Orlando Fringe Breaks Records in it's 26th Year

The 26th Annual Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival was held from May 16-29th.

Over 2,000 artists from around the world came to Orlando's Loch Haven Park to perform in one of the festival's many venues. The festival has been named Orlando's Favorite Festival for more than two decades by the readers of The Orlando Weekly, Watermark, and The Orlando Sentinel. Artists prefer performing at the Orlando Fringe because not only are the audiences warm and welcoming but the festival is founded on being 100% Unjuried, 100% Uncensored, 100% Accessible, 100% Inclusive while returning 100% of all ticket sales to the artists.

The Orlando Fringe hosted a record-breaking 166 ticketed shows (over 950 performances) and was able to provide $452,641 in artist payouts over the run of the 14-day event which attracted 70,400 attendees from as far away as Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.

This year's festival was made possible with grants provided by United Arts of Central Florida, Orange County Division of Arts and Cultural Affairs and the State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs along with help from presenting sponsors at Stonewall Orlando, 101.9 Amp Radio, Mix 105.1, 105.9 Sunny FM, Clear Channel Outdoor, Orlando Weekly and Watermark Publishing Group.

The immensely popular Kids Fringe was held on the two weekends of the festival and brought in over 9,500 parents and children. The four days of arts, crafts, music, song and dance was free to all attendees with the assistance of Universal Orlando Foundation, City of Orlando Mayor's Matching Grant, Playground Magazine, and The Randall R. Tuten Orlando Fire Museum.

Orlando Fringe once again hosted Fringe Teens through a sponsorship with the Barbara Gault Grant from Florida Theatrical Association and Universal Orlando Foundation. Eight award-winning high school thespian troupes were invited to perform during the Teen Thespian Showcase. Tickets for these special performances were priced at $5 and over $3,500 was returned to the schools. The Children's Hour from Boone High School took honors as being named "Patrons Pick" for selling the most tickets for their show.
At this year's closing ceremonies for the festival, Orlando Fringe presented the Chad C. Cronon Memorial Scholarship to Carrli C. Cooper from West Orange High School and Fringe Teen Scholarships were given to Forrest Keith Stringfellow of Spruce Creek High School and Lauren Nicole Koval of University High School.

Orlando Awards - Live Stats

Best Musical - Top 3

1. ANASTASIA (Little Radical Theatrics)

7.9% of votes

2. SOMETHING ROTTEN! (Daytona Playhouse)

7.6% of votes

3. THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (Encore performing arts)

5.8% of votes

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