuel for growth. Our academic program fosters critical thinking, genuine understanding, and multiple perspectives through hands-on, project-based learning. Founded in 1917, our college preparatory program serves students in Nursery-Grade 12. harleyschool

Harley1917

828 North Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY 14604 www.cityofrochester.gov/departments/department-recreationand-human-services-drhs/international-plaza

The International Plaza is an exciting, new, Latin-themed event space and marketplace. It features a variety of vendors and vending options, providing a community gathering space to celebrate and build on the tremendous arts and cultural assets of the surrounding neighborhood.

900 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607 www.eastman.org

EastmanMuseum

theinnonbroadway

La Marketa at the International Plaza

16 George Eastman Museum

GeorgeEastmanMuseum

26 Broadway, Rochester, NY 14607 www.innonbroadway.com

The Inn on Broadway is where character meets comfort. Enjoy timeless architecture, tailored experiences, and modern ease. Within you’ll find Vanni’s Jazz Lounge, an intimate, moody hideaway in Rochester’s East End, for candlelight, artful bartending, and true listening.

garthfagandancecompan

The George Eastman Museum is the world’s leading museum of photography and motion pictures and the National Historic Landmark home and gardens of the father of popular photography. Located in Rochester’s cultural district, the museum offers a variety of exhibitions of historic and contemporary photographs, as well as displays that chronicle the personal and professional lives of George Eastman.

hochsteinschool

TheInternationalPlazaROC

theinternationalplazaroc

Java’s Café

16 Gibbs Street, Rochester, NY 14604 www.javascafe.com

Located on Gibbs Street in downtown Rochester. Java’s Cafe has a unique atmosphere— riddled with artwork and innate personality. Java’s is a great place to relax, converse, and find inspiration. You can also enjoy some of the best locally roasted coffee and organic teas Rochester has to offer. javascafegibbs

javascafe

Joseph Avenue Arts & Culture Alliance

851 Joseph Avenue, Rochester, NY 14621 24 www.josephavearts.org

Joseph Avenue Arts and Culture Alliance presents its Rochester Fringe Festival in the Lincoln Branch Library. Housing a bright and spacious Children’s Room, a dedicated Community Room for events, a comfortably furnished “Teen Spot” for youth aged 13 -17, private study areas, and the Toy Library. josephavearts

jaacaroc

26 Gibbs St., Rochester, NY 14604 www.esm.rochester.edu/concerts/halls/kodak/

Rochester’s preeminent performance space— part of Eastman School of Music—is the prestigious venue for Pete Davidson and the RPO . EastmanSchool

eastman.school

663 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14607 www.rmsc.org/strasenburgh-planetarium

The RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium is the largest planetarium in upstate New York and a theater with a history of pushing boundaries. The Strasenburgh Planetarium has opened its doors to some of the most far out uses of a planetarium anywhere in the world. rocRMSC

26 The Little: Theatre 1

240 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14604 www.www.thelittle.org

The Little Theatre in Rochester, commonly known as “The Little,” is a movie theatre on historic East Avenue in downtown Rochester and a modest non-profit multiplex specializing in art film, including independent and foreign productions outside the United States. TheLittleTheatreROC

thelittletheatre

rocrmsc

34 ROC Cinema

957 S. Clinton Ave, Rochester, NY 14620 www.roccinema.com

Rochester’s premier dine-in movie theater and event space. Rochester’s oldest movie theater built in 1914 and recently renovated in 2021. Specializing in movies, live events/performances, and private events. Full kitchen and bar on the premises. Hearing Loop available. Shared parking at Dollar Tree opposite. theroccinema

27 Memorial Art Gallery

500 University Ave, Rochester, NY 14607 www.mag.rochester.edu

A visit to the Memorial Art Gallery is a journey through more than 5,000 years of art history. From the relics of antiquity to works in the vanguard of contemporary practice, MAG's museum offers a panorama of the world’s art. Our 14-acre campus is a spectacular public art space that is a popular destination for Rochesterians and out-of-town visitors alike. MAGRochester

32 RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium

magrochester

142 Atlantic Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607 • www.muccc.org

The MuCCC Theater is an all-volunteer, 80 seat black box theater that presents theater and performance which reflects the diversity of the Rochester community. MuCCC is housed in a repurposed 19th century Baptist Mission. theMuCCC

30 Photo City Music Hall

543 Atlantic Ave #2, Rochester, NY 14609

1344 University Ave., Suite 6200, Rochester, NY 14607 www.roccitycircus.com

Ladies & Gentleman! Boys, Girls, and NonBinary Pals! It’s time to join the circus! Inside the Big Top you’ll find Western New York’s only Flying Trapeze. You can also try out other Circus Aerial classes as well as the viral sensation, Bungee Fitness. Everyone is welcome and no prior experience is necessary. The venue offers monthly circus shows and birthday parties.

