The Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival, a 14-day theatre experience that is 100% uncensored, unjuried, accessible and inclusive, returns to Loch Haven Park and various other locations throughout Orlando with its 31st annual outing May 17-30.
Orlando Fringe “unites local, national, and international artists with the Central Florida community, creating a uniquely diverse arts experience” and is the longest running Fringe Festival in the U.S. Along with hundreds of shows, Fringe also features a free outdoor music festival on the lawn, showcases local artists with Visual Fringe, holds Kids Fringe for all ages and hosts numerous special events during the festival.
Also returning this year is DigiFringe, an online, virtual festival playing June 3-17 that will feature recordings from many of this year’s shows that performed in the festival-managed venues.
How to Fringe
First, buy your Fringe button. The Fringe button is one of the two items you will need to get into a Fringe show. It will cost you $10 and can be purchased at the box office and at the merch table. The money you pay for the button goes back to Orlando Fringe to help keep the festival going. Then buy tickets to the shows you want to see. 100% of ticket sales go directly to the artists performing in the shows you watch. Keep in mind that there’s no late entry to any Fringe show, all ticket sales are final and no outside food/beverages will be allowed inside any venue.
Where to Fringe
Orlando Fringe will be performed throughout Orlando but the bulk of the shows will be performed at the Fringe managed venues: Orlando Shakes (home to the Blue, Orange, Pink, Brown and Yellow Venues), the Renaissance Theatre (the Purple and Teal Venues), the Orlando Museum of Art (the Gold Venue) and Orlando Rep (the Green and Silver Venues). Fringe will feature three Bring Your Own Venue locations: The Abbey Orlando, The Starlite Room at Savoy and Stardust Lounge. There are also several site-specific venues throughout Loch Haven including on the lawn and even one that takes place in a van.
What to Fringe
There are 100 shows at this year’s Fringe Festival and you should try and see as many of them as you can. To help get you started, we have gathered information on 31 of those shows that are LGBTQ themed. So get out there and support our community, support the artists and experience what makes Fringe one of the most beloved festivals in Central Florida.
To check out the full schedule and get more information on the 31st annual festival, visit OrlandoFringe.org.
“Betteducation (Of A Divine Miss M’poster)”
By: Jennica McCleary Presents
Venue: The Starlite Room @ Savoy
Length: 55 Minutes
Rated: 18 & Up
Tickets: $12
Showtimes: May 19, 10:30 p.m.; May 21, 7:10 p.m.; May 22, 12:40 p.m.; May 25, 9:30 p.m.; May 27, 5 p.m.; May 28, 2:10 p.m.; May 29, 7:20 p.m.
Bette Midler tribute artist, Jennica McCleary, brings the pre-Hollywood career of The Divine Miss M together with her own wins and woes of doubling as the Diva. A musical HERstory of Bette’s lesser-known stories and performances from the ‘60s and ‘70s. This show contains adult language and mature themes.
“Blue and Tod Go Home”
By: Blue LaLa Entertainment
Venue: The Starlite Room @ Savoy
Length: 60 Minutes
Rated: 18 & Up
Tickets: $15
Showtimes: May 19, 7 p.m.; May 25, 7 p.m.; May 28, 4:20 p.m.
BlueStar and Tod Kimbro are an award-winning cabaret duo that has been playing at the Orlando Fringe for almost a decade. Their humor will have you laughing until they throw in one of their infamous mashups that will bring tears to your eyes. This show contains audience interaction, adult language and mature themes.
“Boys Will Be Boys”
By: Excellent Adventure Productions
Venue: The Abbey Orlando
Length: 75 Minutes
Rated: 18 & Up
Tickets: $15
Showtimes: May 21, 9:50 p.m.; May 22, 2:45 p.m.; May 25, 5:30 p.m.; May 26, 7:30 p.m.; May 27, 10:45 p.m.; May 28, 2:15 p.m.; May 29, 5:45 p.m.
