2025 CONFERENCE
October 23–26, 2025
Elgin, Illinois
SPECIAL GUESTS
Danielle Heal
Program Director, Illinois Arts Council
Politics and Fringe—Creating in This Moment
Danielle Heal is a Program Director at the Illinois Arts Council, where she helps guide statewide arts policy, programs, and funding that support artists, cultural organizations, and communities across the state.
The Illinois Arts Council is a vital partner to many arts organizations, offering General Operating Support Grants that help nonprofits sustain ongoing programming, cover core costs, and build long-term stability. Elgin Fringe Festival is among the organizations benefiting from this essential support.
Danielle brings valuable insight into how state agencies can collaborate with Fringe festivals to strengthen local infrastructure and foster creative ecosystems in communities like Elgin.
Danny Wightkin
Performing Artist
Thursday Night Special Performance
Danny Wightkin is an award-winning clown and actor who tours his solo shows across the country and beyond. He studied clown in France with master Philippe Gaulier and, more recently, with Avner the Eccentric. With over a decade of performance experience, Danny has brought his unique, interactive style to fringes, festivals, theaters, parties, and events of all kinds. Offstage, he enjoys creature acting in films and starred as the titular monster in the multi-award-winning horror short The Spaghetti Man.
In this special showing for USAFF, Danny will present Help Me Help You Help Yourself—an award-winning, interactive hour of silly, preposterous performance fun! As the clown Your Silent Partner, he’ll attempt to share everything he’s gathered during his time on Earth… but he can’t do it alone. He’ll need our help to pull it off!
Holly Payton-Lombardo
Director, World Fringe
Holly Payton-Lombardo is a longtime leader in the culture, festivals, and events sector, with over 25 years of experience supporting Fringe and independent festivals around the world. She co-founded World Fringe, a global network now connecting more than 300 festivals. Her background includes launching the Brighton Fringe, serving in senior management at the Edinburgh Fringe, and directing the UK’s National Rural Touring Forum.
She is known for her collaborative leadership, skill in building networks, and commitment to festival ecosystems that foster innovation, cultural exchange, and sustainable growth. Holly brings a strategic, systems-based perspective to the evolving needs of Fringe organizers.
It’s an honor to have Holly with us at the USAFF Conference. She brings invaluable insight from her work with World Fringe and years of experience across the global festival landscape.
Jose Alfredo
Comedian & Artist
Thursday Afternoon Session: Artist-Friendly Festivals
Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, Jose Alfredo is a rising comedian and artist based in Chicago. Known for his sharp wit (and mysterious hair), he has performed alongside some of Mexico’s most recognized standup comics and recently completed training at Second City Chicago.
In Chicago, he works closely with La Jaja House de la Comedia and created the city’s only Spanish-language stand-up open mic, which ran from 2021 to 2024 and is set to return in 2025. At the 2025 Elgin Fringe Festival, he produced and headlined Cafeinado, a sold-out night of stand-up in Spanish.
Jose will share his reflections about how festivals can be more accessible and welcoming to artists, particularly those in multilingual and culturally specific communities.
Karrie Patten
Tysers Insurance Brokers
Karrie Patten has worked in the insurance industry since 2006, with a focus on clients in the arts, live entertainment, and nonprofit sectors. As a former small business owner, she understands the challenges of launching and sustaining creative ventures—including what it takes to navigate risk without stifling innovation.
At Tysers Insurance Brokers, she helps festivals, venues, and touring artists find practical solutions for protecting people, property, and productions. Her approach is grounded in creativity, flexibility, and a strong understanding of how unconventional events—like Fringe—require unconventional coverage.
Karrie brings a behind-the-scenes perspective on how insurance can support festivals rather than hinder them, especially when resources are tight and the stakes are high.
Tish Powell
Elgin City Council & Elgin Cultural Arts Commission
Thursday Afternoon Session:
Politics and Fringe—Creating in This Moment
Tish Powell combines deep experience in local government with a strong commitment to arts and culture. With over 16 years of management level experience in local government, she served 7 years with the City of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and now over 9 years with the City of Elgin.Tish holds a bachelor’s degree in Government from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s in Public Administration from Northern Illinois University.
She has been an active voice in civic and cultural life, with involvement in the U-46 Citizens Advisory Council, the Elgin MLK Holiday Committee, Elgin Proud and Beautiful, and the College Green Homeowners Association. As a longtime member of the Elgin Cultural Arts Commission and Elgin City Council, Tish works to champion artists, invest in public art, and expand access to the arts throughout her community.
Tish is also a longtime patron of the Elgin Fringe Festival. Her experience offers valuable insight into how politics and the arts intersect, and how that connection can be a powerful force for both creative and civic change.
PARTICIPANTS
Abby King
Andrew Vo
Erin Rehberg
Michael Novelli
Nick Mataragas
Tanner Melvin
Lois Neville
Paul Daily
Matt Worzala
Mike Eserkaln
Audrey Crabtree
Bryan Colley
Lorraine Hoffower
Xela Batchelder
Joshua N Hsu
Stevie Burggraaf
