SPECIAL EVENTS

FrenetiCore presents the 3rd Annual Houston Fringe Festival, August 19-September 11, 2010.

The Houston Fringe is an annual performing arts festival presented by FrenetiCore at Frenetic Theater in Houston's East End. The festival, now in its third year, takes place over four weekends and offers the best independent theatre, film, dance, music and visual arts from Houston area artists and beyond.

Each weekend features a different program designed to entertain, thrill, and provoke audiences. Experimental art veterans perform alongside daring newcomers, with each piece presented less than 30 minutes in length. Multi-disciplinary visual art will be displayed throughout the theater, lobby, and exhibit hall, while live music and light-painting welcome audience members to this fun, immersive festival.

Don’t miss the ‘Anything Goes’ Weekend September 10-11, two fast-paced, decidedly chaotic evenings featuring some of Houston’s best performance artists, followed by the Fringe Festival’s closing night party and awards ceremony on September 11.

Join us, and Get Your Fringe On!

Schedule at a Glance:

Program 1, August 19-21, 2010 at 8pm:
Theater performances by Lindsey Carey and the Ratgirls from Austin, TX; Dance by CORE Performance Company and the Architects of Cinema; Music by The Nonsense Music Band; film by FrenetiCore; Light-painting by Matt & Che Crawford.

Program 2, August 26-28, 2010 at 8pm:
Theater performances by Loueva Smith, Fernando Dovalina, Brandy Holmes, Mark Carrier, and Mary Ellen Whitworth; Dance by Tsunami Dance from New Orleans, LA and Paul Smith; Film presentations to be announced.

Program 3, September 2-4, 2010 at 8pm:
Theater performances by Ray Hill and Dan Perez; Dance by Moth/Sol Y Luna from Canada and Zoetic Dance from Atlanta, GA; Film presentations from Margo Toombs and others to be announced.

‘Anything Goes’ Weekend, September 10-11, 2010
Fast paced, over-the-top performances in any discipline by the Chip Tune Crooner, Jacqueline Nalett, Michael Hoerman, and many more!

For more information please call 832.426.4624 or visit www.houstonfringefestival.com.  

Houston Fringe Festival: Weekend 1 Show Info and Bios:
Weekend 1 Dates: August 19, 20, 21, 2010
Each show is 30 minutes in length or less

‘Soar’
Created and Performed by: Lindsey Carey
Witness Polly's discovery of life's romantic curveballs, as she shares her personal struggle of "Abusive Love," through humor, drama, Shakespeare, song, and any other artistic medium that she could think of on a live stage.

Lindsey Carey is making her debut in the Houston area from her home town of Norfolk, VA. Ms. Carey has had the honor of performing with the Virginia Stage Company in Norfolk and American Conservatory Theatre.

‘Architects of Cinema’
Created and Performed by: Sandy Ewen, Chris Nelson and Y. E. Torres
A collective improvisation which creates an original approach to the harmonic relationship of guitar, bellydance and film. 

Architects of Cinema is an improvisational collaboration of movement, sound & light which includes architect/musician Sandy Ewen, filmmaker Chris Nelson & performance artist Y. E. Torres.

‘Autobiophony: An Anthology of Anecdotes’
Created and Performed by: Doug Falk
A presentation of 26 songs, which consists anecdotes ranging from non-fiction to tall tales from composer/improviser/songwriter Dug Falk. This represents the freshman effort of the Nonsense Music Band, which will span many genres in the future, but at the present time consists of nerdcore hip hop, S&M R&B, and experimental singer-songwriting. 

The Nonsense Music Band (known as the Nonsense Music Orchestra to the initiated), resides in Houston, Texas, where it (at the present time the Orchestra is a "he," namely Dug Falk, who spells his name in a way befitting his intrinsic weirdness) performs on an hourly basis for thousands of adoring fans. The first album, which was released April 2010 is called Autobiophony and is the first part of the Alphabetic Buffoonery Continuum, which will comprise 26 audio anthologies.

