In the weeks leading up to Fringe an intrepid core group of dancers met on the green lawn of fabulousness to rehearse for a Fringe Flash mob. I promised the PR people that I would not show the sketch of the top secret rehearsals until after the flash mob had actually been performed. Having sketched several Flash mobs to promote tourism in the City Beautiful, I was used to seeing a much larger crowd rehearsing, but what they lacked in numbers, they made up in heart. I donated a design for the Fringe Flash Facebook page to help this grassroots promotion.
The music used for the choreography was from every high school musical film. For the first part of the rehearsal everyone was organized in lines as they followed along. Later they circled around a garbage can which symbolized a fountain that exists at Church Street Station. I particularly liked the music from Fame. I had worked on animation that used this music when I was in college in New York City so the song hits a chord in me of yearning to fulfill ones potential. I can’t help but sing along!
I didn’t make it to the final Flash performance at Church Street Station, but the video shot shows that the Flashers took everyone by surprise. I also got to see a second performance right after the ribbon cutting on the green lawn of fabulousness. I discovered that I messed up this year and I am not a Fringe performing artist like I was last year. I brought you coverage of as many shows as I could sketch last year. It was a magnificent theatrical drawing marathon. This year I feel naked, stripped of my lanyard. Not having a lanyard seems a sure sign that the Rapture is here and I am doomed to five months of torture. I will only be able to beg my way into a few shows where I know the performers. Oh well, there are other events to sketch and besides I need to focus on the Mennello Museum mural. Which reminds me, I plan to sketch particularly outrageous performers on the green lawn of fabulousness for the mural and to help promote their shows. I will be sketching the sensual performers from “Big Swinging Dicks” as well as Voci Dancers. I’m thinking that I should make a T-shirt that says, “Will sketch for tickets.” I need to keep working the angles to get the next sketch.
I was told the Rapture will happen at 6pm today. Since I doubt I will rise to heaven, I should say it will be an honor and privilege to party with all the sinners left behind at the Fringe!