Fringe fest sets attendance record

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This article was published 29/07/2014 (4058 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ANOTHER year, another attendance record for the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival.

Attendance for the 2014 version of the fest, which wrapped up Sunday night, totalled 104,859, organizers said in a press release Monday. That number eclipses the attendance of 101,488 in 2013.

It’s no huge surprise an attendance record was set. This year’s fringe was the largest in Winnipeg’s history, with 175 shows performed in 30 venues. Still, attendance records were broken on six of the festival’s 12 days and 195 sellouts were recorded.

“The calibre of the performers and their productions were exceptional, and it’s their artistic talent that continues to help in growing the festival year after year,” said Chuck McEwen, the festival’s executive producer. “We received so many positive comments from fringers about the amazing shows they saw.”

Festival organizers estimate that the free outdoor shows at Old Market Square brought 95,000 people to the Exchange District during fringe.

All of the ticket revenue, $761,522, was returned to performing companies, the release said.

Also on Sunday, Bill Pats, who wrote Executing Justice, was named the winner of the Harry S. Rintoul Memorial Award for the best new Manitoba play.

The 2015 Winnipeg fringe takes place from July 15-26.