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Adam reviews the St. John Fisher Student Film Festival and ‘Twelve Dollar$’

September 19, 2017

The Little Theatre hosted the second annual St. John Fisher College Student Film Festival, which presents a program of works made by undergraduate students enrolled in the college's Department of Media and Communication as well as the Film and Television Studies minor.

The program screened four films, which managed to span a spectrum of genres, from non-fiction filmmaking to romantic comedy, thriller, and quirky character piece. I always get a kick out of seeing what these young filmmakers come up with, especially under the stress of those all-nighters and last-minute scrambles to finish their work by the assigned due date (it’s been awhile since I was in college, but I still remember how these things work). My favorite of the bunch was “Always Another Plan,” a sweetly funny story in which a young woman enlists the advice of a helpful barista as she works up the nerve to ask a bookish fellow patron out on a date.

That was the only screening during Fringe, but you can keep an eye on the program at fishermediacomm.wordpress.com.

Anderson Allen in "Twelve Dollar$" at MuCCC during the Fringe. - PHOTO BY JOSH SAUNDERS

PHOTO BY JOSH SAUNDERS
Anderson Allen in "Twelve Dollar$" at MuCCC during the Fringe.

I also caught the final performance of “Twelve Dollar$” at MuCCC. A one-act play produced by Dark Blue Mondaze, the story follows an unstable Kid (Anderson Allen) as he attempts to convince an older criminal type (Jahaka Mindstorm) to assist him in seeking retribution against a person he feels has done him wrong.

The production boasts sharp, simple direction by Gary DeWitt Marshall, and captivating performances from Allen and Mindstorm. The two actors are pitch-perfect, sharing a blistering chemistry and conveying a well-worn history together. Lasting just 30 minutes, I was ready to see the narrative develop further; the highest compliment I can pay the production is that I just wished it was longer.

You can find more about "Twelve Dollar$" at facebook.com/darkbluemondazeshowcasetheaterseries.

In This Guide...

Becca reviews 'Within the Quota' and 'You're Being Watched'

Settle in, because I have some thoughts and feelings about my Tuesday night at Fringe. I’ve reviewed TableTopOpera’s highly topical productions for the last two years of Rochester Fringe Festivals: In 2015 the group presented an excellently thorough and sensitive program on child mortality, and in 2016 it produced an equally well-done commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

By Rebecca Rafferty Sep 20, 2017

Fringe 2017 Rochester Fringe Review Within The Quota TableTopOpera You're Being Watched Chuck Harrison

Katie reviews 'Rosalba's Dream Me Pumps' and 'Mo-to-the-oncle'

When I was getting ready tonight to head out to Fringe to see "Rosalba's Dream Me Pumps," I thought about my shoe choice. Do I wear my grubby but comfy sneakers, or do I wear those new heeled booties I just got?

By Katie Libby Sep 19, 2017

Fringe 2017 Rochester Fringe Review Rosalba's Dream Me Pumps Rochester Latino Theatre Company Mo-to-the-oncle Melissa Cole

Kathy reviews '13 the Musical' and the 24-Hour Plays

For an hour and a half on Monday night, I was transported back to my teenage years. "13 the Musical," performed by members of the Lyric Voices junior show choir at the Lyric Theatre, is a charmingly irreverent and surprisingly funny musical that tackles issues that every teen has faced: being liked by their peers, being betrayed by fellow teens, your body and hormones, and desperately wanting to grow out of it all.

By Kathy Laluk Sep 18, 2017

Fringe 2017 Rochester Fringe Review 13 the Musical Lyric Voices 24-Hour Plays

Becca reviews 'Labyrinth'

The highly anticipated Sunday night premiere of “Labyrinth” at RMSC’s Strasenburgh Planetarium did not disappoint. Co-created by BIODANCE’s Missy Pfohl Smith and media artist W. Michelle Harris — who together presented the acclaimed “Anomaly” at the same venue in 2013 and 2016 — the multi-sensory show was performed to a full house on opening night.

By Rebecca Rafferty Sep 17, 2017

Fringe 2017 Rochester Fringe Review Labyrinth BIODANCE Missy Pfohl Smith W. Michelle Harris

Adam reviews ‘The Seal Maiden’ and ‘The Topher Holt Experience’

With the sheer number of options available to audiences each day at the Rochester Fringe Festival, the only way to get the most out of the experience is to make sure you take in as wide a variety of shows as possible. And with that in mind, I spent my Sunday taking in a bit of wholesome, family-friendly entertainment.

By Adam Lubitow Sep 17, 2017

Fringe 2017 Rochester Fringe Review The Seal Maiden Topher Holt Experience Fringe All Ages

Becca reviews 'Big Knockers,' 'The Lanthan Mire,' 'The Space Between,' and 'Creditors'

If you're in the mood for some silly, bawdy humor and enjoy participating in a good puzzle, check out the final performance of the delightful "Big Knockers: Debunking the Fox Sisters" next Saturday at Abilene. Produced by Stone's Throw (the people behind "Dashboard Dramas," "The Oboe Show," and "Hot Tub: The Musical"), the show is set in the 1800's and riffs on the famous family of psychic mediums.

