"The Biggest Party of the
Nation's Biggest Gay Weekend Event"
Saturday, June 5
8:30 PM - 2 AM
$75
Universal Studios Orlando
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2009 Wave Award Winner for Favorite LGBT
Blog
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Dear Wanzegram Reader, |
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Good Morning!
If you live in Central Florida and you
haven't made it to the Fringe Festival
yet, we at the WANZeGRAM feel you are
missing out on one of the most unique
and thoroughly enjoyable events in all
of Florida.
You have tonight and the weekend to
enjoy the full roster of shows from
local favorites as well as performances
from artists who literally hail from
around the globe. This year's festival
is truly - "International."
In the body of today's gram you'll find
the "Best Bets" - Fringe shows selected
as favorites and stand-out performances
by a panel of your fellow subscribers.
(And before you even go there, let us
state right at this point, that no
person involved in producing or
performing in any Fringe show was
included in our survey.) If you want to
see what your unbiased Fringe-going
Subscriber friends have already chosen
as shows that rank among the best of
what's on offer, you'll find those show
titles listed in today's WANZeGRAM.
Be sure to read all the juicy Fringe
"Tidbits" provided herein, then make
your way to Orlando's Loch Haven Park
and get your Fringe on.
To see a complete Fringe schedule and to
order advance tickets online, simply log
on to
www.OrlandoFringe.org
And remember to check back on the Fringe
web site to see which best selling shows
will give additional performances on
Memorial (Patron's Pick) Day.
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TOMORROW NIGHT ONLY & ONLY AT THE
PARLIAMENT HOUSE: |
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Jessica Wild and
JujuBee of RuPaul's Drag Race
fame will be appearing for one night
only, during the regularly scheduled
Footlight Players shows at 10 PM and
Midnight, included in regular club
cover.
YOU CAN MAKE A RESERVATION FOR THE 10 PM
SHOW
to guarantee your entry and a seat in
the Footlight Theater. Reservations are
ONLY taken by the PH front desk staff in
person, or by calling 407.425.7571
ext. 0 beginning precisely at 8 AM
tomorrow morning (Saturday, May 29th -
show day). There is no extra charge to
make a reservation for a Footlight
Players show tomorrow or on any regular
show days, but there are some rules that
are strictly enforced: You may not
arrange reservations any earlier than 8
AM on show day. Reservations are cut off
once 3/4's of the seats have been
reserved. (The few remaining seats and
standing room remain available for
walk-ups on a first come first served
basis.) YOUR ENTIRE PARTY MUST BE
SEATED IN YOUR RESERVED SEATS NO LATER
THAN 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO SHOW TIME, OR
THE SEATS WILL BE RELEASED TO THOSE IN
THE STAND-BY LINE. THIS IS STRICTLY
ENFORCED. NO EXCEPTIONS. Do NOT call
the PH front desk early on Saturday.
Calls for reservations that are received
prior to 8 AM will not be handled. If
you call at 7:58 AM, the operator will
ask you to call back after 8, and you'll
wind up at the back of the phone queue.
Reserved seats often sell out by 8:15 AM
for specialty acts such as those being
presented tomorrow. So set your alarm.
Watch the clock. And call at one second
after 8 AM.
The good news is, if you don't get a
reservation - The midnight show will
be outside on the Pool Stage. And
don't forget the BBQ and the biggest
T-Dance of the year - This Sunday! Only
at the Parliament House:
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TID BITS FROM THE FRINGE |
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Overheard at the Jeff Jones' Mo
Laughs Comedy/Catherine Goodison/Parliament
House/Wanzie Presents FLAMINGO LOUNGE
tent, located on the Green Lawn
of Fabulousness just to the right of the
red-tented purveyor of excellent Greek
food on The Rep side of the lawn:
Lounge visitor number 1 to lounge
visitor number 2
- "Have you met Helen and Phil? They're
Becky Fisher's parents."
Lounge visitor number 2 to Helen and
Phil
- " Oh, so you're the people responsible
for all that talent."
Phil
- "Actually, I've always suspected the
milk man."
