Weekend Top 6 Fringe Picks

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Saturday May 25, 2019

5:30 PM to 6 PM $10 plus a $10 Fringe Button. Ladies Room: The Musical. Bikini Katie Productions, Orlando, FL. Four women meet in line for
the ladies room. They explore poor dates, societal expectations,
friendship, and why there’s ALWAYS a line for the women’s restroom. From
the writer of Beneath the Bikini, and the composer of Buggin Out: A
Small Musical, this musical journey is sure to entertain. Taking place
in the ladies room by the blue venue, you’ll want to get in line to grab
these tickets! Just like these ladies, you gotta go! It’s sure to be
#1.

13 and Up – Strong Language, Adult Content

30 Minutes

7 PM to 8PM $12 plus a $10 Fringe Button. The Agony and the Ivories.  Grown Man Productions, Chicago, IL. He feels the music and he
feels your pain. Actor, musician, and SAK Comedy Lab alum Bill Larkin
stands behind a keyboard to perform his original comedy songs tackling
subjects such as aging, homosexuality, self-esteem and social media. As
seen on Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend” and at the Edinburgh Fringe
Festival. The Los Angeles Times calls him “bitingly satirical”. Weird Al
Yankovic himself is “a big fan”. Intended for mature audiences.

18 and Up – Strong Language, Adult Content

60 Minutes

9 PM to 10 PM $12.00 plus a $10 Fringe Button. My Left Tit: A Sort True Tale of the Magical Bond Between a Dog and her Person.  Moustache Running Club, Fayetteville, AR Brandon Roberts shares a
whimsical and touching tale of the perfectly matched pair of Omie the
dog – who has taken on a vital mission – and her person, Gwen, who is
fighting a battle of her own. Typically known for his non-verbal work
with Gromalot Theatre Factory, this is Brandon’s first solo (and
speaking) engagement at Orlando Fringe. All earnings from the show will
be donated to the New Community Project. newcommunityproject.org

13 and Up – Strong Language, Adult Content

60 Minutes

Sunday May 26, 2019

1 PM to 2 PM $12 plus a $10 Fringe Button. Pack Animals. Scantily Glad Theatre, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Ever been to summer camp? Took a shit in the woods and wiped using pages from your guidebook? Speared the patriarchy on a hot dog stick and toasted it over a roaring fire?

After getting lost in the woods, a multi-badged Woodpecker and a

wildernessly-inept
Beaver must set aside their differences to find their way home. JOIN US
for an adventure through the untamed forest of sex, puppets,
bushcraft…and campfire songs!

13 and Up – Strong Language, Nudity, Adult Content

60 Minutes

5 PM to  8 PM $60. Urban Sketching Workshop at Orlando Fringe with Thomas Thorspecken.

Loch Haven Park 777 East Princeton Street, Orlando, Florida 32803. Meet at Rocket Thrower Statue between Rep and Shakes. There are benches around it. Urban Sketchers Orlando continues in its third year to bring a variety of courses on urban sketching techniques taught by talented local instructors in their home cities. All skill levels are welcome and encouraged to join us.

DESCRIPTION:

The goal of this workshop will be to sketch the Green Lawn of Fabulousness during the golden hours as the sun sets. Instruction will be provided on how to populate the scene and how to keep darkening the painted aspect of the sketch as the light grows dim.

The FRINGE is a quirky and colorful event, so students are encouraged to get inspired by color and light. A tree might flair up a bright orange as the setting sun hits it or the lights as they come on may create a romantic glow.

Thorspecken is a correspondent for the Urban Sketchers organization since 2009 and has been an official Urban Sketching instructor for three years. An illustrator and journalist he is working in and around Central Florida and has been documenting arts and entertainment for over a decade in one sketch a day for his online news site, Analog Artist Digital World. Thorspecken was an animation artist for Disney for 10 years and has taught courses at Full Sail University and Elite Animation Academy. USk Correspondent

Instructor Thomas Thorspecken will have copies of his FRINGE Sketchbook at the workshop, which contains over 200 paintings done live at the FRINGE over the past 10 years. “I have been inspired by this unique Orlando institution and I hope to share that passion with artists who attend.”

