Fringe Lottery

Posted on by Thor

On December 2nd the Fringe Lottery was held in the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center (812 E. Rollins St, Orlando, Fl).  This was an opportunity to see which shows would be selected for Fringe 23. Michael Mariaccio and George “Fringe” Wallace hosted the lottery. Lottery tickets were picked from green buckets. The Fringe is a completely non-juried week of theater and any show could be selected. The theater was packed full of producers and directors who hoped their shows would be picked.

  1. Participants were selected on a
    non-juried basis, through a first-come, first served process, a lottery,
    or other method approved by the Association.
  2. The audience must have the option to
    pay a ticket price, 100% of which goes directly to the artists
    (government taxes notwithstanding.)
  3. Fringe Festival producers have no
    control over the artistic content of each performance. The artistic
    freedom of the participants is unrestrained.
  4. Festivals must provide an easily accessible opportunity for all audiences and all artists to participate in Fringe Festivals.

 Orlando city commissioner Robert Stuart did the actual picking from the bucket.When he selected “Boylesque” from the bucket he had to hesitate before pronouncing the title. Michael Wanzie shouted out from the audience, “Your going to have to learn how to pronounce “Boylesque” if you want the gay vote!” He got quite a good laugh. Later the politician assured his votes by shaking Michael’s hand and kissing him on the cheek. The audience erupted. So, take a glance and anticipate this year’s line up.

