What folks on stage and behind the scenes at the Philly Fringe Festival want to see

Heart Ripped Out Twice and So Can You! by Linnea Bond. Ever since I first witnessed Linnea Bond’s work, I’ve been a fan of her artistry as well as what she has to say through her self-written theatrical pieces. I can’t wait to experience Linnea’s point of view. (Sept. 7-9, Maas Building Studio)

Real PlaNet Life by Applied Mechanics. Confession: I’ve lived in Philadelphia for 13 years, been working in theater for all this time, and have never seen Applied Mechanics. That all changes this September. I’m still not quite sure what this piece is about, but it includes a short film, aliens, and the devised work of some of my favorite artists in this city. (Sept. 17-20, Vox Populi)

Unorthodox Methods of Cosmic Flight by Anastassia Vertjanova and Annemarie Branco. Having recently met one of the creators of this piece and hearing them describe their artistic process, I purchased a ticket the next day. This live show and art installation is comprised of live actors and a design that is 80% sourced from recycled, borrowed, or salvaged material. (Sept. 22-Oct. 1, Launch Point Living Gallery)

Late Night Snacks by The Bearded Ladies Cabaret. Each performance is slated to include different artists. In the past, I’ve left many a Bearded Ladies Cabaret feeling [wonderfully] overwhelmed by the soul, mischief, and sublime joy experienced. (Sept. 10-Oct. 2, The Switch)

I’m excited about the pieces coming from artists I’ve had the pleasure of meeting in creative learning spaces: Green Card Project by Sohrab Haghverdi, Threnody by Threnody Collective, and Everything After by Ella-Gabriel Mason. I met Sohrab and members of the Threnody Collective when I taught movement classes at the Pig Iron School and Ella-Gabriel when I taught for the Temple University Dance Department. Sohrab, Threnody Collective members, and Ella-Gabriel inspired me with their depth of inquiry and their willingness to risk and dare. (Green Card: Sept. 7-12, Maas Garden; Threnody: Sept. 8-9, Christ Church Neighborhood House; Everything After: Sept. 10, Conwell Dance Theater)

I have a visceral memory of the first time I saw Kyle Abraham and A.I.M years ago. I remember taking deep breaths. Putting my hand on my chest. Dancing in my seat. Smiling and sighing. I cannot begin to imagine what magic and meaning Kyle will conjure in An Untitled Love. (Sept. 22-24, Philadelphia Film Center)

One of my favorite humans and performers, Danielle Currica is performing in Bath House by Gunnar Montana Productions. Danielle has a way of sourcing the individual and collective cells of her body to invite the viewer to imagine and connect. Danielle inside of Gunnar’s dynamic, engaging, and sensual movement will be captivating. (Sept. 8-Oct. 30, Latvian Society)

Pedestrian Circus for Rose Luardo’s deep dives into the absurd and Stress Exorcist by Mary McCool because I love to be well-guided in glorious failure. (Pedestrian Circus: Sept. 14-20, Maas Building Studio; Stress Exorcist: Sept. 28-30, Maas Building Studio)

Me and Jesus and Captain Jean Luc Picard in a One Bedroom apartment in the Bronx. I love any work by Shavon Norris and Mio/Tuyo/Nuestro — the story of diaspora with love as the catalyst. I’m here for it. (Mio/Tuyo/Nuestro: Sept. 7-11, Icebox Project Space)

Late Night Snacks. I love the incredible talent that the Bearded Ladies Cabaret has pulled together.

Effigy because history should be told from multiple points of view; Oedipus in Seattle because we love the liveness of performance that comes with a cold read; and high noon by Ninth Planet because I love upending the trope of a lone ranger and stories centering black queer and trans voices. (Effigy: Sept. 15-24, Philly Improv Theater, Second Stage, upstairs; Oedipus: Sept. 8-19, Maas Building Studio; high noon: Sept. 5-18, Icebox Project Space)

high noon from Ninth Planet features Sam Rise and Vitche-Boul Ra, both performers at Late Night Snacks. I love the aesthetic of this company.

(R)evolution by Muyu Yuan Ruba, Christina Eltvedt, and Elizabeth June Bergman — Muyu is one of my favorite dancers; I could watch her move for hours. (Sept. 24-25, Chi Movement Arts Center)

Real PlaNet Life from Applied Mechanics. Their work is so smart and fun, and Other Orbits has really helped me get through the pandemic.

Medicine Meditation by Severin Blake. I’ve seen a couple iterations of Medicine Meditation. Every time my soul feels infinitely more calm.

Silver & Bebbie by Evelyn Langley and Silvia Birdsall is going to be an intergenerational blast! I ran into them on a zoom call and I’ve been thinking about the piece ever since. (Sept. 22-23, Maas Building Studio)

Wine in the Wilderness, with Philadelphia Artists Collective and TheBlackBestFriend. It’s directed by AZ Espinoza. AZ is just a brilliant director, the space is a dream, and the cast is really phenomenal. (Sept. 22-Oct. 9, Poth Brewery)

cooning into the metaverse one day at a time hopefully !!! I saw [creator] Crackheadbarney at the abortion rights protests in Washington Square Park this year. Crackheadbarney was wearing diaper-like shorts and had strung a baby doll from it. They were calling the baby doll their abortion. That [s…] is hilarious and thought-provoking. It has brought me so much joy. (Sept. 1-3, Icebox Project Space)

Pedestrian Circus, Rose Luardo has a beautiful metaphor about how people are like pizza, and different components of our personalities are different toppings. It’s such a clever metaphor and Rose is such a lovely human!

Me and Jesus and Prince and Captain Jean-Luc Picard in a One Bedroom apartment in the Bronx. Shavon Norris is one of the meritorious recipients of the BIPOC New Works Track. This is a solo performance steeped in Shavon’s unique perspective of the world.