The 12th edition of the Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival is currently underway, featuring a diverse lineup of performances including the premiere of "The Variants" by Curious Modern Plays. The production, which explores the volatility of family relationships when core beliefs collide, is scheduled for multiple performances at the Alliance Theatre's Main Hall through August 2.
Family Friction and Colliding Beliefs
The Variants explores the chaos that ensues when long-held beliefs clash, potentially fracturing even the closest of relationships. According to Curious Modern Plays, the narrative focuses on a mother and her three adult children who attempt to maintain a sense of normalcy through routine, humor, and denial during weekly video chats.
However, the stability of the family unit is tested when a long-delayed reunion approaches. The plot escalates when one son refuses to follow established rules, triggering a chain reaction that exposes deep-seated secrets and shifts alliances. The production forces each family member to confront the true cost of their individual beliefs as the physical distance between them finally closes.
Cast and Production Details
The production of "The Variants" features a cast including Annette Wright, Kirt Bateman, Eva TerraNova, and Allen Smith. The play is directed by Teresa Sanderson and is a Curious Modern Plays production, produced in association with Meanwhile Park with support from the Salt Lake Acting Company.
The play is rated "FFF - Full-Fledged Fringe (R)" and is described as a blend of sharp humor and emotional volatility. Its scheduled performance dates include July 25, July 26, July 30, August 1, and August 2, 2026.
Festival Venues and Logistics
The Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival is hosting more than 20 shows across two weekends. The festival utilizes four different venues in Salt Lake City to host its diverse programming.
One of the primary locations is the Alliance Theatre at Trolley Square, located at 602 E 500 S, Suite E101. The Alliance Theatre features two distinct spaces: the Main Hall and the Black Box. For attendees visiting the Alliance Theatre, free underground parking is available on 600 East between 500 South and 600 South, with additional parking located in the south lot on 600 South under the bridge. The venue is noted for being wheelchair accessible and providing public elevators and accessible parking.
Ticketing and Attendance Information
Other venues for the festival include Lightree Studios at 740 W 1700 S, Suite 5, and MadKing's Fellowship Theatre at the Gateway. The Fellowship Theatre is located on the upper floor of the Gateway mall near the Megaplex Theaters.
For those planning their schedule, the festival offers various ticket options. Single tickets are priced at $15, while multi-show packs are available, including a 3-pack for $35 and a 10-pack for $85. Because Fringe venues are often small, organizers recommend purchasing tickets online to guarantee seating, as shows frequently sell out.
Diverse Festival Programming
The festival's programming spans a wide array of genres and experimental formats. Among the scheduled shows is "An Undiscovered Room" by the Interdisciplinary Arts Collective, which runs from July 24 through July 26. This performance uses a maze of poles and recycled curtains to create a living space where dancers, musicians, poets, and actors interact with the audience.
Other notable performances include "Polaroids from the Apocalypse" by PYGmalion Productions, a dramedy set in the year 2095, and "The Emperor's New...Everything!" by Salt Lake Children's Theatre, an interactive play for children. Other experimental works include "To Be Frank" by Salt Lake Community College, which utilizes interactive theatre and slam poetry, and "Under Observation" by Shaped for Sportive Tricks Theater Co., a queer thriller dance piece based on Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring."
