Performing out of the Glen Ridge train station, the improv comedy group Lunatic Fringe has been delivering laughs for almost three decades—and shows no signs of stopping.
Back in 1997, when the Spice Girls ruled the charts and Tamagotchis were the must-have toy, Lunatic Fringe took the stage for the first time, turning audience suggestions into fast-paced, unpredictable comedy.
“We’re the Rolling Stones of improv,” says Deb Maclean, the group’s founder and longtime leader. “Who stays in a comedy group for 28 years?”
From Luna Stage to Glen Ridge
The group’s name comes from Luna Stage, the Montclair theater where it first performed. Over the years, Lunatic Fringe moved through five different venues before settling into its current home at the Glen Ridge train station.
Even the ticket prices seem stuck in time—$10 in advance and $12 at the door.
A Legacy of Laughter
Paul Murphy, often sporting his signature Hawaiian shirt, is the only original cast member still performing alongside Maclean. The only real concession to age, she jokes, is that Murphy no longer lifts her over his head in a swing-dance routine during their theme song.
Unlike stand-up comedy, where audience members can sometimes become the punchline, Lunatic Fringe focuses on keeping things lighthearted and welcoming. Many fans have been coming to their shows since the very beginning.
“It’s a place to laugh and have a good time,” Maclean says. “And the scarier the world gets, the more important that is.”
