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Inclusive • Inaugural
In Fort Myers
All About Fringe
Fringe Fort Myers, presented by the Alliance for the Arts June 1-4, is the newest Fringe theatre festival in Southwest Florida and maintains long-standing Fringe traditions of being 100% uncensored, 100% unjuried and 100% inclusive. Even better, 100% of ticket sales go directly to the artists. All of this means you’re 100% guaranteed to have the single greatest experience of your life!
Fringe Fort Myers kicks off on June 1 with the fun and frenetic Teaser Show, with each performance group having three minutes to sell you on their show. How they do that is up to them! Over the next four days we will play host to 48 performances on three different stages at the Alliance for the Arts and Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre. After the final curtain, Fringe Fort Myers will host the first Fringe awards ceremony celebrating the artists who make Fringe an incredible experience.
Fringe includes an outdoor music venue and also the Kids Fringe Festival, featuring a Free Family ArtLab, a family friendly Alice in Wonderland interactive show and outdoor performances of aerialists and acrobats.
Starting Friday, June 2, Arts & Eats Café and select food trucks will offer food for purchase. There will be a cash bar located in the Edwards building offering both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages to those over 21.
Tickets are $15 with the option to buy multiple shows for a discount: 3 shows for $42 or 6 shows for $78.
All shows are included in the discount except the Carousel of Burlesque. There are no refunds, no exchanges, and no exceptions. There will be no late seating for any of the Fringe shows, so be sure to get there with plenty of time. Click here to purchase tickets or call the box office at (239) 939-2787.
For volunteer opportunities, visit artinlee.org/volunteer or email Haley at Haley@ArtInLee.org.
Click here for a printable schedule of events
Tickets & Special Events
tiny_Theatre presents: The Hunt for Milo – from Cottondale, AL
When calamity befalls a prominent member of the city, Detectives Lila Bockhorn and Harrison Locke are eager to track down one Milo Gatto. But hurdles hit fresh out of the gate and only the audience can keep the investigation alive by solving a variety of word games and puzzles. Conceived, written and performed by professional actors of stage and screen Brendan Powers and Rachel Burttram, this goofy tour de force has this husband/wife team playing all the roles — and the audience saving the day.
This show is rated PG-13.
Show times: June 1 at 7:30, June 3 at 8:30 pm, June 4 at 4:00 pm
Happening at Off Broadway Palm
Cold Feet-A Comedy Extravaganza – from Miami, FL
A comedy variety show that debuted in New York City in February, this extravaganza features original comedy music, stand up and sketches. Three Miami comics will tantalize the senses and tickle your funny bone, so audiences should come prepared to laugh!.
This show contains adult language and content and is not suitable for those under the age of 18.
Show times: June 2 at 8:30 pm, June 3 at 7:00 pm, June 4 at 2:30 pm
Happening at Off Broadway Palm
Southern Gothic Novel – from Naples, FL
There are 5,218 people living in Aberdeen, Mississippi. This is the story of 17 of them. And the men that caused all of the trouble.
This show contains adult language and is rated PG-13.
Show times: June 2 at 7:00 pm, June 3 at 5:30 pm, June 4 at 1:00 pm
Happening at Off Broadway Palm
Click here for a printable schedule of events
Flamencodanza – from Madrid, Spain
Contemporary Flamenco performance with guitar and dance.
This show is suitable for all ages.
Show times: June 2 at 7:00 pm, June 3 at 5:30, June 4 at 1:00 pm
Happening in the Alliance Foulds Theatre
Click here for a printable schedule of events
Future Perfect – from Fort Myers, FL
Modern Dance performance exploring the ideas of temporality, choices and expectations. As we commit to journey away from the past we will be in a better future.
This show is suitable for all ages.
Show times: June 1 at 7:30 pm, June 3 at 8:30 pm, June 4 at 4:00 pm
Happening in the Alliance Foulds Theatre
The Carousel of Burlesque: History of Burlesque in the U.S.
