The moment I walked into the Orlando Shakespeare Theater, the place was alive. Whether it was old friends catching up or new people greeting each other, community was all around.  

Some of the fun decor around Fringe, including Fringezilla the mascot. (SABRINA HANSEN)

 

While I am a journalism student at UCF, I am also majoring in the theater studies program. Journalism is my new love, but my first love has always been theater, so I can’t forget my roots.

Even though it is my third year in college, I had never been to the Orlando Fringe before. So, to prepare for my coverage of the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival in May, I went to the Orlando Fringe Winter Mini-Fest.

On the first night, I met with Fringe officials who walked me through how it all works: Genevieve Bernard, the director of experience, and Ilene Lieber, the PR consultant. They greeted me warmly, and their excitement for the festival was evident.

After meeting with them, I was given a Fringe access button. While the $15 tickets for each show go straight to that show’s actors, Lieber informed me that “100% of the button sales go back to Fringe! So, you know, that does help to support Orlando Fringe, and it’s also something super fun that’s a part of the festival that we’ve had for years.” This was good to know for when I return in May. 

While waiting in the lobby with the rest of the crowd for the preview show to begin, I talked to Emily Fontano, who had applied to the Fringe festival 10 times and was finally picked to present her show, “Against Her Wishes: A Dark Comedy,” for the festival in May. “The show is the improvised, immersive musical-slash-dark-comedy funeral for my mom that she never wanted,” Fontano said. “It’s just funny. It’s not sad. If you came to cry about moms dying, this isn’t the one for you.”  

We were let into the theater for a preview of the 24 shows that would occur over the next four days. In the preview, I saw three minutes of each show. The actors chose which three minutes of their shows they thought would pique the audience’s interest the most. 

The theater had three venues for shows: yellow, purple, and blue. That way, they could host 24 shows in only four days. This sets a precedent for the festival in May, when there will be nine venues hosting over 150 shows. These spaces span the Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Orlando Family Stage, Loch Haven Park and more.

 

The only three venues playing shows during the Winter Mini-Fest were yellow, purple and blue. (SABRINA HANSEN)

With the previews behind me, I came back the next night to see “Cracks.” The story was an autobiographical dark comedy that followed actress Claire Lochmueller’s journey of finding out she was transgender. Lochmueller has performed in multiple Fringe festivals, including ones in Richmond, Montreal, Portland, Maine, etc. This was her first time with the Fringe in Orlando, but not her last, as “Cracks” will be showing this May as well.

Claire Lochmueller in “Cracks” during the Winter Mini-Fest in January 2026. (SABRINA HANSEN)

“The community here seems really strong,” Lochmueller said, “and that was kind of something I was noticing, where I was like, ‘Oh, big community, a lot of people that are very excited about it.’ It felt very welcoming, too, coming as a newcomer to Orlando.” 

The next show I saw was “Anatomica: A Comedy About Meat, Bones, & the Skin You’re In.” The comedy starred actor Amica Hunter, who talked about the exoskeleton, the endoskeleton and the hydrostatic skeleton, which, Amica explained and showed, is commonly found in earthworms.

Amica Hunter in “Anatomica: A Comedy About Meat, Bones, & the Skin You’re In.” (SABRINA HANSEN)

On the second night of the festival, I saw “Funny Fortunes with Mercado de la Fortuna.” When I talked to Mercado de la Fortuna herself, actress Diane Jorge, she informed me that Mercado is inspired by Puerto Rican astrologer Walter Mercado.

Diane Jorge in “Funny Fortunes with Mercado de la Fortuna.” (SABRINA HANSEN)

Most of the show is Mercado interacting with the audience. Jorge explained that most of her act is improv.

This is Jorge’s second time at Orlando’s Fringe festival and the first year touring the Fringe circuit as a performer. When asked what she would miss about Orlando, she told me, “You know, this was my first Fringe. My first love, and you never forget your first love. Sometimes your first love is the standard you compare to. Here I felt such community and such love. So, I think I’m going to miss just being at my first love, if you will. Just being at the place that started it all.” 

Jorge will be showing “Solovela, an Improvised Solo Telenovela” for the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival. 

Afterward, I saw “The Event.” This was a more dramatic piece about the thoughts of the actor onstage and his relationship with the audience. I talked to actor David Calvitto, who informed me that his friend John Clancy wrote the play after watching various one-person shows in Edinburgh.

David Calvitto in “The Event.” (SABRINA HANSEN)

I did not attend the third day, but I was there for the last day of the Mini-Fest. Ever since the preview night, I had been in anticipation of seeing “The Best Man Show” by Mark Vigeant. The show focused on the best man of the wedding, the brother of the groom, who drunkenly gives his best man speech about his brother, but has his own realizations about himself throughout the speech. The show made my stomach hurt with laughter, but it also had moments that really made me ponder what love truly means. 

Mark Vigeant in “The Best Man Show.” (SABRINA HANSEN)

The last show I saw at the festival was “Shirley Gnome: Live, Bare & Natural.” Gnome perfectly blended comedy and musicality, and I expect to have some earworms of her songs stuck in my mind. 

Shirley Gnome in “Shirley Gnome: Live, Bare & Natural.” (SABRINA HANSEN)

When coming into this mini-fest, I had no idea what to expect. All I could hope for was a good time. I am so pleased to say it exceeded all my expectations.  

The shows were funny, poignant and lively, and the environment was immersive. 

There was no competition or malice. I often saw the actors attending other shows, congratulating each other on their performances, and all in all just catching up as if they were old friends — even if it was their first time meeting each other.  

It was evident that this place had fostered a community of genuine interest and excitement. Everyone was so approachable, from creatives to staff to the audience. 

I can see why the Orlando Fringe has such loyal fans, including Michael Offutt. “I remember the first time I went to the Fringe 10 years ago,” Offutt said, “It just felt like, you know, you come out of a show, and another show starts in 10 minutes, and you have to run to another theater. I just love the atmosphere. I like the ability to see some of the same performances here and even some of the same patrons.” 

If this was just a taste of what is to come with the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival this May, then I cannot wait!