Late Entry Advisory: Don't try
it. At least not after the
curtain rises on Hell Freezes Over,
anyway. At Sunday's performance of that
hilarious play, beloved actor Doug
Ba'aser uncharacteristically broke
character to verbally assault a gate
crashing drunk and insisted he leave the
Venue once he had noisily burst into the
Goldman Theatre 15 minutes into the show
after pushing aside an elderly female
volunteer who had valiantly, albeit
failingly, attempted to block the
blockhead from entering late. Word out
on the lawn is that after being
physically removed from the venue, the
drunken late enterer was taken out
behind the seldom open Orlando Fire
House Museum where he was caned to death
by an angry mob of senior volunteers.
Subscribers Enjoy Hanging Out at The
Flamingo Lounge:
Our favorite line in a Fringe show thus
far
- written by The Dream Express
playwright Len Jenkins, as delivered by
lounge lizard Spin (Joe Swanberg) referring
to his ex-wife Marlene, (played by Joe's
real-life wife and acting partner Rebecca
Fisher) as she leaves the stage to make a
costume change: "I would drag my balls
across broken glass just to finger-f*ck her
shadow."
Helen and Phil Fisher declined our
invitation to comment.
Most often
heard musing out on the lawn -
"Wanzie wrote a children's show?"
Remaining
show times for D-Squared Productions and
Wanzie Presents
The FUNKsters
4 PM on both Saturday and Sunday, May 29
& 30, on the outdoor stage. This KiDZ
FRINGE Show is presented free of charge.
FRINGE BEST BETS AS RECOMMENDED BY A
RANDOM SAMPLING OF WANZeGRAM SUBSCRIBERS:
Listed below are only those shows most
often included on lists submitted by
multiple respondents. Many other great
shows may be absent from this list
simply due to the fact that not many
people had experienced said shows at the
time this sampling was taken.
We at the WANZeGRAM have elected to NOT
include any of the negative comments we
received concerning any show. (We'll
leave that to the professional critics.)
We are also NOT listing shows certain
respondents included on their
unsolicited "Do not see lists" when we
asked only for recommendations. You can
figure out which shows don't make the
grade by chatting up other like-minded
individuals at the festival, but we here
at the Gram are not in the business of
critiquing shows and we, meaning this
publication, are not intending to
dissuade anyone from seeing any show
that may appeal to you as an individual.
What follows are the highly recommended
shows which appeared repeatedly on a
goodly number of the lists submitted by
our theater savvy and fairly avid
fringe-going WANZeGRAM subscribers. If
your time at Fringe is limited, or you
just want to go with a sure thing, we at
the WANZeGRAM feel very strongly that
while our list is admittedly incomplete,
it is very certainly a list from which
any choices you make will stand an
excellent chance of registering as at
least "Good" to "Downright Excellent" on
your personal applause-o-meter. The most
highly recommended shows from our survey
are as follows:
The Bike Trip
The Cody Rivers Show Presents Right Back
Where We Finished
Dirty Stuff
The Dream Express
Dreams, Schemes and Circus Crowds
FRUITCAKE: The Ten Commandments of the
Psych
Full of Grace
Hell Freezes Over
Julie Bunny Must Die
Janine Klein: Gay Bar Star
Lucky 9 /
TJ Dawe
Reincarnation Soup
Tod Kimbro - Robots Stole My Piano
VarieTEASE "Deconstruction"
XXXplicit
Overhead at a
Vendor Booth that doesn't have a business
name posted (nor any prices posted)
operating under a white canopy just two
spaces to the left of the Flamingo Lounge:
Wanzie:
(looking down at the change just handed to
him from the vendor) "I think you may have
made a mistake. All I ordered was a hot dog
and a water."
Vendor, located just to the left of the
red-tented purveyor of excellent Greek food:
"There's no mistake. It's $8.00."
Wanzie:
"Are you kidding me? $8.00 for a hot dog and
a water? I can get a great hot dog, hand cut
french fries, AND a bottled water, all for
only five bucks at Pete & Peg's Roadhouse
Grille in the white truck at the end of this
row here, and you want the same $5.00 just
for the hot dog? And $3.00 for water when
everyone else is charging a buck?
