Freda Payne brings Ella Fitzgerald to Bucks County | Philly Theater Notes
Plus Fringe and Free Fringe return, and Shakespeare in Clark Park heads to Germantown with a “Pericles”-inspired community fair
Philadelphia Fringe: Proof of vaccination required for some shows
The Philadelphia Fringe has announced its COVID-19 guidelines for this year. All those attending indoor performances at this year’s Philadelphia Fringe Festival must wear masks. And you will need to show proof of vaccination, (either your card or a photo of it) to attend any production curated by Fringe Arts, the festival’s organizer. Vaccination requirements for other, independently produced, Fringe shows may vary. The festival runs Sept. 9 through Oct. 3.
Go to fringearts.com/COVID-19 for information.
Free Fringe Festival
If the Philly Fringe Festival’s 180-plus shows don’t keep you busy, or are a little pricey, there’s an alternative: The third annual Free Fringe. Modeled after a similar festival in Edinburgh, the festival will have about 100 free shows, (though you can tip what you wish at the end of each performance).
The Free Fringe makes it more affordable for artists to produce shows — there’s no registration fee and, because admission is free, no ticketing fees.
The two fringes don’t compete; they complement each other. “The Free Fringe wouldn’t exist without the Fringe,” said Free Fringe executive director Chris Davis, who will have work in both Fringes.
Unlike the main Fringe, there are no curated shows.
The Free Fringe will host a bar (the drinks aren’t free, though) at North Philadelphia’s Maas Building, located near Fifth Street and Girard Avenue, where many performances will take place.
“You can hop from show to show,” he said. “You can be gluttonous for theater.”
Davis’ show, Violence of the Lambs, “is a silly conspiracy theory show” with the main character, a pseudo-scientist, sounding the alarm “because the animals are starting a big war with the humans,” Davis explained. It runs Sept. 17 through Oct. 1 at the Maas. It’s part of the main Fringe festival, so the live show is $20; however, it’s also part of the Free Fringe, so if you want to watch it online, it’s free.
The festival runs Sept. 1-30. Proof of vaccination required to enter the Maas complex. Masks required for indoor shows and recommended for outdoor ones. More information at freefringephilly.com.
Shakespeare in Clark Park (and Kensington and Germantown)
Shakespeare in Clark Park’s first foray into communities outside of its West Philadelphia roots has had fascinating results: Three different neighborhoods riffed on the same theme to produce three different versions of Shakespeare’s adventure drama Pericles. In each case, the theater company collaborated with the community to create the production, including them as actors, guides, and co-creators.
Hewing closest to William Shakespeare’s script was the first production in Clark Park in early August, though it included circus elements — probably not a feature in the original.
The second production was called Peril’s Island, and took place two weeks ago, in Harrowgate Park, near Kensington. That play, using a pirate theme from Pericles, centered on the intersection of the illicit economy and the regular economy and celebrated the idea of neighborhood, with all its complicated relationships.
The final version, Germantown Plays Pericles, begins with a fair at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 28 and 29, at Vernon Park, in the heart of Germantown’s commercial district. Audience members can stop at different booths, each, in some way relating to the play. The play’s tournament becomes an area in the park for break dancing, lawn games, and a spades table. The actual play starts at 7 p.m. and centers on Black Germantown and the threat of gentrification, another riff on the Pericles story. To create and stage the play and fair, Seema Sueko, who directed both, collaborated with 30 Germantown individuals and organizations.
Free. Fair will include a mutual aid station — bring what you can and take what you need. Outdoors, masks recommended but not required.
Freda Payne as Ella Fitzgerald
A tisket, a tasket: R&B and jazz vocalist Freda Payne may not have a yellow basket, but she is bringing her acclaimed Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald to the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope on Thursday, Aug. 26 through Sunday, Sept. 5.
The New York Times gave Payne, an accomplished scat singer, a great review, calling her performance “strongly reminiscent of Fitzgerald’s.”
Payne got an early start. She appeared on the nationally televised Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour while in middle school in Detroit. She’s probably best known for her disco-era top-of-charts Band of Gold. Her new record, Let There Be Love, was released in April.
Buy tickets at buckscountyplayhouse.org. Masks encouraged — bring your own or the Playhouse will provide one.
Trenton Makes by Passage Theatre
Passage Theatre Company, based at Trenton’s Mill Hill Playhouse, is embracing its roots with the 2021-22 season’s theme, “Trenton Makes,” with all shows created by Trenton artists and residents.
“Each show is completely different,” said artistic director C. Ryanne Domingues. “But they all reflect the heart and hope found in this community.”
Passage’s first production, The OK Trenton Project, premieres in February 2022.