Who we are:
IN THE FRINGE is an opportunity being offered by BRAW VENUES and Edinburgh Little Theatre, which are the driving and operational forces behind BRAW VENUES – Venue 41 and Venue 7.
We have operated since 2017 with lots of both international, and UK based companies using our Venues over the years. We also write our own shows to much critical and audience acclaim, “The Court” which is an interactive courtroom drama, “Wallace”, the story of William Wallace’s life as well as producing and performing well known shows. We have performed such shows as “American Idiot”, “Legally Blonde”, “Avenue Q” as well as “Bare” – all have been well received and very well attended.
We have over 30 years experience in performing and running Fringe venues so there is a vast amount of knowledge that you as a performer, can learn from and use.
Main Contact (UK):
Derek Douglas heads up our operation and he will be coordinating all aspects of your experience and visit. Derek trained at the Guildhall in London and performing on stage around the UK for years, he has a wealth of talent and a very calm head on his shoulders.
He has run our operations during the Fringe for over 30 years and he will be in New York regularly throughout the rehearsal process as well co-ordinating your trip and answering any questions that you have.
Our New York based creative team, dealing with the rehearsal process, and co-ordinating our operation in Manhattan are detailed below.
There will be support staff allocated to each group of 10 so that there will be numerous points of contact and support during your stay in Edinburgh and throughout the experience.
Creative Team (US):
Sam Carner (Playwright) is a New York-based lyricist/librettist. He has won the $100,000 Kleban Prize, the Richard Rodgers Award, and the John Wallowitch Award. He and composer Derek Gregor were among Playbill.com’s 12 “Contemporary Musical Theatre Songwriters You Should Know,” and 13 of their songs have been nominated for MAC Awards. Their musical ISLAND SONG has had over 70 productions internationally, including translations in Japanese and Italian. Their musical UNLOCK’D played and extended Off-Broadway run and is slated for production at the Phoenix Theatre Company in 2027. Their show SECOND LINE was the 2020 Pace New Musical, having had readings at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, NC State, and more. www.carnerandgregor.com. Sam has taught musical theater writing and analysis courses at Yale and NYU and is currently on faculty at Temple University. He built and directs the non-profit Musical Creators’ Institute, which offers training to the next generation of musical theater writers. He is currently working on a book to demystify musical theater’s form, titled A Glimpse of Paradise.
Derek Gregor (Composer) is a composer for the stage and screen. He is a recipient of a Richard Rodgers Award, Howard Arlen ASCAP Award, John Wallowitch Award, MAC Award and was a finalist for the Fred Ebb Award and Jonathan Larson Grant. Derek’s musical Unlock’d (Sam Carner–Kleban Prize book) received an extended Off-Broadway run at the Duke Theater, after development at the Ravinia Festival, TheatreWorks Palo Alto and Princeton University. His musicals Island Song and Techies (both w/ Carner) are licensed world-wide with Concord Theatricals, and their musical Love Splat tours with TheatreWorks USA. Derek wrote the original songs (Selda Sahin lyrics) for the feature film American Reject. Selda and Derek’s TYA musical Class President is licensed through Concord. Their musical Modern was selected for the Stephen Schwartz ASCAP Workshop and the ASCAP “Grow A Show” Workshop, Particle (w/ Sahin) was selected for the 2025 NAMT Festival of New Musicals. Orchids (Kreutz lyrics/Lind book),formally titled In A Sunshine State, was selected for San Diego State University’s “New Works Initiative” where it received a workshop production. Derek has been a proud participant of Rhinebeck Writers Retreat twice (Off Season w/Sahin, Orchids w/Kreutz, Lind) and a resident of Yaddo.
Shannon Stowe (Choreographer) is a New York City based actor and choreographer. She is also an Associate Professor at the New School College of Performing Arts where she teaches Dance for Actors, various acting classes, Yoga for Performing Artists, and a variety of collaboration and devising classes. She is the founder of New Dance Theatre, nominated for several Innovative Theatre Awards for their production of ASYLUM. Favorite shows that she has choreographed include HAIR, THE FULL MONTY, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, BYE BYE BIRDIE, WEST SIDE STORY, HAIRSPRAY and various new works. She served as movement consultant for multiple Shakespeare productions in New School’s Classics Studio. As a performer, she recently appeared in Boomerang Theatre Company’s production of RICHARD II (Duchesses of Gloucester and York) and shared the small screen with Mariska Hargitay in LAW AND ORDER SVU. She has an MFA in Acting, holds a certificate in directing from Yale’s Professional Director Training Program and is a professional yoga and dance teacher.
Katie McHugh (Director) is an award-winning international theatre director, producer, and educator specializing in devised and experimental theatre and the development of new work. She is the Artistic Director and Founder of Yonder Window Theatre Company, based in New York. Katie holds a BA in Theatre from Florida State University and an MFA in Directing from The New School for Drama. She is the Founding Director of the Southeastern Teen Shakespeare Company and Co-Founder of the Teen Shakespeare Conservatory. Katie has worked in theatre education for over 25 years, developing many in-school and after school drama programs for all ages. In fall of 2022 she made her Off-Broadway Directing debut with JASPER by Grant MacDermott at the Pershing Square Signature Center. She currently resides in Montreal, Quebec where she directs and teaches full-time. For complete bio, including directing credits and workshops created, visit https://yonderwindow.co/katiemchugh
James Higgins (Music Director) is originally from Montreal, Quebec, James is a multi-hyphenate musician and theatre artist with a career spanning 4 decades. He lives in New York City, and is a faculty pianist at AMDA. Off Broadway: Me The People, Old Jews Telling Jokes, Living With Henry; NYC (selected): Goddess Wheel by Galt McDermott, The Gefilte Fish Chronicles (also performed at the Obama White House), Urinetown, Follies, The Drowsy Chaperone, Company, Sunday In The Park With George; Regional (selected): sound design and original music for Gladstone Hollow, and Violet and Me (both by Fringe veteran Dorothy Lyman), Candide, Cabaret, South Pacific, Sweeney Todd, and dozens of others! Visit his (rarely updated) website at iamjameshiggins.com
Jackie Burns is Broadway’s longest running Elphaba in Wicked. Most recently, she originated the role of Tess in the world premiere new musical Burlesque. She starred as “Celine Dion” in the smash Off Broadway hit Titanique. A member of the Original Broadway company, Burns went on to lead the cast of the US National Tour of If/Then. Select NY credits include the Tony Award-winning revival of Hair (original Broadway company) and Rock of Ages (original off-Broadway company). A veteran of the American stage and new works, Burns originated starring roles in Revolutions (Goodman theatre), Hard Road to Heaven (Bucks County playhouse), Cowboy Bob (Alley Theatre) and A Walk On The Moon (George Street Playhouse). Film/TV: Set it Up,” “The Magnificent Meyersons,” “Ghost,” “FBI Most Wanted”, “Great Wall of Warren.” Jackie has sung all over the world with Grammy and Tony Award nominated composer Frank Wildhorn. @jackieburnsnyc