The launch of the first-ever Pelham Fringe Festival earlier this month marks a new chapter in the town’s embrace of theatrical productions.  The festival attracted a combined audience of more than 500 who turned out to watch the town’s newest drama troupe put on a series of short plays and skits on Friday, October 2, and Sunday, October 4, at the Picture House.

The weekend of shows also featured musical performances and a cabaret-style atmosphere, replete with food and drink, and provided strong evidence that there’s a market for grown-up theater in Pelham.

The festival is the brainchild of Kate McDaniel, founder of Pelham Fringe, who reached out to like-minded creative types on social media. McDaniel is a professional actor who worked in Los Angeles and New York–snagging roles in TV series including “Modern Family” and “Criminal Minds”–before putting her career on hold to start a family.

“I found myself craving a creative outlet and figured there might be other people nearby like me, so I put out a message asking if anybody wanted to come read a play with me,” she said in an interview. Lots of people responded to her invitation.

“We gathered around a very big table, and in this room of strangers with a shared passion, and something magical happened,” McDaniel recalled. “There was an electricity in the room.”

“There was no sign-up,” said Karen Pursel, a member of Pelham Fringe. “All were welcome to just show up and be a part of it!”

“The writers are veteran writers and some brand-new writers,” said Pursel. “The plays were all inspired by the readings of two New York playwrights’ work in our creative lab nights.” The event also featured performances by local vocalists who sing professionally.

When asked where Pelham Fringe is headed in the future, McDaniel lit up with excitement. “A few months ago [the plays] didn’t exist, but together we built them. We’ve called it inaugural because we believe it will be the first of a yearly tradition to share the fruits of the labor of love that happens when you get collaborative, generous artists together in the room.”

McDaniel said she has other ideas for the new group, including readings, incubator programs, and possibly a film festival.

“The sky is the limit!” she declared.