Vendor, located just to the left of the
red-tented purveyor of excellent Greek food:
"Sorry. That's our prices."
Wanzie:
(actually remaining calm at this point, and
very purposefully utilizing a "hey let me
give some friendly advice" tone.) "Are you
sure you don't want to rethink your prices?
There's a lot of people who hang between
shows at that lounge tent right over there,
who would be really happy to only have to
take a few steps to get a hot dog or a drink
if your prices were just a little more in
line with what the other vendors are
charging."
Vendor, located just to the left of the
red-tented purveyor of excellent Greek food:
"Sorry, that's our prices."
Wanzie:
Well I'm sorry too, because I ordered from
you because I was just trying to help you
out because you're obviously a mom and pop
operation, and I sort of felt sorry for you
guys because you didn't seem to have any
customers, and now I know why; because you
don't have any prices posted, and you're
over charging. Listen, there's like 20
people sitting over there in that tent right
now (they were clearly visible from the tent
of the vendor) and I'd be happy to steer
them your way if your food is good...but not
at the prices you're charging. You know
there are booths here charging only $2.50
for a hot dog?"
Vendor, located just to the left of the
red-tented purveyor of excellent Greek food:
"Well, we charge $5.00!"
Wanzie:
"Well you're sadly mistaken if you think
anyone will come back to you a second time
after buying from you once and being taking
advantage of like this. I'm advising you
sincerely, as a favor, you might want to
seriously re-think your pricing because
these people aren't just here for one night
like at a fair. These are people who will
gladly come back to you time and again over
a period of a week or more if you give them
good food at a decent price. And I really
would not have ordered from you had I known
it was going to be $8.00. I can go to any
other place on the lawn and get the same
thing for about half the price. Any chance
you can do any better than $8.00?
Vendor, located just to the left of the
red-tented purveyor of excellent Greek food:
"No. That's what we charge"
Wanzie:
"Well, you're over charging, but I guess
you're free to charge what ever you like,
especially after you've already taken the
money. But I assure you this is going to
backfire on you because you may fool people
once, but no one is going to return to you a
second time.
Vendor:
(Waving her hand in the air toward Wanzie
as if to say "be on your way.") "So don't
come back if you don't want to."
Wanzie:
(Suddenly and without warning, speaking in
a voice not at all similar to the afore
mentioned "friendly advice" tone.) "Oh don't
worry, honey. I won't be back. Because you
people are just down right stupid. And I was
stupid, too, because I gave you my order and
my money without asking how much it was
going to be in the first place. But guess
what? This particular stupid person has a
big mouth, and I have a funny feeling you'll
be sitting here selling nothing while people
gladly walk right past your booth to stand
in line to buy from the vendors who are
offering a fair deal. Now, you look right
over there again. (Wanzie points toward the
Flamingo Lounge.) You see those 20 people
sitting over there right now? Those are the
first 2O customers you've just lost for the
next week. And I'll be sure and have them
wave to you as they walk back to our tent
with hot dogs, and sausages, and fresh
french fries from Pete and Peg's that they
purchased at a fair price. And I intend to
tell everyone I know not to patronize your
tent. Ya'll enjoy the rest of the Fringe.
I'm going to say 'good-bye' now because I'm
sure I won't see you here next year."
FRIENDLY FRINGE WARNING & VENDOR ADVISORY
FROM WANZIE:
Do NOT patronize the unnamed vendor with no
prices posted, operating under a white
pop-up canopy situated in between the
Starbucks tent and the red-tented purveyor
of excellent Greek food.
Fringe Food Vendor
Recommendations:
The Loving Hut
- Everyone who's eaten from the hut
agrees that it's not just nice to have
this vegetarian / vegan vendor as a
non-meat option at the Festival, but
that just about everything they serve is
actually quite tasty. But even if you
don't want soy products, rice, and
veggies, the Loving Hut is offering a
great variety of really fresh and nicely
portioned fruit as a reduced-calorie
no-sugar-added alternative to the fried
fair-food desserts. Oversized wedges of
perfectly ripe watermelon, and thick
juicy planks of freshly sliced pineapple
on a stick are only a buck! Maybe the
best buy on the lawn.
