Check ‘em out here—some nice snapshots from the Audience Awards and subsequent revelry.

With CapFringe ‘08 poised to blanket DC in a fervid haze of creativity, manic energy and dick jokes, let’s throw some love at those who’ll be doing a lot of figurative and literal heavy lifting over the next 18 days: the tech crews.

Fringe’s boundless “Hey-gang-let’s-put-on-a-show-with-dildos!” inventiveness is great, but even the most stripped-down, raw-boned performance requires some tech/design work. During DC Fringe, crews often do that work in unfamiliar venues amid hot, cramped, rats-nibbling-away-at-your-Crocs conditions.

And it must needs be done quickly. Bear in mind that there’s no such thing as Tech Week in Fringe: Groups are generally allotted two hours of tech rehearsal for every hour of total performance time during the festival. If that sounds generous, consider how much of that time gets gobbled up by setting up, testing and breaking down equipment.

In short, the universe conspires to prevent the kind of small, smoothly timed theatrical moments that audiences take for granted in non-Fringe performance. By all rights they shouldn’t happen, and yet they surely will. One of the main things I loved about that pirate queen show last year was the ingeniously economical way it dealt with  technical constraints.

So if you see something during Fringe – a sound, music or lighting cue that works perfectly, a costume that wows, even a bit of stage blocking that speaks volumes – tell us about that moment in the comments.

And if, while out Fringing, you should happen upon some crew member looking particularly harried/sweaty/beset by vermin, buy ‘em a drink.

Watch and listen as Fringe & Purge chats with Jeffrey of Speakeasy D.C., Mark and Sabrina of Happenstance Theater, and Julianne and Scott, the masterminds behind D.C. Fringe.

Trouble viewing? Try the YouTube version of this video

What’s a wrap party without karaoke? Unfortunately, we’ll never know. But thanks anyway to Playbill Cafe for the loan of their insanely extensive singalong setup. (Has anybody ever karaoked “Ina-Gadda-Da-Vida”? Or “Eve of Destruction”? Why?) And to RnR Bar & Lounge for hosting the festivities.

Here’s a medley of brave Fringe performers, fans, and friends doing their best, one assumes, to keep the party hearty. Apologies to Emily (pictured), who actually turned in a stunning American Idol-worthy performance of Aretha’s “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” But someone—still looking to assign blame—didn’t turn on the microphone.

Now, name that tune…

Well, not exactly. But he reports from the Confession Booth some interesting numbers and Fringey situations.

The Opening Night Party at Avenue was a smashing success. The Fringe Confessional was smoking. If velvet drapes could talk—oh, wait, they can! Video will be posted soon. Beware.

Providing a suitable sonic accompaniment to the theatrical shenanigans was Basso Moderno Duo, which is Allan von Schenkel and Kristen Williams on bass and keyboards, respectively. Interestingly, just outside the club, another two-piece band, Curly & the Rocket, set up for a “fringe to the Fringe” concert. C&tR features guitar and drums (with female drummer Curly pounding it harder than Cindy Blackman. Which is very hard), so if the four got together, they’d create one traditional band.

But this is Fringe, so traditional isn’t on the program. Moderno’s mission for the evening was strictly improvisational. This, explained Allan, was necessary as the group needed to decompress from it’s recent grueling program at the Smithsonian, where 10 newly commissioned pieces were premiered. The band has commissioned 100 original works in the past two years from a who’s-who of classical composers, such as Ned Rorem, James Niblock, and a certain Yoko Ono. And get this: Yoko called them. How cool is that?

Basso Moderno is presenting 69 Ways to Fall in LOVE at the Warehouse Mainstage Theater, 1017 7th St. NW, on July 22, 24, 25, and 29. Chocolate and flowers are promised for all attendees.

It’s Fringin’ time! The Opening Night Party starts tonight at 9 p.m. at Avenue, 649 New York Ave. NW. Fringe artists and performers will turn the three-story club into a cabaret. And life is, you know, a cabaret, old chum.

Plus, we’re unveiling the first-ever, super-fantastic Fringe Confessional! Come confess your Fringe sins–and anything else you’re in need of confessing. Best ‘fesses may be posted here. And who doesn’t want to see that?

See ya there!

Everywhere you turn, it’s Julianne, Julianne, Julianne! Which is all well and good and certainly deserved. But let us interrupt the Brienzafest for a brief–too brief, perhaps–moment with the other CapFringe founder, Damian Sinclair.

We caught up with Damian at the Fringe Box Office grand opening last week. The location, also known as the Unified Launch Theory, and incorporating a stage called the Launching Pad. The site was designed by noted D.C. artist Robert Cole and Fringe technical director Scot McKenzie. It’s a fun spot, reminding me of a Tastee Freeze stand, circa 1962. Probably not the intention, but that’s how my mind works, especially in this heat.

We popped in to the grand opening of the Fringe Box Office last night, and were delighted to hear a band in full swing. Delighted, because the musicians are all old friends. Dan Hovey (guitar), Jeff Gray (sax), and Eric Leifert (bass) were cooking up a sultry mix of jazz standards to beat the heat.

Jeff you may have seen with the partyriffic Joker’s Wild. Or, if you’ve been to a Nationals game, you may have heard the band’s baseball anthem, “Swing Batter Batter,” which won the team’s “Show Us Your Pastime” contest. And last time we caught Jeff and the Jokers, a certain Sen. Thompson was in the house, squiring a leggy blonde. Hmmm…

Eric is a veteran of such seminal D.C. punk bands as Big Black Nun and No Trend, and has the distinction of being one of the last D.C. musicians to play the Bayou, which he did with his band Congregation on that fabled Georgetown club’s last night in 1999.

Dan’s latest project is Gigahertz, a Cream tribute. Listen to these tunes and tell me that’s not Messrs. Clapton, Bruce, and Baker. Amazing.

Finally, though he didn’t get on stage, we were delighted to meet Eddie Lounge. Never one to miss a marketing opportunity, Eddie was passing out literature for his upcoming Fringe show, which he promises to be bigger and better than last year’s. We’ll have a video interview with Eddie up soon, as well as video of the Box Office soiree. It was quite the do.

The first-ever Fringe Festival Preview at the Palace of Wonders last week was a hoot and a half. Oh, make that a full-on hoot. And occasional hootenanny. This video doesn’t capture the half of it, but does give a tantalizing taste of what’s in store beginning July 19 all around town.

Witness Fringe excerpts from Swami Yomahmi, Lysistration, the puppet stylings of BurleyQ, the Pabst and Popcorn Hour, Nautch DC, Bouncing Ball Productions, and SpeakeasyDC.

So much more to come…

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWlypJED7-g]