Nineteen (19) uniquely different site-specific productions will be featured as part of the annual 12-day Rochester Fringe Festival. More than 500 shows and nearly 150 free performances will be presented this year; the festival begins on Tuesday, September 13 and runs daily through Saturday, September 24, 2022.
Our site-specific shows are a part of the larger, big, beautiful Rochester Fringe Festival!
Site-specific performances are produced in non-theatre sites as opposed to traditional theatre spaces. Performance artists create site-specific shows in relation to a physical site by staging it at the site itself. By their very nature, these productions could not exist in a traditional theatre setting. This year’s settings include: parking lots, cemeteries, parks, aerial arenas, churches, parked cars, and more.
“Rochester audiences have really embraced the uniqueness and unusual quality of the Fringe’s site-specific shows. These productions allow stories to be told and voices to be heard in ways that actively involve three distinctive, yet equally important, elements… the space, the performers, and the audience,” said Erica Fee Fringe Festival Producer.
Several of this year’s Fringe productions are both site-specific and site responsive. The difference is that performance artists creating site-responsive shows will use the space itself to reflect what story it wants to tell. The location informs the experience and engages the audience with the meaning, history, and creative force of that space.
“The idea of making a site responsive performance at St. Joseph Park, the ruins of St. Joseph Church occurred to me during the 2020 Virtual Fringe when I created a short film in the same space. The rich history of St. Joseph’s became my muse and the catalyst for the creative process. Dance, music, and spoken word are all central to the show’s themes of memory and loss. I want the audience and performers to share this multi-sensory performance and engage in conversation together in this once magnificent edifice,” said Natalia Lisina show creator and choreographer.
A complete listing of Fringe 2022 site-specific and site responsive shows follows:
BANDALOOP
A pioneer in vertical dance movement, California's BANDALOOP returns to the Fringe and the 21-story Five Star Plaza after enthralling tens of thousands of spectators in 2012 and 2013. The internationally renowned company turns the dance floor on its side by seamlessly weaving together dynamic physicality, intricate choreography, and the art of climbing. BANDALOOP's work has been presented in theatres and museums; on skyscrapers, bridges, billboards, and historical sites; and on natural wonders around the world. From the Seattle Space Needle and the New York Stock Exchange to Yosemite's El Capitan and the fjords of Norway, BANDALOOP honors nature, community, and the human spirit as it re-images what dance can be.
Length: 20 Minutes
Tickets: Not Required – FREE
Age: ALL
Venue: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park: Five Star Plaza
Genre: Dance
Location Type: Outdoor
Friday, September 23 at 7:30 PM
Friday, September 23 at 9:30 PM
Saturday, September 24 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, September 24 at 9:30 PM
BUSHWHACKED BACKYARD BONFIRE
SOLD OUT FOR 2022! Back by popular demand, those madcap ladies of Bushwhacked have brushed off their hats, aired out the tent, and gotten back to their roots. Give summer the send-off it deserves with a night of campfire revelry under the moonlit sky. With your sassy input, this show will surely be filled with laughter, ridiculous bonding activities, and “s'more.” Nothing says Fringe like open flames and two irresponsible improvisers!
Length: 60 Minutes
Tickets: ALL PERFORMANCES SOLD OUT!
Venue: Spiegelgarden
Genre: Comedy
Age: 13+
Location Type: Outdoor
BUSHWHACKED BOOZY BRITISH BAKE OFF: GAME OF SCONES
If you fancy a cheeky tipple with your scones, this show is for you! Join the barmy ladies of Bushwhacked for an all-new, EPIC improvised baking battle of a lifetime. It’s a tent divided! New challenges, pitting spouse against spouse. Friend against friend. Coworker against coworker. Stranger against stranger. Actually, it just depends on who you come with and/or your relationship status, Who will bring glory to their House? Because: Winter is crumbing… Two drinks per ticket included.
Length: 60 Minutes
Tickets: From $42.00
Venue: Spiegelgarden
Genre: Comedy for Mature Audiences
Age: 21+
Location Type: Outdoor
Friday, September 16 at 6:30 PM
Saturday, September 24 at 8:30 PM – SOLD OUT!
BUSHWHACKED BRIDGERFUN BALL(S)
The Fringe is abuzz with the latest gossip. The incomparable Ladies of Bushwhacked are throwing a ball, and it is sure to be the event of the season! Not only will it be a night of hilarious hijinks, but the Queen herself may be in attendance. Make haste and secure your invitation now or risk having Lady Whistleblown pen a scathing account of your own sordid activities!
