Zach Michel on Bold Theater and Charm City Fringe's 10th Festival
Download MP3Welcome to the Truth in His Art, your source for conversations at the intersection of arts, culture, and community. I am your host, Rob Lee, and I'm thrilled to have you here with us today. Next, our guest is the cofounder of Charm City Fringe, an organization dedicated to showing Baltimore's vibrant and unconventional performing arts scene. Through his work with Charm City Fringe and the annual Charm City Fringe Festival, he has helped create a platform for bold innovative theater and arts in Baltimore, making it a citywide celebration of creativity and community. Please welcome Zach Michel.
Rob Lee:Welcome to the podcast.
Zachary Michel:Yeah. Thanks for having me, Rob.
Rob Lee:Thank you for coming on. And this is a little time in the making. You know, we we first touched base, you know, I think it was before the summer, slightly before the summer, maybe.
Zachary Michel:Yeah. I think we got it in right before maybe, like, early June.
Rob Lee:Yeah. Early early June sounds about right. And, so I'm happy that we're able to, in this sort of full arc, be able to get to this conversation, today. And so definitely, sure to be a treat. And, you know, as I dove into and checked out your background, I have questions now.
Rob Lee:I have several questions, and I hope you're ready to answer this question.
Zachary Michel:Let's do it. Ask away.
Rob Lee:So be before we get into larger questions, I wanna give you the space to to introduce yourself. I think there's a lot of lot of juice, a lot of energy in it, and especially with how people present themselves. Like, you know, we may know may know you from sort of this scene. You may may know you from, like, theater, from from Charm City Fringe, but there's multiple layers to you much like an onion. So if you will, give us your your introduction and, you know, I got a second part to that question, but I at least wanna go off from there.
Zachary Michel:Yeah. Yeah. And, you can cut this part out. Do we need to wait for sirens, by the way, since they're, you know
Rob Lee:Not coming. Here.
Zachary Michel:Alright. Cool. Cool. Cool. Okay.
Zachary Michel:Could you ask that question again? You said just just just a interview, or sorry, just a intro kind of?
Rob Lee:Yeah. So, you know, before before we get into the larger questions, I I'd like to give you the space to to introduce yourself. I think often, you know, something is missed. We get those online bios. You know, there's a few bios out there about me, and I'm like, that's not how I did, you know, did present myself.
Rob Lee:That's not who I am. He's a journalist. He's a, you know, a writer. I'm just like, I'm none of those things. I'm just a broadcaster.
Rob Lee:So if you will, introduce yourself in your own words.
Zachary Michel:Yeah. Well, okay. I'm gonna do that, but I, yeah. Let's okay. Let me take a breath.
Zachary Michel:I'm, like, amped up from work. Alright. So, you know, honestly, I'd say, man, that's such a big question. I wanna know what you what did you hear about me? And then let's let's pivot off that.
Zachary Michel:Like, what what comes up when you Google me? I have Googled myself, but mostly, I just see, like, Charm City Fringe Festival.
Rob Lee:I see Charm City Fringe Festival theater aficionado. That's the word that I see floating out there. I see absurd comedy, which, you know, that's always fun. I see National Geographic. I see a lot of things out there.
Zachary Michel:I can't believe you found National Geographic. Like, I I am really surprised to see that. So, I mean, we're not gonna go back to when I was born, but that is the first place I worked after college. And it was impactful, and it was fantastic. I I studied geography and environmental science.
Zachary Michel:I also studied economics, and I wanted to save the planet. I was always fascinated in the arts. You know, the thing that I wanted to do most was play music. I've been a bassist for, you know, probably 10 no. 10 or 15 years, I was a bassist.
Zachary Michel:And, you know, dabbled in drums and guitar and everything, did a little bit of recording, just gigged around a little bit in Baltimore and around Maryland. But, you know, it was it's it's a relationship to be in a band, and it's 5 relationships depending on how many people, and, couldn't quite ever have one that got off the ground. And so, yeah, geography and environmental systems. It was, you know, for for the main focus. And it's funny because, you know, I think had I stuck to the arts Yeah.
Zachary Michel:Things might have been a little different because ultimately, I graduated into, you know, the great recession, managed to get a 1 year contract with NetGeo, had a great time, and then found myself competing with, you know, people with master's degrees, people with 5 10 years of experience, you know, at that were that were applying for the same jobs that I was with 1 year of experience, and found myself out of work. You know? And a bunch of my friends were also out of work. And, essentially, that led me back to the arts. I was working retail.
Zachary Michel:I was just finding whatever job I could, and a few of us together kind of looked at each other and said, well, shoot. You know, we thought we'd be professionals right now, and instead, we're working, at liquor stores. You know? And, that's fine, but it wasn't scratching the itch. So we, you you know, started looking like, what can we do creatively?
