North Bay’s ON THE EDGE Fringe Festival is back for its 8th year.
The event runs Tuesday through Saturday and is virtual again this year with activities taking place on Facebook and YouTube instead of on stage.
Each night of the festival will open at 6:30 pm with different musicians, live on the Festival’s Facebook page.
Viewers will then be able to access the evening’s featured performances and digital offerings on the festival’s YouTube channel.
Videos will be available for viewing for up to three days after being posted.
The Fringe program includes ten pre-recorded shows, from across Canada and abroad, ranging from comedy and drama to dance and a cabaret of musical theatre.
Kelsey Ruhl, Artistic Director, says being virtual is a unique challenge, but so many interesting things have come from it.
“Our knowledge of technology is obviously expanded and what the artists are coming up with. It’s been such a challenging year that it’s made for everyone’s work to become innovative and creative,” she says.
Ruhl also says they’re saying farewell to the pandemic with this event.
“I think we’re all just ready to say goodbye to this pandemic and be there to support the artists coming out of it. It’s like an ‘adieu’ digital festival, goodbye to the pandemic. We support and love (the artists) and I’m really excited,” she says.
This year’s participating artists and companies include Aanmitaagzi Story Makers, Big Red Productions, Bird On Stage Productions, Joe Drinkwalter & Co, Keegan MacNeil-Kettle, PointeTango, The Ringos, Three Odd Frogs, Unwrap Theatre, and a collaboratively developed presentation from ON THE EDGE Fringe’s summer interns.
They’re also launching a Fringe Bingo for the week.
It’s an interactive contest through their Facebook page that will engage audiences with local businesses, the fringe, and all the beauty North Bay has to offer.
“You can win this wonderful prize basket by doing a line of the bingo and some of the lines are swimming in Lake Nipissing or watching a Fringe show,” Ruhl says. “It’s kind of like activating everything we love about North Bay and Fringe.”
All festival events are free of charge, but the organization is welcoming donations to help offset expenses.
To find out more, click here or check them out on Facebook.
