Tag Archive for: Atlanta fringe festival

ATLANTA FRINGE FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR TWO-WEEK CITYWIDE CELEBRATION, MAY 27 – JUNE 7

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 4/23/26

Festival unites artists and community with more than 245+ live performances across seven venues

The Atlanta Fringe Festival returns for its 14th annual celebration this summer, delivering an expansive lineup of bold, original performances across the city. Building on last year’s success, the 2026 festival will again host a two-week run, featuring more than 245 live acts from May 27-June 7 at seven venues throughout Atlanta. This year’s lineup includes 49 distinct shows from a diverse roster of artists: 27 local performers, 18 touring artists representing 13 states, and an international act from Scotland. Altogether, the festival showcases more than 400 individual performances, offering audiences an immersive, citywide arts experience.

“The Atlanta Fringe Festival is a celebration of fearless creativity and the artists who bring it to life,” said Executive Director Diana Brown. “From local talent to international voices, this year’s festival invites audiences to discover work that is unexpected, unforgettable and uniquely Atlanta.”

Known for its genre-defying programming, the festival spans the full spectrum of live performance – from improv and burlesque to stand-up comedy, spoken word, puppetry and magic. As part of the global Fringe movement, the Atlanta Fringe Festival operates as an open-access platform, empowering artists to present original, unconventional work while retaining 100% of their ticket revenue.

In keeping with Fringe tradition, participating artists were selected through an unjuried lottery from approximately 150 submissions worldwide, ensuring a dynamic mix of voices, disciplines and experience levels.

Festival Highlights Include:

  • Kids Fringe (Free Family Programming): Presented in partnership with East Atlanta Kids Club, this interactive series returns May 30-31 and June 6-7 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., featuring puppet shows, crafts, games, a “Baby Rave” and more for children ages 0-12.
  • Atlanta Street Fringe (Free Outdoor Festival): In partnership with the Little 5 Points Cultural District, this outdoor celebration takes place May 29-31 and June 5-7 throughout Little 5 Points Village.
  • Five/5ths of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: Back by popular demand after two consecutive sell-outs, this variety benefit returns Monday, June 1 at 7:30 p.m. Five performance groups each reinterpret one segment of the classic film, resulting in a wildly inventive, one-night-only mashup featuring puppetry, burlesque, clowning and more.

In addition to live performances, the festival will once again present Fringe Audio, a first-of-its-kind podcast network within the Fringe circuit. Launching May 20 at AtlantaFringe.org, the platform will stream original storytelling and radio theater—many of them world premieres—from local and national artists. A $200 cash prize will be awarded to the Critics’ Choice winner for excellence in podcast production.

Multi-show passes will go on sale April 20, with single tickets going on sale April 27. Tickets will be available at atlantafringe.org. 

For new announcements, volunteer opportunities and information on upcoming exclusive performances, visit atlantafringe.org, or follow Atlanta Fringe Festival on Instagram and Facebook.

12TH ANNUAL ATLANTA FRINGE FESTIVAL

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/7/24

The 12th Annual Atlanta Fringe Festival Returns for Live Performances Across Atlanta, June 3-9

Week-long performing arts festival brings together 28 remarkable artist groups and street performers, offers free family-friendly entertainment

The Atlanta Fringe Festival is thrilled to announce its biggest, most ambitious outing yet with 28 performance groups from seven different states and Thailand — presenting live theater, dance, puppetry, comedy, storytelling and more. This year’s festival, which takes place June 3-9, 2024 across seven local venues, will also feature a free performance venue for family-friendly shows and activities; a free outdoor festival featuring Atlanta street performers; a variety benefit featuring local Atlanta talent; and audio artists whose work will be available exclusively on the Atlanta Fringe podcasting network. The festival includes performances to suit every taste, with entertainment taking over venues around Little Five Points, East Atlanta Village and Old Fourth Ward. This year’s traditional and converted performing spaces include 7 Stages, The Marianna at Wrecking Bar Brewpub, Limelight Theater, Metropolitan Studios and Dynamic El Dorado.

“We can honestly say this is one of the most dynamic line-ups we’ve ever hosted,” said Atlanta Fringe Festival Executive Director Diana Brown. “We have put together a group of exceptional artists from across the globe ready to engage audiences for days of eccentric, inspiring performances. It’s overwhelming… but in the best way!”

Per festival tradition, the 28 companies in this year’s lineup were primarily chosen through an unjuried lottery of approximately 100 global submissions. As in years past, the 12th Annual Atlanta Fringe Festival will boast live performances across the theatrical spectrum, from burlesque-based monster cabarets to ensemble comedies, modern dance, puppetry and magicians. Festival artists will be eligible for cash prizes for excellence in various categories as selected by the audience, staff and a panel of judges from the Atlanta arts community.