PhotoCityMusicHall

31 RIT City Art Space

30 Adventure Pl, Rochester, NY 14607 www.rit.edu/cityartspace

City Art Space is RIT’s only off-campus art venue in downtown Rochester, free and open to the public, where community engagement flows through art and design exhibitions, events and educational programming. RITTigers

roccitycircus

36 Rochester Contemporary Art Center 137 East Ave., Rochester, NY 14604 www.rochestercontemporary.org

Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo) is a venue for the exchange of ideas and a non-profit that was founded in 1977. As a center for thoughtful contemporary art RoCo provides unique encounters for audiences and extraordinary opportunities for artists. Rochester.Contemporary.Art.Center

RoCo137

37 The Rose Room

295 Gregory St, Rochester, NY 14620 www.rochesterroseroom.com

The Rose Room is a historic dance hall and events space in Rochester’s South Wedge Neighborhood. TheRoseRoomRochester

RoseRoomRoc

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Since 2016, PCMH has produced an impressive blend of local, regional, national & international music & art that represents many scenes, cultures and subcultures.

roccinema

35 Roc City Circus

ROCCityCircus

28 MuCCC

VENUES

25 Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre

RITTigers

121

VENUES

38 Salena’s

302 N. Goodman Street At the Village Gate, Rochester, NY 14607 • www.salenas.com

A full service, 120-seat Mexican restaurant. Several areas where performances take place including: a small party room that holds 20; A heated outdoor patio which holds 50; a bar area and the main dining room. Come see up-close and personal interactive performances! salenasmexican

salenasmexican

39 School of the Arts

45 Prince Street, Rochester, NY 14607 www.sotarochester.org

Nestled in Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts, School of the Arts serves Rochester City students and offers traditional academics complemented by an arts-based curriculum. SOTA’s mission is “student academic, artistic and humanistic success!” rcsdsota

RCSDSOTA

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

And on and on it goes... TIL SEPTEMBER 26TH.

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42 St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

25 Westminster Rd, Rochester, NY 14607 www.stpaulsec.org

St. Paul’s is located on East Ave. across from the Eastman Museum. The church, built in 1897, has two performing spaces including a beautiful 500-seat sanctuary. The church, known for great music, is progressive, welcoming to all, and focused on social justice.

43 University of Rochester -

Sloan Performing Arts Center

407 Alumni Rd, Rochester, NY 14627 www.sas.rochester.edu/sloan-performing-arts-center/index.html

Located on the first floor of Spurrier Hall, Spurrier Dance Theater is a 170-seat sprung floor dance studio/theater. Parking will be challenging due to Meliora weekend so please allow ample time to find a spot. Parking is free in the evening. If parked in or near the Library lot, walk towards the Susan B. Anthony dorm and follow the sidewalk on the left to the entrance of Spurrier Hall. Enter on the second floor and go downstairs to the first floor to the theater, or walk down the hill and enter at the brown metal door facing the theater entrance.

