Rogue recs: How to get a handle on what to see at the Rogue Festival

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Theater: “S’Will: The Emo Dane of Denmark” (a drunk Shakespeare production, Hamlet in the ’90s.) (Adults only)

Lit reading: “Fresno Writers Live” (Fresno State’s MFA in creative writing students share their latest work).

Dance: “Fragmented Melange,” by Aleño Dance (modern dance in an insanely small venue). (PG-13)

Lit reading: “Bend. Twist. Write,” by Elastic Ink (a literary reading in a cozy Tower home. Another full disclosure: Elastic Ink is my writer’s group and I am one of the readers!)

Solo storytelling: “Hobosexuals: How To Avoid,” by Leigh Ratliff (Ratliff is hilarious, and this story is a wild ride.) (PG-13)

Acts I recommend (from out-of-town):

Storytelling: “1 Small Lie” by Martin Dockery (Performed in an historic Tower home, Dockery is an internationally renowned storyteller). (PG-13)

Magic and story: “Absolute Magic,” by Keith Brown (G)

Solo show: “Confessions of a French Interpreter,” by Natacha Ruck (PG-13)

Storytelling: “90 Lies an Hour,” by Paul Strickland. (PG)

Theater: “The Barn Identity,” by Other Erika. (PG13)

Dance: “Megill and Company Dances.” (Pictured above) (PG)

Rogue information

Here is the PDF of the Rogue Program (a.k.a “Map”). The printed version is available at each venue before the shows so you can just show up to a venue in the Tower District and snaffle one up. The program gives you the most complete overview of the festival, including show listings, maps, how-to, and a show plan grid. The cover, however, is a tad NSFW.

Tip: Half of the shows tickets are available online in advance, and half at the door just before showtime. Advance tix are sold through TicketLeap.

Tip 2: Don’t begrudge the Rogue Festival the required $6 wristband. 100% of the tickets go to the performer. The wristband money goes to the Festival.

How to choose?

When there are 40 shows to choose from, how do you narrow down the field? People have various strategies.

Location, location, location: Choose a few venues close to each other and select shows between them.

Locals, locals, locals: Choose shows only by locals or only by out-of-towners.

Sunday funday. Choose one day (like Sunday!) and keep all your shows there.

Pick-a-Mix: Choose one show from every genre.

My strategy, though, is about getting the best art experience possible and stretching my comfort zone. I select:

• One show I know I will like.

•One show I know I will love.

• One show I think I’ll probably hate (I like to be surprised).

• And one show from a genre that isn’t usually my jam (like magic or clowns!)

Do you have any tips for a great Rogue experience? Leave them in the comments!

The Rogue Festival runs Friday, Feb. 28 – March 9 in various locations in Fresno’s Tower District.