Hello, our fringing neighbours to the north!
We are The Coldharts, from New York City. But you can call us Katie and Nick. We started fringing in 2013, at the Edmonton International Fringe™ Theatre Festival – our favourite Canadian Festival!
Nothing has impacted our careers as theatre artists more dramatically than your Festival. You see, our style of theatre is a bit unique. We work in the genre of horror – horror musicals to be precise. Like any good ghost story, we wanted our theatrical creations to live longer than the short, limited run most shows experience. Plus, we didn’t have the money it required to rent a theatre and launch a show.
So, we decided to try touring our show at Fringe Festivals. When we first started fringing we were not sure what to expect. Edmonton welcomed us with open arms. You not only took a chance on our show, but were also excited to see what two zany Americans had to offer.
Touring at Fringe Festival’s has been life-changing. It provided us a way to create new works that we otherwise could not afford. Each year Fringe Theatre gives $8,000 in resources to 100 different artists for their show. This level of support is only possible because of the generosity from individuals like you.
Will you make a gift this holiday season to support artists at the 2018 Fringe Festival? A gift of $100 will provide an artist a venue for one of their performances.
In addition to creating new works, fringing has also helped us find our audience. Since the Festival is non-juried and uncensored, it allows us to tell the stories we think are important. It also allows you, the audience, to decide if those stories have merit. It is the most grassroots, democratic expression of artistic matchmaking you’ll find anywhere.
For instance, it turns out Edmontonians have a thirst for our dark humour and ghost stories. You made our fanciful horror shows, like Edgar Allan – a manic lullaby about a schoolboy – a five-star sell out for two-years running. To make the artist and audience connection even more direct and intimate, Fringe Theatre gives 100% of the net from Festival ticket sales directly to us, the artists. This model of production has allowed us to focus even more on our art.
Your charitable gift provides us with venues, staging, equipment, and technicians, plus a collective $1.15M in revenue from box office sales.
Will you make a gift to support us, and other artists? Your gift ensures we can continue creating titillating new work showcasing amazing music, with perhaps some questionably horrifying lyrics!
One easy way to give is by enrolling as a Fringe Funder – a monthly donor club that allows you to make automated monthly gifts. For example, a gift of $15 a month will provide an artist with a technician for all of their performances during their Festival.
Enroll as a Fringe Funder and you’ll receive a FREE TICKET VOUCHER to the Canadian Premier of our show, The Unrepentant Necrophile.* That’s right, we are touring shows beyond the Festival! We are thrilled to bring our newest show to Edmonton in February 2018, as part of the Fringe Theatre Season.
That has been another great benefit of fringing. We’ve received more exposure and networking opportunities, which has allowed us to perform in regional theatres. For example, we recently performed a show for a New York City off-Broadway theatre. When you step back from the hustle and bustle of the Fringe Festival you can follow the thread a bit easier. The thread that lead a small mom-and-pop artistic company like ours to become professional touring artists. But, that isn’t the only thing that makes the Festival so magical.
For two weeks, a corner of the city is transformed into its own spectacular universe. A place where artists’ intuition, creativity and diversity collide with open-minded audiences – and we all emerge invigorated and inspired.
Please make a gift today. Your gift not only supports artists like us, but also helps transform our community. Your gifts ensure admission to the Festival grounds is free. It also ensures ticket prices to indoor shows remain affordable – so everyone can experience the magic of theatre.
Thank you in advance for your generosity.
Katie Hartman & Nick Ryan
P.S. Join us for the Canadian Premier of The Unrepentant Necrophile – a punk rock opera for edgy romantics. Bring your lover for a Valentine’s date you won’t forget.
*Voucher is valid for the February 2018 run of The Unrepentant Necrophile presented by Fringe Theatre. Vouchers are honoured on a first come, first serve basis, and are subject to availability. Vouchers are limited to the first 100 donors enrolling as a Fringe Funder.