Length: 60 Minutes
Tickets: From $26.00
Venue: Spiegelgarden
Genre: Comedy
Ages: 13+
Location Type: Outdoor
Wednesday, September 14 at 6:30 PM
Saturday, September 17 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, September 18 at 6:00 PM
Tuesday, September 20 at 6:30 PM
Thursday, September 22 at 5:30 PM
BUSHWHACKED BOOZY BRIDGERFUN BALL(S)
The Fringe is abuzz with the latest gossip. And you will be too! The incomparable Ladies of Bushwhacked are throwing a ball that’s sure to be the event of the season! It’s as whimsical as Bridgerfun Ball(s), but even better: you’ll enjoy an adult bevvy or two as part of the fun! Make haste, gentle reader. Secure your invitation, and perhaps Lady Whistleblown will report on your own sordid activities!
Length: 60 Minutes
Tickets: From $42.00
Venue: Spiegelgarden
Genre: Comedy
Age: Mature Audiences 21+
Location Type: Outdoor
Friday, September 16 at 6:30 PM
Saturday, September 24 at 8:30 PM - SOLD OUT!
BUSHWHACKED BRITISH BAKE OFF: GAME OF SCONES
They’re baaaaaaaaaake! Join the barmy ladies of Bushwhacked for an all-new, EPIC improvised baking battle of a lifetime. It’s a tent divided! New challenges, pitting spouse against spouse. Friend against friend. Coworker against coworker. Stranger against stranger. Actually, it just depends on who you come with and/or your relationship status? Who will bring glory to their House? Who will prove to be a legend in the baking? Do you have what it bakes? Because: Winter is crumbing…
Length: 60 Minutes
Tickets: From $29.00
Venue: Spiegelgarden
Genre: Comedy
Age: 13+
Location Type: Outdoor
Tuesday, September 13 at 6:30 PM
Thursday, September 15 at 6:30 PM - SOLD OUT!
Saturday, September 17, at 2:00 PM - SOLD OUT!
Sunday, September 18, at 1:00 PM - SOLD OUT!
Sunday, September 18 at 4:00 PM
Wednesday, September 21, at 6:30 PM
Saturday, September 24, at 2:30 PM - SOLD OUT!
Saturday, September 24 at 4:00 PM - SOLD OUT!
C'EST PAS LÀ, C'EST PAR LÀ
It’s not here, it’s over here. U.S premiere tour of the renowned immersive arts experience direct from France. The show was inspired by a South Korean pro-democracy rally. This participatory arts experience involves 5 kilometers of string! How does a crowd move? And how does one move differently when alone versus in a crowd? What determines the "We"? What is an individual within a group?
Length: 45 Minutes
Tickets: Not Required – FREE
Age: ALL
Venue: City Blue Imaging
Genre: Visual Arts & Film
Location Type: Outdoor
Friday, September 16 at 8:30 PM
Saturday, September 17 at 8:30 PM
DASHBOARD DRAMAS VIII
SOLD OUT FOR 2022! A total sell-out seven years running, this intimate theatre experience is unlike any other. You’ll find yourself immersed in four all-new, 10-minute plays as you rotate from one car to the next. Don’t miss this hilarious, heartwarming, weird, and most of all, one-of-a-kind show. Only eight tickets available per performance!
Length: 60 Minutes
Tickets: ALL PERFORMANCES SOLD OUT!
Venue: Spiegelgarden
Genre: Comedy
Age: 18+
Location Type: Outdoor
EARTH, WIND AND CIRCUS
Come one, come all to a show that portrays the importance of individuality and community! Based in the late 1970s, Earth, Wind and Circus follows two groups, The Punks and The Funks. When they meet, everything changes. Appropriate for all ages!
Length: 50 Minutes
Tickets: From $18.00
Seniors: From $15.00
Veterans: From $15.00
Venue: Aerial Arts of Rochester Arena
Genre: Multidisciplinary
Age: All
Location Type: Indoor
Friday, September 23 at 8:00 PM
Saturday, September 24 at 4:00 PM
Saturday, September 24 at 8:00 PM
THE FLYING ESPAÑAS IN FLIPPIN METAL CIRCUS
Welcome to the Thunderdome! Experience the fifth and sixth generations of The Flying Españas in an adrenaline-pumping WORLD PREMIERE that fuses feats of daring with death-defying acrobatics and heavy metal. Be awed by the flying trapeze, hear the roar of the massive motorcycle highwire overhead, and witness the epic Wheel of Destiny – all set to a live soundtrack from the New York City-based band Mountain Girl. Not your parents’ circus… But they’re keeping it in the family. Previous engagements have included the Sydney Opera House, Disneyland, NBC, and even in concert with KISS!
