{"id":7564,"date":"2022-06-30T12:28:19","date_gmt":"2022-06-30T16:28:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/?page_id=7564"},"modified":"2025-10-27T06:50:30","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T10:50:30","slug":"fringe-festival","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/music\/opera\/fringe-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Fringe Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"

The annual Boston University Fringe Festival, now in its 29th season, is a collaboration between the College of Fine Arts School of Music: Opera Institute<\/a> and School of Theatre<\/a>. Fringe\u2019s mission is to produce new or rarely performed significant works in the opera and theatre repertoire, bringing performances and audiences together in unique theatrical settings. For over two decades, Fringe Festival at BU has celebrated and amplified new work, shown in spare and minimal productions.<\/p>\n

You’re invited to experience the innovation and artistry at this year\u2019s performances!<\/p>\n

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The Eleanors<\/em><\/em><\/h4>\n

Presented by BU Opera Institute & School of Theatre<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

October 10 – 12, 2025
\nStudio ONE<\/h5>\n

Jodi Goble<\/a>, composer and librettist<\/span>
\nMichael Ching, co-librettist<\/span>
\nMatthew Larson<\/a>, music director<\/span>
\nEdward Sturm<\/a>\u00a0(CFA\u201924), stage director<\/span><\/p>\n

The Eleanors<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is a 90-minute chamber opera set in the final year of World War II. Newlywed nurse Maxie turns to her friends Lilian and Ramona for support when her husband Cal is captured during the Battle of the Bulge and imprisoned.\u00a0 Lyrical, funny, high energy, heartbreaking and heartwarming,\u00a0<\/span>The Eleanors\u00a0<\/span><\/em>is infused throughout with musical influences from swing and American Songbook.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thumbprint<\/em><\/em><\/h4>\n

Presented by BU Opera Institute & School of Theatre<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

October 24 \u2013 26, 2025
\nStudio ONE<\/h5>\n

Kamala Sankaram,<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>composer
\nSusan Yankowitz, librettist (from a series of interviews with Mai)
\nAllison Voth<\/a>, music director
\n<\/strong>Grant Sorenson<\/a>(CFA\u201926), stage director<\/p>\n

Thumbprint<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>is inspired by the extraordinary transformation of Mukhtar Mai, a young woman whose world was shattered by an act of brutality that could have destroyed her. Instead, she discovers a weapon\u2014her voice\u2014and against all odds, to the astonishment of her country and herself, she seeks justice and finds it. \u201cThe worst thing in my life is also the best,\u201d she says. \u201cIt has given my life meaning.\u201d Her journey resonates beyond borders in its implicit belief that even in the darkest times, one person, one voice, through a single act of courage, can change life for thousands.<\/p>\n

Fefu and Her Friends<\/em><\/em><\/h4>\n

Presented by BU School of Theatre<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

November 14 – 16, 2025
\nStudio ONE<\/h5>\n

Book by Mar\u00eda Irene Forn\u00e9s
\nDirected by Gregg Wiggans (CFA\u201925) and Liv King<\/p>\n

Fefu and Her Friends<\/em> is one of Off-Broadway\u2019s best-loved plays, originally directed by the author. The audience follows the lives of eight women. For this play, Mar\u00eda Irene Forn\u00e9s received one of her nine Obie awards. (Broadway Play Publishing Inc.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Tickets<\/a><\/p>\n

Calf Scramble<\/em><\/em><\/h4>\n

Presented by BU School of Theatre<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

December 4 – 7, 2025
\nStudio ONE<\/h5>\n

By Libby Carr
\nDirected by Shalee Cole Maule\u00f3n<\/p>\n

In a barn outside Huntsville, Texas, five Future Farmers of America raise and ruin their prize-winning calves. CALF SCRAMBLE<\/em> is a raucous rodeo of girls playing God, clambering for power over their animals, their bodies, and each other. (New Play Exchange)<\/span><\/p>\n

Tickets<\/a><\/p>\n

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Fringe in the News<\/h2>\n
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29th Annual CFA Fringe Festival Puts Women in the Spotlight<\/h4>\n

This year, the Opera Institute is putting a spin on its tradition of bringing in guest stage directors to help guide student productions. While past guest directors have been members of the broader theatrical community, this year\u2019s retinue consists of recent School of Theatre graduates\u2014a Fringe Fest first. Grant Sorenson (CFA\u201925) directs Thumbprint, while The Eleanors is directed by Edward Sturm (CFA\u201924).<\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Fringe<\/div>\n
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Innovation Takes the Stage at 28th Annual CFA Fringe Festival<\/h4>\n

A BU Today<\/em> article outlines the horror, heartbreak, and daring escape plans featured in this fall\u2019s Fringe repertoire.<\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"performance<\/div>\n
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All the World\u2019s a Stage at 27th Annual CFA Fringe Festival<\/h4>\n

A BU Today<\/em> article features the 2023 Fringe Festival performance lineup, which included an expanded series of opera, theatre, and visual arts events celebrating new and unconventional works<\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Opera<\/div>\n
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Curtains Open on 2022 CFA Fringe Festival<\/h4>\n

Annual showcase of opera and theater pieces includes works-in-progress by BU students. Read more in BU Today<\/i>!<\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"performance<\/div>\n
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25th Fringe Festival<\/h4>\n

A BU Today<\/em> article features the 25th Fringe Festival performance lineup, which included two operas, Proving Up<\/i> (music by Missy Mazzoli (BUTI\u201998, CFA\u201902), libretto by Royce Vavrek) and The Infinite Energy of Ada Lovelace <\/i> (music by Kamala Sankaram, libretto by Rob Handel).<\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"opera\"<\/div>\n
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Connect on Social<\/h4>\n

Follow BU Opera Institute for the latest news!<\/p>\n

Instagram \u2022 @buarts<\/a> and @bu_opera<\/a><\/p>\n

Facebook \u2022 Boston University Opera Institute<\/a><\/p>\n

X\/Twitter \u2022 @buarts<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The annual Boston University Fringe Festival, now in its 29th season, is a collaboration between the College of Fine Arts School of Music: Opera Institute and School of Theatre. Fringe\u2019s mission is to produce new or rarely performed significant works in the opera and theatre repertoire, bringing performances and audiences together in unique theatrical settings. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14125,"featured_media":0,"parent":4700,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"bu-publication":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7564"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14125"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7564"}],"version-history":[{"count":51,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7564\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":126331,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7564\/revisions\/126331"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7564"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"bu-publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-publication?post=7564"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}