If you've met me you may know that I would rather spend a day without air conditioning than speak at a public event, but when Tommy couldn't attend last night's kick-off for the Capital Fringe Festival, I reluctantly agreed to take his place. I'm so glad I did! Held at Fringe's temporary box office in a vacant arts space at 507 7th Street, NW, the reception and press conference was a great opportunity to meet the phenomenally energized Fringe volunteers -- led by co-founders Julianne Brienza and Damian Sinclair and board chair Angie Fox -- and have a glimpse into their world.

Like the festival itself, the Fringe box office is full of cutting-edge art and a sense of inspired experimentation. A makeshift bulletin board features postcards and ads for dozens of the festival's 116 productions at more than D.C. 20 venues--with provocative titles including "Madness, Menopause & More," "Romeo and Juliet: A Crime Scene Investigation," and "Cabaret Extraordinaire - Dance! Theatre! Music!" Something for everyone. I was hooked!

For the next 10 days, Washington's residents and visitors can see exciting, fun, innovative productions all over the city, with prices ranging from nothing to just $35. Fringe provides a desperately needed showcase for the artists that, sadly, you may never see at the Kennedy Center. In these dog days of summer, there's no better time to take a look. You can find the festival's program online or just call 866-811-4111 for more information.