2011 Minnesota Fringe Festival Attendance Numbers

The 18th annual Minnesota Fringe Festival closed yesterday and preliminary numbers indicate that 48,350 tickets were distributed to the 167 shows participating in the 11-day performing arts festival. The final ticket count represents a 3.7 percent decline from last year’s record of 50,222 tickets issued to 169 shows. The 2011 festival was the second-best attended year in the festival’s history. “We essentially held steady from last year and we’re proud of that achievement,” said executive director Robin C. Gillette. “The past several years have seen enormous growth in the festival’s attendance and we’re happy to see those new audience members have become loyal Fringers in their own right.” “The numbers may be down a tad, but it was still a blockbuster year,” said Gillette. “And what’s more important to me than the numbers is the overwhelmingly positive response we got from participating artists, audiences and volunteers.” Preliminary estimates of this year’s ticket sales total $357,567, down 3.1 percent over last year. Festival organizers attribute the discrepancy between revenue and tickets issued to a price increase for the festival’s Ultra Pass, which offers holders an unlimited number of tickets for a set fee. “It’s a critical part of Fringe’s mission to make sure as many ticket dollars go to the artists as possible, ” Gillette said. “The standard ticket price of $12 has remained constant since 2004, but it was time to revisit the effect the Ultra Pass was having on artist payouts.” Pricing structure of the Ultra Pass netted participating producers just over $3 a ticket last year. A standard ticket nets the producer between $7.80 and $8.40, with the balance retained by the festival for overhead costs. The festival increased the Ultra Pass price to $225 this year, which raised the producers’ payout to roughly $3.50 per Ultra Pass ticket. All other ticket and pass prices remained unchanged. “It was important to bring per-ticket Ultra Pass revenue into line,” said Gillette. “We want people to see as many shows at Fringe as they can, but to do that by devaluing artists’ work isn’t the right choice.” “We’re very satisfied with these numbers,” she said. “The festival has a solid infrastructure to grow on and we expect nothing but growth as Fringe soon approaches its third decade in Minnesota.” The 19th annual Minnesota Fringe Festival is scheduled for Thurs., Aug. 2 through Sun., Aug. 12, 2012, in Minneapolis–St. Paul. Top 15 shows by percent capacity The top 15 shows in the 2011 Minnesota Fringe Festival as calculated by the greatest percentage of available tickets issued. 1. “Blood & 2 Gingers” presented by A-Stage at Kieran’s Irish Pub 2. “You Only Live Forever Once” presented by Four Humors Theater at Bryant-Lake Bowl 3. “Angelina Jolie is a Zionist Whore! or, Plan 9 from Baghdad” presented by Partizan Theater at Intermedia Arts 4. “Losing My Religion: Confessions of a New Age Refugee” presented by Seth Lepore at Augsburg Studio 5. “A Little Bit of Vegas” presented by Offspring Productions at U of M Rarig Center Xperimental 6. “Super Spectacular!: To Opera with Love” presented by the Donovan Ensemble at Augsburg Mainstage 7. “Brain Fighters” presented by Joking Envelope at U of M Rarig Center Thrust 8. “Deadline: A Choose Your Own Adventure Story” presented by Interplanetary Appeal at Bryant-Lake Bowl 9. “YARRRH! The Lusty, Busty Pirate Musical” presented by Fortune’s Fool Theatre at Gremlin Theatre 10. “Your Responsibility for Sex Failure” presented by Vintage Remix at Minneapolis Theatre Garage 11. “This is Where Your Free-time Goes to Die” presented by Screaming Mutes Production at Bryant-Lake Bowl 12. “Domino’s Pizza Saved My Life” presented by Dylan Fresco at Playwrights’ Center 13. “Hamluke” presented by the Nerdyad at U of M Rarig Center Arena 14. “The Trunk” presented by Siege Perilous Films at U of M Rarig Center Xperimental 15. “Mimi’s Last Rehearsal” presented by Theater Zero at HUGE Improv Theater Top 15 shows by tickets issued The top 15 shows in the 2011 Minnesota Fringe Festival as calculated by the greatest number of tickets issued. 