Hollywood, CA- Organizers of the Hollywood Fringe Festival announced today that Theatre of NOTE will serve as the 2012 Fringe Blackbox Theatre, a new venue for this year’s fest. The third annual festival takes place June 14-24, with a week of previews taking place June 7-12. Registration for the festival is now open.

The announcement of a “Blackbox” venue marked a shake-up for the open access arts fest, which hosted a Fringe Central space in both 2010 and 2011, but has never before hosted multiple Fringe-run venues. The Fringe Blackbox at Theatre of NOTE will highlight solo artists, comedy and other performances suited to the intimate and infinitely re-imaginable space that has helped to define Hollywood theatre for the past 25 years.

“It seems only natural that we are partnering with Theatre of NOTE in this fashion, as we’ve had a close relationship with members there since we started planning the Fringe in 2007,” said Fringe Festival Director Ben Hill, “In fact, our Fringe [film] Director Ezra Buzzington, who himself co-founded the Seattle and NY Fringe Festivals, has been a member at NOTE for 10 years and was one of the first community members to encourage myself and the other co-founders to bring a Fringe to Hollywood.”

Hill went on to remark on the implications of this change in strategy for the central organization: “We are always seeking new ways to promote and assist our participants, which is why we have traditionally made rent at Fringe Central so low. This year, we decided to host an additional space to act as an alternate venue befitting smaller scale Fringe productions. The Fringe Blackbox at Theatre of NOTE will serve as a great compliment to the Main Stage at Open Fist.”

Located on Cahuenga Boulevard in central Hollywood, Theatre of NOTE lies in the middle of the Hollywood Fringe boundaries and has served for years as a strong link between the comedy clubs of Hollywood Blvd. and Theatre Row on Santa Monica Blvd. Since it was founded in 1981, Theatre of NOTE has always been actively involved in the Los Angeles theatre community, winning countless accolades for its premieres. The Hollywood Fringe has proved no exception. For the past two years, the venue has had some of the most successful shows in the Fringe; in 2010, one of its Fringe shows won the coveted “Top of the Fringe” award.

The Fringe announced in early February that the Open Fist Theatre will serve as the Fringe Central Box Office & Main Stage in 2012. Fringe Central was hosted at Theatre of Arts Arena Stage in 2010 and at ArtWorks in 2011. The Fringe organization has chosen to partner with different venues each year to help provide a new experience for returning artists and audiences. Aside from the Fringe-run venues, over twenty Hollywood venues have already signed on to participate in the third annual festival.

About Theatre of NOTE

We at Theatre of NOTE are an enduring ensemble of diverse theatre artists in the heart of Hollywood who inspire, inform, and ignite our audiences by discovering courageous voices and creating entertaining, provocative, and revelatory theatrical works.

NOTE was founded in 1981 by Kevin Carr, along with Kitty Felde, Marc Gordon, Melanie MacQueen, Heather Carr, & Ted Parks as a forum for original one-act plays (N.O.T.E. stood for “New One-Act Theatre Ensemble”), and to provide a stimulating environment for new playwrights. Since its inception, NOTE has been through several transitions, but the integrity of the original idea has always remained intact. We premiere an average of four main stage productions a year, by writers such as W.H. Auden, Bertolt Brecht, Sheila Callaghan, Christopher Kelley, Tony Kushner, Jennifer Maisel, Leon Martell, Murray Mednick, Dennis Miles, John O’Keefe, Erik Patterson, Bill Robens and Jacqueline Wright. NOTE also upholds a tradition of acclaimed late-night shows, first launched in 1988, in addition to the now-annual, notorious, celebrity-crowd art magnet, The Hollywood Performance Marathon. We have earned consistent commendation from the Los Angeles press and national acclaim from such publications as American Theatre. In all, NOTE has accumulated almost 100 honors and nominations, including awards from the LA WEEKLY, Backstage West, L.A. Stage Alliance (Ovations), and PEN International. Thanks to over 25 years of advancing theatre in Los Angeles, NOTE has received generous government and corporate support, including grants from the California Arts Council, the Cultural Affairs Department of Los Angeles, the Flintridge Foundation, the Libby Holman Foundation, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Robinson’s/May, Sedgwick James Inc., the Audrey Skirball-Kenis Foundation, Verizon, Time Warner and, most recently, The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce in recognition of our Young Writers Project, an outreach program benefiting local high school students.

