The 2010 Capital Fringe Festival returns for its fifth year this weekend, offering 18 days of quirky, eccentric acts and more than 800 individual performances and thousands of artists.
The performances encompass a wide variety of art, including music, poetry and even clowning. The level of diversity is made possible by the festival's screening process — which is no screening at all.
"A big tenet in Fringe festivals worldwide is it's a first-come, first-serve basis," said Julianne Brienza, executive director of Capital Fringe Festival. "We do not censor anyone, and we do not make judgments — that's not our job."
Brienza is one of the founding members of Capital Fringe, an idea that began to form after she moved to Washington from Philadelphia in 2003.
"I sort of assumed that every major city had one, and when it got to be Philly fringe time, and I realized there wasn't one here, it seemed like a missing link," Brienza said.
From there, Brienza said the idea "snowballed," and in 2006, the first Capital Fringe Festival was held.
Fringe didn't start in Philadelphia, however, and it isn't a franchise. Instead, it's a mind-set that began in Scotland in 1947 when a famed international arts festival excluded local performers, Brienza said.
Local performers "decided to do performances all over Edinburgh," Brienza said. "And a journalist wrote in a newspaper that the international festival was getting fringed, and so they took that quote and created the Edinburgh Festival Fringe."
The idea of a fringe festival quickly captivated others and spread to the United States, where there are about two dozen yearly fringe festivals.
The festivals, Capital Fringe included, give new artists a stage on which to perform and give seasoned artists a place to experiment.
"I think artists really use it as a place to try new things and explore," Brienza said, adding that artists receive an average of 70 percent of the ticket revenue from the festival.
This year's acts include award-winning choreographer Liz Lerman's Dance Exchange's "garage/dancers," exploring the motion and emotion of a parking garage.
The Happenstance Theatre's "Handbook for Hosts" brings to life Esquire's 1949 handbook of hosting tips.
For those who prefer traditional performances, there is American Ensemble Theatre's production of "A Walk in the Woods" by Lee Blessing, featuring some of the Washington area's most established companies.
Along with encouraging creative expression, the Capital Fringe Festival is also pushing the Green Plan, an effort that was introduced at last year's festival.
"It's about reusing materials and recycling, and also just not being stupid," Brienza said. "Especially as an organization, and as a festival, we try to be really smart about the trash that we generate and how we handle electricity."
The festival has also developed an educational aspect with the Fringe Training Factory, a year-round program that supports artist development. On Mondays during the festival, the Training Factory will offer free discussions on a variety of topics.
"It's a way to educate our audiences about different types of styles in the performing arts."
If you go Capital Fringe Festival
Through July 25. Performances are offered at more than a dozen venues in Washington, many of which are located within blocks of each other.
Tickets
Tickets are $15 per show with a one-time purchase of a $5 fringe button. The button must be worn to enter any of the venues in the festival and is good for other discounts.
Information
The Baldacchino Gypsy Tent Bar, 607 New York Ave., part of "Fort Fringe," will have information on the festival, as well as tips for coming shows.
For a show schedule and information, as well as a map, go to capfringe.org or call 866-811-4111. Tickets are also available at the box office at Fort Fringe, 607 New York Ave. N.W., Washington.
Lodging
The Renaissance Dupont Circle Hotel is offering a Capital Fringe Festival package that includes overnight accommodations and two all-access passes. Rates start at $139, using promo code E0N. For reservations, call 800-228-9290.