FUNKY LITTLE THEATRE COMPANY FREE

The unique and convivial atmosphere of a fringe, which typically gives underground performers access to large, diverse audiences and lets audiences see many acts quickly, is an important part of the artistic ecology of many cities. Such festivals go back to the Edinburgh Fringe in 1947. I want everyone to have a lot of fun and to feel like they’re part of something that’s going to be a lasting tradition in Atlanta.” “I want to make it an experience everyone really enjoys being a part of: the artists, the audience, our volunteers. “This first year is all about building the relationships,” says Atlanta Fringe Executive Director Diana Brown, whose Atlanta-based group Twinhead Theatre has been laying the groundwork for the festival since the summer of 2010.

FUNKY LITTLE THEATRE COMPANY FREE

Among the works on view will be Athens-based Circle Ensemble Theatre’s “Attic,” a dark Hitchcock- and Poe-inspired story about a troubled teenager Minneapolis-based actor Ben Egerman’s one-man show “Do Not Kill Me, Killer Robots” and “Mama Juggs,” D.C.-based Anita Woodley’s show about women’s health. The festival will culminate with a free closing party at Eddie’s Attic on Sunday night, May 13, starting at 8 p.m., with hip-hop music from Atlanta-based acts A Lady Named Pearl, Crizzy Moe and DJ Bamboozle. Performers from metro Atlanta and elsewhere will participate. Tickets are available online or at festival events. Single tickets are $10 a five-show pass is $45 a 10-show pass is $85 a weekend pass good for Saturday and Sunday is $110 and an all-access pass is $220. Most of the festival will take place from Thursday through Sunday, with shows mostly in the Decatur and Little Five Points areas, including Horizons School Theater, WonderRoot and CORE Dance Studios. In all, 25 shows will be performed about five times each. There will also be giveaway prizes from such local businesses as Eddie’s Attic, Raging Burrito and Sutra Lounge. Participating performers will give short previews of shows in the festival, and organizers will sell tickets for the events. The busy schedule kicks off Wednesday evening with a free preview party in Decatur Square, emceed by Barbara Tushbant of Dad’s Garage Theatre Company. Add a double dose of partying, and you’ll have something of the idea behind the crazy mix that will make up the Atlanta Fringe Festival, the city’s new arts festival, which will fill venues around town this week with several days’ worth of free or inexpensive events. Throw in some avant-garde theater, performance art and a few monologues.

Mix together one part underground arts festival with a couple of parts sketch comedy. Fringe festivals began in Europe and quickly spread across the world.

Funky little theatre company