Bringing the history of burlesque to Southwest Florida, saunter through the timelines that brought this empowering and tantalizing art form to the popular masses of today. From the Victorian vixens to the promiscuous present, join these performers as they shimmy, shake and strip through the struggles and successes of burlesque.
This show contains nudity and is not suited for those under the age of 18.
Show times: June 2 at 8:30 pm, June 3 at 7:00 pm, June 4 at 2:30 pm
Happening in the Alliance Foulds Theatre
The Light Bringer – from Tampa, FL
“SOLD! Off to the American Dream!” Freedom, but at what cost? A Palestinian immigrant and her family find more freedom in the US than expected. The Light Bringer is a true-life storytelling show written and performed by Laila Lee, directed by Bill Pats. In this one-woman show, Laila brings to light her experiences growing up Muslim in the American South, and how she discovers her own place in the world and what sacrifices she must make.
This show contains adult language and is rated PG-13.
Show times: June 1 at 7:30 pm, June 3 at 5:30 pm, June 4 at 1:00 pm
Happening in the Alliance Classrooms
Francine Wolf: Please Don’t Tell my Kids – from Largo, FL
Regrettably true autobiographical tales, from artistic adventures to an historic court battle. Laugh…cry…whatever you do: please don’t tell her kids!
This show contains adult language and is not suitable for those under the age of 18.
Show times: June 2 at 7:00 pm, June 3 at 4:00 pm, June 4 at 2:30 pm
Happening in the Alliance Classrooms
Paco Erhard: Worst. German. Ever. – from Berlin, Germany
Paco Erhard is German, but he has other problems too. Kicked out of Germany for having a sense of humor, he now has a new six-month goal: Fix America and save the world. Step 1: become 110% American fast. How hard can it be?
This show contains adult language and content is not suitable for those under the age of 18.
Show times: June 2 at 8:30 pm, June 3 at 7:00 pm and June 4 at 4:00 pm
Happening in the Alliance Classrooms
Click here for a printable schedule of events
Special Events
Join us for these pop-up events:
“Flamingle with the Artists” Reception in the Alliance Gallery, gives patrons a chance to meet the artists on Thursday, June 1 at 5:00 pm.
The Preview Show follows the reception on Thursday, June 1 at 6:30 pm. At the preview, each performer has three minutes to sell the audience on why they should see their show. Click here to purchase your $5 ticket!
The Inaugural “Ministry of Silly Walks” competition on Friday, June 2, which is sure to delight Monty Python fans. The competitor with the silliest walk will receive two tickets to any show in the festival. Click here to register. Participation is free!
New Wave Outdoor Glow in the Dark Dance Party lights up the night on Saturday, June 3, with special guest host Sadie from the 96.9 WINK FM Logan and Sadie Morning Show! Click here to purchase your $10 ticket!
Citrus Circus will delight with circus acts at the Alliance for the Arts on June 3 and 4.
Fringe’s outdoor music venue will deliver great tunes for FREE on June 2, 3 and 4.
Weekend Live Music Schedule:
Friday, June 2
6-7:45 PM Fred Ball
8-10:00 PM The Reckless Saints
Saturday, June 3
3PM-4:45 PM Kim Mayfield
5PM-6:45 PM Bill Veach
7-9:00 PM Smokey Daytona Band
Sunday, June 4
1-2:45 PM. Bruce Gallant
3-5:00 PM Bill Metts
Stay tuned to this page for more details as they are announced!
Kids Fringe
Alice in Wonderland
An interactive, family-friendly show happening at the Alliance for the Arts
Saturday, June 3 & Sunday, June 4
Family ArtLab
Saturday, June 3, 10 am – Sunday, June 4, 12 pm
Free
Presenting Partners
Sponsorship Opportunities
Fringe-goers are well-educated, adventurous, community-minded and culturally diverse. From the young and daring to the forever young, the Fringe audience is your audience. This is a great opportunity to support the creation of a vibrant international performing arts festival and the economic stimulus that goes with it.