‘CORE-poreal’
Created and Performed by: CORE Performance Company
Solos, duets and trios unfurl the expressive body with moments of desire and destruction, vulnerability and redemption. Visions of red petticoats and body paint, punctuated at points with experimental live music, reveal new creations by the independent artists of CORE. CORE-poreal tumbles through quirky, intense physical theater, dives into dance, wriggles into performance art and breathes in shamanic ritual.

CORE Performance Company, under the artistic direction of Sue Schroeder, is in its 30th Season of creating and performing riveting and passionate work. Known for its intimate and original choreography, CORE creates work that evolves through experimentation, improvisation, and collaboration with artists from different mediums

‘Tread Lightly’
Created and Performed by: FrenetiCore in collaboration with Matt Crawford and Che Rickman
Dance, light-painting, and original music
Matt Crawford is a Houston based ne'erdowell that occasionally does stuff.
Che' Rickman is a local artist and educator that keeps her game tight. texasbylight.com
FrenetiCore is a brave little dance/theater group that tells violent and beautiful stories with original film, dance, and music by Robert Thoth and Rebecca French. www.freneticore.net.

‘Ratgirls!’
Created and Performed by: The Ratgirls – Austin, TX
The Ratgirls aim to entertain you tonight with dancings, jokes and silly outfits. They aim to stimulate all your senses, even the smell one.The Ratgirls (Ratgirl Rattus and Jobber Ratgirl) are very serious and very respected performance artists that have been performing in Austin for over 10 years. Their art has been hailed as "messy", "mind melting" and "interesting".

Also featuring:
Interactive Light-Painting by Matt Crawford and Che Rickman

Visual Art Exhibit curated by Robert Boyd featuring:
Marzia Faggin, Francis Giampietro, Woody Golden, Jose I. Solórzano, Pankaj Wadhwa

Houston Fringe Festival: Weekend 2 Show Info and Bios:
Weekend 1 Dates: August 26, 27, 28, 2010
Each show is 30 minutes in length or less

‘Photographs of a Cheating Husband’
Playwright: Fernando Dovalina
In Fernando Dovalina’s film noir-style ‘Photographs of a Cheating Husband,’ a beautiful woman asks a burnt-out private eye to spy on her wayward husband. 

Fernando Dovalina is probably best known as a playwright for his book for the musical "The Gospel According to Tammy Faye," which has been seen in Texas, Oregon, Ohio and New York. His drama “The Comfort of Anger” was staged in June at the Cincinnati Fringe Festival, his comedy-drama “Meskins/Cycle of Life, Love and Death” won second place in the national “Nuestras Voces” contest, and his Iraq war drama, “American Homefront” was produced by Unhinged Productions in Houston and received a reading in New York done by the Columbia Gorge Repertory Theatre. This is the second production of “Photographs,” which was a winner in the annual Museum Plays competition.

‘Lagniappe’
Choreographed and performed by: Tsunami Dance
‘Lagniappe’ is a series of vignettes exploring the awkwardness of first attraction, the aggressiveness of subtle competition, and the dynamics of sensuality. 

Established in 2002, Tsunami Dance is a New Orleans-based modern dance company incorporating athletic, innovative movement with a dynamic, contemporary style in its original works.

‘I said, don’t touch my dog’
Playwright: Mary Ellen Whitworth
‘I said, don’t touch my dog’ is a disturbing play about two people who want a dog--and what they will do to get it.

Mary Ellen Whitworth is a member of the Dramatist Guild and has won several short playwriting contests. She has been accepted into Edward Albee’s playwriting class at the University of Houston on two occasions and one time into Mr. Albee’s production class.

‘Women and Sex, Part 1’
Playwright: Brandy Holmes
Developed by an ensemble cast using a method of creating plays with dance-based vocabulary, ‘Women and Sex, Part 1’ explores the nature of female sexuality. Featuring geisha, dommes, and an all-female haka, the show plays with the erotic power dynamic between men and women, and asks the question Why Do Women Have Sex? 

