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Our top picks for the 2017 Fringe Festival (Metro)

September 15, 2017

By A.D. Amorosi

The annual Fringe Festival is all over the place – in a great way.

When we checked in with the Fringe Festival’s boss, Nick Stuccio this spring, the CEO of Philly’s staged avantgarde spectacular, said this year’s 17-day, citywide celebration of innovation, inspiration and creativity in contemporary performance was dedicated to all things “home and family, a maturation process, of people drawing closer to each other. Now that the Fringe Festival is here, having kicked off Sept. 7 and running through Sept. 24, the cats are out of the bags and the full list of curated events and neighborhood showcases are ready for anxious attendees looking to fly their freak (theater) flags. Here are our top event picks for the 2017 Fringe Festival in Philly.

"A Love Supreme"
Salva Sanchis & Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker/Rosas
Belgian choreographers Salva Sanchis, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker and four members of the latter’s dance troupe, Rosas, capture the dynamics, structuralism and deeply meditative (but anxious) vibe of saxophonist-composer John Coltrane’s spiritual ode to divine love – 1965’s jazz epic “A Love Supreme.”
FringeArts, 140 N. Columbus Blvd., Sept. 22-Sept. 24, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

"Home"
Geoff Sobelle
This one-time Pig Iron member and a respected magical-reality theater conceptualist returns to his old stomping grounds with a story that all but gives the Fest its feel: the lifecycle of a house with all of expectations, hopes, dreams and nightmares attached. With music by Elvis Perkins, sets by Steven Dufala and appearances by a Philly’s top performance-art types, this home wears its welcome mat on its sleeve.
Prince Theater, 1412 Chestnut St. Sept. 13-16, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

"Worktable"
Kate McIntosh
This live installation with building (or tearing apart) equipment and safety goggles is so interactive and self-driven, you could probably justdo this at Home Depot if anyone there would answer questions.
Bok, 1901 South 9th St., Sept. 15-Sept. 18, 4 p.m. and 12 p.m.

"A Billion Nights on Earth"
Thaddeus Phillips + Steven Dufala
Philly’s Phillips has forever been a travelogue worthy director, one where a dozen places, real and imagined, drift by with each unpacking of his Lucidity Suitcase. With friend and local designer Steven Dufala, the new father creates a wild, all-ages alternative universe journey guided by a stuffed toy whale, kabuki dancers, real life father/son acting duo Fegley and a Colombian music soundtrack[tab]- one of Phillips’ grandest signatures.
FringeArts, 140 N. Columbus Blvd., Sept. 14 – Sept. 17, 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 7p.m., 8 p.m.

Megapolis Audio Festival
Blevin Blectum, Mia Zabelka and a host of musicians and technicians stretch the borders of experimental sound with single events, installations and more. Venues and performance times can be found at megapolisfestival.org/schedule.

"A Period of Animate Existence"
Pig Iron Theatre
Pig Iron has asked the big, existential questions in the past, often coming across (this is a good thing) like a frenetic episode of HBO’s “The Leftovers” while doing so. Only this symphonic look at racing toward a great beyond — with plants, mineral and animals as part of the equation — squooshes every life form together with an hallucinatory éclat before the Big Bang blows.
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts – Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St. Sept. 22-24, 2 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m.

"Close Music for Bodies"
Michael Kiley
First off, you, the audience member, are going to have to stand, walk and take off your shoes for this choral music party. But, Philadelphia sound installation artist and vocal/breathing teacher Michael Kiley makes even the smallest inhalation stirring and dramatic, so wear nice socks and deal with it.
Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 North American St., Sept. 20-Sept. 24, 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m.

Feastival
You’ve supported all the weird live shows, now have a cocktail and some of the best couture cuisine from this Fringe-focused charitable event hosted by co-creators Nick Stuccio, Steven Starr, Michael Solomonov and new kid on the culinary block, Nicholas Elmi.
FringeArts, 140 North Columbus Blvd. Sept. 28, 7 p.m.