Pete and Peg's Roadhouse Grill
- Everything fairly priced and served
with a smile. Generously-sized
char-grilled and downright delicious
Italian sausage served on a toasted
hoagie bun with mounds of onions and red
and green peppers prepared fresh when
ordered. Fries freshly cut from big
Idaho potatoes with the skins still on,
cut and fried after you order them. Big,
juicy burgers with all the fixins'.
Specialty item: CLOUDS = Fried Peanut
Butter and Jelly. New this year: Gator
bites, and a decadent new dessert Wanzie
was allowed to name, now known as -
Pecan SINsations. Sodas and waters are
a buck.
The Smoked BBQ Place -
operating with that great big black
barrel smoker just to the left of Pete
and Peg's and closest to The Rep entry
to the lawn is serving up fresh chicken
and ribs, literally hot off the wood
fired grill. Very tasty, non-processed,
non-battered, perfectly smoked fresh
meats and corn.
The Sabrete's Hot Dog Cart
- located near the entrance to the lawn
when coming from Orlando Shakes - not
only offers regular dogs on the cheap,
they also serve up a cheddar cheese and
chili dog that's most satisfying, and
reasonably priced.
Red-Tented Purveyor of Excellent Greek
food
- operating just to the left of The
Flamingo Lounge. No great bargains
here, but it's no wanna-be Greek fair
food, either. It's authentic. It's
delicious. And the portions are
plentiful. The lamb is fabu! The Gyros
are overstuffed with whatever meat you
choose, complete with sautéed onions,
lettuce, tomatoes, and a genuine
cucumber sauce that is just as it should
be. Lots of other interesting and
relatively healthy choices. Good
baklava, too! (Just don't ask for tomato
late at night if it's not visibly in
sight. Ask Wanzie or Shelly Benoit about
this when you run into either of them
standing in line for fried peanut butter
and jelly.)
The 2nd Annual Fringe Abridged
Fundraiser to be presented at
10:30 PM on Memorial Day in the Orange
Venue at Orlando Shakes is selling fast.
Beth advises those interested in
attending to get your tickets now to see
the parody of the 2010 Orlando Fringe
through the eyes of Eric Pinder, Joel
Warren, and Jay Becker. It will be a
blast, and all proceeds support next
year's banner 20th Annual Orlando
International Fringe Theater Festival.
Don't
forget to vote for your favorite Fringe
Shows and Performers.
There are 27 categories in all for which
you may cast a vote in this year's
Audience Choice awards being
administered by Mark Baratelli and his
TheDailyCity website. The prizes, which
include original works of art, are all
on display at Orlando Shakes just
outside the Visual Fringe overlooking
the concession area. Check 'em out.
Pretty cool. But don't forget to cast
your votes:
Vote NOW!
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"MISS P" To Be Remembered During Gay
Days |
I am pleased to announce that on Gay
Day Friday and Gay Day Saturday,
both the award-winning documentary
PAUL WEGMAN: A Tribute, and
the award winning comedy short A
DAY IN THE LIFE OF MISS SAMMY
will be presented as a good old
fashioned double feature bill on
June 4th and June 5th, 2010 at 8 PM
in the Footlight Theatre at the
Parliament House Resort.
PAUL WEGMAN: A Tribute
is indeed a tribute to the beloved
actor who, in addition to performing
leading male roles at virtually
every theater in Central Florida
from The Orlando Shakespeare
Festival to the Ice House Theater in
Mount Dora, was also the genius
female impersonator who embodied the
foul mouthed "MISS P."
"MISS P" entertained and delighted
admirers from around the globe
during her quarter-century reign as
official Parliament House Hostess
and Emcee of the world famous
Footlight Players' weekly drag
extravaganzas.
PAUL WEGMAN: A Tribute
includes video clips of actor Paul
Wegman playing roles ranging from
various Shakespearean characters to
Ebeneezer Scrooge in A Christmas
Carol as well as many of the
most outrageous onstage moments and
trademark antics of MISS P
performing on an all-gay cruise, in
the Footlight Theatre, and on the
Pool Stage at the Parliament House.