Length: 40 Minutes
Tickets: Not Required – FREE
Venue: Parcel 5
Genre: Multidisciplinary
Age: ALL
Location Type: Outdoor
Friday, September 16 at 7:30 PM
Friday, September 16 at 9:30 PM
Saturday, September17 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, September 16 at 7:30 PM
IF THESE WALLS COULD SPEAK…
In today’s world of uncertainty and conflict, memory and loss impact the lives of many. Incorporating dance, music, and spoken word, the audience will be guided around the ruins of the once magnificent St. Joseph’s Church. You will participate in an experiential, multi-sensory performance amid the vestiges of this once-stunning edifice.
Length: 45 Minutes
Tickets: From $15.00
Students with ID: From $12.00
Venue: St. Joseph’s Park
Genre: Multidisciplinary
Ages: 5+
Location Type: Outdoor
Wednesday, September 14, at 6:00 PM
Wednesday, September 21 at 6:00 PM
LOVE’S LOST RAREE BOX
“Step right up and peep inside this wondrous box!” In this intimate, interactive performance, audiences encounter a deer woman and her rare, mysterious viewing box. Inside are beautiful hand drawings and carefully lit paper cut-outs that reveal a story of love and origins. Inspired by centuries-old traveling showmen and their rarity (‘raree’) boxes, this show infuses everyday settings with mystery and wonder.
Length: 4 Minutes
Tickets: Not Required – FREE
Venue: Spiegelgarden
Genre: Multidisciplinary
Ages: ALL
Location Type: Outdoor
Friday, September 16, at 5:00 PM
Saturday, September 17 at 1:00PM
Saturday, September 17 at 5:00 PM
POP GO THE BELLS
For decades, Third Presbyterian Church’s historic chimes have charmed the Neighborhood of the Arts with beautiful hymns! But because this is Fringe, Sandy Gianniny will treat you to something different. Enjoy your favorite pop tunes played on the 14 bells in the church tower. So, take a break and come by car, bike, or foot. Bring a picnic, a blanket, or a lawn chair and prepare to enjoy something completely unique.
Length: 30 Minutes
Tickets: Not Required – FREE
Venue: The Lawn at Third Presbyterian Church
Genre: Music
Age: ALL
Location Type: Outdoor
Sunday, September 18, at 3:00 PM
PURPOSEFULLY RIDICULOUS
Life is hard. Sometimes the only thing we can do is offer each other some serious joy and silliness. Purposefully Ridiculous is committed to acts of shared joy, creativity, and public access art. Our Ridiculators arrive to invite you to embrace your freedoms, to don your permissions, and dance. To view the TEDx talk about the impact of Purposefully Ridiculous visit: tinyurl.com/purposefullyridiculous.
Length: 60 Minutes
Tickets: Not Required - FREE
Venue: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park
Genre: Comedy
Age: ALL
Location Type: Outdoor
Friday, September 23 at 5:00 PM
ROC AND ROLL THEATRE ON THE EDGE
Come spin the wheel for Pop-Up Theatre! Hailing from theatrical pageant wagons from days of yore, this interactive production showcases everything from puppets and sing-alongs to history and whimsy. In collaboration with Rochester Contemporary Art Center, Monroe Community College’s On the Edge Theatre Troupe will perform at the outside space at RoCo on historic East Avenue.
Length: 50 Minutes
Tickets: Not Required - FREE
Venue: Rochester Contemporary Art Center: Side Lawn
Genre: Theatre
Age: ALL
Location Type: Outdoor
Friday, September 16 at 6:00PM
Saturday, September 17 at 6:00 PM
Friday, September 23 at 6:00 PM
Saturday, September 24 at 6:00 PM
REMNANTS
Experience beautiful Ellison Park as never before! Remnants deftly weaves dance, music, photography, visual art, and storytelling into a theatrical walking event. Creators Rose Pasquarello Beauchamp, Trish Corcoran, Andrea A. Gluckman, Greg Woodsbie, and Stella Wang unveil the human and ecological memories of Ellison Park, from its indigenous beginning through current times. Remnants takes you on an immersive journey with the performers as you stroll through the lush surroundings and enliven the space together.
Length: 90 Minutes
Tickets: Not Required – FREE
Venue: Ellison Park: Fort Schuyler
Genre: Multidisciplinary
Age: ALL
Location Type: Outdoor
Saturday, September 17 at 1:30 PM
Sunday, September 18 at 1:30 PM
Monday, September 19 at 5:00 PM
ROAR
Step back into the colorful and exciting Roaring Twenties when “knowing your onions” was a necessity and “giggle water” was illegal. These amazing cirque-style entertainers and acrobats are the “bee’s knees.” Just try not to take any wooden nickels!
