First Orlando Fringe Reviews Are Posted!

The 2012 Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival is now in full swing! I've seen 6 shows already, and you can find my reviews online at the Orlando Weekly:

Paul Strickland: Jokes, Songs, A Hat, Etc

Theme Park Diva

Martin Dockery in Bursting Into Flames

AAAaaaggghhh! Because Zombies Sell

TJ Dawe in Medicine

Toxic Audio in Voice Activated

See you at the Fringe!

 

Orlando Fringe 2012 Opens with National/International Artist Preview

Last night, the Orlando Shakespeare Center hosted the VIP gala marking the start of the 2012 Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival. The festival, which features about 80 different shows from around the nation and world, runs today through Memorial Day at Loch Haven Park.

For the first year, the fest kicked off with an exclusive preview performance for national and international performers. Nearly 30 out-of-town artists offered short samples of their shows, which start their official runs tonight.

As always, the best source for Fringe news and reviews is the Orlando Weekly. Check the Culture2Go blog throughout the week for breaking information. And pick up a paper copy of the current issue to read my "love letter" to the Fringe, and my picks for my 20 most anticipated shows.

Enjoy theses photos from last night's gala, and I'll see you around the Fringe!

How To Fringe Video Now Online

As I've mentioned once or twice, the 2012 Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival is imminent. That's exciting news for all Orlando arts fans who are already in the know. But what if you are a Fringe virgin?

Fear not! Fringe has just released this fun video (full disclosure: I helped write the script) explaining in simple terms everything first-time Fringers need to know to enjoy the fest. It's also a great refresher for veterans as we gear up for the festivities (which run through Memorial Day) to begin.

Hope you like it, because you'll be seeing it over an over again on the lobby televisions all Fringe long!

Orlando Fringe Festival is Almost Here

The 2012 Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival is almost here! The 21st annual arts celebration takes over downtown Orlando's Loch Haven Park beginning this Wednesday through Memorial Day.

Check out the front page of today's Orlando Sentinel for a great feature on the festival, highlighting the family-friendly Kids Fringe offerings. The article includes comments from my wife Genevieve Bernard, who is in charge of this year's children's programming.

See you at the Fringe!

Photo Gallery: Letterpress Happy Hour at Mennello Museum

On Thursday, May 10, the Mennello Museum of American Art in Orlando hosted the Flying Horse Letterpress Happy Hour. The event was held in conjunction with the UCF printmaking studio, which is currently presenting their Imprint! show at the museum, and featured music by DJ Nigel, a Sweedish food truck, and signature libations.

Enjoy this selection off photographs from the evening. (Full disclosure: I received free admission to the event.)

 

Snap! 2012 Has Started

Snap! is back!

The 5-day celebration of photography known as Snap! has returned to downtown Orlando for another extended weekend of artistic expression.

You can read all about Snap! in the cover story of the current Orlando Weekly, and find the official event schedule here.

To whet your appetite, here is a video I shot in April at the Snap! Kickoff, where projection mapping technology was used to transform the iconic Kress building into an enormous digital canvas.

 

Breaking News: Universal Bringing Harry Potter to Japan in 2014

This just in: Universal Studios Japan has announced plans to bring The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to its Osaka theme park. The expansion is expected to open in late 2014, and include Hogwarts Castle with the signature Forbidden Journey ride found at Orlando's Islands of Adventure.

This new development is addition to the previously announced Harry Potter additions coming to Orlando and Hollywood, and may even open before them. No word yet exactly where in USJ the Wizarding World will be wedged in, but an LA Times article suggests it will not replace an existing attraction.

USJ is already home to the last remaining installations of Universal's Jaws and Back to the Future rides, as well as a version of IOa's Spider-Man, and the unique Space Fantasy indoor roller coaster. When the Wizarding World is complete, Japan might have world's best Universal theme park, to go with the top Disney park (DisneySea).

Who else is up for a trip to Japan?