Zachary Michel:You know, what else can we do to at least have an outlet? And that's where the arts came in, and kind of they have been pivoting and and working with both ever since.
Rob Lee:So and and thank you. I I think we're and we're definitely gonna be touching back on different pieces of that. I think I mean, I'm not gonna barely lead too far, but, you know, I I I'm always curious where that that inkling begins, you know. Like, so take us back to, like, you know, you mentioned, you know, music, you know, drums and and and bass. I'd be I drum and bass the genre, but Yeah.
Rob Lee:Music base. And so take us back to, like, where does that begin, that initial spark that you were interested in something creative? Like, I can pinpoint this this period where I saw a comic, and I was like, I wanna draw that. And I wanted to be illustrative. That was what my initial journey was gonna be before podcasting.
Rob Lee:And I've said this recently, the series of an evening with Kevin Smith was one of the reasons why I started podcasting
Zachary Michel:Oh.
Rob Lee:Which a lot of people would have no idea.
Zachary Michel:Yeah. You know, to be honest, I thought that the arts were just something that other people did, and it was just an impossible, ambition. You know? I was just it just seemed so far to reach because no one in my family or immediate circle was doing the arts, you know, even as a hobby growing up, until my sister, older sister, you know, 2 years older. And she was a musician and, you know, just being a little brother looked up to her.
Zachary Michel:And that is what got me interested and kind of the bug for for doing it myself. Yeah. I think I I mean, you know, like, I played in the band in in elementary school through high school, but I think it was seeing someone else do it. And, on top of that, you know, my sister and my dad both were, you know, huge music aficionados. So I'd be I'd literally wake up to Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen or The Beatles at, like, a 100 decibels, like, Saturday and Sunday morning.
Zachary Michel:So it was it was, not pleasant, but it it was kinda speaks to the larger fact that music was just perennially on.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
Zachary Michel:And, that was my entryway. Yeah. That that's what got me going.
Rob Lee:It makes sense. And, you know, I touched on, you know, earlier when we we did the backwards move. So what's out there? What's out there? You know?
Rob Lee:Like, will you Google search me? So talk a bit about I see the background. It it has, you know, the performing arts and it has, you know, writing, music, obviously. I see a little filmmaking theater and, of course, absurd comedy, and that's you know, I think we we we this is the thing that we kinda matched while we were talking. I was like, alright.
Rob Lee:Yeah. This guy's kinda funny. So I'm curious, where do they they they intersect with you? Like, is it, hey, these are different interests, and I can find a way to combine them that you maybe discovered one of these mediums, when you were doing maybe something else. But talk about how they serve each other, how they intersected.
Zachary Michel:Yeah. I mean, I think I think that a lot of people who are creatives probably have a number of outlets. I mean, some people maybe have the one, but I don't think it's unique to have a number of creative interests. You know? Yeah.
Zachary Michel:Not necessarily that you're good at all of them. You know, Bruce Willis had a music video, and he had an album. And and I don't know that anyone bought it, but, you know, I don't think the guy was just, like, on a whim. I'm guessing. I'm gonna guess that he's just on a whim.
Zachary Michel:You know, Russell Crowe has a band. Jared Leto has has a has, what, 30 seconds to Mars. Yeah. And so I think it's new that creatives have other, you know, creative outlets. I think that it takes so much effort to do one that typically you don't get to explore.
Zachary Michel:Once, you know, once you take it takes hold. You might not explore the others. But I don't know that I'm necessarily unique, but some of it also, having said that, is almost assuredly rooted in ADHD, you know, which I I'm definitely on that spectrum. And, you know, like, I love to learn. And, I think that, you know, when you start digging into one creative avenue, it's just a type of thinking.
Zachary Michel:And so, you know, you might be wanting to tell a story or express yourself through music, but then you might start learning, oh, there's ways to express, you know, through, yourself through music, but then you might start learning, oh, there's ways to express, you know, through through video or writing or, you know, I'd I like to know how things work. You know? And in my case, it's not necessarily mechanical. It's more artistic in the mind and and, creating projects. So so that's where I've kinda dug in.
Rob Lee:That makes sense. Like, when I think through this, I I wanna get into I I'm really curious about minutia, and I like to get into, like, the weeds of, like, what's the thinking that wanted to add? Like, great. There's technical stuff. Wow.
Rob Lee:You you did this, and this is your technique. Fantastic. But, also, what is it about the individual that led to them to make that painting or to write that story or to make that play or to even pursue music. Those are things that I'm very curious about. Because I'm not an art I'm not an art historian.
