Capital Fringe Festival in DC

A Good Woman presents Penelope’s inner world in a conversation between a violinist and a dancer, bound sometimes by string. What does it mean to be a good woman?

Inspired by HUIS CLOS (NO EXIT) by Jean-Paul Sartre, EXISTENTIAL PEOPLE (written and directed by Forrest Callaway) is the tale of three gay men (who also happen to be murderers and criminals) as they are led "over the River Styx" into Hades or Hell by the Charon, their guide who wears "black leather bondage drag". The men are then stripped of all their clothing and left to their own devices, questioning where the "torturer" is and why there aren't any burning pits, hot flames, or sulphur. Gradually and increasingly, they grow to despise one another. Ultimately in the end, the three men make the discovery that hell is indeed other people. And occasionally our own naked selves.

In this comedic performance, explore profound personal growth and self-discovery through heartwarming and humorous tales of parenting, divorce, coming out, and career reinvention. From childhood in Chicago to serving as a nuclear missile watch officer and transforming into the quintessential soccer mom, embark on a journey celebrating self-acceptance, queer happiness, and the transformative power of embracing life's changes.

Reeling from betrayal, Medea discovers herself isolated in a foreign land. Her husband, now pledged to another, has turned her home into hostile territory, leaving her family as collateral damage. As she navigates the tumult of revenge, Songs of the Goat introduces their condensed version of Ben Power's Medea for the upcoming amateur Capital Fringe production.

Sophie and Will find themselves in a bit of a bind. Figuratively, yes, but quite literally too-they're stuck together in an elevator, facing an extended wait ahead. "Next/Level" unfolds as a semi-autobiographical dramedy, delving into the intricacies and humor of contemporary dating, heartbreak, expectations, and the emotional journey that spans everything in between.

Join Big Willie and the Appalachian Angels as they perform murderous ballads for their live radio show. Things go awry as uninvited, spectral guests reveal the stories of the victims. You're in for an evening that will have you tapping your toes and searching your soul. Will anyone leave without a little blood on their hands?

In this horror tale of cosmic proportions, adapted from H.P. Lovecraft's story, a psychiatric patient reveals his chilling discovery of a murderous cult that worships a gigantic creature of interstellar origins -- prophesied to rise from the ocean and rule the Earth. Is the patient's disturbing account a symptom of his troubled mind ... or is civilization about to end?

Join an opera singer and a magician as they collaborate to deliver an immersive and intimate cabaret experience. Witness captivating vocals and ukulele melodies intertwined with mesmerizing sleight of hand, stunning visual illusions, and compelling storytelling. With a strong emphasis on audience participation, Eddie and Chris authentically reveal their true selves, ensuring each performance is distinct and engaging.

When Levi leaves Nigeria for a new life in Dublin, he encounters adulthood and the migrant experience all at once. How do you write a CV? Where do you buy hot peppers in Dublin? In this confessional storytelling experience, Levi shares the thrills and discomforts of his first year in a new landscape through evocative poetry and delightful prose.

A murderous romp about fame, forgiveness, and recognition - and what one artist is willing to do to get all three.

Firefighters tell the best stories. We tell stories about unbelievable emergencies, cool history, and hilarious hijinks. Until you ask questions like “Who was the Freedom House Ambulance Service? Or what did the inventor Garrett Morgan do for the fire service?” I want you to hear those stories. I want you to hear the stories of African American Firefighters.

Award-winning contemporary flamenco show from an international duo based in Spain. Flamenco, Brazilian music and jazz fuse in this inspirational showcase of strength, elegance and beauty embodied in dance and live guitar. ‘Hot’ (TheStageRaw.com). Amazing to watch’ (TheTVolution.com).

Amy's lifelong search for racial and sexual justice starts in the wild days of the 1960's and blossoms in the inspiring times of 1970's second wave feminism. But despite her becoming a lawyer and a judge, she can't stop revisiting her first experience with the criminal justice system when she accompanied a friend to a rape trial.

Partings showcases contemporary dances by four east coast choreographers. Each brings a different approach to the theme of letting go. "Fiddleheads" reflects scattering ashes at a funeral: dancers unfurl like ferns casting spores. In "The We Inside," Gavaler embodies a woman suffering a stroke, letting go of the self she had been before. Each dance evokes a new surrender.

In this thought-provoking play on the ethics of storytelling, Jane, a writer grappling with creative block, meets Dylan, who harbors a compelling untold tale. As a young queer couple embarks on a new relationship, they confront how one partner's hidden past might ignite the other's professional aspirations.

Seven Wonders is a mesmerizing theatrical magic performance showcasing curated illusions by award-winning magician Ryan Phillips. This immersive experience delves into Phillips' personal connection with the Art of Magic, weaving together unbelievable true stories, rare magic artifacts, and interactive audience participation to showcase sleight of hand, illusions, and theatrical mind reading.

Just a guy and a piano plundering the satirical genius of Tom Lehrer, who released all of his work into the public domain. A new play from Landless Theatre Company that asks just how "timeless" is Lehrer's comedy, anyway?

Wannabe is an exploration of the resilience of youth, friendship, and dreams across a rugged landscape -- the 80s and 90s.

"Who Did It?" won Best of Fest and Best Comedy at the 2023 Capital Fringe Festival. Featuring some of DC's funniest improvisers, "Who Did It?" lets the audience set up a crime scene, then laugh as two detectives investigate the case. The show's creative lead is Erick Acuña, a Peruvian comedian and four-time Capital Fringe Festival award winner.