 7:15 PM to 6:15 PM $12 plus a $10 Fringe Button. Ray Bradbury’s H2O. Susan Turner and Kangagirl Productions, Orlando, FL

Ray
Bradbury’s H20- Three short stories: The Lake, Picasso Summer and The
Million Year Picnic are brought together for the first time in a World
Premiere by David Lee, recipient of The Orlando International Fringe
Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award and The Critic’s Choice Awards for
Best Director, Best Solo Drama and Best Male Performer.

13 and Up

60 Minutes

Girl at Fringe

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Beth Marshall is directing, Girl, written by Megan Mostyn-Brown, a hard-hitting drama at this year’s Fringe. When the audience entered the Gold Venue there were three black boxes on the stage and a blue suitcase. Girl consisted of three intimate stories which create a compelling account of the female adolescent experience and what it means to be “home.”

The play opened with a young girl, Hannah (Chloe Shaw), seated on the center box. Hate and ugly were scrawled on her legs. Her sister had recently died and she was trying to come to terms with this harsh reality. Days of the week flashed on the screen above her head and we watched as she spiraled downward. She had become numb and the only reality was the feeling she got when began cutting herself. Her sister might not have lived the most exemplary life, but she began to emulate her, going so far as to buy a red-haired wig to look like her.

The second scene introduced a tom boy, Lucy (Alexa Carroll), with a Polaroid camera around her neck. She didn’t try and blend in with the upper crust snobbish girls in school, preferring to keep to herself and document the moments of her life with the camera. A group of students began talking about sex and asked, “Where is the strangest place you have done it?” Well, she hadn’t actually had sex yet, but when confronted with the question she said, “In a tree,” and was shocked that they believed her. a classmate, Isaac (Matthew Gray), later called her out in private saying she was better than that. He walked her home and they began talking as if they had been friends for years. The girl’s mom, (Sierra Vennes), sat house right and began talking about the mistakes she had made in life and how she hoped she could protect her daughter from making the same mistakes.  Ultimately, that goal is impossible.

Lydia (Rachel Comeau) performed the final scene alone. Her performance was stellar. Without going into details, I will say her story had heartbreak and pain, with hope in the end. She brought the entire audience on her emotional journey and we were faced with the harsh reality of what she had to face. She cried and laughed and tried to stay strong through it all. She is the one actress I didn’t sketch, but I just had to stop and watch her performance without the interruption of glancing down at the page. She held new life dear and close to her chest, discovering what it meant to be at home.

This was heart-wrenching theater at its best. A tour-de-force of emotions.

Girl is in the Gold Venue inside the Orlando Museum of Art, 2416 Mills Ave N, Orlando, FL 32803.

Tickets are $6 along with the $10 Fringe button.

The remaining show dates are:

7:00 PM

6:30 PM

7:00 PM

Pollywood at Orlando Fringe

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Polly Esther had been through some pretty rough times, but no matter how bad things got, she could always listen to a Weird Al Yankovic recording and laugh. She addressed the Fringe audience wearing a Weird Al t-shirt. Her excitement was manic and contagious. She heard that Al would be getting a star on Hollywood’s walk of fame. This is an honor that has to be paid for, but it is still an honor.

Since she loves Weird Al so much, she decided she had to go to Hollywood to see him when his star was unveiled. The trouble was, she didn’t have the money for a plane flight or hotel stay. Deena Ronayne from Orlando Fringe advised her to start a Go Fund me page to raise money for the trip. Polly took her advice and was surprised when she actually raised the money needed for the trip. She actually surpassed her goal by a bit and decided to get a pair of sandals with plenty of bling so she would blend in on the Hollywood strip.

She hadn’t planned ahead for the trip very much, since it never seemed quite like a reality. The morning she had to leave for the airport she hadn’t packed a thing. She performed a manic mime of the frantic struggle to pack, which was quite hilarious. Polly’s 37 hour adventure was as fun and quirky as Pee Wee’s Big Adventure.

