Fringe season! a few solo shows in the spotlight

Last night I went to the Whole Shebang to see Jungeun Kim and Lu Donovan share some current projects and research. Both artists performed solo in the very intimate, cozy space of Shebang (I counted 13 of us in the audience), and I was reminded of how wonderfully brave it is to do a solo show. No ensemble to hide within if needed, just one lil guy out there doing their thing. Borderline heroic!

So with Fringe season upon us, I wanted to highlight a few solo shows that have snagged my attention. I keep being surprised by Fringe offerings I haven't noticed before and it seems like word of mouth is basically the only way to know about what's happening these days, so please consider this my small contribution to that collective mouthiness.

If you liked last year's Lightning Rod Special show Nosejob, you will want to check out Lee Minora's Baby Everything. Lee wrote and performed in Nosejob and I'm hoping for more squirmy laughs in this one.

I have a soft spot for anyone coming from out of town and self-producing their show for us in Philadelphia. That is so kind! Thank you for coming! Two solo shows from out-of-towners that seem particularly promising are Nora Sharp (Chicago/NYC), with their show Cosmic Docks ("a trans tall-tale about orbiting the sources of yourself"), and Daniel Maseda, based in DC, brings us "Be Good" with Paulette. Nora has made me laugh in person and in their stagework; you can sample their brilliant newsletter for a sneak peak of their brain. Philly treasure Donna Oblongata raved about Daniel's show after seeing it in the Edinburgh Fringe, and that is more than enough for me.

Then we have a couple of veteran Philly performers doing solos. Dance artist Megan Bridge has collaborated with hip-hop dance artist legend Rennie Harris and dance scholar Brenda Dixon Gottschild for Beautiful Human Lies. With a team of legends like that, for me, it's a must-see. (note: The first of three performances is one of only a few offerings that I've seen that is sold out already, so jump on the tix if you want to go.) And DIY Philly theater artist Chris Davis presents a new version of a 2018 work called The Presented. I missed it back when it first came out so I'm glad to have another chance to see Chris' take on "what it means to be a 'chosen' artist in today’s world."

Parsa Ferdowski is new to me but he's making an untitled solo show based on George Saunders' novella Pastoralia (labelled as clown and immersive experience (?)) and his bio sounds interesting, so I am intrigued.

And finally, performance/dance artist Anh Vo is doing a whole slew of events and performances at Asian Arts Initiative this fall, starting with an opening performance on September 12, Untitled (Break Fast). Not technically a solo performance because Anh will have a ritual assistant (Kristel Baldoz) and a drummer (Isaac Silber), but Anh will be delivering "a possession-style speech delivered over steaming pho broth" and "iron[ing] their own body." I'm glad we'll have multiple chances to experience their work as part of the exhibit "Anh Vo: Punish, Perform, Possess."

See you out there, friends! Tell me if you see something great!

Quote of the Week

“It’s more than just ease of transportation; it’s autonomy for people who have health issues. It’s autonomy for people who are disabled,” resident Morgan Gallagher said Sunday while waiting at a Center City bus stop. “It is the fluidity with which we access our city. A city is life and having that kind of infrastructure is critical, not just for getting to work on time, but also for the health and safety of a community.”

(From WHYY's August 25 article on SEPTA cuts, which I will never stop talking about until we have a flourishing and robust public transit system in Philadelphia.)

Sisterly Affection (a bit of Philadelphia appreciation)

I have seen a number of excellent window cats recently, but I can't resist sharing this makeshift window memorial to Ozzy Osbourne after his passing. I love how Philadelphians use these tiny window galleries to share what's important to them or their personal style, and I love that this neighbor was so moved by Ozzy that they had to make a public display.

If you are new here, welcome! You can find a bit more context on the 'about' page and feel free to forward along to anyone who might be interested. There is usually a loose focus on Philadelphia and dance/performance-related news bits. Each email ends with a moment of Sisterly Affection, as seen and appreciated while out and about in Philly.