– ORANGE –
The All New Nashville Hurricane [Chase Padgett – Burbank, CA]
Ennui [Circus Arts – Polk City, FL]
Boylesque [Sensuality N Motion / Visual EFX Productions – Orlando, FL]
Bless Me Father, For I have Danced [Yow Dance – Orlando, FL]
BARE: A Pop Opera [Penguin Point Productions – Winter Park, FL]
FLIGHT: A Crane’s Story [IBEX Puppetry – Orlando, FL]
Something’s Weird in Weeki Wachee [John Ryanand Diva Productions – Orlando, FL]
– SILVER –
Money Shot! [RUSH Theatrical Productions – New York, NY]
Grim and Fischer [Wonderheads – Portland, OR]
Oyster Boy [Haste Theatre Company – London, UK]
Under the Rainbow [Alan Gerber – Orlando, FL]
There’s No Place Like Home [Wanzie Presents / D-Squared Productions – Orlando, FL]
Smooch [PB and J Theatre Factory – Winter Park, FL]
TBD [The Downtowners – Orlando, FL]
Fifty Shades of Gay [Homicidal Orphan Productions – Orlando, FL]
– YELLOW –
Marathon [TJ Dawe – Vancouver, BC]
God Is a Scottish Drag Queen II: An All New Testament [Mike Delamont – Victoria, BC]
The Surprise [Martin Dockery – Brooklyn, NY]
Killer Quack [James Judd Entertainment – New York, NY]
Conversations with My Divorce Attorney [John Montgomery Theatre Co. – New York, NY]
Tappin and Yappin [J&J Pickle Productions: Ocoee, FL]
Pasion Flamenca [Flamenco del Sol Dance Company – Sanford, FL]
Frankenchrist! The Musical [Acting Passionate Productions – Lakeland, FL]
Professor Soap’s Musical Machine [Cadence Creative – Loughman, FL]
– PINK –
Ruby Rocket, Private Eye [Stacey Hallal – Portland, OR]
Chaotica [Christel Bartelse – Toronto, Ontario ]
House [Ribbitre Public Theatre: Edmonton, Alberta]
Black Stockings [Dangerous Theatre: Denver, CO]
Immortals [Wind Whistle Theatre – Nevada City, CA]
Donating Sperm to My Sisters Wife [Stewart Huff – Winterville, GA]
And Baby Makes Four [Utmost Productions – Orlando, FL]
The British Invasion [My Dream Tree Productions – Casselberry, FL]
– BROWN –
Jem Rolls [Big Word Performance Poetry – Surrey, UK]
TBD [Keith Brown – London, Ontario]
Train Your Man [Kirchmann Productions – Alberton, South Africa]
Taking Out the White Trash [Peemypants Productions – Savannah, GA]
Baba Yaga [It Ain’t Shakespeare – Dallas, TX]
Radio Free Fringe [RFF – Orlando, FL]
Hungry! The Musical [Madmymn Payne Prod – Kissimmee, FL]
All Shook Up: A Rockabilly Revival [Bare Ass Productions – Winter Park, FL]
– GREEN –
Roller Derby Saved My Soul [Broken Turtle Productions – Ottawa, Ontario]
The Death of Brian [A Zombie Odyssey: Theater Simple – Seattle, WA]
40 Something Still Single [Cougar Comedy Productions – Orlando, FL]
Alice Rocks Wonderland [Atlantic Coast Theatre for Youth – Champions Gate, FL]
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson [BTW Productions / Ashley Willsey – Lake Mary, FL]
Escape from Baldwin Park [Carpenter Aunt Productions – Orlando, FL]
Liquid Courage [Tobo Productions – Orlando, FL]
20 Nothing [Last Minute Panic Productions – Winter Springs, FL]
– BLUE –
Papa Squats Store of Sorts [Ain’t True and Uncle False’s Hood – Indianapolis, IN]
My Brooklyn Hamlet: A Meshugenah True Story [Brenda Adelman – Spring Valley, CA]
Punk Grandpa [Cosmic Jello / Laura Force Scruggs – Chicago, IL]
Sperm Wars [Random Samples Collective – Toronto, ON]
Fire in the Meth Lab [2 Hoots Productions – Melbourne, Australia]
Shakespeare’s Histories: Ten Epic Plays at a Breakneck Pace [Timothy Mooney Repertory – Prospect Heights, IL]
Tuesday Mourning [Clandestine ARTS – Altamonte Springs, FL]
The Queer Diaries [Royal Entertainment – Orlando, FL]
TBD [Playwrights Round Table – Orlando, FL]
TBD [Kia Ora Productions – Kissimmee, FL]
– PURPLE –
VGL 5’4″ Top [Lucas Brooks – Brooklyn, NY]
Desperately Seeking the Exit [Peter Michael Marino – New York, NY]
Superhero’s Can’t Fly [botwot productions – Aspen, CO]
Us vs. The World [Improv Off the Grid – Orlando, FL]
The Float Boat [Comedy First CLC – Longwood, FL]
The Four Great Books of China (Condensed) [Emerson Productions – Casselberry, FL]
Battle of the Sexes: Male Surrender [John Chapman – Orlando, FL]
Tim and Spencer’s Yet Unnamed Magic Project [Corrupting the Kids – Orlando, FL]
Paisley the Clown [Paisley Productions – Orlando, FL]
TBD [JAR Productions – Orlando, FL]
– RED –
Mark Twain’s is Shakespeare Dead [Doctor Keir Co. – Montreal, Quebec ]
The Chronic Single’s Handbook [Randy Ross – Somerville, MA]
Tap Me on the Shoulder [Pack of Others – Northampton, MA]
Going On: A Inspiring True Story about Loss and Finding the Love Inside Yourself [White Rabbit – Portland, OR]
An Iliad [John Remke – West New York, NY]
Rendezvous La Petite Morte [Chloe J. Roberts – Tampa, FL]
The All-New Review [Portals Theatre – Orlando, FL]
Reincarnation Soup [Viet Nguyen – Orlando, FL]
Paranormal Stupidity [Brian Flaherty – Maitland, FL]
Helix by Tangent [Spur of the Moment – Winter Park, FL]
– BLACK –
A Brief History of Beer [Wish Experience – London, UK]
Ocean Fox [Castlereigh Theatre Project – Victoria, BC]
babyBlueStar Presents: VarieTEASE [babyBlueStar – Orlando, FL]
Exploring Her Kinkdom [Penguin Productions – Orlando, FL]
Tod Kimbro Does Everything [Tod Kimbro – Orlando, FL]
Seasons [Squeaky Wheel Theatre Project – Orlando, FL]
Home Free by Lanford Wilson [Gagne Productions – Orlando, FL]
TBD [Logan Donahoo – Orlando, FL]
Truth of Dare with Pepe [Pepe Productions – Orlando, FL]

 Afterwards, some performers lamented not being picked. They are on a waiting list and sometimes shows drop out offering an opportunity for that slot to be filled. I recall laughing out loud when “Sharknado the Musical” was picked. Unfortunately I don’t see it in the listings so it must have been dropped. Thankfully “Sperm Wars” made the cut. Mark Your Calendar, there are many Fringe happenings leading up to the big event. Check the Fringe website for more details. Hey, if any local producers or directors are reading this, keep me in mind to sketch read throughs, or rehearsals.

