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FringeHIGH (definition): a collection of boundary-stretching plays guaranteed to captivate and entertain NYC teens.
New ideas, new perspectives, pushing the limits: that's FringeNYC. FringeHIGH is a group of shows chosen from the regular FringeNYC roster that resonate with young adults. Topics for 2007 FringeHIGH shows included: sex, drugs, alcohol, violence, censorship, relationships and rebellion, not to mention a very surprising nun and a light-hearted song about cannibalism. Once again we were proud to donate tickets to High 5 Tickets to the Arts (which are then sold to teens at $5 each or less). And this year, for the first time ever, the good people at High 5 created a special FringeNYC pass for NYC teens, which allowed them to get tickets to three or more FringeHIGH shows at once. Thanks, High 5!

As an extra added bonus, one performance of each FringeHIGH show had a talk-back immediately following the performance, providing teens (and other audience members!) a chance to meet with members of the cast or creative team (like the director or the author). NYC teens enjoyed asking them questions and getting an insider's view.

FringeHIGH 2007 Selections:

Angst: The New Teen Musical
An original work created and performed by Minneapolis high school students, Angst tells the story of nine teens (and their creative writing teacher) who confront the realities of becoming young adults. The play explores the teens' struggles with sexuality, religion, college admission, drug use, and identity. Songs about love, hate, betrayal and myspace make this a show for all who are experiencing, have experienced, or wish they never had to experience high school.
And read an interview about Angst HERE

BAUM FOR PEACE or The True Adventures of the Slightly World-Renowned Lesbian Playwright Who Ran for Congress
Song! Dance! Democracy up-close and personal! The true story, with song and dance, of the astonishing and terrifying adventures of Terry Baum, a Green peace candidate who challenged Nancy Pelosi in her run for Congress in 2004. "Baum is a lesbian Woody Allen." -- San Francisco Chronicle.

Days and Nights: page 121, lines 11 and 12
What does it mean to be trapped, what is it that traps us, and how can we be free? Days and Nights is the story of Anne Frank, told using lines from Chekhov's THE SEAGULL. In both stories, characters struggle with family, longing, and happiness destroyed.

HELMET
Sometimes when you have no lives left you play better. Because you know that if you make a mistake you die. Helmet, a kid who's obsessed with video games, worships Sal, the owner of the game store where Sal spends most of his days. Sal detests Helmet. But to win the game they must play together… Based on the exhilarating format of a video game, this highly innovative and deeply moving play charts Sal and Helmet's fight for survival.

January 1986
A Philadelphia family disintegrates against the backdrop of the Challenger disaster. This drama is told through the eyes of Nick, now 30 years old, as he reflects on his younger self and his parents as they were twenty years ago. The traumatic nature of Nick's memories causes the narrative to fracture. Sometimes, even if we escape our family's violence, we cannot leave it behind.

JASPORA
Transports audiences to a world where god is a DJ, and a girl must decide between assimilation and cultural loyalty. "Jaspora" translates loosely into "imitation Haitian," a slur given to Haitians who are born in America. Although told from the perspective of a "Jaspora," this story applies to anyone who has ever felt like an outcast for being culturally different.

Reader
Tells the story of a censor forced to confront the sins of his past when a mysterious unfinished manuscript turns up bearing an uncanny resemblance to his life. Suddenly, the future is dictated by every word he allows. Reader asks questions about the relationship between our selves as individuals and as citizens of a state. Do we go along with our government's policies? Do we resist? And what are the costs?

Show Choir! The Musical
Imagine a not too distant future where a high school show choir becomes a national pop phenomenon, adored by millions. Show Choir! The Musical, told through the framework of a fictional TV program, explores America's obsession with pop culture, from the lowest lows to the highest highs of American Celebrity. It's a little bit of everything, from The Temptations and The Carpenters to Boyz II Men and Queen.

The Life and Times of Martin Luther (Reformed)
Incompetent storytellers, angry peasant mobs, Germans, metrosexual emperors and a frisky nun! The history of a monk with hemorrhoids who sparked the movement that changed the world, in a little over an hour. Crossing pie in the face slapstick with pointed commentary, t his play with music is continually surprising and seriously funny. Just remember, nothing is sacred here, so don't say we didn't warn you. … Sin boldly.

THE PROGRAM
Forced to move to the suburbs for the Federal Witness Protection Program, the Bianchino family from Brooklyn struggles to remain anonymous. Kept under scrutiny by "Uncle Joe," the family's personal FBI agent, the social life of 15 year old Gwen is seriously jeopardized. This dark comedy asks the question: if you had to choose between your family's safety and a new boyfriend, what would you do?

Too Clever By Half
A youthful twist on a classic Russian comedy. You may not know the play, but you will recognize the character … the classic manipulator, who will do anything to get ahead. Come watch him as he self-destructs. Too Clever by Half is performed by the Studio Six Ensemble, six of whom attended LaGuardia High School for the performing arts in Manhattan. Join them for their New York debut.

