Theater producers are always gambling on shows, hoping that the hits outnumber the flops. However, very rarely do they produce things on an open lottery system.
But that's just what the organizers behind the Chicago Fringe Festival have done in the past, and they're doing it again for the festival's third edition, which runs from Thursday, Aug. 30, through to Sunday, Sept. 9, in the Pilsen neighborhood.
The 24 acts from the Chicago area, the 22 from other parts of the United States, a company from South Korea (The Interpreters) and one from France and Canada (Le Petite Famille) all got into this year's festival largely based on an unfiltered lottery system. More than 200 performances will be offered by the festival's end.
"The 2012 Chicago Fringe Festival is a rare opportunity to see an incomparable mix of performances at very affordable prices," said executive director Vinnie Lacey in a statement. "From traditional theater to solo shows to dance to performances that do not fit into any category, Fringe 2012 offers something for everyone."
As in last year's Fringe, LGBT artists and audiences have also been invited to have a place at the performance table amid a diverse mix of shows. Publicist James Juliano highlighted seven shows by Chicago-area artists and troupes to be of interest to LGBT audiences.
Transgender performer and playwright Rebecca Kling of Chicago returns with a new show called Storms Under Her Skin, which questions how gender is physicalized among other topics ranging from breasts to metaphorical weather. Storms Under Her Skin plays seven shows at Both Sides Art Gallery throughout the Chicago Fringe Festival.
The Chicago troupe Terra Mysterium offers The Alembic, a "Steampunk" tale involving transmutation and a heavenly goddess who sullies herself when she becomes one with humanity. The Alembic plays seven performances throughout the festival at Dream Theatre.
Social Paraphernalia is presenting In My Own Defense for five performances at the American Stage, touching upon notions of sanity when someone goes against the expected norm.
Chicago-based Revision Theatre presents three performances of Dawn on a Splintered Heart at the Dream Theatre space. This focuses on three couples facing three difficult moments under extreme circumstances in three short plays.
The Roast of Cinderella promises to be an underhanded and irreverent take on a classic fairy tale by Forest Park-based The League of Miscreants. This show runs five performances at Dream Theatre.
Newly formed troupe White Elephant from Evanston presents a drama with dance elements in Pink Milk, which looks at the tragic life of gay mathematician and Nazi code-breaker Alan Turing. This show (which comes with a warning of brief nudity) plays seven performances at the Americana Stage throughout the festival.
What's a 16-year-old girl to do when her love for her best friend, Sarah, is threatened by outside forces like parents, boys and society in general? Find out in The Last Sleepover, a drama presented by Eleusis for three performances at the Chicago Art Department.
The 3rd Annual Chicago Fringe Festival runs from Thursday, Aug. 30, through Sunday, Sept. 9, at five venues in the Pilsen neighborhood. Those venues are: Americana Stage, 600 W. Cermak Rd. (basement); Black Cloud Gallery, 1909 S. Halsted St.; Both Sides Gallery, 1838 S. Halsted St.; Chicago Art Department, 1932 S. Halsted St. #100 and Dream Theatre, 556 W. 18th St.; Tickets are available at Fringe Central, 600 W. Cermak Rd.
Performance times vary, but most shows are performed three to five times during the festival. Tickets to most shows are $10 (ticket sales go directly to the artists), on top of a reusable $5 festival button. Other ticket/button packages are also available. For tickets by telephone call 866-811-4111. For a more thorough schedule of showtimes and for more info, visit www.chicagofringe.org .
Equity Award nominations
The nominations for the Jeff Awards were announced last week, focusing on professional theater in the Chicago area. A total of 197 nominations in 34 categories were bestowed upon 96 "Jeff Recommended" productions during the 2011-12 season.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater and the Goodman Theatre both led with 18 nominations each (though several of the Goodman's nominations were on shared productions with other regional theaters). Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook and the Court Theatre were close behind with 17 and 15 nominations respectively.
By production, Chicago Shakespeare Theater's take on the Sondheim musical Follies, a revival of Death and Harry Houdini by The House Theatre of Chicago and the Court Theatre's Invisible Man all lead with seven nominations each.
Of LGBT interest, Sarah Gubbins' new lesbian play The Kid Thing (co-produced by Chicago Dramatists and About Face Theatre) received three nominations for new work, its scenic design and actress Kelli Simpkins, while the Chicago-set family comic drama Immediate Family received two nominations for its scenic design and for production of a play in a midsize theater.
But as with any round of nominations, there's always surprise at the omissions. Several Broadway veteran actors like Nathan Lane in The Iceman Cometh at the Goodman Theatre, Gregg Edelman in Drury Lane's Sweeney Todd and Brent Barrett in Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Follies were excluded.
To get a full look at the list of Jeff Award nominees, visit www.jeffawards.org . The 44th Annual Jeff Awards ceremony itself is to be held Monday, Oct. 15, at Drury Lane Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. Pre-show appetizers and cash bar will run from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with the Michael Weber-directed awards ceremony beginning at 7:30 p.m. A buffet and reception follow the ceremony, which features musical numbers featuring cast members from nominated musicals and video segments from nominated plays. Advance tickets for the ceremony and buffets are $75 ($55 for members of Actors' Equity Association, United Scenic Artists, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, Stage Managers' Association, The Dramatists Guild of America and the American Federation of Musicians). The evening is black tie-optional and open to the general public.
