Fringe hub brings short-run, experimental work to Rittenhouse
The Lemonade Stand is returning to Philadelphia this September with a concentrated Fringe Hub at the historic Plays & Players Theatre in Rittenhouse, staging a slate of short-run productions, readings and social events from Sept. 8–27. Organizers say the monthlong lineup will turn the Skinner Studio at 1714 Delancey Street into an intimate venue for a mix of new plays, adaptations and variety shows.
The hub will present 13 shows that range from drag variety and choose-your-own-adventure pieces to dance theatre and adaptations of classic literature. The Lemonade Stand is programming a mix of local work and city premieres, and is collaborating with neighborhood businesses to create a festival atmosphere that blends performance and social gatherings.
"A Theatre, A Bar, A Fringe Festival to Remember"
Among the highlights is the world premiere of Bog Man by Lindsey Walko, directed by Ava Kepple and performed by Eliza Waterman. The Lemonade Stand is also bringing back a special Fringe edition of its reading series, Fresh Squeezed, which will include a presentation of Trauma Queen by Liv Shoup.
- Dates: Sept. 8–27, 2026
- Venue: Plays & Players, Skinner Studio — 1714 Delancey St.
- Number of shows: 13
The festival model takes cues from larger international fringes while remaining scaled to Philadelphia’s theatre ecosystem. By situating performances within a neighborhood hub and partnering with local vendors and Quig’s Pub, the hub aims to create multiple access points for audiences and artists to mingle, potentially increasing foot traffic in Rittenhouse and supporting nearby businesses.
For local theatre companies and independent artists, the Lemonade Stand hub offers a condensed run and a built-in audience network during a period when summer programming typically winds down and fall seasons ramp up. The Fresh Squeezed reading series, which returns for a special edition, functions as both a platform for new voices and a draw for producers and programmers looking for fresh material.
Organizers invite audiences to visit the Lemonade Stand website for full programming and updates. Press inquiries are directed to jenny@lemonadestandphl.com.
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Hub dates | Sept. 8–27, 2026 |
| Venue | Plays & Players, Skinner Studio |
| Featured premiere | Bog Man by Lindsey Walko |
The Lemonade Stand’s Fringe Hub adds to a growing slate of small-venue festivals in Philadelphia that sustain downtown and neighborhood stages. For audiences, it means a concentrated window to sample experimental work; for artists and venues, it represents another platform to build visibility and draw patrons back into the city’s performing-arts spaces.
