A one-woman, burlesque-style opera about the dating life of a mermaid. An interactive take on a Shakespeare classic. A comedy-infused magic show. Where else could you find these eccentric offerings besides the Capital Fringe Festival?

Taking over four stages (or rather, creating four stages) in an office building in Georgetown from July 12-23, the festival will present more than 40 shows that are uniquely Fringe. The annual festival is in its 16th iteration and brings together roughly 300 artists from the D.C. area and around the country each year.

Additional shows will take place at The Edlavitch Jewish Community Center of D.C., and event space Powerhouse will host live music during each weekend of the festival — as well as the closing night party and award show on July 23. Shows run about 50 to 75 minutes, and tickets — all of them general admission — are $15, plus fees.

Capital Fringe founder Julianne Brienza branded this year’s festival — from the venue names to the program design — based on the adage: “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!” (Fresh-squeezed lemonade will be available at multiple venues.)

Organized by location, here are some highlights of the upcoming festival. Visit the Capital Fringe website for the most up-to-date information on showtimes.

Rind (1025 Thomas Jefferson St. NW — entrance on 30th Street NW)

Mutu Sakata: Written and performed by Renee Namakau Ombaba, this dramatic comedy explores the big-city adventures of Mutu, a young Black woman from Mississippi. Her name means “genuinely human” in the Lozi language, and she must confront her innermost fears while dealing with culture shock and loneliness in D.C. (July 14-23)

Ten Principles: Here’s something you may not know: There are a ton of Burning Man enthusiasts in the D.C. area. They’ve even got their own Facebook group. Hear true stories from some of the locals who’ve made the annual trek to the Nevada desert to experience “a full-fledged, thriving, temporary metropolis.” (July 13-22)

The Holy O: In Houston-based playwright and performer Lauren Hance’s solo comedy, main character Vera contemplates becoming a nun — though, she’s never considered celibacy one of her virtues. The audience gets to guide Vera along her journey as she grapples with the connection between body, spirit, and sexuality. (July 13-16)

MORE: Attack on Tunggorono, Marc Hoffman Shadow Puppetry (July 14-23); Sip & Paint, Ginny Simmons (July 15-23); 29th and Oakes, Daniel Niewoehner (July 15-23)

Squirt (1050 Thomas Jefferson St. NW — first floor)

Almost 13: Joan Kane tells the story of surviving one hot, violent summer in Brooklyn as a teen girl. Kane adapted this play from a 15-performer show to a solo piece and originally wrote it at a play symposium in Italy more than over seven years ago. (July 14-23)

Charlie Ross Comedy & Magic: A magician never reveals his secrets, but this one instead shows off his ability to do tricks while telling revealing jokes. Charlie Ross delivers a mischievous standup routine while attempting the impossible right in front of your eyes. (July 15-23)

Keys, Wallet, Phone, Dignity: D.C. tastemaker Sheldon Scott brings us his new play about sexual self-discovery in the space and time that follows pandemic isolation. (July 14-23)

MORE: A Bro’s Tale, Majdy Fares (July 14-23); Gilda, Helena K. Cosentino (July 15-23); My Name Is Norma, Erin Joy Schmidt (July 13-22); Shut Up Martha, Jake Lipman (Jul 13-16); Spadura, Dahéli Hall (July 15-23)

Sour (1050 Thomas Jefferson St. NW — second floor)

Dildos and Body Parts: In one of the most on-the-fringe shows at Capital Fringe, Sarah Greenspan performs as Diva D’Luscious. She combines burlesque, opera, and fantasy in a story about a mermaid who turns into a newly single woman. (July 14-23)

“Hey Pamela? Yes Pamela?”: This partially improvised, two-person play from Pamela H. Leahigh is listed as a comedy; but really, it could be described as a thriller, since one of the performers is given the script just 24 hours ahead of each show in order to play a role on stage. (July 14-23)

Tender: This drama from David John Preece and Laurel-based Transformation Theatre centers on an imagined evening shared by literary legends Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and his wife, Zelda. (July 13-22)

MORE: All the C Words, Sarah Mineiro (July 15-23); Grief Baby’s First Road Trip, Adedana Ashebir (July 15-23); Inhibitionist(!), CrashMat Productions/Hope Lafferty (July 15-23)

Sweet (1050 Thomas Jefferson St. NW — third floor)

Big Dad Energy: Kansas City-based comedian Jamie Campbell combines stand-up and musical comedy to explain the confusing experience of getting married in his 40s and realizing he will never be a parent. (July 13-23)

Only Love: Have you ever wanted to be a character in classic literature? Well, this fresh take on the original Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet text by Madeleine Smith offers you that chance, as the audience gets to participate in the romantic tragedy. (July 14-23)

This is What You Look Like: The photo above should give you a sense of how unserious this comedy is from Explode the Form, a Philadelphia-based comedy troupe of self-described “societal outcasts.” Prepare to cringe as they dismantle your thoughts on everything from capitalism to Taylor Swift. (July 20-23)

MORE: Nasty White Folx, Sidney Monroe Williams (July 15-22); Quilt Stories, MoB Theatre (July 13-23); Who is My Authentic Self? Can That Change?, Cathy Mitchell (July 15-22)

Cafritz Hall (Edlavitch DCJCC, 1529 16th St. NW)

A Moment in Time: Audiences raved about this dance performance the last time Philadelphia-based SHARP Dance Company graced the Fringe stage. Through movement, the dancers share the story of Nicholas Winton rescuing 669 children during the Holocaust. (July 12-15)

Between Raindrops: The famous collapse of D.C.’s Knickerbocker Theatre in 1922 recently hit its centennial, making it the appropriate time to revisit the event that killed 98 residents and injured over 100 more. Writer/director Elizabeth Cutler does just that, exploring themes of connection and memory in this emotional one-act play. (July 16-23)

TBD: Natalia Corvoisier and Courtney Simmons direct this “musical love letter,” performed by BIPOC and LGBTQ+ artists. The show combines 15 plays performed in 30 minutes, in an order selected by the audience. (July 14-23)

MORE: Dementia Man, Samuel A. Simon (July 13-23); Ezra Pound Couldn’t Sleep Here, Valcour Island Productions (July 15-23); Finding Home, Human Landscape Dance, SylviDances, Kyoko Fujimoto, Giselle Ruzany (July 14-15); I Could Have Set the World on Fire, Shaun Michael Johnson (July 15-23); Onion Skin, Dara Padwo-Audick (July 16-21)

Theater J (Edlavitch DCJCC, 1529 16th St. NW — entrance on Q St NW) 

Bell Wringer: Virginia-based Pinky Swear Productions presents this musical about the Bell Witch legend that’s perhaps more comedy than horror, and heavy on the bluegrass. (July 12-23)

#Charlottesville: Local performance artist Priyanka Shetty was out of town during the 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville. But she returned to interview residents impacted by the white nationalist event and carefully crafted this performance based on those conversations. (July 14-16)

Who Did It? If you’re a fan of detective games like Hunt a Killer, this choose-your-own-adventure comedy is right up your alley. Coming off a sold-out run, Erick Acuña Productions’s improvised murder mystery allows the audience to set up the crime scene. (July 12-22)

MORE: Brunch with the Boys, Sean Pflueger (July 13-23); Drown the Muse, (Um)Laut Productions (July 14-23); Queer Family Summer Sanctuary, RiverShe Collective Arts (July 15-23); The Road to the End, Bella Panciocco (July 13-23)

Note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Explode the Form is a Philadelphia-based group and not from D.C., and that “Only Love” is not a “choose-your-own-adventure” version of “Romeo and Juliet.”