About Hollywood Fringe

The Hollywood Fringe Festival is an annual celebration of the emerging arts.
Environments for the Fringe include both traditional and unorthodox venues; fully equipped theatres, street corners, clubs, bars, and places unexpected. Performances are self-produced by local, national, and international arts companies and independent performers. In the spirit of most Fringes, participation is open and uncensored.

In June 2011, over 200 groups participated and over 25,000 tickets were sold, making the festival one of the largest of its kind in the United States. The event has been called “an artful feast” by the LA Times, “a roaring success” by Backstage, and “a triumph” by LA Weekly.

The Hollywood Fringe’s Mission Statement:
Host an environment for bold and experimental works
Champion underground art and artists
Vitalize the arts industry in Los Angeles
Promote and enrich the Hollywood neighborhood

Key Festival Dates
Feb. 1st- Registration Open
April 1st- Registration Deadline for Guide Inclusion
May 11th- Fringe [film] Submission Deadline
June 7-12- Fringe Previews
June 13th- Fringe Opening Night Gala
June 14-24- 2nd Annual Hollywood Fringe Festival
June 24th- Fringe Award Ceremony & Closing Night Party

Thanks again to everyone who attended the Town Hall this week.

For those of you who couldn’t make it, we have included the following audio track for your listening pleasure.

It begins with a rousing introduction by Amanda Weier of Open Fist (our host venue for the evening), followed by about 45 minutes of information and 60 minutes of Questions & Answers.

Give it a listen!

Join the Fringe staff and scores of your Fringe cohorts for a Hollywood Fringe Town Hall on Monday, February 20th. These are always a good time with lots of socializing and helpful information to ensure a successful Fringe experience. This time around we are hosting our first Town Hall at Open Fist Theatre, the site of this year’s Fringe Central Mainstage & Box Office.

As soon as the Town Hall wraps up, we move across the road for an informal mixer at 3Clubs, a Fringe venue and Hotspot (and one of our favorite hangouts in Hollywood). They are providing drink specials for all Fringers.

Can’t make it? Fear not, we are recording the whole thing so anyone can listen.

Special thanks to Martha Demson, the staff of Open Fist, and all the good people at 3Clubs for hosting the festivities.

Please rsvp on facebook or email [email protected].

Hope to see everyone there!

Ben

WHAT: The Fringe Town Hall

WHEN: Monday, February 20th, 2012 at 7pm (doors at 6:30)

WHERE: Fringe Central at Open Fist, 6209 Santa Monica Blvd, Hollywood, CA (just West of El Centro on the North side of the road)

WHY:

• To answer your questions and listen to your feedback
• To guide you through the Festival registration process.
• To meet venues and book your shows
• To announce new programs and promotions

WHAT: The Fringe Mixer

WHEN: Monday, February 20th, 2012 shortly after 9pm

WHERE: Three Clubs, 1123 Vine Street (NW Corner of Santa Monica and Vine, look for the “cocktails” sign)

WHY:

• To socialize with staff, fellow, participants and venues
• To check out this legendary bar
• To imbibe drink specials

Greetings, Fringers!

It’s that time of year again: Get ready to imagine, create, explore, and produce. Fringe 2012 registration is upon us and everyone is welcome to join the adventure.

Fringe registration opens today with a deadline of April 1 to make it into the printed guide. The festival itself runs from June 14-24 with a week of press previews preceding it. Check out this article for all festival dates and deadlines.

As many of you know by now, the Fringe is an open-access festival meaning anyone with an idea and a venue can register; we turn no one away. If you can find a venue in Hollywood and have the drive to produce a show, you can Fringe.

For those of you interested in joining us for our third season, please read the below information carefully. Even for you veterans, there have been a few subtle changes to take note. As always, give us a shout at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Don’t wait for April 1 to get started as venue bookings can take weeks. We strongly suggest beginning the process as early as possible.