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Bushwhacked: Tim and Pammy Shea’s Pamper Camper......................... Camper......................... 38 Captain America: Brave New World.......................................................... World.......................................................... 41 Cardio Charleston. Charleston..................................................................................... 70 Carmen Adores Drag Roulette ALL STARS. STARS................................................. 88 Catharsis Time!........................................................................................ Time!........................................................................................ 58 Charming Disaster's Musical Oracle. Oracle........................................................ 88 Chile and Chocolate................................................................................. Chocolate................................................................................. 88 Circus EVO, Lost to Me by......................................................................... by......................................................................... 46 Cirque 101 Workshop. Workshop................................................................................ 74 Cirque du Fringe: Anchors Away............................................................... Away............................................................... 20 Cloudy with a Chance of Science: A Night of Science, Weather, and Humor. Humor.58 Clutter Is My Life Partner. Partner........................................................................ 101 Cobbs Hill Consort. Consort.................................................................................... 88 Coldwater Blues....................................................................................... Blues....................................................................................... 88 Comedy Is A Drag..................................................................................... Drag..................................................................................... 58 Comedy Therapy....................................................................................... Therapy....................................................................................... 59 ComedySportz Buffalo.............................................................................. Buffalo.............................................................................. 59 Comics Art Slideshow............................................................................. Slideshow............................................................................. 109 Commotion Dance Theater and Friends................................................... Friends................................................... 78 Composers' Concert, Featuring Eastman Student Composers. Composers................. 88 Conspiracy Council. Council................................................................................... 59 Contra Dancing........................................................................................ Dancing........................................................................................ 70 Courtyard................................................................................................... 89 Courtyard Craft Roulette........................................................................................... Roulette........................................................................................... 74 Cupid's Boomerang.................................................................................. Boomerang.................................................................................. 89 Daddy Strong Legs. Legs.................................................................................... 59 Dads for Democracy. Democracy.................................................................................. 59 The Dancing Viola. Viola..................................................................................... 89 DANDELION............................................................................................... DANDELION ............................................................................................... 78 Daniel Cainer: What Am I, Chopped Liver?............................................... Liver?............................................... 89 Dashboard Dramas XII. XII.............................................................................. 39 David Kilimnick: Thoughts From A Waiting Room. Room..................................... 60 Dealbreaker............................................................................................ Dealbreaker ............................................................................................ 102 Dear Evan Hansen.................................................................................. Hansen.................................................................................. 102 Deep Fields: A Synambient Journey.......................................................... Journey.......................................................... 89 Desert Rhythms Belly Dance. Dance..................................................................... 70 The Dice Is Right!................................................................................... Right!................................................................................... 102 Dick Tracy - Live Radio Drama Double Feature. Feature....................................... 102 Dinner Where Everything Goes Wrong. Wrong..................................................... 102 Dirk Darrow: Magic of Future Past. Past............................................................ 60 Disco Kids. Kids................................................................................................. 74 DIY Oracle Card: Design Your Future........................................................ Future........................................................ 78 Dizzy Miss Lizzie's Roadside Revue presents The Saints. Saints........................ 102 Documentary Short Films: RIT Photojournalism..................................... Photojournalism..................................... 109 DRAGMASTER........................................................................................... DRAGMASTER ........................................................................................... 60 Dram-o-cracy............................................................................................. 27 Dram-o-cracy Dust Bowl Faeries: The Cloven Pendulum, A Gothic Murder Mystery........ Mystery........ 90 EcoVibes - Oil and Water Don’t Mix.......................................................... Mix.......................................................... 79 The Ego & The Oracle. Oracle................................................................................ 79 Emo Yoga. Yoga.................................................................................................. 90 Eno and Dan French DEUX. DEUX........................................................................ 60 the estate sale. sale.......................................................................................... 61

