(Photos by Gontran Durocher, courtesy Orlando Fringe)
ORLANDO | The 32nd Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival concluded May 29 with a closing ceremonies that highlighted multiple shows that were honored with Patrons Picks, Splash Awards from Watermark and more recognition on Memorial Day evening.
Box office manager Jennifer Thibodeau took the stage to announce that over 70,000 people attended the two-week long festival, with “Dungeons and Drag Queens” selling the most tickets — over 1,500.
“Drag is joy, drag is art and drag is not a crime,” Thibodeau said.
Watermark gave out nine Splash Awards during the closing ceremonies. The Splash Awards, or Splashies as they are nicknamed, included editors’ picks and awards voted on by Watermark readers.
This year, the Watermark editors awarded “Bullock and the Bandits” for Best Original Costume, “Dungeons and Drag Queens” for Best Use of Geek Culture, Kendall Leamy in “The White Lotus: Orlando” with the Jennifer Coolidge Award and “The Hock-Cock-A-Mook Islands” with the LGBTQ Award.
Watermark’s readers voted on their favorites from Fringe and honored Joel Swanson for “The White Lotus: Orlando” with Favorite LGBTQ+ Writer, Lily Garnett for “A Bad Romance” with Favorite LGBTQ+ Supporting Performer and AJ Pratt in “PeeVira’s SCAREavan SingAlong” with Favorite LGBTQ+ Lead Performer.
Ciara Hannon wrote and directed “Gay Cowboys” and won Favorite LGBTQ+ Director and “Gay Cowboys” also won Favorite LGBTQ+ Show.
Patrons Picks were also awarded to the top two shows from each venue with the highest amount of ticket sales. The winning shows were also awarded with an extra performance on Memorial Day.
From the Blue Venue, “Dick Sweat: Private Investigator” and “Freak Show” were the highest-selling. “Shifted” and “Manor of Death” were the winners from the Brown Venue. “The Ultimate Robin Williams Tribute Experience” and “Designated Debaters” were the Patrons Picks from Gold Venue. From the Green Venue, “The City Beautiful, an Original Live Band Burlesque Musical” and “An Audience of Amoebas” were the winners.
“Dungeons and Drag Queens” and “Scream Gays” took the Patrons Picks from the Orange Venue. “We Begin in a Tavern” and “Marathon” were the winners from the Pink Venue. From the Purple Venue, “I Lost on Jeopardy” and “Who mothered the corpse?” were the highest selling shows. “Great & Powerful Tim: Magic Tonight” and “Marcus Ryan- Eat, Pray, Walk” were awarded the Patrons Picks from the Red Venue.
“A Bad Romance” and “Nashville Hurricane” were the Patrons Picks recipients from the Silver Venue. Teal Venues winners included “Swampily Ever After; A Shrekxual Burlesque Parody” and “The Old Man and the Old Moon,” and the Yellow Venue’s highest-selling shows were “Multitiudes” and “Field Zoology 101.”
The Doug Ba’aser Comedic Actors Memorial Award was created this year to honor the late Doug Ba’aser, also known as drag entertainer Taffy Pinkerbox, who was a local comedian, actor and drag performer who was a longtime supporter of and performer at Orlando Fringe.
The scholarship is a monetary award given to an individual or company each year that celebrates drag arts or comedic acting, with a preference given to up-and-coming drag queens. This year they awarded two scholarships during the closing ceremonies.
Kai Carters and the company of “Dungeons and Drag Queens” were both awarded the scholarships this year at Fringe.
Orlando Fringe also honored Ba’aser with the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Orlando Fringe gave out two $1,000 scholarships to two Central Florida high school seniors who are interested in pursuing arts in college. The Fringers of the Future Scholarship recipients for the year were Madeline Franklin and Reina Burbowski.
Fringe showcased over 41 music groups and over 150 individual artists during the festival. The Fan Favorite of the weekend was awarded to The Chotchkies. The Naked Award was given to Ingrid from the Merkin Sisters. Fringe Crush Award was voted on by patrons, artists and staff and Derek and Ashley from Generic Male were the recipients. Chad Lewis received the Above and Beyond Award. The Fringe of the Fringe Award was given to the show “Rivulus: Poems for God.” “Tree” won the Fringe Buzz Award.
The Inclusivity Award was given to “RAP-unzel: An Original Rap Musical.” “Absolute Magic” won Best Magic Show. Best Specialty Show was awarded to “Easy as Pie.” Best Comedy Play was awarded to “Dick Sweat: Private Investigator.” “The Office Funeral Party Musical” won Best Musical Play.
You can watch the full Closing Ceremonies from this year’s Orlando Fringe Festival, which streamed live on their Facebook page, here.
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