FringeNYC 2008

BOTTOM LINE: the coolest summer theatre festival, right here in New York! Get the complete scoop at theatreiseasy.com from your trusty Theatre is Easy writers.

The 2008 New York International Fringe Festival kicks off in all its glory Friday, August 8th and lasts until Sunday, August 24th. In that time you can take in 202 shows: plays, musicals, comedies, dramas, dance, performance art, et al. Theatre is Easy will be there to cover as much as we can and scoop you to what you shouldn't pass up.

FringeNYC is very audience-friendly so don't fear if you've never seen a Fringe show. Tickets are only $15 each and can be purchased on the Fringe website, fringenyc.org, or in person at FringeCentral (201 Mulberry Street between Spring and Kenmare). The 202 shows in the festival are performed in 19 venues around town...check out the venue guide for directions and maps to the theatres. All 19 venues are below 14th Street in Manhattan.

Here are the shows already gaining buzz (and selling out!)...
• The Sound of One Hanna Clapping (directed by Ana Gastayer)
• I Love You, Petty and Favre
• Kaboom! (a new musical directed by BT McNicholl)
• Be Brava, Anna (that would be Anna Nicole Smith, of course)
• Perez Hilton Saves the Universe

Go to fringenyc.org for a complete list of shows in the festival as well as schedules of what's playing when. If you find a show you want to see, jump on it quickly because each show only has 5 or 6 performance times. It helps to get a ticket in advance if it's a popular show; the venues are pretty small and can sell out fast. Check back for reviews starting Monday, August 11th.

Happy Fringe-ing!