Philly Fringe 2025 tickets on sale now! Explore the lineup.
Ben Franklin Sex Party is a time traveling romp of a clown piece about pleasure, shame, giving up on America, and a syphilis epidemic. Adorned with pepperoni nipples, a panty hose penis, and an engorged brain, Ben Franklin blurs the lines between the sticky mess of founding a country and the clear policies necessary before engaging in a sex party. A head slam of a show, which, like the man himself, is sexy and grotesque, but also smart and devastating. If our country sucks so hard, we might as well get off. VERY HISTORICALLY ACCURATE. gobirds.
DUMB HUB, curated by Sarah Knittel, features a chef's kiss selection of CLOWN, IDIOT, ALT COMEDY, Performance art, and Freak SH*T ONLY. A contamination of performers from across America in rep with a trash tornado of Philly favorites and once in a lifetime pop up shows. The smartest, sexiest, and most insightful of the hubs. Gobirds.
1417 N. 2nd Street
General Admission: $20
1417 N. 2nd Street
General Admission: $20
1417 N. 2nd Street
General Admission: $20
1417 N. 2nd Street
General Admission: $20
Sarah Knittel (writer/performer) is a theater artist, festival co-founder, event producer, and clown.
She is the founder/curator of DUMB HUB. Sarah helped found Free Fringe Philly festival, which created accessibility to Fringe work in Philadelphia by eliminating costs and ticket prices while supporting the artists. Free Fringe Philly won a coveted arts spot on the Best Of 2021 list from Philly Magazine. Most recently, Sarah won the inaugural Denver Sketch Festival with her show Sarah Knittel/Marina Abramovic as well as being named 2025 Mr. Silverlick in Big D's drag king competition. Sarah on a stage has been described as “totally engaging” and “the work of a pro, fearlessly engaging the audience from start to finish, until we are all practically co-stars, or at least co-conspirators.” (Broad St Review) Hailed “Philly Actors Who Are Better Than You (at acting)... ” (Phindie) The creator of Ben Franklin Sex Party, Make a F*cking Show, You P.O.S., and NIGHTMARE FUEL, a brutal clown show, which won the “Spirit of the Fringe” award in 2019 at Cincinnati Fringe. It was also one of the recipients of 1812’s Jilline Ringle Fund. It garnered four stars in Edinburgh Fringe and was lauded as “a quintessential niche fringe experience” by the Wee Review. Sarah produces a multitude of events throughout Philadelphia including a monthly variety experience called HELLRIDE. Sarah now lives and (is trying to find meaning) in Los Angeles.
Contact the Fringe Festival Box Office for up to date accessibility information.
Nudity
Violent ContentAdult Language
Strobe/Flashing Lights
Audience Interaction
This event does not require masks to be worn