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Elgin's 1st Fringe Festival celebrates the arts

Growing up in Elgin as an aspiring actress, Kelly Bolton said she enjoyed the city's "huge art scene" but knew there was still untapped potential there.

She's excited to see it brought to the forefront by the first Elgin Fringe Festival, which runs through today at various locations around downtown Elgin. And she couldn't wait to participate.

The comedian is performing four one-woman sketch comedy shows throughout the weekend at the Elgin Public House, 219 E. Chicago St.

"Elgin has a small-town feel but such a big-town heart," she said. "I'm amazed and thrilled, at the same time, that they're actually pulling off a fringe fest. It's very cool."

Sean Hargadon, founder and artistic director of Janus Theater Company, and Erin Rehberg, founding artistic director of Core Project dance ensemble, proposed the city's first fringe festival about a year ago to show that art isn't limited to a gallery or studio and can be made anywhere from a burlesque studio to a sidewalk.

With a full day still to go, Rehberg said the fest's first days have already blown away their expectations with many performances selling out.

"It's so fun, because most people have no idea what a fringe festival is or how it goes, so we have all these people walking around, exposing themselves to all kinds of art forms and figuring it all out," she said. "And that's OK."

The fest is open to any visual or performing artist who paid the administrative fee.

Hargadon describes a fringe as a blank canvas that offers artists a chance to experiment, push boundaries and attempt something outside their usual repertoire.

That said, organizers balanced cutting edge and traditional performances, and ones for mature audiences and all-ages events, like the Family Fringe Festival sponsored by the Blue Box Cafe.

In addition to rock and classical musicians, modern dance ensembles, burlesque entertainers and belly dancers, the lineup includes Rehberg's Core Project; Janus, performing a piece by local writer Jack Helbig; Arlington Heights comedian Tiffany Streng, a 2013 Suburban Chicago's Got Talent finalist; and Troupe Strozzi, a bawdy Batavia ensemble whose members perform in the commedia dell'arte style.

The festival continues from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, with a closing party at 6 p.m. at the Martini Room, 161 E. Chicago St. For details, visit elginfringefestival.com.

  Kelly Bolton of Chicago, who grew up in Elgin, performs comedy at the Elgin Public House during the Fringe Festival on Saturday. The event continues today. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Kelly Bolton of Chicago, center, formerly of Elgin, performs comedy at the Elgin Public House during the Fringe Festival on Saturday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
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