Rochester Fringe Festival bringing comic Pete Davidson to town

The Rochester Fringe Festival is continuing its run of high-profile comedy headliners, bringing Pete Davidson to Rochester on Sept. 13 as part of the festival.

Davidson is known for his stand-up, his years as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live" and his films and TV shows, some which have been semi-autobiographical.

The festival has brought to town some of the most recognized comics in the field, among them John Mulaney, Eddie Izzard, Patton Oswalt, Marc Maron, Mike Birbiglia and Tig Notaro.

Davidson is scheduled to appear at the Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre for a 7:30 p.m. show.

Tickets are priced between $45 and $129 (plus an $8 venue ticketing fee) and are available online at rochesterfringe.com. Audience members must be aged 18 and over.

From 'SNL' to new phase of career

Davidson's comic chops have long been known — his visits to "Weekend Update" segments were often "SNL" highlights — but in recent years he has also plumbed the depths of his own life for humor, even if sometimes laced with pain.

The film "The King of Staten Island" starred Davidson as a character who, like him, lost a firefighting father. Davidson's dad died responding to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City.

As well, his Peacock network show, "Bupkis," focused on a character who, like Davidson, struggled with addiction and turned to rehab.

With a goofy charm and a fashion style bordering on slapdash chic, Davidson manages to poke fun at himself in an endearing fashion that would seem inauthentic for most.

On one of his most recent "SNL" visits, his skit "I'm Just Pete" was a hilarious musical nod to "I'm Just Ken" from the hit film "Barbie." In the skit, Davidson sings of his expansive dating history — Ariana Grande, Kate Beckinsale and Kim Kardashian are among his past partners — and the surprise his love life is to many, given his hangdog countenance.

"'Cause I'm just Pete," he sings. "Anyone else I'd be a three. But I guess I'm hot for dudes in comedy, 'cause it's an ugly industry."

Looking ahead to Fringe

The 12-day Rochester Fringe Festival last year was named by the New York Times as “one of the country’s more prominent multidisciplinary events." The Fringe, as it is called in shorthand, has become the largest multidisciplinary performing arts festival in New York State and one of the most attended Fringe festivals in the United States.

More than 750,000 people have attended more than 5,000 performances and events at the Rochester Fringe Festival since its inception in 2012, according to the festival organizers.

This year's festival runs from Sept. 10 through Sept. 21. The full lineup will be unveiled July 23 and tickets will go on sale that day at noon.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Pete Davidson to headline Rochester Fringe Festival 2024