Also included are memories, stories,
and anecdotes regarding Paul/"P" by
dozens of local actors and
actresses, as well as many female
impersonators whose tributes were
filmed very shortly after Paul's
untimely death. Those appearing in
the film include: Jim Hellsinger,
David Lee, Darcel Stevens, Margaret
Nolan, Susan Unger, Don Granatstein,
Doug Ba'aser, Wanzie, Scottie
Campbell, Chris Guy, Briana Lee, Sam
Singhaus, Bobbie Bell, Scott
Carter, Danielle Hunter,
Mirium P. Saunders, Rebecca Fisher,
Joe Swanberg, Judy Milan,
Catherine Goodison, Chantelle Rashae,
Chirstine Robison, Philip
Johnson, Judy Milam, Jeff
Horn, Kyla Swanberg, Pam Baumann,
"Mary Higgins of Sanford Florida,"
and many others. The film features
many photographs from Paul's youth,
with original underscoring by
Rich Charron.
PAUL WEGMAN: A Tribute
was first screened at three separate
memorial services held to celebrate
the life of Paul Wegman. Donations
accepted after each screening were
used to establish The Paul M.
Wegman Memorial Scholarship Fund
for aspiring GLBT actors.
PAUL WEGMAN: A Tribute
has won multiple awards including
"Best Documentary" at the
Fire Island Film Festival, which
is part of the prestigious Long
Island Film Festival. The film was
conceived and directed by Michael
Wanzie, and was filmed and edited by
Jason Piecarski whose
Lantern Light Studios
co-produced the film.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF MISS SAMMY
is another Lantern Light
Studios/Wanzie collaboration.
Written by Wanzie and co-directed by
Wanzie and Piecarski, this
hysterical short film follows the
infamous MISS (Sam Singhaus)
Sammy as she stumbles her way
through an average day of beauty
regimens, drinking, quickies, drunk
driving, and religious reflection. A
DAY IN THE LIFE OF MISS SAMMY is
also a multiple award-winning film,
including being selected as "BEST
COMEDY SHORT" at the Tampa
Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. The
film was shot by Piecarski, guerilla
style, at locations all over Orlando
and Winter Park, Florida including
The Parliament House, Gary
Lambert Salon, Spa of Thornton Park,
Restoration Hardware, Theatre
Downtown, WildSide BBQ, an
unsuspecting Chevron gas station,
and at Saint Joseph Cathedral, and Mary
Queen of the Universe Shrine!
The two films will be screened
together as a double feature.
Admission will be FREE!.
Donations to the Paul M. Wegman
Memorial Scholarship Fund at
Valencia Community College will
gladly be accepted on a voluntary
basis as patrons exit the theater.
Fast Facts:
DOUBLE FEATURE - FREE Movies at The
Parliament House
Wanzie Presents Two Lantern Light
Studios' Films:
PAUL WEGMAN: A Tribute
"MISS P" Remembered During Gay Days
Winner "Best Documentary" - Fire
Island Film Festival
And
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF MISS SAMMY
Hi-Camp Comedy Starring Miss Sammy
Winner "Best Comedy Short" - Tampa
Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
Screening Dates:
Friday, June 4 and Saturday June 5,
2010
Time:
8 PM
Place:
The Footlight Theatre at The
Parliament House
410 N. Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando, Florida 32819
Admission:
FREE
Donations to the Paul M. Wegman
Scholarship Fund for aspiring GLBT
Actors at Valencia Community College
gladly accepted
Reservations:
Not required or accepted. Open
seating is on a first come first
served basis.
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Your Home Town AFFORDABLE Gay Day
Events: |
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Now on Sale in our Box Office
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This Very Special Event Is NOT A
Pageant!
This is a Comedy Drag Show featuring key
players and past winners
of The Miss Comedy Queen Pageant
Don't Miss Out on the Fun!
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We've Got Mail!
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We at the
WANZeGRAM are always just as pleased as
punch to receive, post, and answer our
mail in this public forum. But it takes
two to play! Send your email to WANZIE!