Zachary Michel:No. Absolutely. And I think what's oh, man. I mean, I found myself doing that even, you know, lately just reading or listening up on, you know, how different movies or or stories were written. And it's fascinating because I've learned, you know, so much is, I don't wanna say obvious, but, you know, once when you get the background, you see, oh, this person's pulling from their life or they're pulling from direct experience, and it's creative.
Zachary Michel:They're manifesting it in a story or in a movie, but, or in a song. But it's it's often coming from somewhere. You know? And when you take a lifetime of experiences and influences, and then you take your own vision and apply them to it, it becomes you know, if you're skilled and lucky and talented and you work hard at it, like, it comes out uniquely your own. And you don't see all those parts behind it, you know, especially if you do a good job.
Zachary Michel:You you aren't gonna find unless, you know, you write about it or someone really digs in. But, yeah, I find that, like like you, I I love seeing how that comes together. I'm still, you know, very much early in that journey putting that together. But but yeah.
Rob Lee:I I think, being able to do as many of these interviews that I've done, You know? I I looked at it earlier. I'm technically, as we're recording this this today, and, you know, there are 8 100 I mean, 787 episodes that have posted, you know, of this podcast.
Zachary Michel:One will this be?
Rob Lee:I this may actually be 800 or close to 800. So, you know, we'll we'll we'll see where we're at. I'll make sure you know Alright. The number next to you. But, you know, it's that it's that thing where, you know, I have those conversations with folks, and it's literally I frame it as a conversation.
Rob Lee:This isn't the exhaustive expose of one's career. I qualify to do that, but or interested in doing that, but being able to shoot the breeze with someone and get, you know, maybe some insights, maybe some background. And a lot of times, things that, you know, the the the guest isn't often sharing or isn't sharing in that way, I think that that adds to a well roundedness. And in the the other intent that's there and definitely is one of the reasons why I'm really excited to have you in here is it extends what art is, what creativity is, and who can be creative and so on, which we're definitely gonna be talking about in a moment. But I wanted to tap back in on one thing.
Rob Lee:So I think as you touched on, you know, it's not just sort of one thing that the creative folks have, you know, it's usually more than one thing. And I found another thing that creative folks have is probably a day job. So Yeah. So let's let's talk about sort of your your your thoughts on that and sort of the importance of it and and coming into things that you touched on earlier with, you know, sort of your time at and that geo and sort of that atmosphere and that environment of, like, where the economy and the job market were at. Like, you know, I do this.
Rob Lee:I have a day job. The day job I look at as the funder to fund my cool stuff. And I often make those those choices of, I'm gonna do this stuff. I'm gonna do this this fun stuff, but you need money, you need security. And I saw this this interview recently.
Rob Lee:It was a segment with, Rick Rubin, and he was talking about separating those things. Like, you shouldn't, you know, at least in his head, you you shouldn't be your your art should not be your full job all the time. You should do something maybe creative, but it's this idea if you start losing love for it because having that job sometimes is not the the funnest thing. Sometimes it's a lot of b s that you're dealing with and you don't want that to insert itself into your creative art that you love and you enjoy. It's not saying it always should be easy and always should be peaches and cream, but, you know, it's sort of one of those considerations, and I can speak first handily.
Rob Lee:Whenever and I was sharing this with you before we got started. Whenever I start to insert business into this, it starts to get weird because it feels more business y and doesn't really work as well as it should work when I'm just doing it for the creative pursuit. So speak on on that where sort of the having the day job, having the the that that that work life and then that sort of creative life, where they kinda intersect and serve each other and where they should kinda be separate, oil and vinegar well, oil and water. Oil and vinegar tastes great together.
Zachary Michel:Man.
Rob Lee:I know it's a big question.
Zachary Michel:Yeah. That's a that's a good one. I mean, because you know what? I think I think that, for me, I thrive on structure. So having a job can be really, separate from my art, can be really helpful to provide a daily structure, also dependable income.
Zachary Michel:You know, I've I've had that conversation with, you know, friends and and girlfriends about, you know, what what happens when you, you know, give up a part time job or or no job and, you know, you're theoretically have more time for your art in favor of a full time job. Sure. And, you know, hearing stories, like, positive stories of it you're not, searching for work then. You're also not, you know, wondering if you're gonna be able to pay the bills. You know, you have consistency, and there's a lack of mental effort that goes in then.
Zachary Michel:And so as long as your day job doesn't exhaust you, you know, as long as it's not, I think, mentally draining Obviously, you know, work is work. But but as long as it is a healthy environment, I'd say, I think it's a real boon for creativity because you can come home in nights and weekends and put time into, something that engages you in a different way Yeah. And gives it some juice. You know?
Rob Lee:Yeah. Yeah. The these microphones are cheap. You know? And and, no.