The map taped to the back wall with green frog tape showed her trip route to Hollywood. She had the names of all her contributors and added them to the map alongside the route. When she was in Hollywood, she met one of Weird Al’s entourage and he invited her to a VIP party on the day of the unveiling. When she met Al, she was amazed that he looked her right in the eye and he loved her name “Polyester!” It wasn’t until that moment that it occurred to me that her first and last name, when said quickly, was a synthetic fabric used in cheap clothing lines. 


The bottom line is that this was a fun story about one woman’s dream coming true in ways she never expected. Dream big and sometimes you might just reach the stars.


Pollywood is in the Blue Venue inside the Orlando Shakes, 812 E Rollins St, Orlando, FL 32803.

Tickets are $12 plus a $10 Fringe button. 

The remaining show times are:

10:45 PM

8:45 PM

3:30 PM

Abridged Orlando Fringe Sketchbook

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The Abridged Orlando Fringe Sketchbook documents 10 years of the Orlando Fringe in sketches. The project began in 2009 and today, 10 years later, the sketching continues. Above is a sample of the first 10 pages of the book.

This Abridged Fringe Sketchbook is 110 pages with over 200 full-color sketches. The book is going to press now and will be available by the 2019 Orlando Fringe Festival. Each year has a few paragraphs highlighting my favorite shows of the year. The goal has been to assemble every sketch done at Fringe shows over the past 10 years at an affordable price.

The books will sell for about $25 at the Orlando Fringe. If you would like to pre-order a book, contact pam-schwartz@hotmail.com. If you pre-order, we will arrange to give you the book when you arrive at the Fringe Festival.  We can take orders via pay pal, checks, or of course, the preferred cash. The books can now be found out on the Green Lawn of Fabulousness and inside the Orlando Shakespeare Theater in the Fringe Merchandise booths. I pulled aside one for myself since I now fear they might sellout. If they do sell out we will print more books which can be delivered or picked up after Fringe.

A much larger 249 page book that has all the original articles written for Analog Artist Digital World is also being produced if we have enough pre-orders and interest!

Coconuts, Coral, and Cow S#it at Fringe

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The title for this show was quite misleading. I walked into the preview assuming I would find a strange comedy. Instead, I found a compelling personal drama. Actress Sara Kunz stood on a chair looking down into an abyss. Wind whistled in our ears as she subtly swayed forward and back. She began to cry. The moment lingers, allowing the audience time to realize that she might be willing to jump. The theater went black.

Sara excitedly considered a challenging hike in Hawaii. She loved physical challenges, they allow her to push to her physical limits and beyond. The park announcements in her iPod headset kept reminding her of the dangers. The announcer offered much needed humor, since she seemed to be directing her recorded commentary directly at Sara.

At an outdoor festival, Sara discovered that people would actually pay her money when she performed with her hula hoop. She showed us her act, which was incredible and graceful. She beamed when performing, a human flame, making the hula hoop move in unexpected and magical ways. Realizing that people actually paid her for her art, she decided to travel the world, busking along the way to supplement her life. Her parents didn’t think this was a wise life choice, but her mind was made up.

Someone she thought was her friend took a part of her that sent her into a spiraling depression. The scene I sketched had her seated in a therapist’s office as she described how her life had been put on hold. We returned to the Hawaiian hike where she was crossing a dangerous ravine that only had a PVC ladder as a crossing point. The ladder was across two chairs, but her terror as she crossed was palpable. I identified with this scene as I had just painted a mural and reaching up to paint the sky, high on the wall, was terrifying on the tall swaying scaffolding.

This performance was testimony to the fact that Sara had not only overcome the horrible experience in her past, but that she also has the strength to share her story so that others who might feel the same guilt and debilitating shame might realize that they are not alone. So don’t go to Coconuts, Coral, and Cow S#it expecting comedy, go to be challenged and inspired by the strength of the human spirit. I highly recommend the show.

Tickets are $8 plus a $10 Fringe Button.

