For a decade, fans of the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival have been supporting the Orlando Fringe Winter Mini-Fest. And why not? It’s always with a burst of fresh creative energy that the event welcomes in the New Year.
Like its older sibling, the festival—which this year runs from January 7 through 11—focuses on performances that are adventurous and often offbeat. And that’s what makes it so exciting. During its four-day run, guests are treated to a mix of comedy, musicals, dance, immersive experiences and experimental art.
Some performances are family-friendly while others are more edgy adult-centric fare. To make it easy to navigate, all the festival’s shows and activities are held at one location: Orlando Shakes.
Kicking off the festivities will be the 90-minute Winter Mini-Fest Teaser Show, where the audience is introduced to the lineup via three-minute excerpts from each scheduled performance. The fast-paced revue is slated for Wednesday, January 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the yellow venue.
Highlights on the winter festival roster will include storytelling veteran Jon Bennett, whose This Will Only Ever Happen Once, a funny and moving multimedia presentation, will explore the deep connection between live theater and wildlife conservation. Another noteworthy performer will be Martin Dockery, whose 1 Small Lie will tell the tale of a family man who robs a thief of an enormous amount of money and suffers the ensuing consequences.
Also topping the must-see list will be David Calvitto in The Event. A winner of awards at the Edinburgh, Adelaide and New York International Fringe Festivals, Calvitto will explore the absurdities of life with sharp wit and deep insight—promising audiences a thought-provoking experience.
Youngsters also join in the fun. Kids Fringe, a free Saturday-morning event, encompasses puppet shows, interactive arts and crafts and other creative activities that are designed for the whole family.
Then there’s the Visual Fringe Arts Market, open during festival hours, where you can meet artists, watch them at work and purchase such items as paintings, jewelry and pottery. The market also includes a section where youngsters can sell handmade crafts.
Wrapping up the festival will be the Winter Mini-Fest Awards, held Sunday at 11 a.m. Judges Matthew Palm, arts writer and theater critic for the Orlando Sentinel, and Seth Kubersky, arts and culture writer for the Orlando Weekly, will select winners after watching and reviewing all the shows over four days.
Winter Mini-Fest shows are 70 minutes or less and tickets are $15 each. The one-time purchase of a Fringe button for an additional $3 is required. Orlando Shakes is located at 812 Rollins Street, Orlando, in Loch Haven Cultural Park. For more information, visit orlandofringe.org.