Rob Lee:It it the the structure thing is good, and I find, like, there's one day I'll give you this visual. I think you'll appreciate it. I had a backpack with me. Right? And Mhmm.
Zachary Michel:I
Rob Lee:had in my workout clothes. I was doing a podcast thing live afterwards, which is not the clothing I would wear, you know, for my day job, so I had workout clothes, podcast related clothes, and I was in my, like, work fit. I was like, what about Peter Parker? Why do I have wardrobe changes in my backpack and then microphones loosely in there? And I was like, I gotta sort this out.
Rob Lee:This is way too many things I'm juggling. Yeah.
Zachary Michel:And and it's it's definitely a tough line to walk because I think, you know, if if plenty of people have jobs that run more than the 40 hours or they're just mentally exhausting, and and where do you find it then? You know, where do you make the time? Because I do think, like, you have to prioritize and, like, make the time, but but then you also have to have a life ideally outside of the job and pursuing, essentially, a second job with your artwork. Yeah. And and that's where, you know, it that's that's the rub.
Zachary Michel:Right? How do you how do you balance that? And, you know, let me know when you find out. I think it's definitely discipline comes in handy. I think having, you know, like, if you have a boss, like like, shoot being able to do video stuff now and being able to to work from home adds a ton of flexibility.
Zachary Michel:You know, having people that can be understanding to to, like, life outside of work is big too. So, I think that's where I think that's the rub because you can do it, but it it definitely has to be like the right fit in both regards for job and creativity. Yeah.
Rob Lee:Yeah. And and I'll say, you know, especially with this podcast kinda taking off in 2020 where I think was obviously one of those periods where work at home became much more of a thing. And I I found myself splitting that time, figuring out, like, okay. I'm at home all day. I could probably get an interview done at noon during that lunchtime.
Rob Lee:And Mhmm.
Zachary Michel:You know,
Rob Lee:it's not really stealing, but it's really kinda getting that, you know, being able to be able to be flexible, if you will. Because my office at home is also my home studio, so it serves that double purpose. Or even if it's like I need a change of scenery, and it's like, oh, again, you know, I have a lunch period. I have sort of some flexibility within the day that if I needed to pop over here to grab an in person interview, I'm able to do that and still handle all of the things that keep me going, you know, as far as the day job and all of that stuff goes. It just gives you, I think, space and opportunity to explore, you know, what it is to be creative without having some of those those barriers that that are there, financially or, access wise.
Zachary Michel:Yeah. Yeah. Totally.
Rob Lee:So let's shift gears a little bit. Well, actually, a lot. Let's let's talk about your work with Charm City Fringe. How did how did how did it come to be? Like, I wanna what's the story?
Rob Lee:And what is it for for those for folks that are undipped? Because I know it's a milestone coming up. For folks that are undipped, what is Charm City Fringe? What's the story? Which friend you are?
Rob Lee:Just give us the data dump.
Zachary Michel:Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Indie theater. So it's an indie theater festival.
Zachary Michel:Think of it like an indie music fest. Yeah. But for live performing arts, I think, to me, that's the most fun way to describe it because I think that theater on the whole has a terrible rap for being expensive, pretentious, inaccessible, or over the top and, like, very, quote, unquote, theater y, you know, Broadway y. And it definitely is those things, and that's fine. But it's not just those things.
Zachary Michel:And so you're just like like music isn't just classical music and, you know, the Philharmonic or something. You've got a huge range, and so we're really catering to, you know, alt theater. You know, just just, the good kind of alt where, it's exciting and different and new. You know, we accept, like, a ton of different genres. It's an opportunity for people to try just wild ideas and, absolutely some of the best theater I've ever seen.
Zachary Michel:Also, some of the worst theater I've ever seen has come at our festival. And, but, yeah, it's it's that's what it is. Indie theater, you know. And, you know, we come in fringe fringe comes in at, like, a a relatively affordable price. You know, we do $15 tickets.
Zachary Michel:We want the idea being that someone can come and, you know, see 2 or 3 shows in 1 night in, like, a really, you know, small area. Yeah. You know, pop from venue to venue, or buy a pass and see me, you know, shows all weekend or all 10 days. You know? But, you the idea being, you know, you're just getting a ton just like a film festival, you know, or a music festival.
Zachary Michel:You're you're exploring, like, a ton of different stuff and and having a good time, having some drinks, and hopefully bringing the crowd.
Rob Lee:So I I I see, you know, that and and correct me if I'm wrong here. This year marks the 10th anniversary. It's 10th anniversary festival. Right?
Zachary Michel:Yeah. Yeah. We're in a a weird gray area where it's our 10th well, I think it's our 14th anniversary, but our 10th festival because of COVID. Or maybe it's our 13th anniversary. But either way, it's it's our 10th festival.