  • February 07 – Loon
  • February 08 (2 shows) – Loon
  • February 09 – Loon
  • March 03 – Fringe at the Hard Rock
  • April 14 -Local Preview
  • May 14 – National / International Preview
  • Second half of May – FRINGE!

Weekend Top 6 Picks

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Weekend Top 6 Picks

Saturday August 10, 2013

9am to 2pm Junk in the Trunk Rummage Sale! Alden Road in Ivanhoe Village near The Venue. Ivanhoe Village Main Street will team up with Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival to present the Junk in the Trunk Rummage Sale! In addition to finding some bargains, you’ll be able to sip free mimosas and enjoy the cuisine of Local Yolk’l food truck. Proceeds will benefit IVMS and Orlando Fringe.

10am to 5PM $7-10 Eco Friendly Pepper Expo. Saturday and Sunday.  International Palms Resort and Conference Center 6515 International Drive. Learn how to survive the apocalypse. omproinc.com

6:30pm to 10pm $150 Taste of the Nation. Orlando World Center Marriott 8701 World Center Dr. Orlando, Florida. Taste food and wine from all the best local restaurants all in one evening.

Sunday August 11, 2013

1pm to 3pm $5 Film Slam. The Enzian Theater, 1300 S Orlando Ave  Maitland, FL. See films from local film makers.

4:30pm to 6:30pm $13 Roller Derby Season Closer  Semoran Skateway 2670 Cassel Creek Boulevard, Casselberry, Florida. Come watch the Arkham Assailants and the Sunnyland Slammers battle it out one last time this season. The winner will take on the Serial Thrillers. Doors open at 4:30 and first jam is at 5:00.

7pm to 9pm Free White House Concert t2000 South Summerlin Orlando FL. P.J. Rohr who will play jazzical music (Claude Bolling and more) with her favorite pianist, Lee Lallance. Visual art will be by Maryse Jupillat. Doors open at 7PM and the music starts at 7:30PM.

Key of E – The Full Cast Recording of the End of the World!

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The Key of E took the 2013 International Fringe Festival
by an apocalyptic storm. Help this award-winning apocalyptic rock musical record soundtrack come to life! You know you want it. The completely new and original apocalyptic rock musical by Andy Matchett won 11 Audience Choice Awards,
the most of any show in the history of the awards, including Best
Musical and Best of Fringe. A Kickstarter has been created to help
produce the soundtrack to the show on CD and Vinyl! The goal of the kickstarter is to raise $3,000 before August 21st at 5PM. To date, $280 have been pledged. Donate to the Kickstarter to guarantee you get your copy of the music.
For and donation of $250 or more you can get a signed archival print of the Key
of E Monster as seen on this site.

Mark your Calendar, The Key of E will be returning to the stage starting August 23rd to August 31st at The Venue (511 Virginia Drive Orlando FL). Tickets to the show are just $10. Show times are at 8PM. Seriously, this show will rock your face off!

Eating Pasta Off the Floor

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Maria Grazia Affinito shared her story of her contentious relationship she had with her mom in the red venue at this year’s Fringe. Her mother actually tries to sell Maria off in the supermarket. Maria’s imitation of her mom’s mannerisms and speech were hilarious. Once while watching a documentary about the atrocities of WWII, her mom grew silent. Maria realizes that her mom must have been raped in the war. She then recounts how the smell of cold cement could bring her right back to a horrible incident involving four boys.

The way Maria recounted and acted out every incident with her mom was heart warming and humerus.  This was a mother daughter relationship that had endured many knocks. There were times when Maria literally wanted to kill her mom and it took the soothing reassurances of a relative to keep the peace. This relationship stood up to the test of time and trials. There was plenty of laughter and some sadness and when it was all told, the audience stood and applauded.

