2009 lottery slide show

Photos by Craig VanDerSchaegen, Fringe's Online Services Director.

The ping pong balls get ready for the cage. Fringe, unlike many performing arts festivals, isn't juried. Our entire lineup is determined by random lottery.

Vice President of Fringe's board of directors, Anthony Paul, welcomes the crowd and explains the evening's rules.

Robin C. Gillette, Fringe executive director, gets ready to play ball.

As each ball is drawn in the general lottery, Fringe office manager Mark Franko writes the show number down on the official Giant Piece of Paper. For accuracy's sake, the results are tracked by two people.

107 is drawn.

Some very happy artists have just become newly minted Fringe producers.

The capacity crowd at Bedlam Theatre.

In addition to over 200 spectators live, dozens of folks joined the lottery through streaming Web video. Social Media Coordinator Bill Stiteler was in charge of that magic.

Anthony announces some very exciting news.

As they're drawn, the balls go back into the giant plastic bag and won't come out again until the Fringe 2010 lottery.