Brandy Holmes is a Houston-based performer and director who has worked with local theatre companies such as Infernal Bridegroom Productions, Mildred's Umbrella Theatre Company, and Catastrophic Theatre Company.

‘The Book of Wool and Fur’
Written and performed by: Loueva Smith
Loueva Smith will perform poems from her Book Of Wool and Fur; lesbian love poems for lovers. A free fur lined book will be available for audience members, and a c.d. version of the poems will be for sale.

Loueva Smith is best known for her Fringe Festival plays, "Wounded Woman Fashion Show," and "Bruna Bunny and Baby Girl." Her poetry has been published in various journals and anthologies.

‘Death by Elecrution’
Playwrights: Mark Carrier, Alex Gardner, El Guillory
An interactive theater piece about games shows and the death penalty, with appearances by your favorite celebrities!

Mark Carrier is a company member of Mildred’s Umbrella Theatre Company and has performed in 365Days/365 Plays, One Flea Spare and had the leading role in The Third Side. He has also worked locally with The Fan Factory, dos chicas, Kid Ornery Theatre and Country Playhouse.

‘What is Here is Elsewhere—What is Not Here is Nowhere’
Choreographed and performed by: Paul Smith/Spanda Theatre
A dance, video, and spoken word piece based on the Tantric philosopher Abhinavagupta’s short metaphorical, poetic and instructional guide to the yogi travelling the empowered means to liberation.

Paul Smith is an experimental, contemplative dancer and writer. He has performed at the New Music American Festival, Diverse Works, the Judson Church in Manhattan, and with Deborah Hay, along with numerous Butoh and Indian Dance groups.

Also featuring:
Live Graffiti Art by Aerosol Warfare

Visual Art Exhibit curated by Robert Boyd featuring:
Marzia Faggin, Francis Giampietro, Woody Golden, Jose I. Solórzano, Pankaj Wadhwa

Houston Fringe Festival: Weekend 3 Show Info and Bios

Houston Fringe Festival: Weekend 3 Show Info and Bios:
Weekend 1 Dates: September 2, 3, 4, 2010
Each show is 30 minutes in length or less

‘A Conversation with Myself’
Written and Performed by: Ray Hill
In this world premiere, Ray Hill explores the stages of his life: kid exploring the woods; teenage Baptist evangelist; emerging young gay guy looking for love; college bum/anti-war activist; convict; political organizer; radio show host. All of these characters come together to talk with each other and comment to the audience the opinions each has of the others.

Ray Hill, Houston’s original citizen provocateur, has been fighting injustice while entertaining crowds his entire adult life. From fighting AIDS to police brutality, championing free speech to gay rights, founding and hosting KPFT’s ‘The Prison Show’ for the past 30 years, to winning the landmark US Supreme Court Case Houston v Hill, Ray Hill is a Houston legend and a national treasure. Ray is also the writer and performer of the one-man shows ‘Ray Hill, The Prison Years’, ‘Ray Hill & The Sex Police’, ‘Outlaw, Queer Like Ray Hill,’ and ‘A Stroll Through Houston Gay History with Ray Hill’.

‘De Plumas’
Choreographed and Performed by: MOTH (Vermont), Sol y Luna
A contemporary circus and dance show that takes you on a timeless journey of love. The show explores the depths of connection, letting go, and ultimately being present in every moment. ‘De Plumas’ will sweep you up and let you fly away.
Reyie Delgado (Sol Y Luna) is a native from Monterrey Mexico who has danced with City Dance Company, Freneticore, Sol y Luna Dance Company and Hope Stone Inc. In 2009 Reyie was accepted in to Canada’s Ecole Nationale du Cirque and now attends The New England Center For Circus Art.

Deena Frank (MOTH) comes to the circus world through her extensive training in dance and acrobatics. Deena is the Artistic Director of MOTH Aerial Dance Theater, is a Certified Yoga and Gyrotonic Teacher and a Professional Circus and Aerial Coach at the New England Center for Circus Arts.

