The Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival is coming back to Salt Lake City

Jun 30, 2022, 8:00 PM

The Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival will make its in-person comeback from July 28 to Aug. 7. Courtesy of The Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival.

BY DEVIN OLDROYD

Digital Content Producer

SALT LAKE CITY — The Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival is coming back to Salt Lake City from July 28 to August 7.

According to a press release, the performing arts festival will feature 24 in-person shows. Each will be within walking distance of The Gateway. The festival has partnered with The Gateway. Fringe will use five of its spaces including four theaters and a box office.

“We’ve got an excellent line-up of local and out-of-town artists,” festival Co-Director Shianne Gray said in a statement. “…including well-known local companies and Fringe veterans like An Other Theatre Company, Wasatch Theatre Company, and Grassroots Shakespeare Company. [And] out-of-town artists like Amuse Bouche Productions from Denver, Andrew Frank from Seattle, and an exciting lineup of Fringe newcomers.”

This year is the festival’s fully in-person comeback. In 2020, it was held online and in 2021 as a hybrid event.

“Two years ago, everything went online. And last year we had a hybrid Fringe which a lot of people loved,” Fringe co-director Jay Perry said. “Interestingly, this year’s entries were overwhelmingly requests for in-person shows. It’s clear that artists and theatergoers are ready to return to in-person events, and we’re committed to doing so as safely as possible.”

What is the Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival?

Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival is a performing arts festival held over the course of two weekends.

“Fringe is the forge for independent theater and performing arts in Utah,” Perry said. “We exist to lift up artists and to provide audiences a chance to experience new, cutting-edge work happening in our community.”

Both Perry and Gray say it adds to Salt Lake City’s local theater scene.

“The Fringe has been a wonderful addition to the SLC theater scene. Because it allows artists and companies a space to experiment and try new material in a welcoming atmosphere with enthusiastic audiences,” Gray said.

Gray praised the festival for the variety of events it features.

“The Great Salt Lake Fringe is one of the only theatrical experiences in Utah that lets you see a classical Greek tragedy, a stand-up comedy show, an avant-garde dance piece, the world premiere of a new play, and much more within the span of an afternoon,” she said.

Perry and Gray recommend that those interested in attending the festival purchase their tickets in advance.

“We encourage audiences to check out the full lineup of shows when tickets go on sale on Friday, July 1.” Gray said. “Our biggest piece of advice for potential Fringe-goers is to see as much as you can.”