New theatre festival coming to the Sault

NEWS RELEASE

FRINGE NORTH INTERNATIONAL THEATRE FESTIVAL

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A new-to-Sault Ste. Marie festival inviting the public to attend an information session Wednesday, Mar. 8, for a brief presentation and questions/answers. Festival organizers say attendees will find out details of event, including many and varied opportunities for involvement.

The Fringe North International Theatre Festival is a 10-day August event that will include performances by Canadian and American participants at a number of city venues.

Anyone wishing to perform, volunteer, or be a supporter or sponsor of Fringe North International Theatre Festival are all encouraged to attend the community session March 8, at Civic Centre, Russ Ramsay Room.

Many community groups, businesses, community organizations, educational institutions, theatre companies, other festivals, youth groups, downtown businesses and several other individuals and organizations have already been contacted over the last number of months and support is building, according to founding member and General Manager, Peter Rowe.

"My experience with Fringe started in 1982, when I was asked to help launch the Edmonton Fringe - first Fringe festival in Canada. Fast forward 30+ years, and here I am growing a Fringe once again. So far, Fringe North has been met with outstanding individual and community support.  Such an enthusiastic response is extremely encouraging, and we look forward to meeting with others who want to contribute. "

The Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals (CAFF) approved Fringe North as its newest festival member last fall, putting Sault Ste. Marie on the Fringe map. The new festival includes a focus on children and youth, First Nations, marginalized groups, and employment generation.

All Fringe festivals share a set of common guidelines providing an easily accessible opportunity for all audiences and all artists to participate. Anyone can submit a show to the Fringe and the festivals place no limits on content, so shows can be exciting, bold, and raw.

100 per cent of proceeds goes to the artists. Every Fringe is unique and different, and audiences come for the adventure and the community as much as for the plays themselves.

President, founding member and Artistic Director of Fringe North International Theatre Festival, Tova Arbus noted, “Sault Ste. Marie has long been a community that celebrates the arts and its many artists. We have many fabulous theatre companies, amateur and professional performers, a new arts academy, the annual One-Act Festival... not to mention so much incredible creation happening in other areas of Northern Ontario and the U.P. Why shouldn't we join the international family of Fringes in sharing and celebrating that all of this is happening!”

Fringe North International Theatre Festival will premiere Aug. 10 - 20, 2017.

For convenience, the overview presentations at Civic Centre, Russ Ramsay Room are scheduled twice Wednesday, Mar. 8. The first session is at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.); the second presentation will be at 7:15 p.m. (arrive at 6:45 p.m.); this session concludes at 8 p.m.

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