ORLANDO, Fla. – A new show is coming to downtown Orlando, and the title plays off an interesting legend.
“The Red String” from Without Fear Theatre follows Nessa Reilly, as she tries to follow her dreams of being a writer.
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She takes off with her best friend, Sami, and the two go on an adventure that changes their lives forever.
The musical is a romantic comedy similar to the early 2000s rom coms.
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It features two LGBTQ women, their interwoven stories, and whether it is fate or their own actions that lead them to their happy ending.
The title of the show is based on the legend of The Red String of Fate. The East Asian folklore is about there being an invisible red string that connects us to those we are destined to meet.
No matter how far apart or how long apart, the two women will meet again, and destiny will be realized.
“The Red String” is written and directed by Amanda Scheirer with music and lyrics by Dan Drnach. Lern Morrison plays the role of Nessa Reilly. The trio are the founders of Without Fear Theatre.
Scheirer said she came up with the idea of the musical while studying under a playwright and working on a homework assignment in 2011.
“We were instructed to keep a dream journal and use it as inspiration for an upcoming assignment. As fate would have it, I started having recurring dreams about someone from my past, someone I had always hoped to see again. So through the character of Nessa, I gave myself the opportunity to explore the idea of fate and whether the ‘dream’ of someone can ever match the reality,” said Scheirer.
Ever since that homework assignment, the show has been on her heart and mind.
“When I first started writing Nessa’s story in my early twenties I took so much from my own life. I took the stories, experiences, moments my friends and I were living to create these characters. Of course over the years as ‘The Red String’ has developed, the characters have grown and are much more complex,” Scheirer said. “I relate to the characters much differently now. It feels like looking through an old photo album, revisiting cherished memories.”
The show at Fringe ArtSpace is part of Orlando Fringe’s The Collective program.
The program supports emerging artists. It gives them access to workshop sessions and helps them create productions that become part of Fringe ArtSpace’s season.
“The Red String” runs two hours and 35 minutes with a 15-minute intermission.
Doors open an hour prior to showtime. Tickets start at $22. The show is recommended for ages 13 and up.
Orlando Fringe recently announced it will be closing down its Fringe ArtSpace theatre. Overall, though, the Orlando Fringe team is hopeful for the future and still plans on continuing its mission of providing an accessible outlet in the community for those who want to explore their creative side.
Shows wrap up in February.
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