History:

The Out of the Loop Fringe Festival began in 2002 as a way for WaterTower Theatre to produce new and challenging works with a contemporary edge, and was designed to provide opportunities for other existing and emerging theatre, dance, and music companies and artists in the region to present work that may vary in form and presentation from their typical content. In addition, WaterTower wanted to provide a forum that supported artistic risk, which may not always be possible in a typical subscription-based scenario. WaterTower hoped that appearing together in a festival atmosphere, these companies could provide the North Dallas and surrounding area with a diverse range of artistic endeavors.

Since 2002, when the Festival drew just over 1,000 patrons over the course of 10 days, Out of the Loop has become a regional theatrical event. The Festival typically hosts around 20 organizations presenting over 50 individual performances and drawing between 3,000 and 5,000 arts lovers each year. The Out of the Loop Fringe Festival has also received a Special Citation from the Dallas-Fort Worth Theatre Critics Forum for providing opportunities to new and emerging companies and playwrights.

The Festival has begun to bring in headliners of various disciplines who are nationally renown. These artists partner with regional and Dallas-based artists in theatre, dance, music, comedy, puppetry and poetry, and are presented side-by-side throughout the Festival's 10-day run.