Friends rush to the rescue with a charity “fun-raiser” for Gay Attention Deficit Disorder sufferers, a condition that renders some gay men unable to stay focused on any trend for more than a few weeks. During their comically disastrous musical revue, the friends expose themselves and their views on loves won and lost (and borrowed!). This show contains adult language, mature themes and sexual content.
“Bullock & The Bandits”
By: Kangagirl Productions
Venue: The Abbey Orlando
Length: 75 Minutes
Rated: 13 & Up
Tickets: $15
Showtimes: May 19, 9:30 p.m.; May 20, 9:15 p.m.; May 21, 2:30 p.m.; May 22, 9:20 p.m.; May 27, 5 p.m.; May 28, 4:15 p.m.; May 29, 12 p.m.
Step inside the haunted saloon at the world-famous Bullock Hotel for a rhythm and blues, country and rock fueled ghost rider romp across the Wild West. This show contains mature themes.
“Canceled (or how to unCancel yourself)”
By: Cypress Creek High School
Venue: Brown
Length: 60 Minutes
Rated: 13 & Up
Tickets: $5
Showtimes: May 21, 1:30 p.m.; May 25, 6 p.m.; May 28, 4:30 p.m.
In today’s society of shareable videos, it’s easy for a person to be defined by their worst moment. In this off-beat, ridiculous dark comedy, Emma is seeking to put infamy behind her but she can’t move beyond her worst moment. This show contains adult language and violence.
“Carmilla: An American Gothic”
By: Lightup Shoebox & Phantom Funhouse
Venue: Blue
Length: 60 Minutes
Rated: 13 & Up
Tickets: $12
Showtimes: May 19, 10 p.m.; May 21, 9 p.m.; May 25, 6:50 p.m.; May 28, 12:30 p.m.; May 29, 3:15 p.m.
Smalltown U.S.A. in the gothic summer of 1956. A lonely, misfit teenager named Laura forms a unique bond with a mysterious young woman named Carmilla, and their relationship blossoms in secrecy. When Carmilla reveals a supernatural truth, Laura must face her nightmarish reality and fight for what she believes in. This show contains adult language, mature themes and strobe lights.
“The City Beautiful: An Original Live Music Burlesque Cabaret”
By: Blacklist Babes Cabaret
Venue: Stardust Lounge
Length: 60 Minutes
Rated: 18 & Up
Tickets: $15
Showtimes: May 18, 7 p.m.; May 24, 10:30 p.m.; May 25, 9:30 p.m.
The City Beautiful is an original, live music burlesque cabaret show all about the history and stories of our own City Beautiful. What was Orlando like in the days before we know it to be now? This show contains adult language, mature themes, nudity and sexual content.
“The Complete Works of Stephen Sondheim (Abridged)”
By: Man and Puppet Productions
Venue: Green
Length: 60 Minutes
Rated: 13 & Up
Tickets: $15
Showtimes: May 18, 8:55 p.m.; May 21, 10:05 p.m.; May 22, 3:10 p.m.; May 23, 7:15 p.m.; May 26, 9:50 p.m.; May 28, 2:25 p.m.; May 29, 4:40 p.m.
Send in the clowns? Don’t bother, we’re here. From the creatives behind “Oh Hi, Johnny!” and “DCOM Abridged” comes the world premiere of a hilarious tribute to the greatest musical theatre composer of all time. This show contains adult language and mature themes.
“Down the Rabbit Hole”
By: Lumu Productions
Venue: Silver
Length: 75 Minutes
Rated: 18 & Up
Tickets: $15
Showtimes: May 19, 6 p.m.; May 20, 8:45 p.m.; May 21, 10:15 p.m.; May 23, 6:30 p.m.; May 25, 10 p.m.; May 28, 10:15 p.m.; May 29, 9:45 p.m.