In addition to the live performance core of the festival, additional programming will include:

  • FREE family-friendly performances at East Atlanta Kids Club starting Saturday, June 8 at 10 a.m.Featuring puppetry, storytelling, games, crafts and more, these performances are appropriate for children ages 0-18.
  • FREE preview performance at 7 Stages on Wednesday, June 5 at 7 p.m. All 28 shows will get three minutes each to wow the audience at 7 Stages, allowing them to get to know the artists. This is usually a standing-room-only event, so attendees are encouraged to arrive early.
  • FREE Atlanta Street Fringe taking placeJune 7-9 around Little 5 Points Village. Street Fringe is a platform dedicated to busking and street performers of all kinds! Activations around Little 5 will allow performers to engage with pedestrians ​ in one of the coolest, quirkiest and most beloved neighborhoods in Atlanta.
  • Benefit Show – Five/5ths of Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure will kick offthe festival Monday, June 3 at 7 p.m. at 7 Stages. By splitting this classic film into five parts and giving the parts to five very different performance groups, we get the most unique (and triumphant) re-telling of all time.

In addition to live performances, the Atlanta Fringe Festival will once again host an audio component: Fringe Audio. The only podcasting network of its kind on the fringe circuit, Fringe Audio will feature pieces of storytelling and radio theater – most of them world premieres – by local and national artists. Streaming at AtlantaFringe.org on May 20, the shows are free, and a $200 cash prize will be offered to the winner of the Critics’ Choice Award, recognizing excellence in podcast production.

Atlanta Fringe Festival 2024 Lineup:

TOURING ARTISTS

Imaginary Podcast Network, Let Me Say This About That – Minneapolis, MN (comedy, improv, cabaret/variety)

Mother Flockers, Flock the Vote – Portland, OR & Los Angeles, CA & Austin, Texas & New York, NY (comedy, performance art)

Botticelli Babes, Botticelli Babes – Johnson City, TN (storytelling)

Rya, The Evolution of Consciousness – Clearwater, FL (dance, musical, performance art)

Bobby Wesley, Liquid Courage – Orlando, FL (comedy, storytelling)

Spotlight Exchange, Dance With Dementia – Taiwan & Hong Kong (drama, performance art, storytelling)

Speakeasy Sirens, IT’S ALIVE! A Monster Burlesque Comedy – Orlando, FL (burlesque, comedy)

Linnea Bond, Heart Ripped Out Twice And So Can You! – Philadelphia, PA (comedy, theater)

Sloan Brettholz, Officer Scott: Too Much Isn’t Enough – New York City, NY (comedy)

Time Machine Blueprints, Time Machine Blueprints: The Show – New York City, NY (comedy, performance art, storytelling)

Hunter Dance Project, Agnes & Agatha – Tallahassee, FL (dance, performance art, theater)

The Winding Sheet Outfit, All We Are Left With Is Hope – Minneapolis, MN (storytelling, theater)

GEORGIA ARTISTS

Forever Standing Productions, Rhythm of Love The Musical – Decatur, GA (drama, musical theater)

Michael Williams, Get Home Safe! – Atlanta, GA (cabaret/variety, drama, comedy, theater)

MerryCat Productions, The Wallpaper – Decatur, GA (drama, theater)

Augustus Graves, Augustus Graves: MINDREADER – Douglasville, GA (magic/mentalism)

Lily Kerrigan, The Lily Show – Atlanta, GA (comedy, standup)

Kate Morales, Água Loves A Monster – Decatur, GA (puppetry, performance art, dance)

Michael Butler, Look At Me! Look At Me! Look At Me!!! – Atlanta, GA (circus, cabaret/variety, burlesque)

The Atlanta Contemporary Dance Company, This Silly Little Game – Atlanta, GA (dance)

Flay’s Anatomy, Flay’s Anatomy – Atlanta, GA (theater, cabaret/variety)

The AU Guys, Get Psyched – Atlanta, GA (improv, comedy)

Sarah Michelson, Dybbrooke – Decatur, GA (drama, theater)

The Assembly of Phantasms, The Masque of the Red Death – Savannah, GA (burlesque, cabaret/variety, theater)

BFG Images, The Game of Chess – Atlanta, GA (comedy, theater)

SobSax, The Elements of Euclid – Atlanta, GA (theater)

Renee Marchol, Well, I Ate – Atlanta, GA (storytelling)

Oldest and Dearest, Mr. Cardboard – Atlanta, GA (comedy, theater, clown)

Follow ATL Fringe on Facebook and Instagram for new announcements, volunteer opportunities and information on upcoming exclusive performances.