ORLANDO | Orlando Fringe announced Oct. 19 that it’s opening a year-round performing arts venue in Orlando starting next year.
Fringe ArtSpace will be located at located at 54 W. Church St., the former home of the Mad Cow Theatre, in Downton Orlando and is slated to open Jan. 11. The 9,100 square-foot space includes two performance theatres — a 166-seat mainstage and a 40-60-seat black box.
“The City of Orlando strives to have a strong presence of cultural arts and amenities within downtown Orlando for all to enjoy,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer in a statement. “I’m looking forward to Orlando Fringe in their new theatrical performance space on Church Street. Fringe has a long history of supporting artists across Orlando and will add to our burgeoning arts scene.”
Fringe ArtSpace’s programming will be a “mix of traditionally programmed theatre and concerts as well as a studio series featuring consistent weekly, monthly and pop-up events like workshops, classes, readings, performances and artistic explorations. The main theatre will showcase full run productions of emerging arts organizations that Fringe will foster and mentor as well as established touring shows and concerts. Learning experiences for youth and adults will be a priority, and the venue is looking to address affordable rehearsal and performance rental space.”
“We’ve built the programming for this space by listening to the needs of the community,” Alauna Friskics, Orlando Fringe’s executive director, said in a press release. “After we conducted a series of listening sessions this past July and August, we took those suggestions and have created what we hope will be a unique theatrical experience for artists and audiences.”
Fringe ArtSpace will utilize its two theatres as venues for next year’s Orlando Fringe Festival, which runs May 16-29, and will be home to Winter Mini-Fest, running Jan. 12-15.
“We will open in January, get a feel for the space and continue to shift and mold how we fit into the building,” Friskics said. “There are thousands of ideas on the table, so we have lots of things to try. I am so thankful to the City of Orlando and the Downtown Development Board for entrusting us to lead this exciting adventure.”
One idea Fringe is looking at is providing live entertainment on the street to “activate the plaza on Church Street to help integrate arts into Downtown.”
Fringe ArtSpace was created after the City of Orlando approach Fringe to “extend their current model by developing artist-focused programming and creating experiences that build upon the amazing arts scene that exists in Central Florida.”
“With generous support from the Downtown Development Board, Fringe ArtSpace is focused on building a dynamic, inspiring community of artists and arts lovers with the purpose of providing artists a safe environment to create, experiment, collaborate and showcase their creations,” the press release reads.
Fringe ArtSpace will be led by Friskics and Orlando Fringe board president Doug Davis. Joining them on the launch team will be interim general manager Paul Oppedisano as well as talent and booking partners Joshian and Kayla Morales of Kelsay + Morales Company.
For more information, updates and future programming for Fringe ArtSpace, visit OrlandoFringe.org.
