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Fringe Festival Returns To Philadelphia

By Kristen Johanson

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- This week begins the 2015 Fringe Festival in Philadelphia, which lasts about 17 days, and is made of many performances.

"It's an amazing festival of work of all sorts of artistic disciplines, all performative arts-- throughout the entire city, so anywhere you go, your likely to find something unique, off-beat, something you typically won't get to see through the rest of the year" said Dan Hodge, who is Co-Founding Artistic Director with Philadelphia Artists' Collective.

Hodge's company will perform 'The Captive', which is a scandalous play from the 1920's, and takes place inside the Physick House in Old City.

"The audience kind of gets a chance to peek into the house, and the house is a living breathing character in the show," said Hodge.

In traditional Fringe Fest fashion, another performance called 'The Lid' is a the hybrid production, melding rock-n-roll with theater.

"It's a rock concert injected through a theatrical lens," said Jess Conda, Producing Artistic Director of BRAT Productions. "The music feels like its musical theater, but it's a little edgier, and a little punchier, and a little dirtier. So I think that these communities experiencing the piece is going to open up their eyes on either end."

Hodge encourages everyone to see a show during the festival.

"You can go see a regular play, anywhere in Philadelphia during the course of a regular year. The Fringe is likely where you'll catch something that challenges your expectations, that surprises you and that gives you something you will carry with you for a long time," he said.

Conda agrees.

"There is something really unifying about making art at a time when your whole community is also making art."

For tickets to 'The Lid', visit: http://www.bratproductions.org/

For tickets to 'The Captive, visit: http://fringearts.com/event/the-captive/

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