The 1995 Chicago Fringe Festival
Making its debut so soon after the demise of the International Theatre Festival of Chicago, this brand-new project seems to challenge the notion that the Windy City isn't hospitable to events of this kind. Producers John T. Mills and James Ellis hope to succeed where others have failed by offering a more sharply defined image implied by the word "fringe," more concentrated programming, a special outreach to family audiences with a weekend "Kids' Fringe" (marked KF in daily listings below), low prices, and the inclusion of Chicago artists alongside visitors from around the English-speaking world.
The 1995 Chicago Fringe Festival runs through June 26 at the Organic Theater Company, 3319 N. Clark; the phone number for ticket orders is 327-5588 (the Organic box office) or 902-1500 (Ticketmaster). The listings specify which of the Organic's three theaters each show is in: the South Hall or Lab Theater, both located in the second-floor Organic Greenhouse, or the main stage, whose entrance is on Buckingham just east of Clark. Tickets range from $5 to $12 depending on the show; a $5 festival button gets you a $2 discount on all tickets as well as fest-approved merchandise. Besides the shows listed below, a "Fringe Central" street festival will take place on Buckingham east of Clark on Saturday, June 24, from noon to 10 PM. The free fair will feature local entertainers as well as merchants hawking refreshments and merchandise.