Your favorite well-known cartoon rabbits are hanging out in a local dive bar celebrating New Year’s Eve when an out of towner crashes the party looking for a casual hookup. Will they find someone or something to kiss at the stroke of midnight? This show contains adult language, mature themes, nudity and sexual content.
“Enthrallment: The Musical”
By: Total Eclipse Theatre
Venue: Orange
Length: 60 Minutes
Rated: 18 & Up
Tickets: $15 (opening night is $6)
Showtimes: May 18, 7:30 p.m.; May 19, 6:15 p.m.; May 21, 5:45 p.m.; May 22, 1:30 p.m.; May 24, 8:45 p.m.; May 27, 9:45 p.m.; May 29, 8:45 p.m.
Set in 18th Century England, this show tells the darkly comedic tale of four cursed individuals caught in a vampire nightmare, which leads them from their comfortable lives and families straight into a most questionable brothel to do battle with Dracula. This show contains adult language, mature themes, sexual content and violence.
“Food Court by Beverly Coyle”
By: Skinned Knee Productions
Venue: Brown
Length: 60 Minutes
Rated: 13 & Up
Tickets: $15 (opening night is $6)
Showtimes: May 18, 6:45 p.m.; May 19, 8:30 p.m.; May 23, 8:30 p.m.; May 25, 9 p.m.; May 26, 6:45 p.m.; May 28, 3 p.m.; May 29, 8:45 p.m.
James, newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s, finds himself parked at a mall food court by his husband Gerald when he meets the irrepressible Rachel, with early-onset MS. Their unlikely encounter and kinship might just save the world. This show contains adult language and mature themes.
“The Gay 90’s Musical”
By: Unseen Images Theatre
Venue: Gold
Length: 75 Minutes
Rated: 13 & Up
Tickets: $15
Showtimes: May 18, 7 p.m.; May 21, 9:30 p.m.; May 22, 2 p.m.; May 23, 9 p.m.; May 26, 10 p.m.; May 27, 10:30 p.m.; May 29, 7:45 p.m.
With a little something for everyone, this happy old school musical romp through gay a lesbian life during the 1990s will leave you on your feet and wanting more. A big ole gay vaudeville-like act in a fast-paced musical revue, with 19 original songs and sketches performed by a six-member cast. This show contains adult language and mature themes.
“Generic Male: Just What We Need Another Show About Men”
By: PUSH Physical Theatre
Venue: Silver
Length: 60 Minutes
Rated: 13 & Up
Tickets: $15
Showtimes: May 18, 6:30 p.m.; May 20, 10:45 p.m.; May 21, 4:30 p.m.; May 22, 12:15 p.m.; May 23, 8:30 p.m.; May 27, 8 p.m.; May 29, 2 p.m.
Explosive, athletic, physical theatre ruined by a tragic lack of understanding. Award-winning PUSH Physical Theatre creates a masculinity satire by two well-meaning fools — arguing, dancing and desperately clinging to the status-quo. This show contains audience interaction and adult language.
“Gertrude Stein’s Not Sightly, a play”
By: Dynamite Geography and Plays
Venue: The Starlite Room @ Savoy
Length: 30 Minutes
Rated: 13 & Up
Tickets: $12
Showtimes: May 19, 9:30 p.m.; May 21, 6 p.m.; May 25, 5 p.m.; May 27, 6:40 p.m.; May 28, 9:10 p.m.
Modernist queer icon Gertrude Stein’s 100-year-old abstract play about unknowable things is now a hyper pop puppet show! This show contains mature themes.
“God Is A Scottish Drag Queen (Best Of)”
By: Mike Delamont
Venue: Gold
Length: 60 Minutes
Rated: 13 & Up
Tickets: $15
Showtimes: May 20, 8:30 p.m.; May 21, 3:30 p.m.; May 22, 8:15 p.m.; May 25, 6:30 p.m.; May 26, 8:15 p.m.; May 27, 7 p.m.; May 28, 7:45 p.m.
