David Ledingham and Libby Rife appear in the play “Still,” which will be featured at the 18th annual Aspen Fringe Festival at the Wheeler Opera House on June 13.
In an era marked by political division, social-media overload and a steady stream of troubling headlines, the Aspen Fringe Festival is asking a simple question — where can we still find hope?
That answer may be found in the heart of the 18th annual Junefest, Aspen Fringe Festival’s two-night celebration of dance, theater and film, set for June 12-13 at the Wheeler Opera House. This year’s theme, “Silver Linings: Only in Darkness Can You See the Stars,” explores resilience, human connection and the possibility of finding common ground in uncertain times.
“For this year’s Fringe Festival, we’re really searching for silver linings,” said Artistic Director David Ledingham, who founded the event. “We’re in a pretty crazy place these days. It can get overwhelming. We’re trying to find these threads that help us focus on what is still good out there.”
The festival opens June 12 with an eclectic evening of dance and film. Three live dance works will be interwoven with two award-winning dance films, creating a multi-disciplinary program that moves between stage and screen.
Returning to Aspen is New York-based Soulskin Dance, a company that has become a Fringe Festival favorite over the years. The troupe will present “Unpredictable Encounters,” a piece that recently premiered at Ailey Citigroup Theatre in New York City.
Ledingham describes the work as an exploration of intimacy and unpredictability in an increasingly fractured world.
“It’s really about guiding audiences through the fragile, yet transformative nature of human connection,” he said.
The piece features an original commissioned score by composer Reuben Butchart and will be performed by dancers Leslie Plummer, Lauren Bonita, Barbara Koch and Sophia Rumasuglia.
Soulskin Dance returns to the Aspen Fringe Festival on June 12, a night that features live dance and award-winning films on dance at the Wheeler Opera House.
The festival’s first night also will showcase two Colorado choreographers: Alya Howe and Lilly Bright.
Howe presents “Disappeared,” a work inspired by questions about what society is losing and what might emerge in its place. Her piece is equal part reflection, equal part self-actualization.
“‘Disappeared’ offers reflections upon the appearance and disappearance of everything in time and space,” Howe said. “I am currently asking, ‘What is disappearing that you value? Why do you value it? What would you like to appear in its place and what’s one step toward that vision?’”
Bright contributes “Gas // Lightening: Freedom is not for the Faint of Heart,” a solo work examining personal freedom and courage.
The dance performances are connected by two films. Italian filmmaker Elisabetta Carnevale’s “Dreamadre” serves as a tribute to mothers and Mother Earth, while South African filmmaker Jaco Strydom’s “The Key” unfolds amid the striking desert landscapes of Joshua Tree, blending themes of memory, loss and desire.
The festival’s second evening shifts to theater with the Colorado premiere of “Still,” a relatively new play by New York playwright Lia Romeo. The production stars Ledingham alongside Libby Rife and is directed by Maurice LaMee.
The play follows two former lovers who reconnect nearly three decades after their relationship ended. What begins as a reunion over drinks quickly becomes an examination of the forces that unite and divide people.
“It’s about how we navigate relationships and the possibility of relationships, especially as we get older,” Ledingham said. “There’s still a spark there. But then some issues start creeping in and you realize there are things they may not agree on.”
Though the story centers on a romantic reunion, Ledingham believes its themes resonate far beyond the personal.
“It’s really about what we’re going through right now as a society,” he said. “People are so ready to cancel each other out. If you like this and I like that, that’s it, we’re done. This play looks at whether we can get beyond those divisions.”
The production arrives in Aspen with considerable acclaim. “Still” was nominated for the New York Outer Critics Circle Award for Best New American Play and was only recently published in its final form.
For Ledingham, who launched Aspen Fringe Festival in 2009, presenting contemporary work remains central to the organization’s mission.
“I saw that there was an opening to focus on new plays and new works,” he said. “We’ve always tried to develop relationships with playwrights and choreographers and bring audiences work that feels relevant.”
That emphasis on relevance has only grown stronger as theater and dance organizations continue adapting to the post-pandemic landscape.
“Theater and dance took a big hit,” Ledingham said. “With streaming and everything else competing for attention, we’re trying to bring back the relevancy of live performance.”
Ultimately, he hopes audiences leave Junefest feeling less isolated and more connected.
“I think we’re still people teaching children wonder,” he said. “We’re still people protecting beauty. We’re still people who understand that compassion matters. What we’re really encouraging people to do is not merely save the world, but become the kind of people capable of inhabiting it together.”
Tickets are available through the Wheeler Opera House box office and Aspen Show Tix. For more information, visit wheeleroperahouse.com.
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