As of January 2012, our involvement in the 2013 Fringe Festival has not yet been determined. 
Here's information about our past involvement.

International Fringe Festival Edinburgh, Scotland
American High School Theatre Festival

(High school Theatre departments are nominated and then apply to be chosen to perform in Edinburgh)

The Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland began in1947 as a post-war initiative to re-unite Europe through culture, with a number of distinguished musicians from the war-ravaged countries of the continent invited to perform. Aware there would be a good crowd and focused press interest; six Scottish and two English theatre companies decided to turn up uninvited and fend for themselves. The next year a critic dubbed this gatecrashers' enterprise "the fringe of the official festival drama", and the name and the spirit of the Fringe was born.

DSA Theatre AHSTF Finalists

2007-08 The Inconvenient Truths by the Ensemble directed/conceived/choreographed by Shawn Hann

2002-03 How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying by Frank Loesser and Abe Burrows directed/choreographed by Shawn Hann, vocal direction by Traci Kern
 

August 2013 -- TENATIVE --
Depending on approval from the DSA Trip Committee/Administration

Fundraising Letter

Should YOU go to the Fringe?  Hear what our alumni said about their FRINGE experience:

From DSA Alumni, Jesse JP Johnson, Fringe 2003.

"I think the most important thing that the potential fringe attenders should know is that as a performer seeing the world and experiencing culture is not only important but the smartest thing you can do for yourself. I mean I was sick as death when we went but the one thing I remember was the people and environment. Probably still my most favorite city I have been to in the world. Not only that, but to experience the festival itself in midst of it. Seeing the shows (which there are hundreds), meeting people from all over the world and seeing Scotland upon itself is amazing. Now with all that and also being able to share your talent to the people who attend the festival is mind blowing. It just opens your mind to something you may never experience in your whole life and getting to have that opportunity is an amazing honor. I know for sure that among all the things I have done since I left DSA I have never experienced anything like that. It is truly a once in a lifetime thing and am extremely jealous and excited for you guys.”  Jesse is currently on Broadway in Wicked, has also been on the National tours of 9 to 5, Grease, Oklahoma, and Altar Boys.  Off Broadway: Altar Boys, Broadway: Glory Days.

From Theatre Alumni, Gabe Ebert, Fringe 2003
I had the privilege of going to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with Shawn (Ms.) Hann, with the show How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, the summer after my sophomore year of high school. This was the first time that I ever got to travel to the United Kingdom, one of the most glorious places that I yet have been, and I got to travel doing the thing that I love most. Theatre. The experience was an immense one for me. Not only did it open my eyes to the size and profundity of this world, but also to the endless imagination of theatre itself. I saw things there that I had never dreamed. Amazingly innovative pieces of theatre, brilliant street performers, I heard beautiful music and saw crowds of people dancing in tandem with one another. It was a great opportunity for me to get closer to my classmates, as we had to pull together to make this show that we had created back in little old Denver, ring true out here in the hills of Scotland. Seeing the sights of this beautiful world. An Urban Outfitters on one side of the street, and a gothic castle on the other. Also, the food is amazing...Fish 'n Chips!!! Although it was difficult to get there, I have to say that it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my young life. Theatre is endless, something can always be made anew...this festival pried my eyes open to that fact, and I have been trying to pay homage ever since.  Gabe just finished Suicide, INC and will go on Broadway at the Lincoln Center in 4,000 Miles in April 2012.  He has also been on Broadway in Red and Brief Encounters, Promethus Bound, with Steven Sater, the creator of Spring Awakening, in Boston in 2011.

From Parent, Julie Winger, Head of the Parent Fringe Committe, Fringe 2008

"In answer to the question, "Is it worth the work and effort that it takes to get the students to the Fringe," from my heart, without a shred of doubt I say a pure and resounding "YES!" In my opinion, going to the Fringe Festival was a "once in a lifetime," truly magical, and valuable experience.  Over two years later, Billy still brings up memories of things he saw and experienced in Scotland. It was an absolute highlight of his years at DSA. It also was for me as a chaperone, and I encourage anyone who can, to think seriously about going along on the trip. Fundraising efforts, I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I don't say that lightly and without a great deal of thought, because it was a tremendous amount of work and required sacrifice from all who participated. To me though, the experience of all the families working together for an extended time to accomplish the goal, while very challenging at times, in the end was extremely satisfying and many new friendships were forged."  Mom to Billy Winger, Cal-Arts, BFA Acting program.

Zach Cantor, Class of 2011, Fringe 2008

"Scotland is the largest commitment I have made in the four years I was at DSA. This is a full, challenging, total commitment of time, money, and effort for almost one full year. It's incredibly expensive, difficult, and it can't work unless everyone involved is in it 100%. That said, it was also the single greatest learning experience I've ever had. I learned more during that year about theatre, myself, and how the two fit together, than I could have possibly imagined. The trip itself was life changing...literally." Cal-Arts, BFA Acting Program

Chloe Armao, Class of 2010, Fringe 2008
"On the two-week trip, one event in particular sticks out in my mind, when we had to advertise our show on the Royal Mile at the center of the city. Being that our show was experimental we decided to be original in our approach. The cast of forty-five walked in a triangle formation in slow motion up the entire Royal Mile, with neutral masks on our faces and flyers in our hands. I have never felt so connected to my purpose and the idea of what being an actor truly is. The feeling of forcing myself to slow down and think about every move I made, every muscle I was using to walk down that mile and stay in time with the ensemble. I was given the opportunity to reach outside of what was familiar to me (new country, new cast, new style of expression) and I am sure that my involvement in The Inconvenient Truths is a huge and wonderful part of who I am today. I am so thankful and fully believe that anyone and everyone would benefit in ways that they can’t even imagine from being involved in a show that goes to the Fringe! " University of Minnesota, Guthrie, BFA Acting program.

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FOUR STAR REVIEW FROM THE SCOTSMAN

THE INCONVENIENT TRUTHS ****

ROCKET @ ROXBURGHE HOTEL (VENUE 211)
THERE'S plenty of theatre made by young people at the Fringe; most of it receives less attention than it deserves, and some of it obviously aims to educate the performers as much as delight the audience. Here's a school show, though – from the Denver School of the Arts in Colorado – that pulls off the rare achievement of bringing 40 young people aged 14-17 on stage, showing off some impressive performing skills, and offering the audience a truly substantial and moving glimpse into the mind of the generation now trembling on the cusp of adulthood.

Over a brisk 70 minutes, director Shawn Hann's young cast move through sketches based on "inconvenient truths", drawing their title from Al Gore's documentary, but using the concept to explore personal as well as planetary unease. They are, they remind us, the generation in third grade when the planes slammed into the World Trade Center; since mid-childhood, they have lived in a world which they describe as being shaped by a new and all-encompassing fear, first of nameless terrorism, then of catastrophic climate change.

On top of that, they have to deal with all the normal pains of adolescence, from broken friendships to unrequited love; their three-minute Puberty – The Musical is a joy. And the girls have to live with a culture in which body-image and physical perfection have become a lethal obsession; they handle it brilliantly, by ripping off the cling-film in which they've wrapped themselves, and screaming their heads off in a shriek of anger and liberation.

The content is terrific, the staging excellent, and the quality of performance truly moving; and if these magnificent, funny, angry, humble, self-aware kids speak for the whole of their generation, then there's some hope for the future, after all.