SHOW INDEX

15 Things You Didn't Know About Bigfoot................................................ Bigfoot................................................ 40 21: A Tribute to Adele. Adele................................................................................ 85 The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Bee....................................... 101 3AM Theatre. Theatre.............................................................................................. 46 4 Idiots and a Bottle: 4th Time's a Charm. Charm................................................ 57 9th Avenue Street Circus.......................................................................... Circus.......................................................................... 77 A Capella Time with Eight Beat Measure and Vocal Accent..................... Accent..................... 87 A Capella Time with Proof of Purchase, Grace Notes and Kaminari......... Kaminari......... 87 A Capella Time with Surround Sound, Brick City Singers and Encore...... Encore...... 87 A Funk Affair. Affair............................................................................................. 91 A Magic Problem!..................................................................................... Problem!..................................................................................... 62 A Magician—by Jordan Rooks............................................................... Rooks............................................................... 104 A Modern Marriage: A Disco Rock-Opera.................................................. Rock-Opera.................................................. 94 A Pete Seeger Tribute. Tribute................................................................................ 94 A Young Man Dressed as a Gorilla Dressed as an Old Man Sits Rocking in a Rocking Chair for Fifty-Six Minutes and Then Leaves.............................. Leaves.............................. 23 The ABBA Reunion Tribute Show. Show............................................................... 86 Across the Sea: Finding My Voice............................................................. Voice............................................................. 86 All Below................................................................................................. Below................................................................................................. 101 All The Blues You Can Use: Bill Schmitt and the Bluesmasters. Bluesmasters............... 86 All These Pretty Things............................................................................. Things............................................................................. 86 All Walls. Walls.................................................................................................... 69 ALOFT, The Pieces by. by................................................................................. 46 And Now ... with Extra Bits....................................................................... Bits....................................................................... 69 Anne Crew-Sis.......................................................................................... Crew-Sis.......................................................................................... 29 Another Middle Earth Press Conference................................................. Conference................................................. 101 Anti-Gone................................................................................................. 101 Anti-Gone Araspel....................................................................................................... 86 Araspel At the Masquerade Ball............................................................................ Ball............................................................................ 77 The B-Sides of Broadway: A Cabaret of Cut Songs. Songs................................... 86 Baby Jane, Baby Jane............................................................................. Jane............................................................................. 101 The Ballad of Wallis Island. Island....................................................................... 41 Banjos & Juggling: A World Vaudeville Adventure.................................... Adventure.................................... 87 Battle Royale Improv Tournament............................................................ Tournament............................................................ 57 Beatriz at Dinner. Dinner....................................................................................... 41 Bella and the Witch.................................................................................. Witch.................................................................................. 77 The Belly Dance Bazaar............................................................................ Bazaar............................................................................ 69 Belly Dance: On The Edge of Wonderland................................................. Wonderland................................................. 69 BELONG by Gianna Stewart.................................................................... Stewart.................................................................... 108 Bennie Jaye "Polishing My Craft" Songs Set to Poems by Martha Kelch.. Kelch.. 87 Best Films! RIT School of Film and Animation....................................... Animation....................................... 108 Between Flesh & Faith. Faith............................................................................ 100 Big Teeth Performance Collective, FLOTSAM & JETSAM by....................... by....................... 46 BIODANCE's 20th Anniversary.................................................................. Anniversary.................................................................. 69 Blackout Bingo......................................................................................... Bingo......................................................................................... 57 Brazilian Jazz Quartet. Quartet............................................................................... 87 Brick City Boppers Showcase................................................................... Showcase................................................................... 69 Bright Half Life....................................................................................... Life....................................................................................... 101 Bright Threads. Threads.......................................................................................... 77 Broadguess................................................................................................ 57 Broadguess Bushwhacked Big Boozy Joy Fun Time Revival......................................... Revival......................................... 38 Bushwhacked Big Joy Fun Time Revival................................................... Revival................................................... 38

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SHOW INDEX Rochester ESL Rochester Fringe Fringe Festival Festival

124

Et al. - Queerky Science on the Fringe...................................................... Fringe...................................................... 79 Europa at the International Plaza. Plaza............................................................. 90 Extra Credit Comedy................................................................................. Comedy................................................................................. 61 Extra Ordinary. Ordinary........................................................................................... 41 Fairy Magic............................................................................................... Magic............................................................................................... 74 The Fiddle Witch....................................................................................... Witch....................................................................................... 90 Fine Art and Fabulous Paper with Bill Finewood.................................... Finewood.................................... 109 The First Jew in Canada. Canada.......................................................................... 103 FLIP Fabrique, Summer Break by. by.............................................................. 46 FLOTSAM & JETSAM by Big Teeth Performance Collective........................ Collective........................ 46 Folk Music From Around the World. World............................................................ 90 Forest Music............................................................................................. Music............................................................................................. 90 Fowl Play at Fringe................................................................................... Fringe................................................................................... 61 Freeze Frame: A Juggling Experience!...................................................... Experience!...................................................... 47 Frequency and Flow.................................................................................. Flow.................................................................................. 79 Fringe - A Festival for the City................................................................ City................................................................ 109 Fringe Street Beat. Beat..................................................................................... 52 From Swing to Spain to Spotify. Spotify................................................................. 91 From the Depths....................................................................................... Depths....................................................................................... 79 Funkyard Brass Band............................................................................... Band............................................................................... 91 Gameshow! Gameshow! Gameshow!: A Games Show............................. Show............................. 80 Garth Fagan Dance. Dance................................................................................... 70 The GateSwingers Big Band..................................................................... Band..................................................................... 91 The Gator................................................................................................ Gator................................................................................................ 103 The Geriactors Return. Return............................................................................. 103 Glitch Video Game Band. Band........................................................................... 91 The Good "Old" Days. Days................................................................................. 91 Gospel Sunday.......................................................................................... Sunday.......................................................................................... 26 Ground Zero............................................................................................ Zero............................................................................................ 103 Guilt & Mirrors Improv Troupe. Troupe................................................................... 61 Hairspray (1988).................................................................................... (1988).................................................................................... 109 Hamilton.................................................................................................... 41 Hamilton Hamnet...................................................................................................... 40 Hamnet Hands Tell What Voices Cannot.............................................................. Cannot.............................................................. 103 Have I ever told you about...?................................................................. about...?................................................................. 100 Hephaestus................................................................................................ 80 Hephaestus Hungry Ghost............................................................................................ Ghost............................................................................................ 80 I Can(not) Undo My Being. Being......................................................................... 70 I Don't Get It............................................................................................. It............................................................................................. 61 Ian Campbell............................................................................................ Campbell............................................................................................ 92 If Music Be the Food................................................................................. Food................................................................................. 92 Illumina.................................................................................................. Illumina .................................................................................................. 103 In His Own Words: An Evening With Robert Frost................................... Frost................................... 104 Indie Books & Zine Fair. Fair........................................................................... 110 Inescapable by Martin Dockery. Dockery............................................................... 104 Invisible No More...................................................................................... More...................................................................................... 80 It’s About Time!. Time!......................................................................................... 74 Jackboxxing................................................................................................ 61 Jackboxxing Jake Wark & Mike McNeill Duo. Duo.................................................................. 92 Joe Fonda and Bass of Operations........................................................... Operations........................................................... 92 John Terlazzo - Singer/Songwriter/Poet /Storyteller.................................. /Storyteller.................................. 80 Johnny Dowd............................................................................................. Dowd............................................................................................. 92