The new programs we launched in 2011 are returning. For those of you with a film in tow, make sure to apply to our Fringe [Film] program. Last year’s launch was a great success. And, of course, our Fringe Family program returns to provide kid-friendly programming for tomorrow’s arts patrons.

Good luck booking your venues and happy Fringe season!

Ben Hill, Festival Director
Hollywood Fringe Festival 2012

REGISTERING with the FRINGE

Registration is a three-step process. Follow these steps and you are well on your way to Fringe glory.

Step 1: Create your project

You will need an online home for your project. This is your hub for selling tickets, collecting reviews, displaying persuasive marketing content and much more. It’s a five minute process and costs absolutely nothing. Simply visit www.HollywoodFringe.org/add_project to get started.

Step 2: Apply to Venues

We have assembled some mighty fine venues in the Hollywood area for your consideration. It is your responsibility to contact venues and reach a booking agreement. Each venue is different; some curate based on their resident company’s aesthetic, some accept all comers on a first-come-first-served basis, some are a mixture of both.

Check out our list of venues and click the “apply now” button on those that you like (it’s at the top of each venue’s dedicated page). Following up with a phone call never hurts.

Don’t get discouraged if it takes a little while to complete this step – venue transactions are never easy (as any seasoned producer will tell you). If you get frustrated, feel free to contact us and we will happily help you find a home.

None of the venues listed on the Fringe website strike your fancy? Not to worry, you can bring your own venue so long as it sits within the geographical Fringe zone.

Step 3: Register with the Fringe

Once you have your venue(s) booked, there’s only one last step to official Fringedom: Registering with the festival. This simple online process provides a bevy of benefits including a listing in our printed guide, access to support, many media sponsorship deals for inexpensive promotion, and much more.

Once your venue booking is finalized, the option to register will appear on your project page (you will also be notified via email).

Need more info? There is much to read in the learn section of our website. And of course, if you ever need help contact us at [email protected] . We are here to help you succeed!

Fast-Growing Multi-Arts Festival Returns for Third Year

The third annual Hollywood Fringe Festival will take place June 14-24, 2012 with a week of previews scheduled beforehand (June 7-12). The festival is an 11-day explosion of theatre performances, solo artists, dancers, experimental art, comedy, films, and cabaret which sold over 20,000 tickets its second year. Artist payout more than doubled from 2010 to 2011 with artists receiving over $87,000 in 2011. The not-for-profit festival has established itself as both a gathering place for artists and a unique entertainment experience for Los Angeles culture-seekers.

All Fringe programs started in 2011— Fringe Film, Fringe Family, and Fringe Cabaret— will all return in 2012, as will the Opening Night Gala, Award Ceremony and Closing Night Party hosted at Fringe Central (the location for 2012’s Fringe Central will be announced in January).

The event is open and non-curated; any artistic group able to book a venue within the festival’s boundaries may register. Traditional theatre spaces as well as found/DIY spaces are encouraged. Venues can list their space on the festival’s website starting Nov. 15.

Registration for the Hollywood Fringe opens February 1st. Potential participants should be aware that registration for the festival is a three-step process, and the first two steps can be completed before February. The first step is the creation of a project page on the festival’s site. Second, the project must be booked at a participating venue within the festival’s boundaries. Only then can projects register for the Fringe.

Participants may attempt to book a venue that has already signed up, or they may bring their own venue. All registrations complete before April 1 will receive placement in the Festival’s Guide, which will be distributed throughout Hollywood and greater Los Angeles starting May 2012.

Key Dates for 2012:
November 15- Venue Sign Up Open
February 1- Registration Open
April 1- Registration Deadline for Guide Inclusion
June 7-12- Fringe Previews
June 13- Fringe Opening Night Gala
June 14-24- Third Annual Hollywood Fringe Festival
June 24- Fringe Award Ceremony

The organization needs volunteers throughout the year, any interested persons may learn more here.

Need more Info? Check out www.hollywoodfringe.org or email [email protected]
Or follow the Fringe on Twitter: @hollywoodfringe

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Press Contact: Stacy Jones
The Hollywood Fringe Festival
[email protected]