(Photo courtesy Orlando Fringe)
ORLANDO | Orlando Fringe announced in a press release Dec. 19 several shows that will play at the organization’s new year-round performing arts space.
Fringe ArtSpace, which will open in the former home of the Mad Cow Theatre in Downtown Orlando, will kick off its start with a grand opening celebration Jan. 11.
“We listened to artists, patrons and community members, and we are excited to have everyone join us at the Grand Opening Bash on January 11 to launch this amazing new space,” said Alauna Friskics, Orlando Fringe’s executive director, in the release. “This curated season is just the beginning. We have so much more in store and are looking for many more ways to bring artists together and let their voices and stories be heard.”
The grand opening will begin with an official ribbon cutting by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer starting at 5:30 p.m. The event will feature a live DJ, strolling entertainment, drinks and two special preview performances of the Fringe Winter Mini-Fest. The event will also serve as a fundraiser with all donations benefitting Orlando Fringe and Fringe ArtSpace.
Fringe ArtSpace’s inaugural season will begin with Fringe Winter Mini-Fest Jan. 12-15, followed by BlueLaLa Entertainment’s “VarieTEASE GENESIS” Jan. 26-29. The remainder of the season will include “CARRIE the Musical,” “Middletown,” “A Quarter of A Century…and then some! and” “Our Lady of the Tortilla/Nuestra Señora de la Tortilla,” before serving as the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival’s Purple and Teal venues May 16-29.
“We are absolutely thrilled to finally announce the spring season of the MainStage theatrical programming at Fringe ArtSpace!” said Joshian and Kayla Kelsay Morales of Kelsay + Morales Company in the release. “This is a truly exciting occasion, as we have come together to create a performance space that truly represents and serves the needs of our community. At Fringe ArtSpace, the programming will be a living, breathing model that continues to evolve and adapt based on the needs of our community. We look forward to hearing from local artists and working together to create the best possible experience at Fringe ArtSpace.”
Fringe ArtSpace is located at 54 W. Church St. and is a 9,100 square-foot space that includes two performance theatres — a 166-seat mainstage and a 40-60-seat black box. Tickets for each of the shows are on sale now. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit FringeArtSpace.org, and read more about each of the shows coming to the new venue below.
Fringe Winter Mini-Fest
Jan. 12-15
The seventh annual Winter Mini-Fest is a four-day curated theatre festival with the best of past festivals, new works by fan favorites and brand-new artists scouted from the international Fringe circuit. With 18 artists performing several times throughout the weekend, there are plenty of opportunities to experience Fringe for the first time in the new Fringe ArtSpace.
“VarieTEASE GENESIS”
BlueLaLa Entertainment
Jan. 26-29
An extension of the last installment of “VarieTEASE On The Move,” which tells the story of the closing of the unique theatre, The Venue, and the four years following, this dance performance was specially created by Blue for the launch of ArtSpace. “GENESIS” embodies the growth, healing and start of anew, but have no fear, the nostalgic Avant-garde story telling that is VarieTEASE is very apparent and lends itself to the part of the plot that “makes no sense,” and audiences won’t want to miss the new featured talent that is the future of this legendary ensemble. Consider this a rebirth 20 years in the making.
“CARRIE the Musical”
William Daniel Mills Theatre Company
Feb. 3-5
“CARRIE The Musical” is a thrilling and engaging retelling of Stephen King’s classic thriller novel “Carrie.” It tells the story of Carrie White, a teenager from a small town in New England, who is relentlessly bullied at school for being different and is harshly controlled at home by her fanatical mother. It’s gonna be “a night you’ll never forget.” This is the first production as part of a new collaboration between Fringe ArtSpace and the William Daniel Mills Theatre Company to provide a home venue for the amazing young artists that make up the theatre company.
“Middletown”
Kangagirl Productions & Ant Farm
Feb. 17-March 5
A deeply moving and funny new play by acclaimed writer Will Eno that explores the universe of a small American town featuring an all-star cast directed by Orlando Fringe Festival Lifetime Achievement Award recipient David Lee. As a friendship develops between longtime resident John Dodge and new arrival Mary Swanson, the lives of the inhabitants of Middletown intersect in strange and poignant ways in a journey that takes them from the local library to outer space and points between. “Middletown,” which is modeled after Thorton Wilder’s classic play “Our Town,” will draw together artists from across the Central Florida community to collaborate on a very special production.
“A Quarter of A Century…and then some!”
Beth Marshall Presents
March 9-11
Arius has been on this Earth for a quarter of a century… and then some. Throughout his evolutions around the sun, he has learned so much but also has unlearned or recalibrated some of those learnings to fit his morality of understanding them. Through brave exploration, vulnerability, self-discovery, reflection, discipline, love and motivation, Arius has found the new hobby of growth. He continually finds ways to improve on himself, do the inner work and share his light and joy. By mixing comedy, drama, rap, R&B, spoken word, dance and songs to share his evolution of growth as a Black, queer artist in 2022, Arius tells the story of his 25+ years of what he has learned and unlearned.
“Our Lady of the Tortilla/Nuestra Señora de la Tortilla”
Descolonizarte TEATRO
March 17-19
This comedy tells the story of an intergenerational, Latinx family in the U.S. struggling with tradition, culture, language, love and each other. Everything changes when the pious tia (aunty) sees the Virgin Mary on a tortilla, and family ties are put to the test. Written by Emmy and National Hispanic Playwright Award Winner, Luis Santeiro. the play is in Spanglish (Spanish and English) with Spanish and English supertitles, and features live music.
Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival
May 16-29
A 14-day arts festival, the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival is the longest-running Fringe Theatre Festival in the United States, celebrating 32 years as “Orlando’s Most Unique Cultural Experience.” This year, the purple and teal venues will be located at Fringe ArtSpace.