Orange Street Riders

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I didn’t spend as much time at the Fringe outdoor stage as I usually do, but I heard Jessica Pawli did an amazing job booking local bands. There was one opportunity that happened between shows and I was waiting for Terry to arrive. The Orange Street Riders were performing and it was a great set. They performed with an energetic harmonica player, a guitar and drums. Large cans of libations were on the stage. Listening to these guys made me realize that I should make more of an effort to sketch the local music scene. Rick Lane was in the audience bobbing his head in appreciation.

Antony Bolante the writer of this years “Onomatopoeia“, met me as I was working to pick up a sketch. He thought ahead and actually had an 11 by 14 inch portfolio to slip the sketch into. I know that piece is going to an appreciative owner. Anyway two thumbs up for The Orange Street Riders. I’ll be looking to catch a longer set from them sometime in the future. Time to hit the open road.

Burnt at the Steak

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Carolann Valentino Productions of NYC, presented a one-woman musical featuring 18 hilarious characters portrayed through song, dance, comedy and audience improvisation at the Orlando Fringe. She reenacted her time managing a multi million dollar steakhouse in NYC. The one thing I learned is that you can earn $200,000 a year managing the service staff at such a restaurant. Unfortunately such a job is all consuming allowing little time to go to auditions as an actress.

One guy got up from his seat in the audience mid way through the show and exited through the fire exit. I was seated on my artist stool next to the exit so I closed the door behind him to keep the harsh sunlight from cutting across the stage. I wondered if he couldn’t stand the show or if he had to pee after drinking too many beers in the beer tent. The fire exit wouldn’t close completely but at least it didn’t set off an alarm.

As an autobiographical piece, the act seemed a bit self serving. The salary mentions came across as bragging and the imitations of the staff she managed seemed comic at the staff’s expense. Carolann called several men up to sit in the restaurant chairs and she had some flirty interactive fun with them. The musical number with audience participation, highlighted all the different cuts of beef using a Sound of Music song as the foundation. Orlando is a service industry town and this show made me realize that I never want to work in a restaurant. Of course in Orlando you are lucky to make minimum wage with no benefits. The premise of the show was sound, but it seemed to run too long.

God is a Scottish Drag Queen

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If you have ever questioned how God can do some of the things he does, then the notion that “God is a Scottish Drag Queen” makes some sense. Mike Delamont from Victoria BC Canada was God. Two Colbertesque posters of god in a floral dress pointed at the audience. The second God stepped on the stage with his rain barrel sized Gastronemius muscles bulging, the laughter never stopped. He skewered everything from Justin Bieber to the Pope. I grew a bit uncomfortable as he made fun of the Irish with a photo of an obvious slovenly drunk. I’m half Irish on my mother’s side, but who cares, I laughed anyway.

God called up an audience member to teach her how to dance. She followed along with a practiced line dancers confidence. By the end of the hour, I had been laughing so hard my sides hurt. The buzz on the Fringe lawn that this was a hilarious show was right on the mark.  God was matronly yet always ready with a sharp quip. Thank God that God has such a sharp sense of humor. If he had a prime time news hour show, I most certainly would tune in.

The Dark Fantastic

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I had seen Martin Dockery give an amazing performance at last year’s Fringe Festival. He delivers his monologues with explosive expressiveness. A single spot light illuminated him seated at a small table wearing a cowboy hat at the beginning of this performance. I was itching to draw, but I couldn’t see the sketch page. In time I realized the house lights would never come up , “duh, it is called the DARK Fantastic”, so I blindly put lines on the page as Martin spoke about an incredibly evil character. The stark empty stage forced the audience to imagine the depths of the story.

At first, I was mesmerized by every cadence of Martin’s delivery. Faint music underscored his delivery and there was a verse like cadence as he spoke. He would speak fast and then hang on a word, teasing the audience with what might come next. In time however my mind wandered. I couldn’t follow the murderous meanderings of a deviant mind for long. As the story turned to terminal fear, I struggled with finding order in the darkness.

