While last year improv seemed to dominate the theme at Calgary’s Fringe Fest, 2012 appears to be steering less cerebral and more hands on.

Executive Director Michelle Gallant forecasts a palatable mix of all kinds of physical theatre – two shows up from last year for a grand total of 36 performances to choose from.

"This year the trend seems to be... expressing emotion, feelings, society through movements of some sort, and engaging audiences on an emotional, primal response," she says.

Included this year is a work by a local theatrical troupe run and supported by disabled performers, "which is WAY COOL," Gallant applauds.

Getting in to the 2012 line-up was in and of itself a coup. The Fringe received an overwhelming 100 applicants for only 23 spots.

GayCalgary Magazine is happy to be standing behind a solid handful of the shows that will be being performed during the nine days of Fringe in Inglewood: August 3rd to 11th.

Gallant says the average Fringer sees three shows. If such is your goal this year, be sure to include one or three of these.

Carolann Valentino tackles a subject a few Calgarians probably know something about: do I keep the six figure salary, the cozy relationship and the swank digs or do I live out my real dream?

The knock-out of Italian descent plays 18 hilarious characters in "her critically acclaimed one-woman hit show" which illustrates one woman’s plight with leaving the role of ritzy restaurant manager to pursue her true passions. Valentino acts this story, pretty thoroughly life-based, through song, dance, audience improv and comedy.

"I grew up in Dallas, Texas – an Italian girl no less – hence my stand up comedy name: ‘Italian Rose of Texas’," Valentino explains. "I nailed a great summer job at a famous steakhouse in Dallas to save money for my big move."

"Little did I know that my ‘side job’ would land me smack dab in the middle of NYC in one of the largest, most beautiful steakhouses in the world."

The experience of suddenly opening a multi-million dollar eatery inspired the artist to create a cabaret show.

"I would practice and rehearse after my 17 hour days in the basement of the hotel where [the restaurant] had me placed," she says. "The bellman and concierge each night would get a free late night Broadway/comedy show."

The restaurant honchos loved the act and kept Valentino on for what turned into years of heading one of the most prestigious restaurants in the world.

"I thought to myself, ‘this is perfect; I will be making over six figures... AND I can pursue my dream as a comic, singer, dancer."

But reality reared its dreary head, and soon the stress of ‘managing the monstrosity’ and auditioning or performing every second off clock took its toll. Valentino crashed. And what did she do? She gave it all up: the Trump apartment, the dream boyfriend, the bank account(s) and took off for fulltime stage life.

"Since then I have experienced one miracle after another," she says. "One of which was landing the Canadian Fringe tour."

The Calgary Fringe marks Valentino’s Canadian debut; but never fear, Edmontonians – she will be taking it north to your Fringe this summer as well.

Director Matt McKinney of 2150 Creative is actually putting on two shows this Fringe. Polar Shift "is a theatrical production that explores the struggle that comes with knowledge and awareness," he says.

The political comedy centers on the character Santa Claus, who decides to take corporate bigwig Coca Cola to court over the rights to his name and image.

"Through a variety of characters, dance, and a masked polar bear, the play touches on themes of consumerism, the financial state of the world, western traditions, and the need for creativity in our approach to change," McKinney describes.  "This project is important to me because the subject matter pertains to what is happening in the world today."

The script for Polar Shift is based on the play A Crisis of Consciousness which was performed last year at the Soulocentric Festival in Calgary. McKinney plans to further develop the piece with a grant he received from Calgary 2012, which will show in December at the Epcor Centre’s Motel, he says.

Hideout by Andrew Torry is the second piece McKinney is directing for both the Calgary and Edmonton Fringe. This one man show stars actor Brett Dahl as a "like-minded friend on the run, fists up and fighting" in a "lonely, zombie-filled world".

The dark and imaginative piece follows "a young teenager who can’t catch a break at home or school, and goes to great lengths to show us that although life’s greatest battles take pace within ourselves, they don’t need to be fought alone."

Firey headed Johnnie Walker of Nobody’s Business Theatre acts out three ‘vaguely ridiculous’ characters in this comedic one man show.

"There’s Nicholas, the titular ‘readheaded stepchild’, an awkward middle-schooler who stands out like a sore thumb; Mary-Anne, his tough, chain smoking, ex Jehova’s Witness, golf pro step mom; and Rufus Vermilion, his imaginary friend and glamorous alter ego," Walker describes.

"For our company it’s definitely been our most successful show to date." Nobody’s Business has been performing the show since 2010 in cities all over Canada, though this is the first time the piece will be performed in Alberta. Written prior to the It Gets Better movement, Walker says the show still conveys a parallel sentiment.

"It’s all about queer bullying and a young person who just so desperately needs to get to the next stage of his life where everything quirky and unusual about him will actually draw people to him in a positive way – instead of just making him an easy target for schoolyard abuse," Walker says.

Despite being a seasoned performer the actor says he still gets more than just the jitters waiting in the wings prior to a performance.

"A lot of times, when I write plays, I don’t perform in them but with this one it’s hard for me to imagine anyone else doing the show," he says. "I get to watch people laugh at the story and, often as not, watch them cry as well."

"Join two of Canada’s foremost female impersonators – Justine Tyme and Mr. Terri Stevens – as they present the most sparkling, bedazzled, bejeweled, feathered, sequined hour of comedy ever assembled," slates Edmonton’s known and loved Guys in Disguise troupe.

The Guys in Disguise Classic started performing in 2008, embracing the seasoned groups’ roots; "presenting some of the finest drag cabaret variety entertainment to be found in North America."

Since its founding at the Edmonton Fringe Festival in 1987 the award winning troupe has produced and toured more than 30 productions across Canada and the United States.

The Silver Anniversary Edition is presented in part of the Guys in Disguise 25th Anniversary season, and the Calgary Fringe Fest will be its western debut.

"See Julie Andrews, Reba McEntire, Annie Lennox, Cher and more," from August 3rd to 11th at the Alexandra Centre in Inglewood.

Gallant shouts out to those who make the Fringe possible each year, contributing to its growth in variety and popularity.

"...my volunteers, board, and seasonal staff, who are the backbone of the organization and with whom putting on a nine day event like this would not even be possible," she says. "A big thanks to local media for jumping on the Fringe bandwagon and helping us spread the Fringe word to the masses (our media ROCKS)!"

"Who makes the festival possible?  ALL OF YOU!!!"