Zachary Michel:And so, yeah, it's, really surprising, to be honest, because, you know, these early years were lean. We started, this was in that step period where, we were underemployed. You know, me and my my friend and cofounder, Mike Yeah. You know, found ourselves working multiple jobs, working liquor stores, and wanting to do something that spoke to us more. And, you know, one day I said, you know, we've been writing this web series.
Zachary Michel:We've been working on this thing for about a year. And I said, shoot. You know? Like, the city paper, you remember that, had this article on the Autograph Playhouse, which has now, been completely revamped. And it's now owned by, Figure 53, Figure 43.
Zachary Michel:I'm completely blanking. But it's I know you're
Rob Lee:talking about yeah. 53.
Zachary Michel:Yeah. Yeah. Chris Ashworth. And it's like this amazing spot.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
Zachary Michel:And at the time, though, it was a semi abandoned former movie theater. And it was running, you know, underground theater shows. And I saw this article and said, you know, shoot. Why don't we get a hold of this person? Let's change our web series.
Zachary Michel:Let's rewrite it, put it on stage. You know, we have a ton of friends in theater. They're all looking for work. Let's do it ourselves. Yeah.
Zachary Michel:And he said, oh, that's a cool idea. I was thinking of something similar. I wanted to run like, found a a theater festival. Like, why don't we do that? And I was like, well, that's sure.
Zachary Michel:Same idea. Right? And, I don't know why, but we we stuck with that one. We looked at Baltimore and we said, you know, they don't have a fringe festival. We have so much fringe theater, so much fringe art.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
Zachary Michel:But, like, how can you see it all? It's, like, it's it's hard to find it all. And so, that was that was the the seed, you know. That's where we built it out from. In that 1st year, we went to Autograph Playhouse, and we had to wear jackets.
Zachary Michel:And it was so cold that at the concession stand, we sold soup, and we sold out of it because it was frigid and because there's no heat. And there were open holes in the walls in the dressing room to the street. So, you know, that that was the beginnings. Now we're out of place coming up this year for our 10th where we have, we have heat. If it happens to be if it happens to be hot, we have AC.
Zachary Michel:You know? The the only holes in the walls are intentional, and there are windows there. And, yeah, it's it's it's a huge, step forward. It's it's like, those early days were fun, but, it's nice to be where we are.
Rob Lee:Yeah. That's that's great. So let's let's talk a little bit more about, like, French festivals, like, by and large. Like, they're they're celebrated, you know, their celebrations of arts and culture. You know?
Rob Lee:And why is it important for French festivals to exist, like, you know, by and large? Like, especially considering the challenges that artists face in being celebrated in their hometowns. Like, you know, I I'm saying this selfishly, you know, as as a person that's sort of around it and at times it feels like I get a little bit more love outside of the city or maybe this isn't big and splashy enough for for certain tastes. But for the most part, people like what I do and people, you know, are supportive, but it's only so much to go around. And, you know, I think having sort of other options like a French French festival kinda, like, opens it up.
Rob Lee:Like, if someone is doing something that is a little outside of the norm, you know, of, let's say, a production of a play, performing arts that might not be that okay. We can absolutely fund this. We can absolutely make this happen, but something that's a little bit more experimental. We speak on the importance of, like, French festival to kinda be more holistic of who's creative and who can be creative.
Zachary Michel:Yeah. I mean, I I think you kinda nailed it right there is that it's is that anyone can. And, hopefully, we're breaking down some of that barrier to entry so that anyone will be able to put on their own show, you know. And and, you know, we do have, as a lot of French festivals do, we definitely have more one person shows than you would see out and about. Yeah.
Zachary Michel:But we also do a really you know, we work hard to bring in both one person shows and full companies. You know, some of these companies are one offs that are put together for the fringe. Some of them are existing companies that are trying to get off the ground or trying to workshop something new that they don't wanna put on, you know, the main stage, so to speak, you know, figuratively or literally. And so it's an opportunity is what we're trying to provide, and that that is for, for for anyone, hopefully. You know?
Zachary Michel:Like, we we are covering by, you know, renting a number of venues. You know, we do have a production fee, but we're splitting that crossed across a number of artists. Whereas any one artist booking a space is gonna have to pay the entirety of that for a 2 week run, let's call it. We're putting artists in, you know, 4 shows a day. And so, ideally, you know, you're you're getting a audience that's gonna come in and have the opportunity to see 4 different shows at that one space, you know, and and set this year, 17 different productions over the whole festival.
Zachary Michel:Right. And, splitting it you know, it's it's basically, like, cutting down risk, like, both for the audience and the artist so that, hopefully, you're seeing a bunch more. You're getting to try different things. And and we're kind of, like, facilitating that, trying to get people that platform to, you know, the literal stage to try something out.
