Photo courtesy of Johanna Austin

Fresh off the first sold-out performance of our inaugural year-round programming, the new FringeArts headquarters is quickly becoming the hub of multi-functionality that planners envisioned and architects sought to achieve throughout planning and construction. In a mere three months, there have been multiple instances of disparate events happening concurrently but without interference.

The celebratory launch party for Animina (an iPhone app-guided musical walking tour presented by The Mural and The Mint and FringeArts) took place during a dress rehearsal of another co-presentation with Opera Philadelphia: Svadba-Wedding. Last weekend, an artist-led peer group conducted their meeting while Pig Iron Theatre Company performed their award-winning rendition of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. And FringeArts administrative staff conducts daily business while artists develop, rehearse, and perform work.

Smart design, including sound proofing and walls that retract to offer flexible spaces, offers a multifunctional advantage. While work continues on the restaurant and plaza components of the building, FringeArts has already seen a new kind of vitality under its roof.