This year’s Frigid Festival kicks off on Wednesday, February 25th and promises to be a great success. The festival, which debuted in New York in 2007, is heralded as a “celebration of independent theater tailored to support the artist.” It will feature over 150 performances by thirty independent theater companies. The performances will take place over twelve days, ending on Sunday, March 8, 2009.
Frigid seeks to support theater that lives on the fringe of the mainstream while re-defining what a theater festival can and should be. As a part of that mission, festival producers have waived their right to receive royalties on future performances and the artists receive 100% of the box office from their festival shows.
The first Frigid, held in 2007, attracted nearly 250 artists and over 2,500 audience members. Local media triumphed the event, with nytheatre.com naming the event one of its “People of the Year” for 2007. Last year the event had three times as many sold-out shows and a 20% increase in attendence.
The festival includes panels and other events as well as performances. This year there will be a “Shows After Dark” schedule of free late night events, including parties, a live talk show, and a storytelling performance. New York restaurants and bars in the area expect to see an increased business as theater goers and artists invade the neighborhood.
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