NEST Fringe Performances
The NEST Fringe is an opportunity for tellers to showcase their work at Sharing the Fire with many of the traditional barriers removed. Our fringe is based off the the model used by many fringe festivals around the country - it is:
- Adventurous - artists get a chance to try out new or experimental works
- Unconventional - these pieces may not fit into a traditional storytelling festival, but they are welcomed and encouraged in the fringe
- Open - because we do not screen for quality and have very few requirements to apply, a diverse mix of artists of all experience levels, genres, and styles are welcome
- Unjuried - performers are chosen randomly by lottery
The Fringe lottery was held on January 20th. Check back soon to see all the shows that will be offered in this year’s fringe! Want to learn more about the fringe and how shows are chosen? Read on…
What is a Fringe??
A Fringe is an opportunity to showcase performances that are one or more of the following:
New works
Experimental works
Unconventional pieces in topic or presentation
To get your imagination sparked, here are some examples one might consider:
A string of stories on a theme that ties the show together
A long form fictional, personal or historical story/program
A story told in mime
A story that includes a multi-media aspect or incorporates other modalities aside from spoken word (music, movement, etc.)
All Fringe performances at Sharing The Fire should be related to storytelling in some fashion.
All Fringe performances should be performance ready. While the show can be a work-in-progress, it should be in a presentable stage. Simply talking about your project is not acceptable.
Performance Length options
For 2026, you will be able to apply for a 55-minute slot (which is consistent with most fringe festivals around the country) or a 27-minute slot (for those who want a shorter slot). You decide which performance length will best fit your performance. Each longer performance will be paired with a shorter one to fill a typical 90-minute workshop slot. We may also do a special slot of 3 shorter pieces paired together. We will also feature a 27-min slot on Thursday night as a part of the Pre-Conference festivities. Please plan to attend the performance(s) of the other performer(s) in your slot.
Whichever performance length you choose, we expect you to fill the majority of your allotted time. You may end a fringe performance 5 minutes early, but you MAY NOT GO OVER TIME.
You may only submit one application, so choose the length that works best for your show. Note that there are historically better odds of being chosen for a shorter fringe than a longer one.
How are Fringe shows for Sharing The Fire selected?
Glad you asked!
Fringe submissions are randomly chosen by lottery. They’re not vetted. Everyone has an equal chance to be selected, with two noted exceptions:
New this year! We will be reserving one slot in each category for performers who have NEVER performed at the STF Fringe, and one more slot in each category for performers who did not perform in the 2025 STF Fringe. Those who fit into these categories who are not selected in these special slots will be added to the general fringe lottery.
NOTES: if you have been selected for the Olio performance you are not eligible for a Fringe in order to allow as many people as possible to have an opportunity to perform and strut their stuff. Those chosen for the Second Helpings Concert are eligible. Each performer may only appear in one fringe performance.
We will draw all the names submitted to create not only the fringe lineup, but also the waitlist. If performers are not able to attend STF for any reason, we will invite people from the waitlist in the order the names were drawn.
The lottery drawing will be held on January 20th at 7pm EST live on the NEST youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/@nestorytelling
How many slots are there?
There will be 4 workshop slots devoted to Fringe performances in 2026. We will also feature a shorter slot on Thursday night as a part of the pre-conference. This means we will have five to seven shorter performances and three or four longer performances. They run concurrently with workshops.
What should I bring to the performance?
In true fringe spirit, you will need to provide any props, costumes, lights, equipment, etc for your performance. We provide a room, a table, and conference chairs. Please do not plan to bring elaborate sets or other items that would restrict another teller’s ability to perform in the same space. You will need to set up in the 10 minutes before your workshop slot begins, and take down in the 10 mins after the workshop slot. There will be a 3-minute stretch break between the fringes in that slot for performers to transition.
How do I apply?
Please use this form
What you will need:
Name(s) of performer(s) & contact info
A short performer bio, no more than 300 characters (The character count applies for groups and individuals)
The title of the Fringe performance. Make it tantalizing!
A short description of the piece, no more than 300 characters (this will appear in the program, if selected)
Length of performance slot (you may only choose one per application)
Intended Audience
Content Warnings (if any)
Confirmation of your rights to tell this story
Confirmation that this will be performance-ready for STF 2026
Headshots and/or a show image will be collected later
GOOD LUCK!