SPORTS! Philly Fringe 2026
A one-time-only professionally performed, athletically amateur SPORTS EXTRAVAGANZA.
Root for teams LAVA or OBSIDIAN
As they compete for ultimate SPORTS GLORY
LAVA vs OBSIDIAN
Queer Tailgate · SPORTS! Performance · Movie Screening
EVENT DETAILS
WHEN
September 26th, 2026
RAIN PLAN UPDATE
Friends Select School
1651 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy
Philadelphia, PA 19103
SCHEDULE
CANCELLED Tailgate 3:00-5:00
Show 5:00-7:00
Space Jam with cinéSPEAK 7:30-9:30
Buying 10 or more? Reach out to joe[at]obvious-agency.com for a group discount!
Click here for a full breakdown of ticket types! Any ticket for SPORTS! purchased through FringeArts via the ticket link above provides access to every part of the day of SPORTS! programming. The tailgate is free and you are welcome to attend without staying for the show. If coming to the screening of Space Jam ONLY tickets are $5-$10 purchased ahead of time via hte Movie Tix Only link above, or upon arrival. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. There are a variety of ticket options for the SPORTS! performance. Nosebleeds: $25 Student and industry ticket. Comes with a general admission seat in the top seating area. Sweet Spot: $35 Standard rate ticket. Comes with a general admission seat in the middle seating area. Courtside: $55 Comes with a courtside seat, 1 piece of sick team swag, 1 snack. VIP Box: $200 - secures a full VIP box with 4 audience seats, 2 pieces of sick team swag, unlimited concessions.
THE SHOW
5:00 - 7:00pm
Two teams - LAVA and OBSIDIAN battle for ultimate SPORTS glory! Are our knees past their prime? YES. Are we good at SPORTS? YES AND NO AND ALSO KINDA.
Witness artist-athletes compete in ALL BALL, a mash-up of soccer, basketball, football, and more while you root for your team like the diehard fan you are. This isn't a show ABOUT sports, this IS sports -- stay on the edge of your seat as real competition and real wins and losses drive a story of effort, belief, belonging, and feeling hella cool.
THE TAILGATE (CANCELLED)
3:00 - 5:00pm
OutLoud Sports hosts a queer tailgate and cornhole tournament! Come through (no car needed) to get your hype on, grab a snack and merch, and maybe even get crowned CORNHOLE CHAMPION - all for FREE before the performance. Arrive by 3:30 to enter the tournament!
THE MOVIE
7:30 - 9:30pm
We got a real jam going down - THAT'S RIGHT welcome to the 30th Anniversarry of wacky sports classic Space Jam. Kick back after the show and enjoy the film under the night sky. Free with a performance ticket or $5-$10 for the film only, no one turned away for lack of funds.
Tailgate - Show - Movie
SO WHY ARE WE PLAYING SPORTS?
Because now we’re ADULTS and there’s questions we can only answer in the
SWEAT-POURING
HEART-POUNDING
HEAT OF COMPETITION
that we sure as hell couldn’t answer in middle school gym class.
We take the field to FIND OUT–
What’s the line between HEALTHY and UNHEALTHY competition?
What MYTHIC VERSIONS of ourselves are awakened in the whole-body pursuit of victory?
So will YOU be there to root on your team and guide them to glory?
HELL FREAKIN YEAH.
And, hold on now, listen–
is your relationship with sports kinda complicated? OURS TOO.
Some of us were headed for the OLYMPICS but it SUCKED THE JOY OUT OF COMPETING.
Some of us went to college to play volleyball and then tore our Achilles and found THEATER.
Some of us avoided sports as much as we could because of TOXIC MASCULINITY.
As queer people,
people with bodies past peak athletic performance,
artists--
What belonging can we find with each other and with you as we COLLECTIVELY
DUNK ON OUR DEMONS?
Artists? Athletes? YES
THE CREATIVE TEAM
Full Production Credits Cat Ramirez - Lead Artist, Director, Producer Daniel Park - Co-Producer Ari Gass - Outside Eye/Game Designer Kel Fleming - Stage Manager Performers/Creators/Artists/Athletes - Joseph Ahmed, AZ Espinoza, Karen Orrick - Pax Ressler, Arthur Robinson, Jackie Soro, Lexi Thammavong, Matthew Armstead Nat Merrill - Sound Designer Anna Sorrentino - Costume Designer Kendall Collins - Props/Set Designer
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I have to come to all three parts of the event? Nope! A ticket to the performance of SPORTS! gets you in to all parts, but you're welcome to come for just the show. Or, you can walk up to the tailgate, movie, or both. There will likely be walk up tickets available for the performance as well, but it's one time only so we recommend buying in advance!
Do I have to play sports? What is the actual performance like? SPORTS! is theater, but it's not a play - instead of a pre-scripted show about athletics, the performers are actually playing real, win or lose, games on stage. There will still be plenty of performance during and between play, as well as chances for the audience to get involved. You, the fans, will primarily watch and root on your team, with the option for higher moments of engagement that might include a few moments of optional athletics. Think of this more as going to a super weird sports game than a sit-down play in a theater!
How much are the tickets and what is included? Tickets range from $25-$200 depending on what experience and what perks you'd like to get! Higher ticket prices help support our ability to sustain offering cheaper tickets, including the $5 walk-up tickets for fringe artists as well as getting you some seating, merch, and concessions benefits. The tailgate is free, and the movie is included with your SPORTS! ticket. If coming to the movie without a ticket, it's $5-$10 with no one turned away for lack of funds. You can additionally purchase ahead, via the "Movie Tix Only" Link at under Event Details on this page.
Are there group discounts? Yes! Groups purchasing 10 or more tickets together can receive a 20% discount code. To access the code email joe[at]obvious-agencu.com.