God is back and better than ever! Dressed in a floral power suit, God returns with a hilarious “Best Of” show featuring the best bits from all eight shows in the series and celebrating 10 years as one of the most popular shows on the fringe. This show contains adult language and mature themes.
“I Favor My Daddy: A Tale of Two Sissies”
By: Jamie Brickhouse
Venue: Blue
Length: 60 Minutes
Rated: 18 & Up
Tickets: $15 (opening night is $6)
Showtimes: May 19, 8:30 p.m.; May 21, 10:30 p.m.; May 22, 2 p.m.; May 23, 9 p.m.; May 27, 6:40 p.m.; May 28, 10 p.m.; May 29, 8:15 p.m.
“Who’s your (gay) daddy?” asks eight-time Fringe award winner Jamie Brickhouse in this darkly comic follow up to last year’s “Dangerous When Wet: Booze, Sex & My Mother.” This show contains adult language and mature themes.
“Les MiserABBA”
By: Forced Perspective Entertainment
Venue: Orange
Length: 75 Minutes
Rated: All Ages
Tickets: $15
Showtimes: May 18, 9:15 p.m.; May 20, 9:30 pm.; May 22, 9 p.m.; May 25, 6:15 p.m.; May 26, 8:30 p.m.; May 28, 3:45 p.m.; May 29, 6:15 p.m.
Based on the adaptation of Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel, “Les MiserABBA” is a story for today’s audiences, set in modern day times with many obstacles to overcome: a growing child, an ex-lover, a complicated love triangle, a jilted family and social unrest, told through the song library of ABBA. This show contains adult language, mature themes and violence.
“Madame Bombshell”
By: The Bombshells Cosplay
Venue: Stardust Lounge
Length: 60 Minutes
Rated: 18 & Up
Tickets: $15 (opening night is $6)
Showtimes: May 18, 8:45 p.m.; May 21, 2 p.m.; May 24, 9 p.m.; May 26, 8:30 p.m.
Join the Bombshells as they go undercover in WWII Paris to the heart of the villain’s lair to see a cabaret show where our heroes Batwoman and Supergirl plan a secret mission to infiltrate a hidden Nazi base. This show contains mature themes and sexual content.
“Miss Gulch Returns”
By: White Elephant Theatre Company Productions, Inc.
Venue: Gold
Length: 75 Minutes
Rated: 18 & Up
Showtimes: May 20, 10:15 p.m.; May 21, 7:30 p.m.; May 23, 7 p.m.; May 24, 10:15 p.m.; May 26, 6:15 p.m.; May 28, 5:15 p.m.; May 29, 1:30 p.m.
Brett McMahon transforms into a modern-day Almira Gulch who, in a desperate attempt to claim the fame and fortune denied her from “The Wizard of Oz” — as well as find love — becomes a cabaret lounge singer. This show contains adult language, mature themes and sexual content.
“Missing Mercy”
By: Electric Wings
Venue: Green
Length: 60 Minutes
Rated: 18 & Up
Tickets: $7 (opening night is $6)
Showtimes: May 19, 9:50 p.m.; May 21, 8:25 p.m.; May 25, 9:35 p.m.; May 27, 6:55 p.m.; May 28, 4:05 p.m.
Dante Edmonds has the lead in the opera club, old money and the sweetest of high school sweethearts. Little does he expect, his perfect world gets robbed when his enemies conspire against him. Now, at the start of their freshman year at college, Dante is back and disguised as European exchange student, Monte Christopher. Will he use revenge to get the best of his villains? Or will revenge get the best of him? This show contains audience interaction, adult language, mature themes, sexual content, strobe lights and violence.
“The Murray Method”
By: Beth Marshall Presents
Venue: Yellow
Length: 60 Minutes
Rated: 13 & Up
Tickets: $15
Showtimes: May 21, 12:45 p.m.; May 22, 6:15 p.m.; May 23, 8:25 p.m.; May 25, 6:30 p.m.; May 27, 8:25 p.m.; May 28, 6:55 p.m.; May 29, 1:40 p.m.
