PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS. Sometimes sly, often wacky, always inventive, the New York International Fringe Festival (Aug. 12-28) offers something for every theatrical taste (even questionable). It's not just a mere 1,300 theatrical, musical and other performances; the festival also includes FringeU (lectures and workshops of all things staged) and American Sign Language instruction. As for PropART -- where huge props, created by participating theater companies, are "sacrificed" to the festival muse and displayed near Washington Square Park -- don't ask. Just go.
Performances run 2 p.m. to midnight on weekdays and noon to midnight on weekends. $15 per show, cash only at door; venues vary. About four hours from the Beltway in New York City. 888-374-6436,http://www.fringenyc.org. -- Anne McDonough
