Welcome to the 2017 Hamilton Fringe Festival

We are celebrating our 14th season in great company: 50 production companies – the highest number ever – will stage over 400 performances over 11 days in Hamilton’s downtown core. We are pleased to invite you to join the party.

We appreciate the time that you spend attending Fringe shows and our events and trust you will have lots to communicate before, during and after the festival.

Media Passes

At each show that you attend, you will need to show your Media Pass, some form of identification, and a Fringe Backer Button. Please ensure that you arrive at the venue in good time, as no latecomers will be admitted to Fringe shows. The pass is non-transferrable and valid for one ticket per show. Hold onto your Backer Button! If it gets lost, you will need to purchase another for $5.00 (available at any venue box office).

Media passes will be available at the Theatre Aquarius Box Office throughout the festival. You can pick up your passes in advance at the Media Desk at the Lincoln Alexander Centre, before the Official Hamilton Fringe Festival Kick-Off on July 19, 2017.

Taking Photos

Unless prior permission is granted by the theatre company, taking photos or video is not permitted during any performance. Please contact the Publicist to arrange photo sessions, or to obtain production stills that the Festival has on file for each company.

Reserving Tickets

Although not mandatory, it is recommended that media reserve seats ahead of time through publicity@hamiltonfringe.ca. If you are booking seats, please do so at least 24-hours in advance of the show.

Conduct

As this is a short festival, it is most beneficial to the participating artists if Fringe reviews or stories are posted early on in the run and/or as soon as possible after the performance. Fringe artists make use of their reviews to generate audiences for their shows, so if you are able to see the productions during the opening weekend and post reviews soon after, this is greatly appreciated.

We know that not all writers have control over editorial space. However, if you want to see a show and do not intend to produce a review or story, we ask that you purchase your ticket. One hundred per cent (100%) of box office revenues go to the artists, and we want to enjoy and respect their talents as professionals. Artists receive a list of all media who attend each of their performances so they will be checking in with us (and with you!) to see when their reviews appear.

The Hamilton Fringe Festival reserves the right to revoke media passes for any reason, including disruptive or disrespectful behaviour toward audience or staff members, taking photos without express permission, or using the media pass to see shows without producing reviews and/or promotional stories. If you intend to publish anything that can be construed as hate-speech, we advise you not to attend the festival.

Questions?

If you have any questions or media requests, please contact Anna Camara, Festival Publicist at publicity@hamiltonfringe.ca / 905-869-0927

Happy Fringing!

Please Note

You will find Festival Program Guide changes, omissions and errata on the final page of this document. Please check before publishing!

Fringe History and Philosophy

The Hamilton Fringe Festival is an un-juried theatre festival founded in October 2002. The first Hamilton Fringe took place in the summer of 2003.

Since the first Fringe Festival was launched in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1947, Fringe Festivals have become one of the most popular and successful theatre events in the world. In fact, at 70-years-old, the Edinburgh Fringe is the largest arts festival of any kind in the world.

The allure and popularity of Fringe Festivals comes from their focus on new and emerging artists – risk-takers who present innovative theatre to wider audiences. This commitment to the “Fringe philosophy” allows virtually any size of company to participate, representing an unequalled opportunity for performing artists from all disciplines.

Presenting live theatre in an informal, approachable and inexpensive environment, the Fringe strives to break down traditional boundaries to participation – for audience and artists alike. Audiences are invited to experience the work of seasoned veterans alongside that of emerging artists. Local, national and international performing companies benefit from working together and learning from each other in a vibrant and exciting festival atmosphere. In order to stimulate artistic innovation, participation in the Hamilton Fringe Festival is decided by lottery and participating projects are not curated.

Four Governing Principles of the Fringe

1. The event must be non-juried, with all entrants chosen either on a first come, first served basis, by lottery, or by a similarly random and unbiased process;

2. 100% of ticket revenues must be returned to the artists; 3. There must be artistic freedom – no censorship is allowed; and 4. There must be accessibility for all companies – i.e. application fees must be low

enough to allow all companies to participate

FRINGE FESTIVAL VENUES

The Hamilton Fringe Festival takes place at numerous venues in and around the James St. North district. Please be advised: the Fringe staff will do their best to accommodate anybody with accessibility issues. However, we regret that not all our venues are completely accessible. Please see the notes on each individual venue for any accessibility limitations.

