The 2013 Edmonton Fringe is underway and it has seemed to bring with it an energetic, bigger vibe compared to prior years.  I can't put my finger on what exactly is different: More people?  Happier people?  Bigger shows?  Am I just in a good mood?  I've had a number of people comment on the different feeling they've been getting this year.  They've felt more buzz, more media coverage and more people showing up on grounds and best of all, in theatres.  What I've always loved about the Edmonton Fringe is how the whole city seems to stop and pay attention to the 10 day festival that closes down streets and creates a temporary theatre district in the heart of the city.  I've been to a few other cities during Fringe time, and I can definitely say that we are very lucky to have the festival we do.  

This year, I am helping to produce Candice's one-woman show, "Anatolia Speaks", and I couldn't be more proud to not only be a part of an inspiring Kenneth Brown show, but to see Candice play the role with such honesty and heart... (not to mention all the awesome reviews she's been getting).  I am also a part of Grindstone Theatre's "The 11 O'Clock Number!", a fully improvised musical.  I am in love with this show.  Something about improvisation really gets to me...  and oddly enough, a lot of us feel even more comfortable improvising songs than scenes.  I love the shared passion all of us have, and the growing relationships with all the new friends I have made.  There's a huge sense of trust that is earned over time between actors working together, especially when improv is involved, and you need that trust in order to make big decisions and take risks and know that your peers will catch you... and rhyme with you... and dance with you.

I love Fringe.  And you should, too.  Get out there and take in the food, outdoor shows, and pick a play, a musical, or dance piece to go see.  It only comes once a year.

-B 

As Poiema Gals, we have been working together as a group since 2008, though we weren’t calling ourselves Poiema until 2009.  And although we consider ourselves to be a company in most senses of the word, we have not yet incorporated.

Now in our 5th year of operation, we have decided to look into becoming a society.  Lucky for us, Edmonton has fostered a lovely inter-disciplinary arts community that is interested in the success of everyone!  Edmonton artists want everyone to succeed, realizing that we aren’t competing against each other for audiences or popularity, but that the more successful someone else’s company is, the more people will continue coming out to community arts events.

So as we begin to embark on our incorporating journey, we were blessed to have Ainsley Hillyard of Good Women Dance Collective join us this past Tuesday evening at Remedy Café.  She generously shared her successes and failures with us imparting a breadth of knowledge that she spent over a year researching.  Even after our 2 hour long conversation, she continued to go the extra mile, emailing us resources and ensuring we know we are welcome to call her if we have anymore questions along the way.

Stay tuned over the next year, as Poiema starts another leg of our journey, continuously moving towards bigger and better things. We are definitely in a good company in Edmonton, what a wonderful community we have here.  I am so proud of the Edmonton arts scene!  Love you guys, may one person's success be a victory for all.

-S