Josh Owen. Owen............................................................................................... 110 Judy Garland is Fat at Carnegie Hall........................................................ Hall........................................................ 29 Juggle Jam by the Rochester Juggling Club............................................. Club............................................. 47 Just the Two of Us/Connie Fredericks-Malone and Scott Bradley............. Bradley............. 93 Just To Be Close To You............................................................................. You............................................................................. 37 Kids Chalk Art. Art........................................................................................... 75 The King of Staten Island......................................................................... Island......................................................................... 41 La Diva de L'Empire. L'Empire.................................................................................. 93 Lake Ontario: A Body in Light................................................................. Light................................................................. 110 Latin Rhythm Dance Club. Club......................................................................... 71 Life and Death in Cowboy Country. Country.......................................................... 104 LIKAH!........................................................................................................ 75 LIKAH! Lindy Jam. Jam.................................................................................................. 71 Liz Hogg.................................................................................................... Hogg.................................................................................................... 93 Lost to Me by Circus EVO.......................................................................... EVO.......................................................................... 46 Love Songs in Winter................................................................................ Winter................................................................................ 93 Lunatics Lounge, Live. Live............................................................................... 62 Lyrical Grooves. Grooves.......................................................................................... 81 Madelein Murphy: Lesbian American Princess......................................... Princess......................................... 62 Many Rivers Band. Band..................................................................................... 93 Marcel Lucont's Whine List. List....................................................................... 24 Marcel Lucont: Les Enfants Terribles - A Gameshow For Awful Children. Children.. 26 Martin Dockery: Wanderlust. Wanderlust...................................................................... 63 MASS DRAG: How the Church Blessed Gay Couples—Again................. Couples—Again................. 104 Microbiome Murder Mystery!.................................................................... Mystery!.................................................................... 63 Mid-Century Modern Jazz Quartet. Quartet............................................................. 93 Miles Davis Animated. Animated............................................................................... 81 Miller and the Other Sinners. Sinners..................................................................... 94 Misery Loves Company............................................................................. Company............................................................................. 63 Mister Aubs.. Aubs............................................................................................. 100 The Mothman Cometh............................................................................ Cometh............................................................................ 104 Mouth Harpo's Final First Fringe Tour II: Electric Boogaloo...................... Boogaloo...................... 63 Movie Night. Night............................................................................................... 63 Music That'll Move Ya'!............................................................................ Ya'!............................................................................ 94 Musica Nova & Eastman Percussion Ensemble Joint Concert— All Steve Reich. Reich.......................................................................................... 94 National Day of Play................................................................................. Play................................................................................. 75 National Day of Play - Parcel 5. 5................................................................. 75 Nerds in a Basement................................................................................ Basement................................................................................ 63 The Night of 1000 Johns: An Alternative Comedy Show. Show............................ 66 The Nocturne Club.................................................................................... Club.................................................................................... 71 Noise in Neon—The Mandela Effect........................................................ Effect........................................................ 81 Obsidian Star. Star............................................................................................ 94 The Old Ball Game: Live-Scored Baseball Silent Films............................ Films............................ 81 On Birds and Caves. Caves.................................................................................. 71 On the Harmful Effects of Tobacco......................................................... Tobacco......................................................... 105 Out of Sync............................................................................................. Sync............................................................................................. 111 Ozma Bemshi!. Bemshi!.......................................................................................... 81 Pedestrian Drive-In. Drive-In................................................................................... 40 Pete Davidson. Davidson........................................................................................... 33 The Pieces by ALOFT................................................................................. ALOFT................................................................................. 46 PITCH!........................................................................................................ 95 PITCH!

ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM

Spicy Tarot................................................................................................ Tarot................................................................................................ 84 Spirit Songs: Parte Dos. Dos............................................................................. 97 Spirits....................................................................................................... Spirits ....................................................................................................... 84 Stage Coaches. Coaches.......................................................................................... 67 Stages of the Game Teen Improv Troupe. Troupe................................................... 67 Stages Stardust Diner.............................................................................. Diner.............................................................................. 84 Stand Up for Drag. Drag..................................................................................... 67 Stand-Up Through the Ages..................................................................... Ages..................................................................... 68 Steve Hahn - Music for Chapman Stick. Stick.................................................... 98 Stew Cutler and Friends........................................................................... Friends........................................................................... 98 Sub-Zero Science. Science...................................................................................... 76 Sugar Nova............................................................................................... Nova............................................................................................... 98 Summer Break by FLIP Fabrique. Fabrique............................................................... 46 Table For Two & Friends............................................................................ Friends............................................................................ 72 Tales From The Bush. Bush................................................................................. 72 Tarot Cabaret. Cabaret.......................................................................................... 106 Tea Party at the End of the World............................................................. World............................................................. 36 TETRA Dance: Throughlines. Throughlines...................................................................... 72 Thank You Kiss Presents: Please Excusememe. Excusememe......................................... 68 This City Will Eat You Alive..................................................................... Alive..................................................................... 106 This is Spinal Tap..................................................................................... Tap..................................................................................... 40 Thomas Warfield: Let the Music Heal You. You................................................. 27 Threads of Motion. Motion..................................................................................... 72 Three Short Stories - A Puppet Show........................................................ Show........................................................ 76 Tiger Steel Steelband Ensemble............................................................... Ensemble............................................................... 98 Titanic: Music From and About the Unsinkable Ship................................ Ship................................ 98 Tribute to Sinatra and Las Vegas............................................................. Vegas............................................................. 99 Trivia CITY: An Arts & Culture Quiz........................................................... Quiz........................................................... 85 The Trivia Guy......................................................................................... Guy......................................................................................... 106 Twinkle twinkle little star. star.......................................................................... 76 Uncle Shoehorn's Big Easy....................................................................... Easy....................................................................... 99 Unleashed! Improv Presents: Other People's Shows................................ Shows................................ 68 Velocity: RIT's Urban Dance Crew. Crew............................................................. 73 The Velvet Noose. Noose..................................................................................... 107 Versa Style Street Dance Company. Company........................................................... 73 The Vierling Duo. Duo........................................................................................ 99 Vocal Point with the YellowJackets........................................................... YellowJackets........................................................... 99 Voices from Ellis Island.......................................................................... Island.......................................................................... 107 Voices from the Resistance.................................................................... Resistance.................................................................... 107 The Volition Project................................................................................... Project................................................................................... 73 WADAIKO Performance. Performance.............................................................................. 99 Waiting for Guffman. Guffman................................................................................. 41 Wander & Wonder VI................................................................................. VI................................................................................. 73 Warhol: Bullet Karma. Karma.............................................................................. 107 The Wedding Singer. Singer.................................................................................. 40 Well-Balanced Dads............................................................................... Dads............................................................................... 107 WHELMED!............................................................................................... 107 WHELMED! Window Scrolling...................................................................................... Scrolling...................................................................................... 85 Wizard and a Fool Magic Show................................................................. Show................................................................. 68 The Woman King....................................................................................... King....................................................................................... 41 Your Fringe Wedding. Wedding................................................................................. 85

