FringeNYC 10th Anniversary—Gay City Picks

For tickets and theater locations, visit FringeNYC.org.

The Saints of Festus

The Flea Theater

Aug. 13 at 6:45 p.m.;

16 at 4 p.m.; 18 at 9 p.m.; 19 at 12 p.m.; 23 at 7 p.m.

David Drake, best known for his Obie-winning turn in “The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me,” directs Scott Hess in this one-man, multi-character romp about the demise of small-town America, thanks to Wal-Mart and crystal meth labs. Based on Hess’ real-life traumas growing up near the town of Festus, Missouri.

Fitz & Walloughs Get it in the End!

Mo Pitkin’s House of

Satisfaction

Aug. 14 at 5 p.m.;

15 at 10 p.m.; 16 at 3:15 p.m.; 18 at 7 p.m.; 20 at 5:15; 21 at 5:30;

26 at 4:30

From the award-winning team that brought you the 2004 Fringe hit, “The Only Thing Straight is My Jacket,” this comedy tuner chronicles the meteoric career of the “fagulous” dysfunctional ditty-writing duo, Fitz (Micah Busey) & Walloughs (Andrew Edwards), whose greatest hits were inspired by hits of another kind—the grisly, soon-to-be solved murders of Fitz’s numerous paramours.

Never Swim Alone

The Actors’ Playhouse

Aug. 21 at 10:45 p.m.;

23 at 7:15 p.m.; 25 at 4:45 p.m.; 26 at 7 p.m.; 27 at 12 p.m.

A Fringe alum production that won the overall excellence award in 1999 and soon transferred Off Broadway to critical acclaim. The play pits two boyhood friends living the American dream in a vicious game of one-upmanship. Daniel MacIvor (“Beefcake”) directs the original cast.

Don’t Ask

Henry Street Settlement – Experimental

Aug. 12 at 9:45 p.m.; 15 at 5 p.m.; 18 at 5 p.m.; 19 at 3:15 p.m.; 22 at 9:15 p.m.

A sexually-charged, two-man drama about an affair between a rambunctious US Army Private and his superior officer during the war in Iraq. Features Broadway veteran Tom Flynn (“The Who’s Tommy”) and directed by Mark Steven Robinson (“The Cripple of Inishmaan.”)

A Small Hole

Dance New Amsterdam

Aug. 12 at 10 p.m.; 15 at 6:15 p.m.; 18 at 11:15 p.m.; 20 at 9:45 p.m.; 24 at 6:15 p.m.

Performance Lab 115, last year’s Fringe award winner for “God’s Waiting Room,” is back with a sadistically twisted take on Jane Austen’s “Mansfield Park.” Billed as “A theatrical spectacle of devious desire and changing identities around one woman’s box.”

Return of the

Wayward Son

Henry Street Settlement – Experimental

Aug. 12 at 12 p.m.; 15 at 9:15 p.m.; 20 at 9 p.m.; 23 at 4:45 p.m.; 25 at 9:15 p.m.

An unflinching look at the underworld of male hustlers based on writer/director Brian Fraley’s personal forays into the infamous Upper East Side bar, Rounds. Is it just another nice-boy-gone-awry confession about johns, drugs, steroids, and joyless orgasms? Sponsored by Rentboy.com.

Vile Affections

The Linhart Theater at 440 Studios

Aug. 12 at 4:30 p.m.; 19 at 9:30 p.m.; 24 at 9 p.m.; 25 at 5:30 p.m.; 26 at 2:15 p.m.

Ever wonder who wrote the first record of a lesbian relationship? A 17th Century abbess named Benedetta Carlini, that’s who, and she’s falsely accused of “mysticism.” See what her investigators do to rid the world of “foul sodomy.” Written by Vanda and directed by Franka Fiala.

The Penguin Tango

The Actors’ Playhouse

Aug. 11 at 5 p.m.; 13 at 12 p.m.; 14 at 9:45 p.m.; 18 at 4:45 p.m.; 19 at 7 p.m.

Inspired by “ripped from the headlines” exploits of the gay penguins at the Central Park Zoo, this comedy chronicles zookeepers’ stunts to set the boys straight, including electro-shock therapy and infiltration by a femme-fatale penguin. Written/directed by Stephen Svoboda and featuring Steve Hayes (who co-starred in the film “Trick” with Tori Spelling) and Obie-winner John Bixler.

Rainy Days and Mondays

DR2 Theatre

Aug. 17 at 3 p.m.; 18 at 10:45 p.m.; 20 at 7:30 p.m.; 23 at 10 p.m.; 24 at 5:30 p.m.; 25 at 8 p.m.

It’s the ‘90s, and gay boys everywhere are flocking to circuit parties in search of sex, love, solidarity, and fabulousness. The play follows a group of new friends as they discover the limits of hedonism—and seritonin. Written by Andrew Barrett (Showtime’s “Sleeper Cell,”) the bittersweet comedy features red-hot Michael Carbonaro (“Another Gay Movie”) and dance beats spun by world-class DJ Randy Bettis.

Blue Balls: In & Out of Uniform with the NYPD

The Flea Theater

Aug. 11 at 5 p.m.; 13 at 9 p.m.; 17 at 4:30 p.m.; 19 at 6 p.m.; 22 at 4:30 p.m.; 25 at 9 p.m.

Michael Tester chronicles his own life from neighborhood sissy to NYPD stud, only to be dissed and dismissed for being queer. He’s thrown headlong against the impenetrable lavender wall of silence, and is left to fight on his own.

Band Geeks: A Halftime Musical

The Lucille Lortel Theatre

Aug. 21 at 2:30 p.m.; 23 at 11:30 p.m.; 24 at 8:45 p.m.; 25 at 1:45 p.m.; 26 at 11:15 p.m.

A hilarious send-up of the big-haired ‘80s, this elaborate musical comedy pits jocks against the geeks, dweebs, burnouts, preps, sluts, and art freaks. Expect elaborate marching sequences and “horned-up” dudes. From the team that created last year’s Fringe sensation, “Little House on the Parody.”

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