By Rebecca Rafferty Sep 17, 2017

Fringe 2017 Rochester Fringe Review Big Knockers Stone's Throw The Lanthan Mire Lucian Harke The Space Between Creditors Kingfisher Theater

Adam reviews 'Wolf Tails and Stolen Footprints,' 'Good Joke/Bad Joke Bingo,' and '50 Shades of Gay'

“Wolf Tails and Stolen Footprints” opens with the show’s 12-person cast running about Blackfriars' darkened stage, each of them fearfully crying out. The chaos carries on for a time, until the din suddenly falls away as a voice calls out, “Once upon a time!”

By Adam Lubitow Sep 17, 2017

Fringe 2017 Rochester Fringe Review Wolf Tails and Stolen Footprints Good Joke/Bad Joke Bingo 50 Shades of Gay

Katie reviews 'Heathers,' 'Come As You Are,' and PUSH

First off, can we talk about how cool Plasticiens Volants was? According to my social media feeds, you guys thought so, too.

By Katie Libby Sep 16, 2017

Fringe 2017 Rochester Fringe Reviews Heathers Come As You Are PUSH Physical Theatre Slideshow

Frank reviews 'Where? I. Come! From..." and Leo Crandall

With any dance performance, I don't suspend disbelief but rather dive right in with my own reality as my guide. I may be wrong, and often I am, but this way, I get a personal benefit to leave with.

By Frank De Blase Sep 16, 2017

Fringe 2017 Rochester Fringe Review Caedra Scott-Flaherty Leo Crandall Brian Lindsay

Frank reviews Mental Graffiti, 'The Black Bird of Death,' and the Immersive Igloo

First off on this tepid evening, I sauntered over to see RIT's Mental Graffiti poetry reading. Topically it was young person fare and charming, with lots of clever digs and clever ways at reclaiming compromised innocence.

By Frank De Blase Sep 16, 2017

Fringe 2017 Rochester Fringe Review Mental Graffiti The Black Bird of Death Immersive Igloo

Kathy reviews Garth Fagan Dance and EstroFest

Garth Fagan Dance's "Up Close and Personal," my first show at the 2017 Rochester Fringe, was a raw shot of movement, inspiration, and awe. The show, set in the acclaimed company's rehearsal space, feels intimate as you watch the dancers move gracefully about the stage. The performances are punctuated by chats with the man himself about the group that he's built over the last 45 years.

By Kathy Laluk Sep 16, 2017

Fringe 2017 Rochester Fringe Review Garth Fagan Dance EstroFest Slideshow

Becca reviews 'Big Bang'

I strongly encourage you all to attend the final performance of "Big Bang." And for that reason, my review will not contain all of the spoiler descriptions that are effervescing inside of me. Some of them, but not all of them. The Friday and Saturday on the Fringe feature will take place again at Parcel 5 on Saturday, September 16, 8 p.m.

By Rebecca Rafferty Sep 16, 2017

Fringe 2017 Rochester Fringe Review Plasticiens Volants Big Bang French Street Theater Slideshow

Adam reviews ‘Complimentary Heckling’ and ‘Carnival of Souls’

Before the big Friday on the Fringe show from Plasticiens Volants, I made sure I got to experience “Complimentary Heckling,” which is, well, pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Performance artist Crackerjack is camped out in Parcel 5, megaphone in hand, ready to spread some good vibes to any passerby who looks her way.

By Adam Lubitow Sep 16, 2017

Fringe 2017 Rochester Fringe Review Complimentary Heckling Carnival of Souls Crackerjack Adam Sterr

Katie reviews 'Wild Horses,' The Madelein/Maddy Comedy Hour, and Stand Up for Drag

I spent most of my first night of the 2017 KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival at the School of the Arts' DS Comedy Club. Small tables fill the room, which makes it feel comedy club-esqe — minus the two-drink minimum.

By Katie Libby Sep 15, 2017

Fringe 2017 Rochester Fringe Review Wild Horses Madelein Smith Maddy Smith Stand Up for Drag

Becca reviews 'Elephant Grass,' 'On the Verge,' and 'There is a Field'

Rochester Fringe 2017 for me began with a massively inspiring performance that felt like a love note to everyone in the audience. FuturPointe Dance's "Elephant Grass: An Afrofutur-Mystic Tale" is a femme-forward, “She-Ro” quest to shake off all that well-known negative shit and do the hard work of figuring out what you’re here to do.

By Rebecca Rafferty Sep 15, 2017

Fringe 2017 Rochester Fringe Reviews Elephant Grass FuturPointe Dance N'Jelle Gage-Thorne Guy Thorne Slideshow

Frank reviews Cirque Du Fringe: 'Eclectic Attraction' and Pinch and Squeal

Cirque Du Fringe: "Eclectic Attraction" was a physical treat of muscular and balance-oriented feats performed in the confines of the Spiegeltent.

By Frank De Blase Sep 15, 2017

Fringe 2017 Rochester Fringe Review Cirque Du Fringe Matt Morgan Heidi Brucker Morgan Pinch and Squeal Spiegeltent Slideshow

Rochester Fringe 2017: CITY's Daily Reviews

The 2017 KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival runs Thursday, September 14, through Saturday, September 23, and CITY Newspaper will be out EVERY NIGHT of the festival covering multiple shows. Check in first thing each morning for photos and reviews of the previous night's entertainment, listed below by date.

Sep 14, 2017

Fringe 2017 Rochester Fringe Reviews fringeCITY

City Newspaper