ORLANDO, Fla. – The four-day festival is returning to Fringe ArtSpace on Church Street in downtown Orlando.
The goal of the festival is to bridge the gap from Orlando Fringe’s annual May festival, with a reduced lineup of shows in a shorter period of days.
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This year’s festival features more than 20 shows, with many offering two to three performances. Some of them include popular shows from previous festivals, as well as brand new shows that are making their world premiers.
One of those shows is “Clingstone” from Orchid World Productions.
It tells the story of a mother with terminal cancer who reflects on the events that have defined her daughter’s life, along with the family dynamics that led to a tragic accident.
The story is told in reverse. The writer, producer, and co-director of the show, Vanessa Frances, says it’s for good reason, too.
“I thought it would challenge the audience to see the “conclusion” of the story first, with the events that led to it afterward," said Frances.
The show starts with the daughter going to prison after getting into a drunk-driving crash. It then explores how her relationship with her mom and the sacrifices made along the way shaped her path.
“However, everything is not what it seems, and just because fate plays out one way, doesn’t mean that our characters are bound to that reality without a chance for change,” Frances explained.
The play explores privilege, generational trauma, and the impacts of familial choices.
“I love how every scene is like an onion layer that we peel back and the whole thing is looking at cause and effect from a reverse standpoint. Every scene has a carrot dangling for the audience that we take a bite of in the next one,” said actor and co-director Amelia Reed Bryant.
FESTN4 will also bring back the popular FESTN4 KIDS. It’s Orlando Fringe for kids and families taking place on January 11 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. featuring a special showing of “The Swiss Family Robinson” on the Mainstage at 10:05 a.m.
For visual arts lovers, Visual Fringe Art Market will also be taking place, where you can meet the artists, witness them create, and purchase items. 100% of the sales are returned to the artist.
All FESTN4 shows are 70 minutes or less and are $15. The FESTN4 KIDS shows that range between being free to free to $5. All FESTN4 goers must also get a $3 button to attend all shows.
Click here for more information.
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.