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Don't Blame Wanzie, Gary is responsible
for this space
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Short Takes:
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You need three things in the theater:
the play, the actors, and the audience;
and each must give something."
-
Kenneth Haigh
"Go to the Orlando Fringe Festival this
weekend and play your part. That all
important part of being part of the
audience"
-
Michael Wanzie
Submit YOUR Short Take directly to WANZIE at
michael@wanzie.com.Be sure to type "Short
Take" in the subject line. Short Takes
submissions must be received no later than
midnight on each Tuesday, for inclusion in
the following Friday GRAM.
A strict limit of 30 words maximum is
imposed. You must provide your first and
last name, which will be printed following
your submission. Your name will not figure
into your word count. All postings will be
at the sole discretion of the management
team at the lovely WANZIE.com World
Headquarters, with offices inconveniently
located in Melbourne, and Lake Mary,
Florida.
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My Two Cents:
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I have to wonder HOW the Fringe Schedule
is designed. Being teachers it is very
difficult to see shows during the week.
However this year it seemed one of the
shows we really wanted to see had some
very late show times, specially for a
general audience rated show.
Dreams, Schemes, and Circus Crowds
show times were Thursday @ 11:05pm,
Saturday @ 9:10pm, Sunday @ 11:10pm,
Monday @ 5:30pm, Wednesday @ 11:55pm,
Thursday @ 7:25pm and Friday @ 11:30pm.
4 of the 7 shows for this general
audience show are after 11pm. Maybe next
year, more attention could be paid to
the rating of the show in regards to its
time slots.
--
Gary Bungart
Submit YOUR TWO CENTS: My Two Cents
submissions must be received no
later than midnight on each Monday
for possible inclusion in the next
Friday GRAM. A strict limit of 350
words will be imposed. Please submit
your column directly to WANZIE at michael@wanzie.com
and kindly type "My Two Cents" in
the subject line.
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Forget about everything else YOU
should be at the Orlando Fringe Festival!
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Performing Arts Reservation Links & Numbers: |
Our
companion website -
WANZIE.com -
is pleased to host a permanent
listing of Central Florida
theatrical & concert venues, as
well as most area performing
arts companies, with phone
numbers and web links for
ticketing and reservations. If
you are interested in any event
listed in the sections directly
above, you may quickly access
venue/ticketing information when
you
CLICK HERE.
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A Note From Wanzie:
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I have nothing to say, really, other
than you should be Fringing.
If you don't live in Florida; I'm sorry
for your bad luck.
Next year you should consider planning a
vacation to coincide with the Fringe
Festival which is always held during the
11 days leading up to Memorial Day each
year. Then on Memorial Day (the
unofficial official 12th day of Fringe),
the most attended show in each venue
gives an encore performance.
It's a miracle this gram got out at al
this week, considering all the Fringing
the WANZeGRAM staff have been enjoying.
I do hope you found our Fringe Tidbits
section entertaining as well as helpful
with regards to your final weekend of
fringing.
For other points of view, Fringe
observations, and proper Fringe reviews
of Fringe shows by professional critics
and columnists, I'm including the
following quick links for your
convenience:
Fringe reviews and articles by
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Orlando's most respected Theater Critic
at Large - Elizabeth Maupin:
http://orlandotheater.wordpress.com/
Lindy Shepherd and Seth
Kubursky:
http://www.orlandoweekly.com/artsculture/default.asp
Orlando Sentinel Theater critic
Matthew J. Palm, staff writers
Tod Caviness, Dewayne Bevil, Kelly
Fitzpatrick, Jim Abbott, Martha Phifer,
Alsy Acevedo, and special Fringe
correspondent Mary Frances Emmons:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/theater/os-theater-orlando-fringe-reviews-a-z,0,3886561.storygallery
Mark Baratelli:
Jamie Hyman & Scottie Campbell:
http://www.watermarkonline.com
See you at the FRINGE!
I'm WANZIE and
That's All I Wrote!
email
me
2009 Wave Award
Winner for Favorite
Local Spiritual Leader
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