A Fringe Benefit
May 23, 2025 – Sold Out!
Save the date for our next Fringe Benefit: Friday, April 10, 2026!
A Fundraising Event, Fringe-style
An annual underground gathering of rule-breakers, theatre lovers, and patrons of the arts ready to sustain the vibrant spirit of Fringe.
This is more than just a fundraiser – this is a radical, rebellious, and ridiculously fun testament to the passion and resiliency of grassroots art. When you buy a ticket, you aren’t just supporting the stage – it’s yours to play on.
Give yourself the gift of immersive, riotous Fringe magic and join us for a night where the unexpected reigns, the bubbly flows, and spectacle runs free…
Fueling the Fringe: Why Your Support Counts
We’re at a pivotal moment. Now, more than ever, we need to uplift what makes us weird, wonderful, and wildly important. We want to continue celebrating what connects us. We want to continue providing stages for stories of all stripes… Learn more
Every dollar raised fuels the magic of the Fringe Festival, keeping innovative Artists on stage and audiences on the edge of their seats.
Every dollar raised sustains an outlet for community to gather, broaden their horizons, and be themselves – loudly and proudly.
Every dollar raised keeps Edmonton on the map with more than 750,000 site visits and $20 Million in economic impact. Every. Single. Year.
What’s in Store?
We’re cranking up the chaos, dialing in the daring, and giving you a Fringe experience so electrifying, so wildly unhinged, you’ll be talking about it long after the curtain falls.
ARTISTS TO DAZZLE YOU
Artist Spotlight: Dayna Lea Hoffmann and Katie Yoner from Rat Academy
Dayna Lea Hoffmann and Katie Yoner return as Fingers and Shrimp, the last two rats in Alberta, reprising their “impossibly funny” roles – in an unexpected way – all for A Fringe Benefit on May 23!
With a blend of perfected physical comedy, impeccable interactive theatre, and boundary-pushing whimsy, you’ll find yourself entranced by every scurry; won over by every mischievous antic; and drawn “deeper into [Fingers and Shrimp’s] rodent realm.”
Artist Spotlight: Christine Lesiak and Ian Walker from For Science!
Christine Lesiak and Ian Walker join us for A Fringe Benefit, reprising their roles as zany scientists and bringing more of that profound chaos you know and love.
With a perfect blend of “Bill Nye the Science Guy meets Blue Man Group,” every audience-driven experiment is a testament to the fearlessness of Fringe. Studies show, you’ll leave each performance celebrating the unbridled fun of the scientific method.
Artist Spotlight: Lauren Brady from SWAN?
For A Fringe Benefit, Lauren Brady will reprise the role of Odette (you may remember her from OweADebt at the 2024 Fringe Festival) – a chain smoking, half-swan/half-human searching for true love to break her curse (and leaving audiences in awe!).
With raving reviews across continents, this physical theatre wonder takes audiences through a journey as reflective as it is funny.
Artist Spotlight: Claudia Hartout
Claudia Hartout brings her signature sparkle to A Fringe Benefit where she will make you laugh, blush, and wonder what she’s got hidden up her sequined sleeve.
Whether she’s reading you for filth or commanding the stage with her larger-than-life persona, Claudia is unapologetically herself.
With the power to turn any room into a riotous celebration of joy, she will make A Fringe Benefit a night to remember and a place to belong.
Artist Spotlight: Audrey Ochoa & the Late Night Cabaret Band
Praised by critics for her “magnificent and fresh-faced approach,” Audrey Ochoa seamlessly draws influence from across genres and grounds it in the lively, magnetic roots of jazz.
Paired with the legendary Late Night Cabaret Band, you’ll be swept up in the energy, wit, and unmistakable groove of their iconic party band antics.
AUCTION PACKAGES TO INVEST IN
Psst… this is just a glimpse of these timeless, enriching auction packages, for access to the full line-up of auction packages purchase a ticket to A Fringe Benefit before they sell out.
Live Auction Packages
Gather a group of 20 friends for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Fringe Theatre Arts Barns, where you’ll uncover hidden corners and stories that don’t make it into the playbill. You’ll end the tour with a private whisky tasting for your group inside the Arts Barns, provided by Empson Wine & Spirits.
Special thanks to Empson Wines & Spirits.
Arrive to Fringe in style on a sleek Silverback E-Bike (valued at $3,300) after enjoying a fashionable pre-show picnic with a fully stocked gift bag of Fringe merch and wine. No sweating or parking hassles required.
Special thanks to E-Bike Edmonton and Empson Wine & Spirits
Get the star treatment at Fringe! This exclusive VIP package offers a 2-person gridwalk above the Westbury Theatre that’ll make you feel out this world. Then, experience a one-of-a-kind, elevated meet-and-greet as you enjoy beers on top of the Fringe Theatre Arts Barns with a theatre legend before a attending a show of your choice! To sweeten the deal our pals at ATB have provided a stunning $500 gift package of items from some of their very own Indigenous Treaty 7 ATB clients.
Special thanks to ATB and Sea Change Brewing Co.
Raise your glass to an unforgettable experience with an exclusive Sea Change Brewery tour, VIP table-seating and special shoutouts at the Late Night Cabaret, plus 4-packs of Sea Change beer stacked to the height of the winning bidder – a towering tribute to those of us with good taste and great posture.
Special thanks to Sea Change Brewing Co., Rapid Fire Theatre, and Late Night Cabaret
Silent Auction Art by MJ Belcourt Moses
Grandmother Moon symbolizes the feminine and cyclical nature of life. She is a guide in darkness, associated with intuition, wisdom, and protection. Her pull on the tides mirrors her influence on our emotional and physical rhythms.
Mother Earth is the nurturer and life-giver, the ground beneath our feet and the provider of all sustenance. She teaches us about interdependence, healing, and care—for ourselves, for others, and for the land.
Grandfather Sun is the source of light, energy, and growth. He nourishes all life and reminds us of the strength found in warmth, visibility, and vitality. His teachings call us to honour our connection to land, lineage, and purpose.
Father Sky represents the spiritual realm and the vast unknown. He offers perspective, vision, and the invitation to see beyond ourselves. He teaches us to respect the unseen forces that hold creation in balance.
Cheers to our fabulous Sponsors of A Fringe Benefit!
