By Kimberly Rau
The annual Providence Fringe Festival is heading into its second week, with this year’s event boasting 70 shows across multiple stages at many different venues. It’s a guaranteed good time, no matter what types of theater you typically enjoy.
The festival is hosted by the Wilbury Group, which was kind enough to invite me to four separate shows in the first week. Each was very different in tone, and at a different sort of venue, including an outdoor courtyard, a small stage in a warehouse and a more traditional black box setting at Wilbury. I don’t think I have ever seen a more eclectic set of shows in such a short time span, or had more fun. This is art you aren’t going to see anywhere else, or at least, not on the main stages at some of the larger theaters in the state.
The shows I saw (Marge the Pizza Presents a Slice of Life; Oops! All Songs: A Mall Musical in Concert; When Cayden Came; and The Farm) could not have been more different, but all were about expressing big ideas. You may not be expecting a pizza slice to utter a sentence like “please welcome our new elementary school principal, ChatGPT,” but maybe you should get used to the idea of an AI takeover all the same. Perhaps you haven’t been involved in a cult yourself, but if a discussion between a woman and her brother who is deconstructing from one helps you understand how different the concept of “home” can be, mission accomplished. “When Caden Came” examines how life goes on in the face of tragedy. The musical about the Providence Place Mall delves into societal commentary about consumerism, capitalism and security theater, speculating that outfitting mall security guards in riot gear is overcompensating for a lack of de-escalation training.
What the shows may lack in big-budget sets and tech, they more than make up for in intent and enthusiasm. To quote a friend who also “The Farm” at Wilbury, “if you can hold my attention for an hour with two people sitting in a car, then it has to be good.” (It was, in fact, very good. If you missed it, you missed out. Fortunately, there’s an entire week of plays ahead for you to choose from.)
And that’s something else Fringe excels at: There are a lot (a lot) of theaters and performance spaces in Providence that are off the beaten path, or don’t get the same attention as the bigger-budget houses. Even if the show you see doesn’t turn out to be your cup of tea this time, hopefully you’ll remember these theaters and spaces the next time you’re looking for something to do in the Ocean State.
The vibe of Fringe is casual. People show up in t-shirts and shorts. Performers invite the audience out for drinks after the shows. Some performances request you bring your own chairs. Others are heavy on audience participation, and at the shows I attended, everyone was more than happy to be called upon. It feels like theater for the people because it’s exactly that. These are real people, many times presenting art that comes from a place of personal experience, and it’s relatable. You don’t need a theater degree to follow the narrative, or a deep understanding of antique texts to appreciate what’s happening in front of you. There are places for that, of course, and they do excellent work as well, but that’s not Fringe. At Fringe, all you need is an open mind and the ability to be present in the moment. Let go of your expectations and you’ll be surprised at what you take away.
One bit of advice: Visit the official website and read up on the shows you’re interested in before you go. Some shows may have age restrictions, and others have content warnings that may be valuable to attendees. (For instance, “A Slice of Life” was an 18+ show; “When Caden Came” was a heartbreakingly beautiful performance, but does center around infant loss.) There are some family-centric events coming up this weekend, so if you can’t find a sitter, you’re not totally out of luck.
But whatever you do, get out there and see something.
The Providence Fringe Festival runs through July 26, 2025. Ticket prices and venues vary by show. Some shows may not be for all audiences. For more details, visit fringepvd.org.