Rob Lee:And and I like the thing you you said earlier about the comparison to, like, a a film festival. Like, I've gone to a lot of film festivals and, you know, it it's that it's a variety pack, but it's like the sampler of it.
Zachary Michel:And Yeah. Oh, I
Rob Lee:wanna look at more of this person's work. I wanna see more of this and having that opportunity to to be exposed to it. And I I definitely because of what I what I do here, I get sometimes I get caught on how how things are categorized. Right? And so I'm curious on your thoughts in this this context of categorization, especially when it comes to, like, sort of French work.
Rob Lee:Like, you know, how do you think, like, labels perhaps, like, help artists and help, like, folks that are putting out work, like, you know, this is just like this, but it features this person or that you you might know this, but, you know, and then how do you think perhaps, you know, those labels could limit creativity? Like, someone isn't as daring even though they may apply and try to be a part of, like, you know, a French festival, but they're doing something that that feels safe because that seems to be what sells and what gets attention. I joke about it in my classes when I was teaching. Everyone had the same podcast during 2020, and it's like, look. Where's the originality, guys?
Zachary Michel:Yeah. Well, I mean, I think, man, I think labels help people. Yeah. I think I think they can help the artist, but I think they definitely help the audience because people are really risk averse. You know?
Zachary Michel:Like, you're talking about spending your time and your money, on doing something. Like, I don't necessarily even try out new podcasts all the time, and those are free, essentially. Right? I mean, also, there's just a proliferation of them. And so so getting a reference or recommendation from someone being like, oh, yeah.
Zachary Michel:Check this out or, like, here's a good one. That helps. Or getting a, like, comparison of, like, oh, this person's kinda like Marin or whatever it is. You know? That's useful.
Zachary Michel:And so then when you add in, you know, spending money, you know, that's even harder. And so being able to say that, you know, this show is like sleep no more, but with, you know, Benjamin Franklin as the lead, and he's naked. Not that that's a show we have had, though, now that I say it, like, maybe. You should just make it. But usually, like, those kinds of things help people contextualize it before they drop the money.
Zachary Michel:You know? And and, again, we're trying to break that down by, like, keeping the cost slow, but it's still, like, you're asking someone for part of their day and and part of their paycheck. And so I think getting those comparisons can be really useful to say, like, oh, you know, this might be up my alley. Like, it's kinda like avenue q or or it's, a riff on, you know, Spider Man, but it's all the bad parts where people hurt themselves. Like, whatever it is, it's, I think, really helpful.
Zachary Michel:And, again, like, once you're an artist that's known, you are the comparison point. You know? But, but before that, I think, like, there are people who want just to, like, throw it to the wind. Like, we have people that buy our all access pass Mhmm. And go to literally every show.
Zachary Michel:And they'll see some shows 2 or 3 times if they like it. And they just want the new experience. Like, they're gung ho. I want to see everything because it's about finding the new thing. But they're again, there's, like, the person who's, like, I've got time for one show.
Zachary Michel:You know, what am I gonna see? And, that's where I think it really helps to, like, to understand, you know, like, what's the entry point? What's the way in?
Rob Lee:Yeah. Yeah. That that's that's great. And, you know, as you're you're describing it, I'm just, like, just looking at, like, alright. You know, when I am around any festivals, and I would imagine a lot of folks do this, when I'm aware of a festival, one, I'm always glad that something new is happening in Baltimore or something that's happening in Baltimore.
Rob Lee:Sometimes we stack things. It's all in the same day, and it's like, I can't get from east to west Baltimore that quickly. We'll see. But, you know, I think having something that's in an area that you were you were touching on, like, you said 17 productions, right, over the, what, 2 week period?
Zachary Michel:Yep. Exactly. September 26th is our launch party, and then 27th to October 6th, it's gonna be 17 productions. They each get a couple, 3 to 5 shows each. So with it, ideally, you've got the opportunity to see any of them.
Rob Lee:And and that's the thing that's that's really cool or what have you. Like, you know, as a person that I'm I'm curious about sort of culture. I'm curious about sort of what is happening in a place and, you know, an all access pass seems very interesting. Sort of being able to see what is happening, And it's it's right there because where are you guys, like, located just for folks that are unfamiliar?
Zachary Michel:Yeah. So so if anyone is familiar, we've been in we were in Station North and Hammond in the 1st 5 years, then we migrated to the Bromo Arts District up until and through COVID. Yeah. And then this excuse me. This year is our 1st year we're gonna be at the Peale Museum, which is actually downtown.
Zachary Michel:It's by Mount Zion Church. It's by the block, if you know where that is. But, yeah, but it's it's America's oldest museum. That's their, like, pitch. And it is.