Uncle Orlando Murray has cerebral palsy, inadvertently turned into an acting coach and hopes his methods will help his goth niece gain acceptance of self, family and college admission. A story of forgiveness, bromance, creating your own family dynamic and celebrating authentic humanity with all its fabulous diversity. This show contains adult language, mature themes and sexual content.
“Peculiar, Missouri”
By: Willi Carlisle
Venue: Yellow
Length: 60 Minutes
Rated: 13 & Up
Tickets: $15 (opening night is $6)
Showtimes: May 23, 6:45 p.m.; May 24, 8:25 p.m.; May 25, 10:05 p.m.; May 26, 8:10 p.m.; May 27, 10:05 p.m.; May 28, 3:05 p.m.; May 29, 9:05 p.m.
Willi Carlisle returns to Orlando with a brand-new show filled with folksongs and field recordings. “Peculiar, Missouri” spins a modern love saga with a ton of instruments and folk techniques as old as the hills. It’s part travelogue, part sound-poem, part southern cultural reckonin’. This show contains audience interaction, adult language and mature themes.
“PeeVira’s SCAREavan SingAlong: Musical M.D.”
By: DulceArt Works, Inc.
Venue: Van in front of Orlando Shakes
Length: 45 Minutes
Rated: 18 & Up
Tickets: $15
Showtimes: May 26, 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m.; May 27, 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m.; May 28, 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m.; May 29, 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m.
PeeVira is celebrating her 10-year Fringe-iversary. In honor of this special occasion, she is bringing back her celebration of musicals with “PeeVira’s SCAREavan SingAlong: Musical M.D.” Patients at this hospital will get musical prescriptions to help cure the “life is a giant mess” blues complete with skits, games, drag numbers, trivia and musical tunes. This show contains audience interaction, adult language, mature themes, nudity, sexual content and violence.
“Raquel”
By: Open Scene
Venue: Brown
Length: 55 Minutes
Rated: 13 & Up
Tickets: $15
Showtimes: May 20, 6:45 p.m.; May 22, 1:15 p.m.; May 28, 9:30 p.m.; May 29, 7:15 p.m.
Raquel is a cisgender, Latinx woman who loses her female transgender partner to police brutality and spends her days trying to find her lover’s body scattered across the desert. Love, transgression and resilience blend in this powerful love story. This show contains adult language, mature themes and violence.
“Spill the Tea with Jaimz and Johnnie”
By: JAM3 ENTERPRISES
Venue: Stone pillars on The Lawn, across from The Science Center
Length: 30 Minutes
Rated: 18 & Up
Tickets: $8
Showtimes: May 20, 7:10 p.m., 8:10 p.m., 9:10 p.m., 10:10 p.m.; May 21, 7:10 p.m., 8:10 p.m., 9:10 p.m., 10:10 p.m.; May 22, 6:10 p.m., 7:10 p.m., 8:10 p.m.; May 26, 7:10 p.m., 8:10 p.m., 9:10 p.m.; May 27, 7:10 p.m., 8:10 p.m., 9:10 p.m., 10:10 p.m.; May 28, 7:10 p.m., 8:10 p.m., 9:10 p.m., 10:10 p.m.; May 29, 6:10 p.m., 7:10 p.m., 8:10 p.m.
Join the conversation! Its 2022 and there’s plenty to bitch about. So come drop your gripes in the bitch box, gather on the rocks on the lawn and talk it out as Jaimz and Johnnie air their grievances to create world peace. (Not for the easily offended.) This show contains audience interaction, adult language and mature themes.
“Spooky & Gay Cabaret”
By: BC Theatricals
Venue: The Starlite Room @ Savoy
Length: 60 Minutes
Rated: 18 & Up
Tickets: $15
Showtimes: May 20, 9:20 p.m.; May 21, 4 p.m.; May 22, 7:40 p.m.; May 24, 9:20 p.m.; May 26, 8:20 p.m.; May 27, 9:30 p.m.; May 29, 5:40 p.m.
