Joey & Fringe
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What is this whole Fringe thing?

Think Fringe is just a fancy way of saying bangs? Well, you’re right. But the Fringe festival is about so much more than hair. Look, just read below to learn more about what the Edinburgh Fringe is. And get a haircut hippie.

What is the Fringe?

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is one of the greatest celebrations of arts and culture on the planet. For three weeks in August, the city of Edinburgh welcomes an explosion of creative energy from around the globe.

Artists and performers take to hundreds of stages all over the city to present shows for every taste. From big names in the world of entertainment to unknown artists looking to build their careers, the festival caters for everyone and includes theatre, comedy, dance, physical theatre, circus, cabaret, children's shows, musicals, opera, music, spoken word, exhibitions and events.

https://www.edfringe.com/experience/what-is-the-festival-fringe

Who is this Joey character?

Joseph (they/them) is a musician and stand-up comedian interested in global practices of stand-up comedy and what it means to laugh together. Their first one-person show, Breaking Up With Jesus, debuted in the United States December 2021 at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. Grounded in small-town Georgia, U.S.A. and blending comedy and tragedy, the show tells the story of how religion affects family, struggles with gender and sexuality, and issues of depression and anxiety.

Joseph is currently a doctoral student and teaching fellow at UNC - Chapel Hill concentrating (really concentrating) on Performance Studies. They have performed stand-up and improv comedy across the United States. They examine the ways in which we use improvisational, amateur, personal, surreal and participatory comedy to create community, challenge dominant narratives and imagine possibilities.

Why am I asking for money?

Most graduate student workers at UNC Chapel Hill don't make a living wage. As a PhD student at this, the oldest public university in the country, I'm at the financial mercy of the state of North Carolina. Student loans and a 9-month stipend simply aren't enough to cover all the Fringe costs. This is where you can help this financially-imbalanced graduate student make a dream come true.

Can I donate outside the Blueprint platform, so I don't have to pay the transaction fee?

Yes! Currently, you can give through Cashapp. Other platforms will be available soon.

To make a donation this way, please email getjoeytofringe@gmail.com.

What's the show about?

Getting out of a toxic relationship is hard, especially when you're dating Jesus Christ. Joseph Richards blends stand-up and dramatic storytelling on their journey back home to the Southern US to revisit their toxic ex. Along the way, audiences will meet a loving stepdad, a Baptist preacher and a pivotal nightgown. A one-person show dealing with family, gender, sexuality, religion, loss and forgiveness.

What are people saying about Breaking Up With Jesus (BUWJ)?

Interview with The Indy Week about Breaking Up With Jesus - https://indyweek.com/culture/stage/comedian-joseph-richards-on-breaking-up-with-jesus/

Conversation with Grace Nichols on the Go With Grace podcast about Breaking Up With Jesus - https://gowithgrace.podbean.com/e/breaking-up-with-jesus-with-joey-richards/

Outstanding Playwriting from Chatham Life & Style's Best of 2021 - https://chathamlifeandstyle.com/f/announcement-the-best-of-2021?blogcategory=fine+arts

Is Breaking Up With Jesus (BUWJ) on Social Media?

Yes! Follow the show on Twitter @brkupwjesusshow and Instagram @breakingupwithjesusshow

Can I purchase a ticket to Breaking Up With Jesus (BUWJ)?

Yes! The second batch of show listings for the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe went live on Thursday, March 30, and Breaking Up With Jesus was one of them. The show is now one of several thousand that will be featured at Fringe August 2023!

Purchase tickets here: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/breaking-up-with-jesus