The More You NOLA: Faux/Real?
Directed by Maritza Mercado-Narcisse as part of the eDGe dance festival, Evangeline explores the impact of Louisiana"s evolving landscape through a collaborative piece combining choreography, spoken word and music. Catch performances at Dancing Grounds (3705 St. Claude Ave.) from Friday (Nov. 6) through Sunday (Nov. 8). (Photo from eDGe)
For the next three weeks, New Orleans will become an experimental entertainment hub as the inaugural Faux/Real Festival of the Arts blankets the city with immersive, innovative performances, literary readings and tastings. The festival begins with an opening gala at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art on Wednesday (Nov. 4) at 7 p.m. and runs through Sunday (Nov. 22).
Formerly called the New Orleans Fringe Festival, the event has evolved and expanded. Faux/Real Fest has kept Fringe"s theater-focused roots and added fresh pop-up dining opportunities and imaginative storytelling showcases, creating an adventurous experience for festival-goers and an opportunity for artists to present their vision.
Whether wandering into a Prohibition-era speakeasy, hearing an adaptation of The Godfather performed in iambic pentameter, or putting on a red nose and heading to The NOLA Project"s Clown Bar, visitors can expect to submerge themselves within uniquely conceptual events.
Celebrating the theme “Something Different,” the new festival is now managed by online magazine NOLA Defender.
The festival"s moniker was inspired by theatergoers" suspension of disbelief as well as New Orleans" Spanish heritage (as “real” means royal in Spanish).
“Hopefully everyone attending can feel like royalty for a bit,” says B.E. Mintz, the festival"s executive director.
Influenced by festivals like Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Austin"s SXSW, Faux/Real Fest producers have implemented changes this year with participating artists in mind. Most notably, all event ticket sales will go directly to the performers and artisans.
“There"s a lot of talent out there, and we"re trying to listen to what they need. We"re letting them take it to the next level,” Mintz says.
Satellite mini-fests are also now included within the lineup. Beginning Friday (Nov. 6), Dancing Grounds (3705 St. Claude Ave.) will host the avant-garde dance event eDGe, while gorgeous geeks take the stage in the NOLA Nerdlesque Festival starting Thursday, Nov. 19.
“As we grow, we hope to have more of these,” Mintz says.