Let us help you meet your brand goals with a unique experience you won’t see anywhere else in southwest Florida!
Click to download the FRINGE Sponsorship deck!
REVIEWS
Opening night of SWFL’s first-ever Fringe Fort Myers was soooo much fun! You don’t want to miss this. All nine acts performed snippets of their one-hour (ish) shows for the preview show in a nearly packed house at Alliance for the Arts. Then I went to Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre for my first full show of the weekend, and it was fantastic. Everyone in the audience wore fake mustaches, shouted out clues and rolled with laughter for Tiny_Theatre’s silly murder mystery about a TikTok celebrity famous for her cat videos. Now I can’t wait to see some of the other acts. The fest continues with more short shows through Sunday, and there’s so much great talent to choose from. Here’s my #FringeFortMyers guide to tell you everything you need to know. – Charles Runnells, News Press
“The show is full of puns, limericks, sly song references, and Fort Myers in jokes as clues and wigs fly past with reckless abandon. Burttram and Powers each play several parts with glee.”
Review: THE HUNT FOR MILO GATTO at Off Broadway Palm – Fran Thomas, Broadway World
“Lee is a master storyteller. She uses laughter to heighten the drama of her overarching message…”
Review: THE LIGHT BRINGER at Alliance For The Arts Classroom Theater – Tom Hall, Broadway World
“This performance was breathtaking, beautiful, intimate and touched each audience member in a very powerful way.”
Review: FUTURE PERFECT at Foulds Theater – Nancy Burnham, Broadway World
“…three comedians from Miami, throw themselves into skits, stand up, and musical interludes in rapid succession.The show is unapologetically raucous, risqué, and raunchy…”
Review: COLD FEET at Off Broadway Palm – Fran Thomas, Broadway World
“…his facial expressions are visible and priceless. He is also a master of physical comedy. Most impressive, however, is his command of voices.”
Review: SOUTHERN GOTHIC NOVEL at Off Broadway Palm – Fran Thomas, Broadway World
“The intimacy of the performance space pulls the viewer almost into the performance and gives one a close up view of the intensity of the collaboration between Bayaz and Mannola. The magic of the music and dance allow the audience to take a breathtaking journey.”
Review: FLAMENCODANZA at Foulds Theater – Nancy Burnham, Broadway World
“The evening is filled with shimming, shaking and sauntering through different eras of this art form. It is also incredibly inspiring and empowering.”
Review: THE CAROUSEL OF BURLESQUE at Foulds Theater – Nancy Burnham, Broadway World
“Paco Erhard delivers a solid hour of not just laughs. Not mere giggles and guffaws. But cackles, howls and belly laughs that had tears streaming down the cheeks of some audience members…”
Review: PACO ERHARD: WORST GERMAN EVER at Alliance For The Arts Classroom Theater – Tom Hall, Broadway World
“If you’re looking for a comparison, Francine Wolf: Please Don’t Tell My Children is in the tradition of Sue Mengers: I’ll Eat You Last. It’s not always funny. It’s often bizarre. But it is always thought-provoking. And if you like name dropping, this is a show you’ll really enjoy.”
Review: FRANCINE WOLF: PLEASE DON’T TELL MY KIDS at Alliance For The Arts Classroom Theater – Tom Hall, Broadway World
“Did you get your Fringe on this weekend?
If you didn’t, I feel sorry for you. You missed out!
The Alliance for the Arts held the first Fringe Fort Myers festival June 1-4, and, despite the rain, was very successful.
The event was not only well-attended, but Fringe T-shirts sold out early Saturday, as did some performances.”
First Fringe Fort Myers festival was freaky and fabulous fun – Nancy Stetson, Florida Weekly
Fringe Fort Myers is a joint effort between the Alliance for the Arts and the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, now in it’s 30th season. Fringe Fort Myers is being led by Bill Taylor, founder and Producing Artistic Director of Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance for the Arts, now in its 29th consecutive season. For additional questions, please contact fringe@artinlee.org.
