Feeling The Power of Fringe First-Hand

Fringe must be protected at all costs, just ask our Monthly Donors!

Mark and Alyson Connolly have been fringing for nearly as long as the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival has been part of the city’s summer rhythm.

“We’ve done it all!” they agree. 

It started with Mark dutifully cheering Alyson on as she launched her acting career in Papa Died Under One of Those Great Big Heads on Easter Island. 

“We would always see who was in the Beer Tents and meet up with friends after shows,” Mark notes. “It became a kind of tradition.” 

Before they knew it, Alyson’s Fringe gigs became professional connections for new work; running into friends became purposeful reunions over green onion cakes; and Beer Tents became boisterous afternoons with their two sons at KidsFringe. 

“Elaine Dunbar and I ran summer theatre camps from 2006 – 2019 through my company – Dramatic Learning. Two weeks of rehearsals ended with performances at Fringe.” recalls Alyson.

And when their children grew into adults? Well, they shared the joy of Fringe with others. 

“We just invited a whole family we’re friends with to try out KidsFringe for the first time,” Alyson exclaims. “They did the passports, they got stamps, the whole thing!” 

 The Connollys have felt the power of Fringe first-hand. From witnessing new Artists you might not normally see get their chance on stage to meeting strangers in the line-ups, to striking up deep conversations about art, and bonding over the shows that have really moved them. 

“There’s so much intangible value to the Fringe that you don’t even think about, that’s beyond the ticket sales, beyond the performances, beyond the beer tents,” Mark explains. “As a whole, it’s greater than the sum of its parts.” 

Mark and Alyson are committed to keeping all those intangible, magical moments alive as Monthly Donors. 

“We were inspired by the generosity of the late Dr. Bob Westbury,” Alyson shares.

“As one of Fringe’s most dedicated advocates, he really made it clear what a massive impact a small act like monthly giving can make,” agrees Mark.

Every dollar gifted by our Monthly Donors helps Fringe Theatre sustain its operations in an increasingly unstable market. Donations don’t just keep the lights on; they ensure Artists have a stage, and the community of Edmonton has a vibrant home for creative discovery. 

Few people understand that impact more than Mark, who spent years as a CBC Edmonton television reporter and radio announcer before retiring in 2025.

“When anybody talks about Edmonton, they’ll talk about Fringe – it’s legacy, how much it’s grown. It’s a place, but it’s also a feeling and it impacts the whole city,” Mark explains. 

 “It’s a buzz in the air,” Alyson agrees. “It makes the city so much more vibrant. Even when you’re just waiting in line, or walking through Old Strathcona, everyone is so open and excited. It’s just such an essential piece of our city’s Fabric.” 

What makes Fringe matter is also what makes it fragile. Because the same things that make Fringe special – its openness, its accessibility, its risk-taking, its role as a first step for so many Artists – are the things that rely most on community support. 

 “If people like us weren’t giving, the Fringe might not exist, and if the Fringe didn’t exist, we would need to invent it again. It’s too valuable. What’s the thing people say online? Fringe must be protected at all costs” Mark laughs. 

 The good news? Protecting Fringe is easier than it seems. If every Fringer donated $5 a month, every month, Fringe would become instantly sustainable. 

 Join the movement and keep Fring thriving – visit fringetheatre.ca/give to make your first monthly gift.