PREVIEW: Starting Wednesday, the Byrdcliffe Theater hosts 11 days of plays, concerts and other events organized by Wallace Norman.

Woodstock has a long history of art, music and theater. This summer, there is a fresh face on the scene. A new theater company, Woodstock Fringe, is producing a Festival of Theater and Song, featuring 25 performances at the historic Byrdcliffe Theater in northern Ulster County Scheduled from Aug. 20-31, the compact season includes plays and a musical, concerts and puppet theater, storytelling and one-person shows.

Wallace Norman is the founder and producing artistic director of Woodstock Fringe. In a press release, he describes his group thus: “A whole community of theatre and music lovers and distinguished theatre professionals has come together in the most exciting way to produce this extraordinary festival.” Norman recently talked about the series and his involvement in the company.

Q. In your press release, you state, “For me, Woodstock Fringe is the culmination of my five years producing and directing professional theater in the Woodstock and Hudson Valley area.” Would you care to explain that involvement?

A. In summer of 2000, I started by producing at the (Woodstock) Town Hall a group of play readings by bright new playwrights from New York City. People were enthusiastic. “Why not have more?” they asked. So the next two years I produced a modest theater festival at the Byrdcliffe Barn.

    This year, we have moved to the Byrdcliffe Theater as a larger space for the plays and concerts we have planned at the end of August. We were also invited to present a program, “Songs of the Theatre, A Concert Cabaret,” on July26 as part of the Byrdcliffe Arts Colony Centennial Celebration.

Q. What inspired you to set up Woodstock Fringe?

A. For 25 years, I have spent my professional life in the theater in New York. I am an actor, singer and playwright, besides directing and producing plays. I love the stage and have appeared in more than 60 productions in off-Broadway regional and stock theaters. I was born and grew up in Yonkers. I studied acting with Uta Hagen at the Herbert Berghoff studio and attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, where I was able to perform some Shakespeare. I also trained as a tenor, and have had a solo recital at Carnegie Hall. When I bought a place near Woodstock seven years ago, I was planning for a vacation home outside the city. l had already run playwright readings in New York, soit seemed natural to do so in Woodstock. I am always on the lookout for new works and writers. Just got the idea in the air at Woodstock.

    For example, the world premiere of “Murder, Madness and Lady Macbeth” comes from a meeting with the author and actor Rebecca Ortese last year. She sent me eight pages to read and I could not wait to see the rest. It’s a powerful and humorous play about an actress whose life drifts dangerously close to the role she plays.

    The other full-length drama, “The Great Nebula in Orion,” sets the play by Lanford Wilson to original music by Kenneth Fbchs.

Q What is the significance 01 the word “Fringe” in your company’s tile?

A. I seek out works that are not conventional, that are experimental while being inclusive, in a variety of forms — any kind of imaginative expression with a different approach. For example, we will present the Tiny Ninja Theater’s version of “Macbeth” with plastic dime-store figures, as well as new vocal artists and a new work by composer Larry Thomas Bell and several solo performances of new plays. All our people are serious writers, actors and singers; all are qualified professionals.

Q. What is m the future? And how about financial support? A. We hope to expand next year’s festival to a full month, but we have to work out dates with Byrdcliffe. We will also look into other possible venues. This year, we have had support by the Dutchess County Arts Council and individual donors. We are applying to foundations and have the attention of people who know how to seek funds. In a sense, it is healthy to start with little money; then you can grow organically. By the way, we offer a real bargain: For $40, you can obtain a Festival Pass that allows you to attend all 25 performances. Single tickets are only $15- $18, and even less for seniors and students. You can order by calling 679-0167 or visiting our Web site: www.woodstockfringe.org.