‘Forbidden Hypnosis: Demonstrations From the Edge of the Mind’
Written and Performed by: Dan Perez
Comedy hypnotist Dan Perez goes serious in a demonstration of a spectacular but controversial hypnotic feat.

Hypnotist Dan Perez is a native Texan who has studied all aspects of this mysterious and sometimes controversial field. He performs regularly at venues all over the Gulf Coast.

‘What’s Eating Martha’
Written and Performed by: Margo Stutts Toombs
A madcap romp through the mind of a woman with an eating disorder. 

Margo Stutts Toombs, an internal humorist and fledgling filmmaker, is happy to be back at the Fringe Festival. Her diva colon was showcased last year. This year, her stomach will make an appearance.

‘Click’
Choreographed and Performed by: Zoetic Dance Ensemble (Atlanta, GA)
A contemporary dance work featuring personal stories told through film and movement. ‘Click’ explores the moments in life that inform our future and shape our present; the place where things come together, or perhaps do not. Choreographed by Melanie Lynch-Blanchard, Amanda Thompson, Ellen McCollister, Ross Brandt, and Mallory Baxley.

Zoetic Dance Ensemble, based in Atlanta, is a creative team of 3 choreographers and 2 filmmakers dedicated to presenting the athleticism and artistry of dance to a wide audience by creating and producing innovative choreographic works.

Also featuring:
Interactive Light-Painting by Matt Crawford and Che Rickman

Visual Art Exhibit curated by Robert Boyd featuring:
Marzia Faggin, Francis Giampietro, Woody Golden, Jose I. Solórzano, Pankaj Wadhwa

Visual Art Exhibit at the Fringe Festival:
The 2010 Fringe will exhibit visual art curated by Robert Boyd, prolific arts writer whose blog, “The Great God Pan is Dead” was featured in the Houston Press “Top 10 Blogs” in 2010.

The Artists:

Marzia Faggin, painter and maker of objects
Marzia Faggin is an artist and designer who has had solo exhibits in Houston and Florence, Italy, and been in numerous group shows in Houston, California, and Italy. She has a BFA from the Istituto Europeo di Design, Milan, Italy.

Francis Giampietro, sculptor and performance artist
Francis Giampietro studied art and philosophy at the University of St. Thomas, and is an MFA candidate at the University of Houston. He has been in several group exhibits in Houston.

Woody Golden, sculptor
Woody Golden received a BFA from Sam Houston State University and an MFA from the University of Houston. His work has been shown in many group shows, and he is a founding member of Box 13 Artspace.

José I. Solórzano, cartoonist (Guadalajara)
José Ignacio Solórzano was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 1963 and adopted the pen-name “Jis” when he published his first strips. Best known for his collaboration with fellow cartoonist Trino on “El Santos contra la Tetona Mendoza,” Jis has been published in many Mexican magazines and newspapers, and has had his work collected in more than 10 book collections.

Pankaj Wadhwa, photographer
“I started the blog on January 1, 2007. Just to take photos around Houston to keep my photo skills sharp. I never post modify crop or edit any of the images, they are as they are seen thru the phone screen,” explains Wadhwa.

Public Workshops held in conjunction with the 2010 Fringe festival:

Pranic Movement/Dance and Yoga Workshop
Dates: August 28-29, 2010
Time: 11:00am-1:00pm

Physical Theatre: Viewpoints, Composition, and Building an Ensemble
Dates: Session 1--August 28, 2010, Session 2—August 29, 2010
Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Circus Arts Workshop with Deena Frank and Reyie Delgado
Dates: August 30, 31, and September 1, 2010
Time: 9:00am-2:00pm daily

Secrets of the Hypnotic Pendulum
Date: September 5, 2010
Time: 2:00pm

Self-Hypnosis You Can Do Anywhere
Date: September 5, 2010
Time: 3:00pm