Another year, another Rochester Fringe Festival has come and gone — celebrating its 14th year with a dynamic array of performances spanning comedy, theater, dance, music, film, and beyond. The festival has long been a cornerstone of the local arts community, highlighting both emerging and established talent.
One standing performance this year was Live & Illuminated: Sarah De Vallière & The Rhythmwell Present “The Healing”, held at the Center Stage Theater at the JCC’s Hart Theater. The show was an immersive, multi-sensory experience blending live music, storytelling, and visual art to create a deeply emotional journey.
The atmosphere was intimate — a perfect fit for the show’s reflective and personal themes. Each song performed by De Vallière and her band told a distinct story, carrying the audience through moments of pain, growth, and renewal. Before every piece, a meaningful quote appeared on the screen, followed by a short film or visual vignette that brought the music’s message to life.
These visuals were breathtaking — one depicted a serene night sky deep in the woods, illuminated by millions of stars, while another, was a smooth calm body of water. Together, these images elevated the performance beyond a simple concert, turning it into an audiovisual meditation.
De Vallière’s vocals were soulful and heartfelt, seamlessly blending with the band’s smooth instrumentation. The Rhythmwell provided a lush musical backdrop, weaving together soft percussion, melodic bass lines, and flowing guitar work that perfectly complemented her voice.
The Healing wasn’t just a performance — it felt like a shared experience of vulnerability and hope. As the final notes faded and the lights dimmed, the audience was left not only applauding but reflecting — on their own journeys, emotions, and moments of transformation.
Fringe Fest has once again proven to be a platform for authentic artistic expression, and Sarah De Vallière’s The Healing stood out as a shining example of the festival’s creative spirit.
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