The Book of Fringe

I love books made by friends.

One of the prettiest I’ve ever received is the Book of Fringe, which documents the history of the Capital Fringe Festival. Written by Julianne Brienza, founder of the Capital Fringe Festival, it tells the story of artists who dared to do the impossible. They would bring theater to DC and everyone was welcome, not just to watch, but to participate as well.

Over its two-decade life, Capital Fringe brought experiences to the city that you could find nowhere else. This wasn’t the Kennedy Center or the Arena Stage. This was experimental theater put on by independent, uncensored artists.

I know because I was there. As a volunteer photographer, I saw more theater over a few short days than I had in years. Sitting in the front row, I experienced:

• A one-woman show about hoarding with a woman in a trash can (like Oscar the Grinch).
• A choose your own adventure version of Romeo and Juliet in which the audience selected a happy ending for the doomed lovers.
• Sword-swallowing and other circus feats.
• Dance featuring some (I think) fake blood.
• Rap, rock and everything in between on a DIY stage with church pew seating.

The venues were leased, most of them pre-gentrification buildings around Mt. Vernon Square. Creaky, old and stifling. So hot that I thought I was going to pass out at one performance – I don’t know how the actors did it.

But what I remember most was Fort Fringe. This was a bar and venue under a massive tent on New York Avenue which featured, believe it or not, Prosecco on tap.

From The Book of Fringe, I learned how difficult it was to set up that tent. The book includes lots of nuts and bolts detail about permits, funding, food service and real estate for anyone thinking about creating and running a theater festival.

Fort Fringe was where you went before and after shows. A hangout, where you would find performers, fringe fanatics, newcomers and people who just wandered in, attracted by the sense that something interesting was happening under the big white tent.

Because the Capital Fringe Festival wasn’t just about the shows. It was the impact they made upon the audience. As Julianne writes,

I have said for almost two decades now that what happens at the festival is not necessarily important. What is important is what Fringe inspires people to do outside of the festival.

The Book of Fringe is limited-edition, hardcover and on sale now.