Weekend Top 6 Picks

Saturday June 8th 2013

10am – 6pm FREE Bizarre Buying Bazaar, Ripley’s Believe it or Not 8201 International Drive

7pm – 8pm $10 Boogie Shoes starring Marcy Schwalm at Breakthrough Theater 419A West Fairbanks Avenue Winter Park FL

7pm – 11pm Apartment E “Essentials Saturday” 20 Year Anniversary. Lake Ivanhoe Orlando, Florida. A day of giving back. A celebration of Orlando creativity and community.

Sunday June 9th 2013 

noon – 2pm Broadway Brunch at Hamburger Mary’s 110 West Church Street, downtown. I heard this is an all Disney show. Show tunes, drink specials, and an amazing
show with Broadway performances by The Minx, Ginger Minj, and special
guests. Seating at 11:00am with show starting at 12pm

1pm – 3pm $5 Film Slam. Enzian Theater. Originally a project of University of Central Florida’s Downtown Media Arts Center, the Enzian became the home of FilmSlam when DMAC closed in 2006. Now in its fifth year, Film Slam continues to be a popular outlet for indie and student filmmakers throughout the State of Florida.

3pm – 4pm $10 Boogie Shoes starring Marcy Schwalm. Breakthrough Theater 419A West Fairbanks Avenue Winter Park FL

If you have suggestions for the weekend top 6 Picks, contact us at analogartistdigitalworld@gmail.com or leave comments here.

The House of Yes

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At Fringe, I was handed a “House of Yes” button on the green lawn at Lock Haven Park. It was red white and blue so I assumed the show might be a political comedy. The Penguin Point Productions play and its polished production values took me by surprise. It was about a brother, Marty (Justin M.G. Hughes), who returned home with his naive fiance, Lesly (Monica Joyce), from the city. I quickly became obvious that his twin sister, Jacqueline (Adele Papoosha), had suffered a nervous breakdown. She was ecstatic about his return. She fancied herself to be like Jackie Onassis. It became clear that Marty and his Mom (Marcie Schwalm), didn’t get along. Mrs. Pascal’s sarcasm,wit and cold high brow detachment added much needed humor to every scene. The whole family put on airs. I knew nothing about the play or the later film staring Parker Posey. I grew more uncomfortable as the play progressed.

When Jackie-O finds out her brother is engaged her mood sours and it is clear to all that she is off her medications. Late that night she convinces her brother to play a childhood game. They reenact the Kennedy Assassination and she nurses him and her gentle kisses turn to passionate love. Lesly discovers them and slips away disgusted by the incest. Meanwhile the younger brother, Anthony (Max Herskovitz), became obsessed with Lesly and he seduces her with a story of a brain tumor and his virginity. The mom discovers these two and in a comic moment just shakes her head and walks off stage as if nothing would surprise her.

The next morning Mom tries to convince Leslie to leave, blackmailing her with what she had seen the night before. Leslie has much more backbone than anyone in the family gave her credit for and she refuses to leave without Marty. She wants to save him from this strange incestuous family. To keep him home, Jackie-O flushes Marty’s car keys. She convinces Marty to play the KFK Assassination game one last time saying he could leave afterwords. Crying she pulls the trigger. This time the gun was real. Jacky-O held the president’s blood stained head in her lap. I left feeling unnerved and shocked.

Loon

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Wonderheads from Portand, Oregon brought “Loon” to this years Fringe.  This life sized puppet acted out every scene in mime. A sad faced aging man stood at the beach with his mothers remains in a jar. He went to scatter the ashes and just got his hands and clothes covered in ash. He is faced with dating and when asked about his favorite person he wrote mom. There was a collective awww… from the audience.

Things look up for him when he falls in love with the moon. He pursues the moon with a child like ambition.  There is one magical moment where he has the moon cupped in his hands and his hands spread apart leaving the glowing orb floating in space between his hands. I still don’t know how it was done. I haven’t experienced that type of wonder and amazement since I saw a planetarium show about beings of light as a child.

Loon was the well deserved patron’s pick for the green venue. It was funny, touching and heart breaking. When the actors came out for a bow after the show, I was surprised to discover that the old man was played by a young woman.