1. “Brain Fighters” presented by Joking Envelope at U of M Rarig Center Thrust 2. “7 (x1) Samurai” presented by David Gaines Productions at U of M Rarig Center Proscenium 3. “The Smothers Brothers Grimm” presented by Comedy Suitcase at U of M Rarig Center Thrust 4. “Red Resurrected” presented by Isabel Nelson at Lab Theater 5. “Minnesota Middle Finger” presented by Ben San Del Presents at Theatre in the Round Players 6. “Hamluke” presented by the Nerdyad at U of M Rarig Center Arena 7. “Fletcher & Zenobia Save the Circus (by Edward Gorey)” presented by Live Action Set at Mill City Museum 8. “Tempests” presented by Tedious Brief Productions at U of M Rarig Center Thrust 9. “Comedy = Tragedy + Someone Else” presented by the Importance of Being Fotis at U of M Rarig Center Thrust 10. “Knit One, Purl the Other” presented by Unfold the Sky Productions at Theatre in the Round Players 11. “Disney Dethroned: Snowcahontas and the Tangled FrogBeast” presented by Tom Reed at Mixed Blood Theatre 12. “Underneath the Lintel” presented by Pat O’Brien’s Vanity Theatrics at U of M Rarig Center Arena 13. “Buckets and Tap Shoes” presented by 10 Foot 5 Productions at U of M Rarig Center Proscenium 14. “Taiko Blast!” presented by Mu Performing Arts at Mixed Blood Theatre 15. “Balls Out!” presented by Late Night Menu at Mixed Blood Theatre Sold-out performances “The 612” presented by Rogues Gallery Arts “7 (x1) Samurai” presented by David Gaines Productions (2 performances) “Angelina Jolie is a Zionist Whore! or, Plan 9 from Baghdad” presented by Partizan Theater (3 performances) “The Beasts” presented by the Great Ben Egerman Theatre Adventure! “Blood & 2 Gingers” presented by A-Stage (4 performances) “Brain Fighters” presented by Joking Envelope (2 performances) “Change Your Underwear, Change Your Life” presented by Swell Gal Shows “Deadline: A Choose Your Own Adventure Story” presented by Interplanetary Appeal “Death Perception” presented by Schroedinger’s Dog “Domino’s Pizza Saved My Life” presented by Dylan Fresco (2 performances) “Four Clowns” presented by 4 Clowns “Hamluke” presented by the Nerdyad (2 performances) “HERO: A New Musical” presented by RawRedmeat Productions “Highlander: The Musical!” presented by Rooftop Theatre Co. (2 performances) “A Little Bit of Vegas” presented by Offspring Productions (2 performances) “Losing My Religion: Confessions of a New Age Refugee” presented by Seth Lepore (2 performances) “Mimi’s Last Rehearsal” presented by Theater Zero (2 performances) “Minnesota Middle Finger” presented by Ben San Del Presents (2 performances) “Phil the Void: Motherbanking Bankholes” presented by Phil the Void “Red Resurrected” presented by Isabel Nelson “Scientist Turned Comedian” presented by Tim Lee “Sousepaw: A Baseball Story” presented by Shelby Company “Super Spectacular!: To Opera with Love” presented by the Donovan Ensemble (3 performances) “This is Where Your Free-time Goes to Die” presented by Screaming Mutes Production (2 performances) “The Trunk” presented by Siege Perilous Films (2 performances) “YARRRH! The Lusty, Busty Pirate Musical” presented by Fortune’s Fool Theatre (2 performances) “You Only Live Forever Once” presented by Four Humors Theater (5 performances) “Your Responsibility for Sex Failure” presented by Vintage Remix