Sardines (a comedy about death)

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Eric Michaud

A close-up of Chris Grace.

Chris Grace

Inspired by the renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival for performances that refuse to stay in the box, Overture throws its own scaled-down version. This year the shows encompass improv, magic and offbeat theater. Centerpieces of the fest are Earthlings: Revisited, Chris Grace: Sardines (a comedy about death), the kids' interactive show Dinosaur World Live, improv musical parodists Baby Wants Candy (who also present their Shamilton production), Caitlin Cook: The Writing on the Stall and The Naked Magicians. These are all ticketed shows; smaller free performances and installations will dot the O.C. throughout the weekend. Find the full schedule at overture.org.

media release: After performing his smash-hit show “Chris Grace: As Scarlett Johansson” last year to an adoring and 100% satisfied audience, Chris Grace is back for Overture Center's second annual Fringe Festival! This time, the actor and comedian is moving from solving racism to solving... death? “Chris Grace: Sardines” explores the tragic, hilarious and important questions of our time: 

Can we enjoy life if we know how it ends?  

Does making art actually help?  

And if Rihanna's song is called “Don't Stop the Music,” why does the music... stop? 

This is a comic look at the people in Chris’s life who have passed and how he has managed to live a full, joyous life in spite of that. His existential ice cream sundae has every flavor of grief in it; from parents to siblings to partners, he’s experienced it all and he’s made it out the other side. 

Overture Center's weekend-long fringe festival is a celebration of creative energy from around the globe. Inspired by the annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the world’s largest arts festival, our festival features six one-of-a-kind performances, including improv, magic, theater and comedy. Plus, new this year, additional free performances will fill Overture Center with unique and awe-inspiring sights and sounds.  

On Saturday, fill up on traditional festival fare—hot dogs, fried chicken cones, ice cream and more—from our food stands in Overture Hall and Rotunda lobbies. Stands open 11 a.m.-10:30 pm. Plus, enjoy local artists throughout the building, including Wild Rumpus Circus (2 and 4 pm), Polka! Press printmaking, an Art Mart and doodle artist Ronnie Walter (all 1-8 pm) along with a drag show featuring Bianca Lynn Breeze (9:15 pm) —something for everyone.

On Sunday, enjoy free local talent from The Hitterz Collective and Arclight alongside ticketed performances. Papa-Kobina Brewoo & The Hitterz Collective delivers a dynamic hip-hop dance performance at 2 pm; stay afterward for an interactive workshop to explore the elements of hip-hop—knowledge, movement, culture and community—to create an understanding of this dance style and why it matters. To round out the weekend's free performances, Arclight ignites Promenade Hall with dazzling light displays at 4 pm.