Zachary Michel:It's a really cool old, you know, historic building, tons of different sized rooms. And, you know, we'd we'd kinda been playing around with them for years about, like, ways that we might be able to collaborate, and it kinda just the pieces came together. They came together this this season. You know? It just made a lot of sense.
Zachary Michel:And it's gonna be a a bit of a departure, you know, going into one building, but it's I think could be a lot of fun because you can really, you know, hone in on the experience in that one space.
Rob Lee:Yeah. I I I I like that area. It's like, you know, I've been to the appeal. I like the appeal. It's Yeah.
Rob Lee:Right downtown or what have you, and, like, you know, you have additional, like, prospects of, like, foot traffic. It's a it's a it's a touristy area which, like, downtown, and, you know, I I think it could be a really it could be a win. And, yeah, that's that's that's really dope or what have you. So I I I wanna I wanna go into this sort of last question, and I do have rapid fire questions for you, by the way. I forgot to know it was earlier.
Rob Lee:So the so so lastly, like, you know, sort of the the heart of the soft pitch of what can folks look and look for, look forward to for for this year's, like, festival. Like, what is, like, top of mind for you? Not giving too much away. I wanna tease it a little bit, but also, like, what what are you excited for personally?
Zachary Michel:I mean, it's it's gone I'm gonna see as many shows as I can. And I'm super biased, but it really is fun to see to explore, to kinda, like, enter this foreign area, you know, culturally or creatively and see what you can find. You know? See what you uncover. Because, you know okay.
Zachary Michel:In the past, we had some shows like, the discovery of LSD, but it's told by the Swiss chemist who discovered it and Timothy Leary as the cat in the hat. You know? And that was an awesome production by the Baltimore and, Chad Short. He's now in Seattle, but he was fantastic. And he put on a couple of productions with, with us.
Zachary Michel:You know, we also had we've had a oh, gosh. Live Nukes, which was a completely wordless, you know, play, but not unscripted and not without sound. I mean, technically, there was language and and dialogue, but it was all in, gibberish. But it was, I mean, it was out hilarious. It was hysterical.
Zachary Michel:And, you know, it was it's classically trained clowns, you know, not the red nose honk honk. Yeah. You know, the one that creep people out. But 2 guys that are literally one was in a red jumpsuit, one was in a blue jumpsuit. They just looked like people.
Zachary Michel:But it was I mean, it was hysterical. And, didn't know that something could be that funny, you know, in such a way. You know, this year, though, we're gonna have let's see. I mean oh god. There's one that is is, it's a man wearing a Rorschach test mask, and it's called the Rorschach test.
Zachary Michel:And, I mean, frankly, it's he's a he's a superhero that's taking a career pivot, in middle age. You know? And and, like, I don't know how else you can describe it. I don't know how else you can, like, understand it besides seeing it. And it's that kind of thing where it's like, this is not you know, some of these shows aren't meant for Broadway, and it's, like, better that they're not.
Zachary Michel:It's, like, it's it's gonna be more fun. It's meant to be seen in this kind of avenue, you know. Yeah. We have another show that's, called Masala, and it's gonna involve food, but it's a theater show. And that's actually the second time we've had a show that that involves food on stage and, you know, audience participation, in that way.
Zachary Michel:You know, we've got a show called Panic, which is bringing back one of the people that was in live nukes and another guy that was in one of my favorite shows ever, which was called You're in Danger Mhmm. Where he stood on stage and presented as if we were to the audience as if we were the, homeowners association, you know, the neighborhood watch group. And he's convinced that his neighbor's son is a changeling, and he's going to kill him. And it's it was hysterical. It was funny because it's this person who's, like, we don't know if they're on Hinge or if it's real.
Zachary Michel:And it's it's it's wildly dark and and, you know, comedic. And so we have them in this show called Panic, and I've, you know, no doubt that that's gonna be fantastic. And so, yeah, man. Just, exploring all these different things. It's it's just a nice way to spend a few days.
Zachary Michel:You know? And I'm looking forward to that. Like, that's why we work the whole year. You know? Like, a festival is 365 days in the making.
Zachary Michel:You know? You you try to take some time off, you know, after the festival, but you're realistically winding down, closing up shop, taking notes for the next year, within the within that month. You know? And so the festival itself is when we get to have fun and hopefully share that with people coming out.
Rob Lee:I love that. That's that's great. And it sounds like, like, just eclectic, interesting, has that sort of, that that cult thing that's there. Like, he was like, this is a cult classic. You you definitely have to get in.
Rob Lee:So I I love
Zachary Michel:that. Yeah. Honestly, do oh, man. That's a great way to put it. Yes.
