Although the 2011 Orlando Fringe Theatre Festival doesn’t come to Orlando until May 13th to 30th (the 12 days leading up to Memorial Day), the lottery that decides which acts get a spot was held this week. There are 62 slots to fill and 86 acts that have applied. This is truly a lottery, and doesn’t take into consideration which shows won awards or acclaim in the past. (Personally, I’d like to see the top 5-10 acts from last year be automatically entered for the next year, and the rest could be picked via lottery.)
If you are not familiar, you may be wondering, “what is the Fringe Festival?” A 12-day-festival that is founded on the concept of offering 100% uncensored, 100% accessible theatre, music, dance, art and madness to all types and ages. The Orlando Fringe is the longest running Fringe festival in the U.S. (this year will mark the 20th year), and 100% of the ticket sales go directly back to the artists within The Fringe.
So far, the list of acts for 2011 includes favorites the Oops Guys, BabyBluestar and Tod Kimbro, Dewey Chaffee, and Chase Padgett, as well as Michael Wanzie and Kenny Howard.
However, some of the favorite acts from the 2010 Festival will not be performing in 2011. This includes Canadian storyteller T.J. Dawe, Playwrights’ Round Table, TheatreWorks Florida, as well as one of the most popular acts, The Cody Rivers Show.
Several groups still on the waitlist, so you still may have a chance to see your some of the acts you like, even if they aren’t on the current list. This list will change as acts drop out, accept other venues, or additional time slots are created. For a full listing of performers, check out the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival website.
Keep checking our blog for updates as the event draws closer; we are looking forward to a great 20th anniversary of the Fringe!
Side note: Congratulations to Beth Marshall, producing artistic director of the Orlando Fringe Festival, for winning the 1st John Goring Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award (being presented this Sunday).
