Yikes! Fringe starts next week!

[dreamshark]

But we won't be getting Ultrapasses this year, as the price has skyrocketed to an absolutely ridiculous $225!!! This requires you to see 23 shows to even break even (as compared to the 5-show punch card). While it is true that once we have purchased Ultrapasses we often DO see that many shows, that really isn't our expectation at the beginning. It's just that once you have an Ultrapass you are strongly incentivized to see as many shows as possible to prove to yourself that it really was worthwhile. Last year it was starting to feel like a bit of a burden, to be honest. I think I'll be perfectly happy seeing just 10-20, and I won't have to worry about wasting all that money if I should happen to get sick or distracted during Fringe week.

Still, it's time to start looking at what's on the schedule.

After years of Fringing, my modus operandi is as follows:

• Look back at my LJ entries for past years of the Fringe to jog my memory about which performers I like.
• Login to Fringe site and search by cast member and company name for favorites from years past.
• When I find one, add it to my Wishlist (the new name for last year's Bookmarks)
• Create an online schedule, adding my first draft choices at the earliest feasible times (starting with anything featuring a Scrimshaw, as those shows tend to sell out later in the festival).
• Fill in the schedule with likely looking prospects in the same neighborhood.
• Follow the "Shows Like This" links from the show pages of my first choices for more ideas.

Here's the list of past performers that I searched for (and found) this year:

• Tom Reed - Disney
• Tim Uren - Dr. Jekyll
• Pat O'Brien - Underneath the Lintel (rerun)
• Four Humours - You Only Live Once
• Tedious Brief - Tempests
• Philip Bennett Low - Macbeth Video Game
• Scrimshaw: Brain Fighters, Highlander, Smothers Brothers
• Live Action Set - Fletcher & Zenobia
• Rob Callahan - Callahan and Lingo

And here's some that did not turn up in my search

• Candy Simmons (SunsetGun)
• Three Sticks
• Charlie Bethel
• Walking Shadow
• Rob Gee
• John Skelley

Comments

[barondave.livejournal.com]

I'll know more after tonight's Fringe-For-All (though the FFA's really haven't been a great indicators of quality for the full shows). I would add to your list the Scream Blue Murmur show Something's Gone Wrong in the Dreamhouse.

I have a very preliminary sketch of the first few days of the Fringe. Somehow, I don't think I'll make it to as many as in previous years. On the other hand, I've said that every year, and keep seeing more and more....

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

Raymond's wanting to have a play in next year's Winnipeg Fringe, and then do the Festival down here. (And he wants me to be in both... I DON"T WANNA grow up to be Marion Davis!)

[dreamshark.livejournal.com]

So are you and Raymond going to any shows this year?

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

We're going to a few, and sticking to the ASL interpreted performances.