Fringe Festival Programme

Each year Capital Fringe hires a little over 70 theatre artists and professionals to work in various ways to make our programs happen. Lead by four year-round employees, Capital Fringe is a training ground and networking opportunity for theatre artists making their homes in the Washington, DC area.

Julianne Brienza
President and Chief Executive Officer

Julianne is a founder of Capital Fringe and has been with Capital Fringe since its founding in 2005. She leads and guides Capital Fringe’s vision, change and community. Julianne has grown Capital Fringe’s budget from $300, 000 to $1.7 million. She has grown and shaped programs to engage adventurous audiences and exploratory artists locally, nationally and internationally.

Prior to founding Capital Fringe, Julianne moved to Washington DC in December 2003 to manage CulturalDC’s Flashpoint project. She programmed Flashpoint venues, managed their arts incubator program, recruited participants and managed the facility. While at CulturalDC, Julianne started the Mead Theatre Lab Program - an intensive mentorship program for the performing arts.

Julianne came to Washington, DC from Philadelphia where she created and ran the Greenfield Elementary School artist-in-residency program for Mum Puppettheatre. She also served as Managing Director of 1812 Productions - a non-profit theatre company that focuses on comedy. Also, she worked with FringeArts for three years in various capacities from venue manager, box office, to performing in Festival productions. Previously, she was a Professional Apprentice with the Arden Theatre Company. Born and raised in Dillon, Montana, Julianne is a graduate Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI with a Bachelor of Fine Arts-Theatre, Minors, Philosophy and Visual Arts, Magna Cum Laude and The Sandglass Theatre’s Puppet Residency at Marlboro College.