Fringe Festival promises one of its most diverse lineups
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Nick Stuccio, producing director of the Fringe Arts Festival, talked to Jennifer Lynn about the 19th annual event that will feature talent from across the globe. (Credit: Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)
Amidst all of the papal prep going on around Philly, it’s almost time for the annual celebration of the arts known as The Fringe. This year’s festival – which starts on Sept. 3 — will bring a diverse lineup.
“Every year’s a new set of shows, and every year’s a new set of themes,” said Nick Stuccio, the producing director of the Fringe Arts Festival. The festival enters its 19th year with shows and exhibitions around the city.
“There are eight countries [represented] – one show has artists from five different countries in it,” he added. “This is the time of the year when we ask artists to come here and reflect on what people are saying about the place they live around the world, and that’s very exciting.”
The festival, which runs until Sept. 20, features everything from interpretive dance and visual art to improv comedy and spoken word poetry. Performances range from family-friendly puppet shows to adults-only shows, and Stuccio said the festival is not limited to Philadelphia.
“There are festival shows in neighborhoods far and wide in this region,” he said. “It’s our goal that we expand the festival into all of these great, burgeoning neighborhoods that we have in Philadelphia. This year, there’s work everywhere.”
To hear Nick Stuccio’s full conversation with WHYY’s Jennifer Lynn, click the audio above.
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