Zachary Michel:It's like, half the shows are cult classics. A quarter are gonna be, you know, like, maybe not even called clacks like like, beyond call classics. They might be they might come back. Like, we have had shows that have been hits and then gone on to other fringe festivals. We had one that went on to Edinburgh Fringe, which is the first and first fringe ever back in the sixties and and now the largest fringe in the world.
Zachary Michel:It's it's the largest arts festival in the world. And, you know, yeah, it just spans that range. But I think, yeah, cult classic is, like, a perfect way to capture it. And so it's a matter of, like, what's your cult? You know, what's what's the one that you're gonna get hooked on or or a couple maybe even.
Rob Lee:I dig it. So that that's that's great. And I'm looking forward to it. And we'll definitely tap back onto that in the, as we close out. But before we get there before we get there, we have, a little business to attend to with this rapid fire portion of the podcast.
Zachary Michel:Oh, okay.
Rob Lee:Alright. So I got a few questions for you. And as I tell people all the time, don't overthink these. You know, they're they're fun questions. So I'm curious.
Rob Lee:How many hours of sleep do you typically get?
Zachary Michel:Oh, that's it. Okay. So I am grumpy if I don't get 8 and a half hours too many days in a row. During the festival, it hasn't happened because we, thank god, got a producer the last few festivals. But there's a thing called Fringe Brain, and that's because you're working, you know, 17 hours, at 2 jobs, one being fringe and start forgetting, like, your friends' names, or where you need to be.
Zachary Michel:So that's what happens during the festival. Hasn't happened in a while, but yeah. Yeah. That's, during those days, you get 5 hours. You need still 8.
Rob Lee:No. That's that makes sense. How do you unwind when you're not creating art? You're not working on a French festival? What do you do?
Rob Lee:What is that one that that that go to thing that you do to unwind?
Zachary Michel:Oh, man. Nothing. Like like, legit, sitting outside and just taking it in.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
Zachary Michel:It's unwinding. You know? Next question. Hit me.
Rob Lee:What is your favorite late night snack?
Zachary Michel:Oh, anything I can find. I like salty. I like, chips and salsa.
Rob Lee:Love it. Here's the last one. You you touched on this earlier in the sort of beginning the beginning stages. I believe, a soup was mentioned or giving out soup was mentioned because of the salt. Yeah.
Rob Lee:What's your favorite soup?
Zachary Michel:Oh oh my god. I'm gonna say I had an awesome beet soup. One was in Seattle. No. No.
Zachary Michel:It was in Oregon. It was at this Russian place. And then another time I had it, and it was might have been Bulgarian, and it was in New York. But it was it was interesting. I like beets.
Zachary Michel:You know, I like I guess I like the taste of dirt. I don't know. But but it was delicious. So I'm gonna go with that.
Rob Lee:That's it for the for the enough for the hot ones. That's it for the rapid fire questions.
Zachary Michel:The hot ones. Oh, man. I was ready for, like, 6 more. You can think of them. Let me know.
Rob Lee:Yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely. But that's that's kinda it for the pod. So there's, there's 2 things I wanna do as we close out here.
Rob Lee:1, I wanna thank you for coming on and spending some time with me on this afternoon, going into evening. And, and 2, I wanna give you, a few moments here to kinda do the the the hard pitch. Tell folks, you know, those sort of final details, sort of the shameless plugs of, you know, French festival, social media, website, all that good stuff, the floor Yeah. Is yours.
Zachary Michel:Okay. So it's fringe, like, fringe on a coat. Just I say that because a lot of people think it's the French festival, and I probably should've started the pod out this way. Right. But it is fringe like the out it started because it was the outskirts of a larger festival originally.
Zachary Michel:It was on the fringe. So charmcityfringe.com. You can find us on Instagram at charmcityfringe. You know, give us a follow. But, yeah, I I'd say get a pass.
Zachary Michel:Go to a couple shows because you're gonna find something you really like, and and you're gonna be really happy you've spent, a couple hours coming out. Tickets are $15. Trumpcityfringe.com/tickets. And tell your friends. You know?
Zachary Michel:Spread it about. Oh, we've got a day night pass. I think it's a great way. You know, a friend of mine, actually met his wife brought a day night pass. And what that does is it gets you, 2 tickets for 2 people to 2 shows.
Zachary Michel:Nice. So that you can come out and and really have a good time. Wait. Is that the day night pass? Doesn't matter.
Zachary Michel:We have a day night pass, and you might meet your wife there. So think of it that way. But it's, Great. It's a good way to, like, come out, save a few bucks, and see a good show with someone else.
Rob Lee:And there you have it, folks. I wanna again thank Zach Michel for coming on to the podcast from Charm City French Festival. And I'm Rob Lee saying that there's art, culture, and community in and around your neck of the woods. You've just gotta look for it.
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