SHOW INDEX

Platform Seven....................................................................................... Seven....................................................................................... 105 Playing Siege 2: The Game Inside. Inside........................................................... 105 Pluck Yeah! Renaissance & Baroque Hits. Hits................................................ 95 Poetry of Tarot: A Reading Inspired by Tarot Images.............................. Images.............................. 100 Port-a-Globe Punch and Judy................................................................... Judy................................................................... 75 Powder Jay................................................................................................ Jay................................................................................................ 95 Public Service Announcement.................................................................. Announcement.................................................................. 82 Pumpkin Painting. Painting..................................................................................... 76 Rich The Magic Man Total Pandemonium Magic Show............................ Show............................ 76 Ricky Ford Quartet.................................................................................... Quartet.................................................................................... 95 RIT Improv................................................................................................ Improv................................................................................................ 66 RIT Players Presents: When Jack Met Jill.................................................. Jill.................................................. 66 RITPO - Chamber Music Showcase. Showcase........................................................... 95 Roaring 20s Time Machine....................................................................... Machine....................................................................... 71 Roc City Circus on Gibbs Street. Street................................................................ 47 Roc River Ride.......................................................................................... Ride.......................................................................................... 82 ROC'ing the Streets - A Downtown Music Crawl. Crawl....................................... 83 ROCeltic: Myths, Legends, and Folklore. Folklore.................................................... 71 Rochester City Ballet: Two Tales of Dr. Seuss........................................... Seuss........................................... 72 The Roustabouts. Roustabouts....................................................................................... 66 RPO @ Fringe: Contemporary Works with Theremin. Theremin................................. 96 Ruby's High School Reunion. Reunion................................................................... 105 The Russell Beckett Show. Show....................................................................... 105 Róisín Dubh.............................................................................................. Dubh.............................................................................................. 95 The Sacred and Profane: Two Sides of 1920s Popular Music................... Music................... 96 Samuel Clemens: Tales of Mark Twain................................................... Twain................................................... 105 Sanctified Sauna...................................................................................... Sauna...................................................................................... 83 Script-in-Hand Players........................................................................... Players........................................................................... 106 Seafaring Songs & Pirate Shanties.......................................................... Shanties.......................................................... 96 Shibari...................................................................................................... Shibari ...................................................................................................... 72 Shootin Starzz Showcase: Resurrection—The Rise of a Star. Star................... 83 Shotspeare................................................................................................. 25 Shotspeare The Sights and Sounds District.............................................................. District.............................................................. 100 Signatures & Wordsmiths Open Mic. Mic....................................................... 100 Silent Disco. Disco............................................................................................... 31 Silver Rein II: A Goth-Folk Music Experience. Experience............................................. 96 Sister Midnight......................................................................................... Midnight......................................................................................... 40 Skybound Takedown. Takedown.................................................................................. 83 Sleepy Lester and the Insomniacs............................................................ Insomniacs............................................................ 96 SleepyTime Concerts. Concerts................................................................................. 76 Small Talk Theater. Theater.................................................................................. 106 Sock Puppet Secrets................................................................................. Secrets................................................................................. 84 Solitude.................................................................................................... 111 Solitude Songs for Every Age, All at the Same Time............................................... Time............................................... 97 Songs in the Key of Eastman: Casey Jones Costello Sings Songs of the Victorian and Edwardian Eras. Eras.................................................................. 97 Songs to Drink Wine to: Prosecco Edition................................................. Edition................................................. 97 Sorry 4 Da Weight..................................................................................... Weight..................................................................................... 67 SOTA Screen Serenades - School of the Arts Vocal Cabaret..................... Cabaret..................... 97 Sound of Sanctuary (SOS)........................................................................ (SOS)........................................................................ 84 Sound Signal............................................................................................ Signal............................................................................................ 97 Soup du Journalism: 25 Years of Deadline Drama. Drama.................................... 67

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MAP & VENUES

VENUES 1. Aerial Arts of Rochester 1046 University Avenue Rochester, NY 14607 2. Austin Steward Plaza Genesee Riverway Trail Rochester, NY 14614 3. Biltmore Bar & Lounge 139 State Street Rochester, NY 14614 4. Blackfriars Theatre 795 E. Main Street Rochester, NY 14605 5. Bop Shop Records 1460 Monroe Avenue Rochester, NY 14618 6. CenterStage Theatre at the JCC: • Ballroom Stage • Fireside Lounge 1200 Edgewood Avenue Rochester, NY 14618 7. Central Library of Rochester 115 South Avenue Rochester, NY 14604 8. Century Club at the Strathallan 566 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14607 9. Delmonico & Dugdale 88 Elm Street, Ste 102 Rochester, NY 14604 10. Downtown United Presbyterian Church • Hallock Lounge • Shaw Room • Celebration Hall • Sanctuary • Taylor Chapel 121 N. Fitzhugh Street Rochester, NY 14614

