The Live Arts Festival presents a showcase of distinguished international artists, and Philly Fringe provides opportunities for artists from across the United States to present self-produced works, independent of a selection process.

The Philadelphia Fringe Festival was begun in 1997 by Nick Stuccio and Eric Schoefer, who were inspired by their experiences at the world famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Stuccio and Schoefer envisioned the Philly Fringe as an opportunity for creative and experimental artists to present their work in an energizing festival atmosphere. By the middle of the 1990s, Philadelphia had clearly become the home of many experimental artists and companies creating inventive work that blurred the lines between traditional performance genres and more cutting-edge forms. Since then, the festivals have grown exponentially in scope and energy and now serve as a galvanizing force for artists and audiences seeking performances that entertain, challenge and provoke.

This year's Live Arts Festival will feature a theater/dance piece titled Suburban Love Songs, choreographed by Karen Getz of Merion Station. Set in the turbulent year of 1968, it deals with a group of well-to-do suburbanites who are buffered from the general social and political upheaval of the time. The piece is performed without words, featuring comic actors rather than professional dancers.

Very early in her career, Getz was cast as the dance captain in the hit movie Dirty Dancing. She went out to Los Angeles, where she did some TV, movies and commercials. She's also trained in long form improvisation, and when she moved to Philadelphia, she immediately became involved in the improv troupe ComedySportz.

"The subject is definitely about sex," she says. "I am a stickler about honesty in portraying real sexual attraction in theater. I come from the first generation of MTV dancer where there was all this fake in-your-face sexuality. There is so much more excitement in seeing the theatrical element of true sexual chemistry. I am always interested in exploring that. A lot of what this piece is about is that magical magnetism and attraction between people that surpasses the artificiality of sex as it is most often portrayed in the media."

Suburban Love Songs features Getz and Jennifer Childs, Mario Fabroni, Dawn Falato, Dave Jadico, Mary Jackman-Carpenter, Kelly Jennings and Fred Siegel.

"I'm hoping that perhaps another theater company might pick (Suburban Love Songs) up and we will get a full run of it, or that we will be at least able to take it to other festivals around the country or even internationally."

And The Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium of Havertown's Three One Acts! A Trio of Short Works by Albee, Beckett and Ionesco, Sept. 10 and Sept,. 12 through 14 at 8 p.m. at L'Etage, Sixth and Bainbridge streets.

For a full schedule of performances and events that make up this year's Fringe and Live Arts festivals or for information on purchasing tickets, check the Web at www.livearts-fringe.org or call 215-413-1318.

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