Length: 50 Minutes
Tickets: Standard: from $18.00; Seniors: from $16.00; Veterans: from $16.00
Venue: Aerial Arts of Rochester
Genre: Theatre
Age: 18+
Location Type: Indoor
Friday, September 16 at 8:00 PM
Saturday, September 17 at 4:00 PM
Saturday, September 17 at 8:00 PM
WE WILL GIVE YOU WINGS
Ever dreamed of flying? Meet our soaring heroine as she gathers feathers of wisdom while navigating a myriad of emotions and ultimately achieves inner strength. Join Roc City Circus in their Rochester Fringe debut featuring beautiful aerial circus acts and a breathtaking high-flying trapeze.
Length: 75 Minutes
Tickets: From $15.00
Venue: ROC City Circus
Genre: Multidisciplinary
Age: ALL
Location Type: Indoor
Sunday, September. 18 at 2:00 PM
Monday, September 19 at 6:00 PM
Friday, September 23 at 6:00 PM
Saturday, September 24 at 6:00 PM
WHEN THE SOULS RISE
Set in Rochester’s historic and treasured Mount Hope Cemetery, mystery is the calling card of When the Souls Rise. Seen from the souls’ perspective, this phantasmagoric celebration of Halloween incorporates dancing spirits, music, and drama to lead the audience through one magical night of revelry.
Length: 60 Minutes
Tickets: Not Required – FREE
Venue: Mt. Hope Cemetery
Genre: Dance
Age: 5+
Location Type: Outdoor
Thursday, September 15 at 7:00 PM
Thursday, September 22 at 7:00 PM
Friday, September 23 at 7:00 PM
MORE ABOUT ROCHESTER FRINGE FESTIVAL: The 12-day Rochester Fringe Festival has become the largest multidisciplinary performing arts festival in New York State and one of the top three attended Fringe Festivals in the U.S. More than 500,000 people have attended nearly 4,000 performances and events at the Rochester Fringe Festival since its inception. It is one of about 250 Fringe festivals in the world, with Edinburgh being the original Fringe. It features international, national, and local artists. From comedy to theatre, from music to dance, from visual art and film to spoken word, and from children’s entertainment to multi-disciplinary collaborations. The festival’s diversity also extends to venues that span the gamut from parked cars to grand theatres. The 2019 Fringe featured more than 650 performances and events – over 200 of them free – in 25+ downtown venues and broke all previous attendance records with more than 100,000 visitors.
THE 2022 ROCHESTER FRINGE SPONSORS: New York State Council on the Arts; University of Rochester; City of Rochester; Monroe County; Ames Amzalak Memorial Trust; Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation; Rochester Area Community Foundation; Rochester Institute of Technology; Nocon & Associates; Waldron Rise; Elaine P. & Richard U. Wilson Foundation; Louis S. & Molly B. Wolk Foundation; Konar Enterprises; Mary Mulligan Trust; the French Embassy of the United States; FACE Foundation; Villa Albertine; ; Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation; VisitRochester; Nazareth College; Monroe Community College; St. John Fisher University; The Pike Company; 13WHAM TV; CITY Newspaper; D&C Digital; WXXI; Fred & Floy Willmott Foundation; Wegmans; Hyatt Regency Rochester; ESL Foundation; Canandaigua National Bank; Genesee Beer; The Rubens Family Foundation; City Blue; Aspire Transformation Services; Benderson Development; Hamilton A/V; Wilkins RV; McCarthy Tents & Events; Broccolo Tree & Lawn Care; The Harley School; Boylan Code; Bond Schoeneck & King; Yelp; and the House of Guitars. The presentation of C’est Pas La, C’est Par La (It’s Not Here, It’s Over Here) by Compagnie Galmae – Juhyung Lee, is made possible by the support of FACE Contemporary Theater (a program of Villa Albertine and FACE Foundation), in partnership with the French Embassy in the United States; with additional support from The Ford Foundation, Institut français, the French Ministry of Culture, and private donors.
The Rochester Fringe’s mission is to offer a platform for artists to share their creativity and develop their skills while also providing unparalleled public access to the arts. The Fringe strives to be diverse and inclusive, and to stimulate downtown Rochester both culturally and economically. For more information, please contact Leah Stacy, Fringe Publicist at 585-749-2947 or Adele Fico, Venue PR Liaison - 585-402-3947.
