Hanging Around the Fringe
| posted by Jeffrey CufaudeIn many cities across the United States, August and September brings life into darkened theatres before their main fall season begins as they play host to Fringe Festivals. New York’s is already underway and here in Indianapolis, we will kick ours off next week.
I love attending fringe performances because there often is a passion, rawness, and authenticity that isn’t always conveyed in major productions that have to satisfy a host of producers and try to make back their true costs (though that rarely happens).
What discourages me about Fringe events is that much of theatrical innovation gets relegated to these “not in the mainstream” moments. Strategy gurus have always told as that innovation comes at the periphery of organizations, but I think we need to move it from the fringe into the core whenever possible. Of course, no matter what is at the core of an organization’s culture, a fringe mindset will always exist and representing an opportunity to be mined.
But until that happens creating designated and approved arenas like Fringe Festivals is an excellent way to give permission to people who might not otherwise get their ideas on a stage. How does (could) your organization create opportunities for your own “fringers” to shine and get their ideas into production?