The Green Venue is in the black box theater behind the Repertory Theater, 1001 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803

Remaining show times are:

2:00 PM

6:15 PM

5:45 PM

Weekend Top 6 Fringe Picks

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Saturday May 18, 2019

3 PM to 4 PM $12.00 plus a $10 Fringe button. Black Wood. Gold Venue in the Orlando Museum of Art 2416 Mills Ave, Orlando, FL 32803.

Carpenter Aunt Productions, Orlando, FL

It’s 1967, and Caroline
Logan has just joined the cast of TVs top supernatural soap opera. But
will nervous network censors and a vampire with line trouble derail her
career before it’s begun? Probe the dark shadows of dysfunction in a
hilarious and poignant new comedy written by Fringe fave Steve Schneider
(Escape From Baldwin Park, Ominous George) directed by Dave Russell
(president, SAK Comedy Lab), and starring a cast of top O-Town talent.

13 and up – Strong Language, Adult Content

8 PM to 9 PM  $12.00 plus a $10 Fringe button. A Showgirls Musical. Orange Venue in the Orlando Shakespeare Theater 812 E. Rollins St Orlando, Florida 32803.

JMEG Theatrical, Winter Garden, FL

Sequins. Sabotage. Sex in the
pool? Based on every one’s favorite career killing cult classic, JMEG
Theatrical takes you to the 90’s with a parody musical that is sure to
have more than just your eyes popping. Nomi Malone arrived in Las Vegas
with just a suitcase and a dream. So pack your ice cubes, hitch a ride,
and wear your best Versayce!

18 and up – Nudity, Adult Content, Strong Language

This show includes strobe lighting effects.

10:30 PM to 11:30 PM  $12.00 plus a $10 Fringe button. Corsets and Cuties: #Celebrate. Black Venue in The Venue 511 Virginia Dr, Orlando, FL 32803. 

Corsets and Cuties, LLC, Casselberry, FL

Fringe veterans Corsets
& Cuties have made their home at The Venue since their sold-out
debut August 2014. Sponsored by Premier Couples Superstore, the Cuties
personally welcome guests and attendees to their shows and the troupe
intends to light up the night this May in the Black Venue. With a
different guest star each night you never know what’s gonna happen with
this troupe. Be a part of the Cutie’s party and “have a good damn time.”

18 and up – Strong Language, Nudity, Adult Content

Sunday May 19, 2019

3 PM to 4 PM  $12.00 plus a $10 Fringe button. Black Cow Jumps. Purple Venue  in the Orlando Shakespeare Theater 812 E. Rollins St Orlando, Florida 32803. 

Banks Helfrich, Clermont, FL

Multi-vignettes that place the
human back into humanity. Visceral reflections of how we perceive
ourselves when we remove our veils, and shift into authenticity. An
observation of reality in a performance space to create a clarity and
frankness that we all crave, if only we are willing to see ourselves in
others. An invitation to pause long enough to experience our Ah-ha
moments in a room full of people desiring connection. Life soup.

18 and up – Strong Language, Adult Content

5:30 PM to 6:25 PM  $11.00 plus a $10 Fringe button. The Hammered Dog. Red Venue in the

Orlando Shakespeare Theater 812 E. Rollins St Orlando, Florida 32803.

Freeline Productions, Orlando, FL

Starring Fringe favorites Sarah
Lockard, Steven Johnson and Todd Allen-Long! From the creative team of
2016 Purple Patrons Pick Murder Sleep. Shy, insecure and emotionally
fragile Sandra meets the handsome, sexually possessive Ted at a
nightclub where a chance interaction quickly leads to an intense,
volatile relationship. Under the strain of her obscure past and Ted’s
emotional manipulation, her life takes a fateful turn. Some wounds never
heal.

13 and up – Adult Content

9:45 PM to 10:55 PM $10.00 plus a $10 Fringe button. How to Eat a Bear. Brown Venue  in the Orlando Shakespeare Theater 812 E. Rollins St Orlando, Florida 32803.  

Crafty McVillain, Orlando, FL

Best friends Dave and Mark
decide that they will stop at nothing to satisfy their inexplicable
craving for bear meat and find out the hard way that their quest will
lead them down every path except victory.

