Get To Know The 2025 Fringe Festival Artists: Edition #2
The 2025 Philadelphia Fringe Festival is hurtling towards us! As September approaches, lets take some time to get to know some of the artists with shows taking place early this coming month! Mothers day 2025 has come and gone, but we’re still hung up on MOMS! We’re excited to dive into the wide world of moms with these three artists whose three shows tackle some sort of motherhood in some way shape or form. Whether you have mommy issues or not, we hope you give these shows a chance!
The Mother - Claudia Pompeya
September 13-15th
FringeArts: Hello to our first motherhood show. We thought it was apt to start with THE Mother, as the title implies a resounding singularity that we cannot help but honor this show first. Welcome to The Blog! Please introduce yourself!
Claudia Pompeya: I’m Claudia! Based out of Cincinnati, Ohio. I heard about the Philly Fringe because some of my friends and performers that I deeply admire have performed with FringeArts.
FringeArts: Its great to talk to you Claudia! You’re officially a part of the FringeFest family now! You might not be The Mother of Philly FringeFest, but you DO have a show called “The Mother”! Tell us a bit about it!
Claudia Pompeya: It’s a bizarre solo absurdist clown show featuring different mama characters and audience interaction. It creates a playful space for people to feel seen and safe enough to laugh at their parental wounds.
FringeArts: This sounds like something pretty exciting! So in “The Mother,” it seems that there is more than one mother! Except all those mothers are you! So in that way, you contain many mothers! How did you get sucked into this great big beautiful world that is working in the arts?
Claudia Pompeya: Oh geee, I tried clown 9 years ago cause I was really sad and had a quarter life crisis. I got my passport to fly out for a week long clown residency to see if it’d help lol. My first clown exercise on stage I made the whole room laugh. At lunch my clown teacher ran up to me and said I was a natural. Clown chose me, you could say. It’s helped me overcome so much.
FringeArts: We’re down to clown and so are you it seems! We’re excited to see this natural-born-clown-talent on the stage! Aside from the joy of clowning, what has been the best thing about working on your show this year?
Claudia Pompeya: Seeing other people’s shows, getting to know their stories, characters, and imagination – what a beautiful break from being so deep in my world and show. The sense of community in live theatre is my favorite part.
FringeArts: We 100% agree! Community is the best part of all of this! Speaking of community, are there any shows that you particularly want to see in this years festival?
Claudia Pompeya: Frankenstein’s Body, Always Sometimes Maybe, Clowns, Villains and Lovers: A Half-Mask Show, ‘Mae West’: The Comeback Tour
FringeArts: Those are some pretty amazing shows! We’re excited to see them too! Ok… before we let you go. One. Last. Question. If you could choose anyone (a celebrity, a friend, a family member) to come see your show and they HAD to come, who would you choose?
Claudia Pompeya: Tim Robinson
FringeArts: I don’t 100% know what this says about what we should expect from “The Mother” but I’m sure its something good! Everyone make sure to snag tickets for Claudia’s show from September 13th through 15th!
Mother Boswick: The Best Show You Never Knew You Needed - Mother Boswick
September 4-11th
FringeArts: Hello Mother Boswick! Can I call you Mother Boswick? Or maybe you can just introduce yourself!
David Magidson: I’m David Magidson, I live in San Francisco. The Philly Fringe looks amazing, my niece lives so it seemed a perfect fit. I heard about the festival on Eventron and doing a million searches of what was worth my time.
FringeArts: We’re always happy to hear the different way our artists hear about us! Thank you Eventotron! So you’re David AND Mother Boswick? Could you tell us a bit about your show?
David Magidson: Mother Boswick has been living with me for the last 20 years. She appeared when I was creating a children’s video for the library market (Here Comes The Clown). She made a short appearance but stole the show. I began obsessively working on with Mother Boswick a little over a year ago and she has taken over my life. Just needing her time to shine. It’s by far the funniest character I have ever created in a lifetime of clowning.
FringeArts: Mother Boswick sounds like one special lady! And it sounds like you two have a long standing relationship, but even longer than that relationship has been your relationship with the arts! How did you make your way into this world?
David Magidson: I create constantly because I have to. I’ve had a few jobs in my life but I always get fired. It’s all I’m good at and capable of sticking to. Other than my children it’s the only thing I’m truly obsessed with.
FringeArts: In a similar sense, it feels like the Fringe Festival is OUR baby! It sounds like Mother Boswick (and the arts in general) is one of your children (in a sort of ironic, familial twisty turvy way!)! Since you’ve been with Mother Boswick for so long, has there been anything special about creating this specific show for this years festival? Or does Mother Boswick just bring you general joy?
David Magidson: I post Mother Boswick daily on social media. Having someone record a message and send it to me that they are Mother Boswick’s number one fan made me smile.
FringeArts: And I’m sure when we all see Mother Boswick’s show, we’ll all have to share the title of #1 Mother Boswick fan! Perhaps she’ll adopt us all! One more question for you (and Mother Boswick) before we let you go… What does your perfect day look like?
David Magidson: Create a Mother Boswick video, go perform a show. Get interviewed by the press. (I love doing interviews)
FringeArts: Sounds like the Philadelphia Fringe Festival might just be a dream come true then! And this means our audiences can be a part of your dream days: September 4th through 11th GO BUY TICKETS TO SEE “Mother Boswick: The Best Show You Never Knew You Needed”
Family Law Comedy Special - Jana Marie Rose / Rose Wellness Services
September 6-7th
FringeArts: Hello! Thank you so much for joining us on The Blog! We would love it if you could introduce yourself!
Jana Marie Rose: I am Jana Marie Rose. I am a Philadelphia School District high school teacher of English as a second language, and also a yoga teacher and reiki practitioner. I grew up in Philadelphia and I am excited to finally present my play at the Fringe!
FringeArts: And we’re incredibly excited to have your show as a part of this year’s Fringe Festival! Can you tell us a bit about it?
Jana Marie Rose: This play is about democracy, free speech, and what we have for dinner (or breakfast). It takes place in a family law courtroom where one mom tries to get back custody of her daughter, but her offensive food blog keeps getting in the way.
FringeArts: I’m on the edge of my seat! How did you get into this world of arts (and family law and offensive food blogs)?
Jana Marie Rose: Acting and theater makes me feel alive! (An office job I had years ago did not make me feel alive, so I do what makes me feel alive all the time now!)
FringeArts: We can relate! Theatre is the air in our lungs at FringeArts! How does working on this specific show nourish your creative passions?
Jana Marie Rose: I love working with my amazing cast. They are funny, wildly talented, and bring a special energy to their characters.
FringeArts: What a rave review of your cast! As expected, they sound absolutely fabulous! We look forward to seeing the energy you all bring to the stage in “Family Law Comedy Special”! While we’re looking forward to seeing YOUR show, are there any shows YOU are looking forward to seeing?
Jana Marie Rose: I love watching dance, so I am excited about Tango in Silk!
FringeArts: Amazing! One final (ultra-important) question: If you had to choose one song to play every time you walked into a room, what would it be?
Jana Marie Rose: “Turntables” by Janelle Monae
FringeArts: GREAT answer! Thank you for being here on The Blog! Everyone REMEMBER to grab tickets to “Family Law Comedy Special” while you can for September 6th & 7th!
Don’t forget to head to PhillyFringe.org to plan your 2025 Fringe Festival, September 4th-28th!
