By Jennifer Burrini, ’10

….for this September 4 – 19.

Why?  The Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe is back!

The arts and the creative minds that inspire them are vital necessities to the community.  They inspire free expression and individuality through using fluidity of the body, poignancy of words, or visually ascetic creations.

The 13th annual Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe continues to nourish the community’s artistic needs by presenting a talented array of performing artists each year.  The Live Arts shows are selected for their contemporary, cutting edge performances from both local and international well renowned artists.  The Fringe, on the other hand, offers to new and established Philly artists an unfiltered platform to showcase their performances.

During my brief internship with the Live Arts this year, I was granted the amazing opportunity to meet some of Philly’s most talented in the arts community.  I also had the chance to write for their recently launched blog.  (Shameless plug about to follow: check out some of my posts here!.)  So I’m especially excited for this year’s festival and hope you will be too!

Here’s a brief summary of what’s on the Festival 2009 agenda: Dancing competitions, laser projections, urban ponds, body twisting, contemporary dancing, and a falling camel.  And that’s just the beginning.

Because  it’s impossible for me to choose one favorite, here are my top three Festival Must Sees.

1) Kill Me Now (Melanie Stewart Dance Theatre): Overzealous contestants fighting for the ultimate title, this parody reality TV dance off has already got me on the edge of my seat.

2) FATEBOOK: AVOIDING CATASTROPHE ONE PARTY AT A TIME (New Paradise Labortories): Cyber space collides with the physical world in this interactive endeavor.  Audience members can follow and be part of the show’s online relationships and stories on Facebook.  During the Festival performance, a dose of reality hits this cyber drama as the technological and physical worlds collide.

3) Welcome to Yuba City (Pig Iron Theatre Company): A mythical truck stop, cowboys performing a clown ballet, and the exploration of the age old question: “What is the limit of human lunacy?”  Who can resist that?

For more information on all Live Arts and Fringe shows, explore the Festival website, become a fan on Facebook, or use their FB application.

PLUS, the awesome folks at the Live Arts have offered St. Joe’s students an extra DISCOUNT for TWO Festival shows.   Tuesday (9/8) through Thursday (9/10) St. Joe’s students can purchase tickets to FATEBOOK AND WELCOME TO YUBA CITY for only $12!  That’s an extra $3 bucks off the usual student discount!

Discount code: STJOES.  More ticket info here.