TRAGEDY! (A Musical Comedy)
Everyone dies, because they're bad people. We reworked Shakespeare's bloodiest play, Titus Andronicus, into a Mel Brooks-style musical, accidentally losing iambic pentameter and empathy. Thematic revenge with overtones of pie illustrates that happy endings are for children's books and massage parlors. Tragedy! contains sex, violence, drugs, … clown abuse, … insipid pop music, … rock and roll, … tap-dancing, … severed heads, severed hands, revenge, and pie.

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FringeHIGH 2007 Selections:
	Angst: The New Teen Musical An original work created and performed by Minneapolis high school students, Angst tells the story of nine teens (and their creative writing teacher) who confront the realities of becoming young adults. The play explores the teens' struggles with sexuality, religion, college admission, drug use, and identity. Songs about love, hate, betrayal and myspace make this a show for all who are experiencing, have experienced, or wish they never had to experience high school. And read an interview about Angst HERE
	BAUM FOR PEACE or The True Adventures of the Slightly World-Renowned Lesbian Playwright Who Ran for Congress Song! Dance! Democracy up-close and personal! The true story, with song and dance, of the astonishing and terrifying adventures of Terry Baum, a Green peace candidate who challenged Nancy Pelosi in her run for Congress in 2004. "Baum is a lesbian Woody Allen." -- San Francisco Chronicle.
	Days and Nights: page 121, lines 11 and 12 What does it mean to be trapped, what is it that traps us, and how can we be free? Days and Nights is the story of Anne Frank, told using lines from Chekhov's THE SEAGULL. In both stories, characters struggle with family, longing, and happiness destroyed.
	HELMET Sometimes when you have no lives left you play better. Because you know that if you make a mistake you die. Helmet, a kid who's obsessed with video games, worships Sal, the owner of the game store where Sal spends most of his days. Sal detests Helmet. But to win the game they must play together… Based on the exhilarating format of a video game, this highly innovative and deeply moving play charts Sal and Helmet's fight for survival.
	January 1986 A Philadelphia family disintegrates against the backdrop of the Challenger disaster. This drama is told through the eyes of Nick, now 30 years old, as he reflects on his younger self and his parents as they were twenty years ago. The traumatic nature of Nick's memories causes the narrative to fracture. Sometimes, even if we escape our family's violence, we cannot leave it behind.
	JASPORA Transports audiences to a world where god is a DJ, and a girl must decide between assimilation and cultural loyalty. "Jaspora" translates loosely into "imitation Haitian," a slur given to Haitians who are born in America. Although told from the perspective of a "Jaspora," this story applies to anyone who has ever felt like an outcast for being culturally different.
	Reader Tells the story of a censor forced to confront the sins of his past when a mysterious unfinished manuscript turns up bearing an uncanny resemblance to his life. Suddenly, the future is dictated by every word he allows. Reader asks questions about the relationship between our selves as individuals and as citizens of a state. Do we go along with our government's policies? Do we resist? And what are the costs?
	Show Choir! The Musical Imagine a not too distant future where a high school show choir becomes a national pop phenomenon, adored by millions. Show Choir! The Musical, told through the framework of a fictional TV program, explores America's obsession with pop culture, from the lowest lows to the highest highs of American Celebrity. It's a little bit of everything, from The Temptations and The Carpenters to Boyz II Men and Queen.
	The Life and Times of Martin Luther (Reformed) Incompetent storytellers, angry peasant mobs, Germans, metrosexual emperors and a frisky nun! The history of a monk with hemorrhoids who sparked the movement that changed the world, in a little over an hour. Crossing pie in the face slapstick with pointed commentary, t his play with music is continually surprising and seriously funny. Just remember, nothing is sacred here, so don't say we didn't warn you. … Sin boldly.
	THE PROGRAM Forced to move to the suburbs for the Federal Witness Protection Program, the Bianchino family from Brooklyn struggles to remain anonymous. Kept under scrutiny by "Uncle Joe," the family's personal FBI agent, the social life of 15 year old Gwen is seriously jeopardized. This dark comedy asks the question: if you had to choose between your family's safety and a new boyfriend, what would you do?
	Too Clever By Half A youthful twist on a classic Russian comedy. You may not know the play, but you will recognize the character … the classic manipulator, who will do anything to get ahead. Come watch him as he self-destructs. Too Clever by Half is performed by the Studio Six Ensemble, six of whom attended LaGuardia High School for the performing arts in Manhattan. Join them for their New York debut.
	TRAGEDY! (A Musical Comedy) Everyone dies, because they're bad people. We reworked Shakespeare's bloodiest play, Titus Andronicus, into a Mel Brooks-style musical, accidentally losing iambic pentameter and empathy. Thematic revenge with overtones of pie illustrates that happy endings are for children's books and massage parlors. Tragedy! contains sex, violence, drugs, … clown abuse, … insipid pop music, … rock and roll, … tap-dancing, … severed heads, severed hands, revenge, and pie.