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

11. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park: The Bowl 353 Court Street Rochester, NY 14607

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12. Eastman School of Music • Hatch Recital Hall • Kilbourn Hall • Sproull Atrium at Miller Center 26 Gibbs Street Rochester, NY 14604 13. The Focus Theater • Focus Theater • The Duke at The Mercantile on Main 260 E Main Street Rochester, NY 14604 14. Garth Fagan Dance 52 Chestnut Street Rochester, NY 14604

15. Genesee Valley Park: Waterways Center 131 Elmwood Avenue Rochester, NY 14611 16. George Eastman Museum 900 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14607 17. Gibbs Street 26 Gibbs Street Rochester, NY 14604 18. The Harley School 1981 Clover Street Rochester, NY 14618 19. The Hochstein School • Hochstein Performance Hall • Hilda D Taylor Recital Hall • The Chapel 50 N. Plymouth Avenue Rochester, NY, 14614 20. Inn on Broadway 26 Broadway Rochester, NY 14607 21. La Marketa at the International Plaza 828 N Clinton Avenue Rochester, NY 14605 22. Mt. Hope Cemetery 791 Mt. Hope Avenue Rochester, NY 14620 23. Java’s Café 16 Gibbs Street Rochester, NY 14604 24. Joseph Avenue Arts & Culture Alliance 851 Joseph Avenue Rochester, NY 14621 25. Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre 26 Gibbs Street Rochester, NY 14604 26. The Little: Theatre 1 240 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14604 27. Memorial Art Gallery • Bausch & Lomb Parlor • Lynne Lovejoy Parlor • M&T Bank Ballroom • Sculpture Park • Outdoor Tent 500 University Avenue Rochester, NY 14607 28. MuCCC 142 Atlantic Avenue Rochester, NY 14607 29. Parcel 5 285 East Avenue next to One East Avenue Rochester, NY 14604

30. Photo City Music Hall • Photo City Music Hall • Front Stage 543 Atlantic Avenue #2 Rochester, NY 14609

43. University of Rochester - Sloan Performing Arts Center 407 Alumni Road, Rochester, NY 14627

31. RIT City Art Space 30 Adventure Place Rochester, NY 14607

44. Washington Grove 80 Culver Road Rochester, NY 14620

32. RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium 663 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14607

45. The Garden Studio One Fringe Place Corner of Main Street and Gibbs Street GPS Address: 71 Gibb Street Rochester, NY 14604

33. Rochester Museum and Science Center: Garden of Fragrance 657 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14607 34. ROC Cinema 957 S Clinton Avenue Rochester, NY 14620 35. Roc City Circus 1344 University Avenue Suite 6200 Rochester, NY 14607 36. Rochester Contemporary Art Center: Side Lawn 137 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14604 37. The Rose Room 295 Gregory Street Rochester, NY 14620 38. Salena’s 302 N Goodman Street Rochester, NY 14607 39. School of the Arts • Allen Main Stage Theatre • Black Box Theatre • Club SOTA • Commons • Ensemble Theatre 45 Prince Street Rochester, NY 14607 40. Spiegeltent One Fringe Place Corner of Main Street and Gibbs Street GPS Address: 71 Gibb Street Rochester, NY 14604 41. Dawn’s Spiegelgarden One Fringe Place Corner of Main Street and Gibbs Street GPS Address: 71 Gibb Street Rochester, NY 14604 42. St. Paul's Episcopal Church 25 Westminster Road Rochester, NY 14607

PARKING GARAGES P1 • Court St. Parking Garage 194 Court Street (near Dinosaur BBQ) P2 • Mortimer Street Parking Garage 83 Mortimer Street P3 • Washington Sq. Parking 111 Woodbury Boulevard P4 • Midtown Garage E. Broad Street and S. Clinton Avenue P5 • Five Star Bank Plaza 100 Chestnut Street (near Dr. MLK Park) P6 • East End Garage at East Avenue & Scio Street (near One Fringe Place) P7 • South Ave. Garage 39 Stone Street

HOTEL PARTNERS The Inn on Broadway 26 Broadway Rochester, NY 14607 Hyatt Regency Rochester 125 E Main Street Rochester, NY 14604

@Rochester Fringe Festival @RochesterFringe @RochesterFringe @RochesterFringeFestival @RochesterFringe

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