13 and up

Abridged Orlando Fringe Sketchbook

Posted on by Thor

The Abridged Orlando Fringe Sketchbook documents 10 years of the Orlando Fringe in sketches. The project began in 2009 and today, 10 years later, the sketching continues. Above is a sample of the first 10 pages of the book.

This abridged Fringe Sketchbook is 110 pages with over 200 sketches. The book is going to press now and will be available at the 2019 Orlando Fringe Festival. Each year has a few paragraphs highlighting my favorite shows of the year. The goal has been to assemble every sketch done at Fringe shows over the past 10 years at an affordable price.

The books will sell for about $25 at the Orlando Fringe. If you would like to pre-order a book contact pam-schwartz@hotmail.com. If you pre-order we will arrange to give you the book when you arrive at the Fringe Festival. If there is enough interest we will print more books. We can take orders via pay pal, checks, or of course, cash. As an added bonus, prints and original Fringe paintings, are being offered at half price. $100 per print, and $200 for an original. Should you want me to frame the art I can arrange that for $100 more. If you order original art or a print, you will get an Abridged Orlando Fringe book thrown in for free.

A much larger 249 page book that has all the original articles written for Analog Artist Digital World is also being produced.

Buggin Out: A Small Musical

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This was a small musical for kids at the 2018 Fringe. The premise is simple enough, Mitch (Austin Palmer) is a shy Monarch Butterfly who has just molted and he is concerned about his new look. Tina the toothless termite (Melanie Leon) offers him some solace.

The show’s original songs are composed and performed by SAK keyboardist Ryan Goodwin, house left. The rhymes were playful and light-hearted. A large storm swept into Bugville and Mitch and his friends needed to bond together to ride it out. This high stakes scene had the actors crouched down together center stage behind chicken wire. The moral that kids, and perhaps parents, might take from the show is that friendship helps ride out any storm. In a time when divisiveness seems to be the daily norm, it is nice to hear a message that encourages kids to work together rather than fight.

Dammit Jim! I’m a Commedienne, Not a Doctor!

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Dammit, Jim! I’m a Comedienne, Not a Doctor!
was a one woman show written and performed by Polly Esther at the 2018 Fringe Festival. She wore a short skirt and gold tights that made her look a bit like a Star Fleet Cadette. Her shirt had Spock’s live long and prosper, hand gesture printed over her chest.

An innocent suggestion of watching “Star Trek: The Next Generation” for the first time quickly turned into obsession with the entire Star Trek universe. Every series. Every season. Every film. Then came the Las Vegas convention. These are the voyages of Polly Esther, her ongoing mission to explore this strange new world and how this universe has helped her boldly go forward in her journey as a recovering alcoholic.

At one of the Star Trek Conventions she me someone else who was a recovering alcoholic and they decided on a whim to send out an invite for anyone else to come to their hotel room. They were shocked by how many people showed up to that meeting.  It was a heart warming reminder that we are not alone in our troubled path through life. Her fan girl enthusiasm was a joy to watch and her story gave some meaning and significance to the whole Fan Convention phenomenon. Embrace your geek, and share it with the world.

God Bless Cambodia at the 2018 Fringe

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In God Bless Cambodia, Randy Ross is a chronically single man who decides to travel the world through four continents after the loss of a job. He hopes to change his luck with love. Yet as he highlights his many relationships it becomes clear why he is hopelessly single. His world travels world result in more sexual misadventures.

Reading a travel guide book he learns that you can travel cheap if you travel like a backpacker. On a trip to his local camping store he meets a colorful sales person. He asked for a 60 liter backpack with a waterproof cover, and the salesman had him covered. He added “I don’t know if your going to Bangkok, but if you are, I highly recommend a massage at a place called tugs.” Taken aback, He noted the info and decided to ask for a travel shirt. “In Ko Samui there is a body spa called the curious finger.” The salesman sniffed his pinkie to relive the memory. TMI but in the end Randy spent $500, but as he left the shop he decided not to shake the salesman’s hand.

Much of the show was laugh out loud funny. I can identify with this middle aged man’s desire for travel after the loss of a relationship. It was like Eat, Pray, Love, minus the praying and with high class literary sex instead of love.