Adam and Jenny Brand relocated from Minneapolis to Oklahoma City in 2016 and immediately immersed themselves in our local theatre community. With decades of theatrical experience between them, they realized that they wanted to make something to call their own. That something became the Theatre Crude Fringe Festival.
A Fringe Festival is an open-access, performing arts celebration featuring unconventional, experimental and independent theater, comedy, dance and music. Adam had participated in the Minnesota Fringe Festival, writing and producing his first show in 2014, so he was intimately familiar with the concept. “Jenny and I felt like there wasn’t enough space for entry into theater,” he said. “A Fringe Festival is a great way to try out theatre, whether that is someone who wants to write a play or perform for the first time. You make a show and perform it at the fringe. If you don’t enjoy the experience, you never have to do it again.”
Ten productions debuted at the 2019 Theatre Crude Fringe Festival, each developed, cast and staged by the individual who thought of the idea. Since that time, the festival has become a nonprofit theatre organization. Now in its eighth year, the Theatre Crude Fringe Festival is bigger than ever with 21 different productions in three performance spaces, featuring over 100 artists and spanning 10 days.
The beauty of a Fringe Festival is that the creators of each project have full artistic control. It begins with an application process, where you pitch your idea to the board. “We then take those ideas and collaborate with locals who are interested in the arts,” Adam said. “We try to have a variety of shows with a mix of veterans and first-timers. Most contributors are local, but we love to have people from out of town to bring in an outside perspective. The whole point is to get our local community excited and energized and have just this fun project to work on.”
Once a piece has been accepted into the festival, Adam said they take on the role of presenter. “Each show creates its own team, however they see fit. We become a networking tool and use our contacts around town to help them in any way possible. The venues change each year, with performances happening in really unexpected places.”
Part of creating a show for the Theatre Crude Fringe Festival is being ready for anything and adapting quickly to the space provided. This year, performances will be held downtown at Perpetual Motion Dance and at Project 3810 both in the boardroom and on the outdoor loading dock.
Because this is a theatre festival, a variety of ticket options is available. Whether you want to just see one show, bring a group of friends to an event or have a pass to see unlimited performances, there is an option for you. Less than half of ticket sales go toward the festival, with 60% of the box office going straight back to the artists who made the performance possible.
If you have never been to a fringe festival, this is the year to check it out. “Come for the adventure,” Adam said. “You’re not going to see these works anywhere else. You are going to be surprised. Each show has so much heart that even if you don’t particularly care for the content, the passion of the artists behind it is so apparent that you will still end up being delighted.”
Visit the Theatre Crude Fringe Festival website for this year’s full line-up and to purchase tickets.
