Looking at Fringe through the Philly lens

Fringe Festival is here, and while there are plenty of narratives to choose from, we thought this would be a great time to outline which shows are closest to the heart of Philadelphia. These stories could only happen here, and they may be near and dear to your own heart. Find out about all these and more shows and pick up tickets online.

A Manayunk Mystery Tour

Manayunk Theatre Company

What is murder? A tragedy? A vicious crime? One of the inherent risks taken on by millennials in the big city? Or is murder merely an excuse to gather an oddball cast of characters in one of Philadelphia’s most beautiful and historic neighborhoods for a rousing night of sleuthing? Judge for yourself in an hourlong walking-tour performance!

When: September 12, 13, and 15, 2019, at 8pm and September 13 and 15 at 10pm.

Where: Manayunk Towpath, Main Street and Green Lane.

B. Franklin: Words Matter

Albert Sherman

He gave us the post office, a science and technology institute, and an Ivy League university among countless other gifts. Come one, come all to hear the genial history and rapier wit of Philadelphia’s favorite Founding Father, the bifocally bespectacled Benjamin Franklin!

When: September 19 and 20, 7pm ,and September 21 and 22, 5pm.

Where: Joseph Priestly Chapel, First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, 2125 Chestnut Street.

Close to Home

Leah Stein Dance Company

Philadelphia is shaped like its historical buildings, its beautiful urban parks and playgrounds, and the people who populate them. Philadelphia was a constant source of inspiration for its daughter, renowned painter Edith Neff; Neff in turn inspires an evocative dance performance from the Leah Stein Dance Company, who blend her stunning visuals with their exquisite movements in a piece that must be seen to be believed.

When: September 21, 22, 28, and 29, 4pm.

Where: The Art Room Studio, 2329 South 3rd Street.

In Transit

Tangle Movement Arts

True artists look upon the mundane and see the potential for something extraordinary. The visionaries at Tangle, a Philadelphia-based circus arts company, have experienced the trains, trolleys, and buses that connect us to our city and each other, and turned the humdrum experience of taking public transportation into an extremely elevated art form. Featuring a team of nine women acrobats, In Transit will shine a light on our interconnectivity.

When: September 4, 8pm (preview); September 5 and 6, 8pm; and September 7, 3pm and 8pm.

Where: Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 N. American Street.

Whine and Waffles

Messy Confidence Productions

Oh, to be a gay millennial in the midst of Philadelphia’s exciting nightlife scene. The clubs, the crushes, the dining, the wining, and the whining! What does it mean to be a queer man of color in the big city? Who doesn’t adore the thrill of finding new love on the dance floor? The nights offer no guarantees, but in the morning, there will be waffles. Watch Ti, Jo, Lionel, and Janelle hit clubs, break hearts, and whine to anyone who will listen. You’ll find yourself falling in love with them.

When: September 4, 7pm (preview); September 5, 12, 13, and 19, 7pm.

Where: Inspire Art Space, 1646 Ridge Avenue, first floor.