Theatre Aquarius: 190 King William St. Hamilton Theatre Inc.: 140 Macnab St. N. Mills Hardware: 95 King St. E. The Players’ Guild: 80 Queen St. S.

Bring Your Own Venues

BYOV #1 – Staircase Café Theatre: 27 Dundurn St. N. - The Main Theatre at the Staircase is completely accessible; however, the Bright Room and Elaine Mae Theatre are not wheelchair accessible

BYOV #2 – Artword Artbar: 15 Colbourne St. - This venue is not wheelchair accessible.

The Gallery Mini-Series b contemporary gallery: 226 James St. N. - This venue does not have an

accessible washroom. Factory Media Centre: 228 James St. N. - This venue does not have an

accessible washroom Evergreen City Works (Collaboration Station): 264 James St. N. - This venue

does not have an accessible washroom Site Specific

Serve Ping Pong: 107 King St. E. (2nd floor) - This venue is on the second floor and can be accessed via elevator at 115 King St E, however, it does not have an accessible washroom.

The 2017 FRINGE CLUB

Serve Ping Pong:  107 King St. E. (2nd floor)  

Serve Ping Pong is the official gathering place for the 2017 Hamilton Fringe Festival – a welcoming and fun social hub for Fringe artists, patrons, and volunteers. Show your Fringe Backer Button for a discounted $5.00 beer on tap nightly. Serve Ping Pong will offer an hour of play for half price ($10) with a drink purchase. The Fringe Club opens at 4 p.m. each day during the Festival.

We’ve got nightly activities scheduled, so check out as many as you can! DATE TIME ACTIVITY Wed July 19 10pm Kick Off After-Party! Fri July 21 9pm Lip Synch Battles Sat July 22 8pm Ping Pong Competition Sun July 22 8pm Board Game Night Mon July 24 8pm Trivia Night Thu July 27 9pm Karaoke Cabaret Sat July 29 8pm Ping Pong Competition #2 Sun July 30 10pm Closing Night Party & Awards Off-site Activities: DATE TIME ACTIVITY LOCATION Wed July 26 2-4pm Volunteer Coffee

House Redchurch Café 68 King St E

Hamilton Fringe – Who We Are

2017 Staff: Claire Calnan, Executive Director Marilo Nuñez, General Manager Mickey Wagg, Technical Director Anna Camara, Publicist Rose Hopkins, Associate Producer Brydon Eastman, Box Office Coordinator Avery Qurashi, Asst. Box Office Coordinator Natalie Stravens, Community Development & Volunteer Coordinator Kristina Kunhert, Asst. Community Development & Volunteer

Coordinator James Ankers, Venue Technician Jacob Fraboni, Venue Technician Pearl Inch, Venue Technician Jake Woodward, Venue Technician

2016- 2017 Board of Directors

Valerie VanLandschoot, President Laura Ellis, Vice President Kerry Jarvi, Secretary Eric Bentzen-Bilkvist, Treasurer Beth Bandler Elizabeth Parker Jennifer Sheldrick Christopher Stanton

 Connect With Us!

Twitter: @HamOntFringe (Use the hashtag #HamFringe for Fringe-related Tweets!)

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HamiltonFringe Website: www.hamiltonfringe.ca Publicist Email: publicity@hamiltonfringe.ca

2017 HAMILTON FRINGE FESTIVAL PROGRAM

Changes / Omissions / Errata

Please note that Peggy Mahon will now perform the role of Cheri in the Cheri-on-the-run production of Cheri, which plays at the Artword Theatre.

The Sunday July 23 performance of Swingin’ in St. John’s at Hamilton Theatre Inc. is listed at 9 p.m., but will start at 9:30 p.m. The production of Someone Between at Hamilton Theatre Inc. is listed at 90 minutes in length, but runs 60 minutes. The production of Grandfather’s Secret at Evergreen CityWorks is listed as playing on Saturday July 22 at 2:15 p.m., but will instead play on Sunday July 23 at 2:15 p.m.