The Rochester Fringe Festival runs September 10-21 and this year, Hochstein is a venue for the very first time! BIODANCE and Cordancia Chamber Orchestra perform Carnival of the Animals and other works on Saturday, September 14 and Friday, September 20.
“This diverse show has something for everyone,” says Cordancia co-founder and oboist Kathleen Suher. “The portraits of animals in words, music, and dance make it a great choice for families. With live music performed by Cordancia Chamber Orchestra, the show would also be a great choice for classical music lovers.”
Many of this show’s performers have strong ties to Hochstein. Cordancia counts many Hochstein music faculty among its members – including Pia Liptak, Matt Osika, Carl Galland, Kirsta Rodean, and Yi-Wen Chang, who will be in the orchestra for these performances.
Hochstein faculty members are also taking part in other events during Fringe, including a fast-paced version of Donizetti’s renowned opera L’Elisir d’Amore, evenings of improv and stand-up comedy, a celebration of dance, and a 13-piece jazz band.
See below for a list of where you can find Hochstein at Fringe this year; click on the title for a link to more information.
Find a full listing of all the Rochester Fringe Festival events along with ticket information, where applicable, at https://rochesterfringe.com.
(BIODANCE/Carnival of the Animals photo by Gerry Szymanski)
Featured Event:
Carnival of the Animals
Friday, September 14 and Saturday, September 20; 7:00 pm; Hochstein Performance Hall
Cordancia and BIODANCE are excited to collaborate again on a unique multidisciplinary event at this year’s Rochester Fringe Festival. The program includes Camille Saint-Saëns’ beloved and entertaining classic Carnival of the Animals, with narrator Jay Stetzer; the solo dance work Compass; and Darius Milhaud’s Le Boeuf sur le toit (The Ox on the Roof).
- Pia Liptak, violin
- Matt Osika, trumpet
- Carl Galland, clarinet
- Kirsta Rodean, bassoon
- Yi-Wen Chang, piano
Dave Rivello Ensemble/REDii
Tuesday, September 10; 7:30 pm; Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre
What happens when the 13-member Dave Rivello Ensemble plugs in? DRE I RED! Sharp angles contrasted with smooth textures and combined with dynamic solos make for an evening of continuous color. This show is an extension of the Dave Rivello Ensemble, which has performed for 30 years in Rochester.
- Jeremy Stoner, tuba
Drunk Opera
Friday, September 13; 8:30 pm; MuCCC
This ain’t your grandma's opera. Drinking? Yup. Cursing? For sure. Debauchery most foul? You bet. All against the backdrop of Donizetti’s renowned opera L’Elisir d’Amore. One random cast member will down the shots as they attempt to run a fast-paced, abridged version of the opera in less than an hour with the “help” of audience participation.
- Yi-Wen Chang, piano
Stand Up for Drag
Friday, September 13 and Friday, September 20; 7:00 pm; MuCCC; 18 and over
Stand Up for Drag has been performing and entertaining Fringe audiences for many years, bringing the best of two worlds: Drag and Stand-up comedy. Come prepared to laugh, enjoy, and experience while supporting and expanding the drag and comedy community. See some of the best queens and kings of Rochester, including Kyla Minx and King Bey, and popular comedians including Yolanda Smilez, Cindy Arena, and Kevin Markman.
- Kevin Markman, comedian
Run It Back: Alumni Dance Concert
Saturday September 14; 4:00 pm; School of the Arts
School of The Arts alumni take to the Main Stage once more for an alumni dance concert! Run it Back features a versatile selection of well-known choreographers and performers from the early 2000s through the past year. You will recognize faces from the school, past Fringe shows, Hochstein, Garth Fagan Dance and more! Come enjoy this celebration of community, growth, and creation through movement and dance.
- Elton Ward, special guest with the group known as TruKrumpCollective.
Banter Up Improv Troupe
Saturday, September 14 at 10:00 pm; Thursday, September 19 at 8:00 pm; ROC Cinema Theater; 13 and over
Take me out to the improv field with this nonstop comedy troupe returning for its ninth Fringe! This “major league” show features local comics Jim Harney, Kevin Markman, and Joe Minotti performing short-form improv and sketch comedy. Audiences will enjoy their fastballs that use props, puns, and parodies, and patrons might even pitch in ideas or volunteer as props or stand-ins.
- Kevin Markman, comic