*Dreams Within, left, and the Cherokee Street Theatre Co. are among the artists at the 2025 St. Lou Fringe Festival.*
St. Lou Fringe Festival 2025 opens today in Grand Center, marking the largest festival in its 14-year history with 52 acts over six days. Whether it will be the best yet is anyone’s guess—even festival president and artistic director Matthew Kerns hasn’t seen most of the performances in advance.
That unpredictability is part of the Fringe’s DNA. “We were born out of people telling artists that they weren’t good enough,” Kerns says. “They created their festival that was uncensored and unjuried.” Most acts are chosen by lottery—literally pulled from a fishbowl—with no pre-screening.
A Lineup of Surprises and Headliners
While Kerns can’t predict which acts will shine, he promises there will be breakthrough moments. “Some of the most magnificent work in our history has come from the fishbowl,” he says.
This year’s invited headliners include local favorite Lola Van Ella, returning from New Orleans as the Late Nite Headliner, and Kansas City’s Br. John Rajpa, who brings his cabaret, It’s Not Over Until the Legends Sing, as the National Headline Act.
A crowd favorite in the making may be The Cherokee Street Theater Company’s John Hughes Choose Your Adventure—a mashup of classic John Hughes teen films and interactive storytelling. The show offers 27 audience-guided situations and over 3,000 possible choices, ensuring no two performances are the same.
How to Experience the Fringe
Kerns offers a tip for newcomers: “Buy a five-show pass. See John Hughes Choose Your Own Adventure, stay for Lola Van Ella’s Late Nite Romp, and take a chance on three shows you’ve never heard of before. I promise you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”
Everything happens within walking distance in Grand Center, with venues including.ZACK, the High Low, The Marcelle, Urban Chestnut Brewing Co., and—new this year—Hidden Gem. Performances run day and night from August 11–17, totaling more than 100 shows for the week.
A Thriving Independent Arts Scene
Since its founding, the St. Lou Fringe has presented over 650 performances. “The important thing to know is that the independent arts community is alive and well in St. Louis,” Kerns says. The festival’s walkable format and social atmosphere ensure audiences will bump into artists and fellow attendees between shows, adding to the energy and community spirit.
Content for this summary was derived from original reporting by The St. Louis Magazine