Badar Tareen, a civil rights attorney and comedian, brings a distinctive comedy show that highlights diverse perspectives on race and heritage. Adding an unexpected twist, the lineup features one white comedian tackling spontaneous and absurd questions about race. Prepare for an engaging, lively, and reflective evening showcasing DC’s top comedians, such as Badar Tareen, Dee Ahmed, Alex Tyminski, Matt Chrzanowski, Shelley Kim, and others!

Family dynamics can be polarizing, resembling a delicate ballet on stage. Some families are straightforward and functional, with quirks but little drama; others resemble complex landscapes. The DuLacs embody this complexity: a blend of misfits and strategic matriarchs vying for control, hidden beneath an elegant facade of detachment. Will the youngest member perpetuate the cycle, or forge her own promising path?

Chameleon Chronicles is a one-woman show based on the forthcoming memoir, “Nobody’s Native,” by Lea Adams. Filled with icons and ordinary people, joy and loss, challenges, and adventures, it peeks into the life of an Old School diva, aging in a New Age with a message: Embrace your inner chameleon. Be you, wherever you’re planted, and bloom, in living color.

America is deeply divided, much like batteries. Is democracy in jeopardy? Should we consider electing leaders through non-democratic means? And why the obsession with batteries? This sketch-comedy show explores these questions with an impartial yet highly opinionated perspective on democracy. The decision is simple: attend this show or remain uninformed.

Constance, an aspiring pundit, and Owen, a struggling journalist, meet in an old house near Dupont Circle one Sunday afternoon after the farmers market. Both are young and Catholic, but on opposite sides politically. Nevertheless, they're weary of the alienation that often accompanies single life in Washington and try to forge a connection. But the election is approaching.

Who doesn't like it hot? Seasoned stand-up Arzoo returns with her third comedy hour. This time though, Arzoo serves her hottest takes with chai. Arzoo is an award-winning writer and comedian based in DC. Since 2017, she's performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, DC Improv, Montreux Comedy, and more. "Sassy, bold, and irreverent" (ITP Media) "Funny, acidic" (Magpie) "Surprisingly kind" (ThreeWeeks).

Monologist, English professor, and writer Becky Bondurant threads her personal coming-of-middle-age narrative through a Freudian needle, weaving from eating disorders and female orgasms to circumcision and breastfeeding against the backdrop of a political crisis. Like a filthy and frank remix of What the Constitution Means to Me, this monologue is an absurd tale of parenting in the post-truth era.

Caution: Prepare for an emotional journey with this tale. It intertwines romantic melodies, a closeted gay protagonist, a loyal best friend, and a hidden yearning. Beyond that, it delves into reflections on the past, present dilemmas, the uncertainties of tomorrow, and the profound quest to understand our purpose in life.

DMV-area storytellers tell true stories from their lives about body image, body changes, finding peace in their bodies, and the tricky business of the physical self. In stories about disability, weight changes, trans identity, and much more, storytellers will explore how the bodies we call home are beautiful, complicated, funny, miraculous things.

Fritz Haber is credited with averting mass starvation for humanity. The 1918 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry pioneered the creation of synthetic fertilizer, ensuring a sustainable food supply when natural resources were dwindling. However, his contributions during World War I, aimed at aiding German efforts, had profound and tragic outcomes. Was he a savior of life or an architect of destruction? The answer is left to interpretation.

"The Returned" is a dark, comedic, fast-paced two-hander about late-stage capitalism and finding human connection in an increasingly atomized world. When Nestor slips on a slippery floor and dies at the mall, employee Dot makes a pact with a mysterious entity to retrieve his soul for an odd and terrible cost.

On the eve of the 2016 presidential election, two sisters are forced to reassess their lives through a series of unexpected events. Lisa is a stoic, reliable and reassuring mother of three active kids, while Amy is a writer, relentlessly brilliant and highly emotional. This is a satirical and whacky exploration of the effects of events such as the presidential elections, the death of a mother and the enticing behavior of neighbors across the street, in a brutal and scathing comedy.

Discussing your emotions is crucial for navigating them, but it only helps if someone listens. Can Lucy be that someone? A grumpy-faced cat, battling to breathe, emerges as a lifeline-a quirky coping mechanism against intrusive thoughts and self-doubt. Through vulnerable interactions with its owner, Lucy facilitates "cat-harsis," offering a sought-after release from emotional turmoil.

SHARP Dance Company, following their award for "Best Dance" at last year's festival, returns to Washington, DC for another captivating performance at the Capital Fringe. They will present "Alone and Together," an evening of technically challenging and thought-provoking dance works. Highlights include the world premiere of "Fate," choreographed by Joe Cotler (former Koresh Dance Company member) and Diane Sharp-Nachsin (SHARP's Artistic Director), along with "Awakenings," choreographed by Kevin Ferguson (former Doug Elkins and Parsons Dance Company member), exploring the challenges faced by gay black men in today's society.

Folks, Heathens, and Heads! Welcome to CHRCH, A BLACK MUSIC STORY where you will experience a sweaty and joyful service. Anointed by CHRCH, PastHER Teesh offers sermon, testimony and reflection upon her own spiritual journey from musically emotional country gurl to PastHER of CHRCH. CHRCH is an original werk of self-love, self-acceptance and enlightenment for the club, the stage and beyond.