Who says Halloween comes only once a year? “Spooky & Gay” is a queer horror storytelling cabaret from award-winning, playwright-performer Bruce Ryan Costella. It’s a celebration of spooky satire, songs and frights. This show contains adult language, mature themes, sexual content and violence.
“Stag Night”
By: Billie Jane Aubertin
Venue: The Abbey Orlando
Length: 60 Minutes
Rated: 18 & Up
Tickets: $15
Showtimes: My 19, 6 p.m.; May 21, 6:20 p.m.; May 22, 1 p.m.; May 25, 7:30 p.m.; May 27, 6:55 p.m.; May 28, 6:10 p.m.; May 29, 2 p.m.
It’s every girl’s dream to fall in love on national television, but when roses become currency, what price are you willing to pay for a chance at happily ever after? From the playwright who brought you last year’s “Judas.” This show contains violence.
“Undetectable”
By: The Millennial Theatre Project
Venue: Teal
Length: 60 Minutes
Rated: 18 & Up
Tickets: $15
Showtimes: May 18, 6 p.m.; May 19, 8:45 p.m.; May 21, 2:30 p.m.; May 22, 6 p.m.; May 28, 12 p.m.; May 29, 4:45 p.m.
Hunky dream boy Lex and bright spark Bradley are falling for each other big time. After three months, Lex has decided that tonight’s the night but Bradley’s not so sure he wants to go all the way. With wisdom, wit and honesty, Tom Wright’s bold new play explores the delicate emotions, moral dilemmas and personal demons we all take to bed with us. This show contains adult themes, mature themes, nudity and sexual content.
“VarieTEASE: On The Move”
By: BlueLaLa Entertainment
Venue: The Abbey Orlando
Length: 60 Minutes
Rated: 18 & Up
Tickets: $15
Showtimes: May 19, 11:30 p.m.; May 21, 4:30 p.m.; May 26, 9:45 p.m.; May 28, 9:45 p.m.; May 29, 11:20 p.m.
VarieTEASE, created by BlueStar, is back with their dynamic dance, improv skills and singing talents. This show contains audience interactions, adult language, fog effects, mature themes and sexual content.
“Wanzie with a ‘Z’ Part 2: The Rave Years”
By: Wanzie Presents & D Squared Productions
Venue: Silver
Length: 60 Minutes
Rated: 18 & Up
Tickets: $15
Showtimes: May 18, 10 p.m.; May 21, 8:30 p.m.; May 22, 4 p.m.; May 23, 10:15 p.m.; May 25, 8:15 p.m.; May 28, 6:45 p.m.; May 29, 12:15 p.m.
Multi-award winning, Fringe favorite, Michael Wanzie performs his first-ever solo show. He draws from his real-life experience of discovering the joys of a popular party drug late in life. No names have been changed to protect anyone. Trip with Wanzie from Midnight Teddy Bear Picnics to Disney/MGM Studios. No twinks were harmed in the making of this show. Come and merrily roll along with Wanzie on Ecstasy. This show contains adult language, mature themes and strobe lights.
“You-Haul-It”
By: JBD Productions
Venue: Pink
Length: 60 Minutes
Rated: 18 & Up
Tickets: $11 (May 21 show is $6)
Showtimes: May 19, 9:35 p.m.; May 20, 9:05 p.m.; May 21, 10:55 p.m.; May 25, 6:15 p.m.; May 26, 8:40 p.m.; May 28, 1:25 p.m.; May 29, 6:10 p.m.
Two lesbians in a committed relationship move back in with their parents because of the pandemic. Watch as their communication, relationship and plans for the future all burn away in snapshots at the storage unit where they keep their stuff. This show contains adult language and mature themes.
