Fringe venue has new grassroots sponsors

Here’s a little item that put a smile on my face:

The new sponsors of the Fringe’s green venue this year are the three biggest Fringe fans I know: Myron Blattner, Ed Anthony and David Horgan.

Myron Blattner

Just about everyone who spends time at Fringe knows that these three guys see and enjoy more shows than anybody else. (They have me beat, and last year I saw 50-some.)

So apparently they’ve pooled their cash to support the Fringe. I love it. Thanks, guys.

(I wish I had pictures of David and Ed, but they’re shy. Look for them at the Fringe.)

Theater auditions: Revised call for ‘Bitches of the Kingdom’

Here’s a revised audition notice for the Oops Guys’ Fringe show:

In memoriam: Alice Byrd

Alice Byrd

I’m very sorry to have to report that Alice Byrd, the beloved longtime box-office manager and hostess at Orlando’s Mark Two Dinner Theater (and before that the Mark One in Lakeland), died last night.

Theater auditions: A Fringe show called ‘Onomatopoeia’

You don’t have to be able to spell it (although good spelling is always a leg up in my world), but here’s an audition announcement from Tara Corless for Onomatopoeia, a Fringe show. For more info, go to the show’s Facebook page:

Theater auditions: ‘Supporting Cast’ for Fringe:

Here’s an audition notice for a Fringe play by Jamie Cline:

Theater auditions: More auditions for ‘Once Upon a Pill’

Here’s notice from Jill Craddock of an extension for auditions for this Fringe show:

Theater auditions: Fringe show

Here’s an audition notice for a Fringe show, Big Swinging Dicks:

Theater auditions: ‘Beer: The Musical’ at Fringe

Here’s an audition notice for a Fringe show:

Fab Fringe fundraiser coming up this month

Here are the first details I’ve seen on this year’s Fab Fringe Fundraiser, celebrating the upcoming 20th annual Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival. A lot of this sounds like fun, especially Sak Comedy Lab’s 20-minute look at Fringes past. Check it out:

Theater auditions: Musical comedy for Fringe

Here’s an audition notice from Jill Craddock for a Fringe show, Once Upon a Pill:

Orlando Fringe needs you for its 20th-reunion photo

It’s the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival’s 20th anniversary this year. Some of us remember it when it was just a baby, and we remember when you didn’t have to put “Theatre” in its name because we all knew there was a whole lot of theater going on.

Anyway, the celebrations are already starting, and one of them is a so-called class picture to fit in with this year’s theme, which is the 20th high-school reunion.

The group photo is being shot at 4:30 p.m. Monday Feb. 7 in front of the Lowndes Shakespeare Center in Loch Haven Park. Any Fringe fans are welcome.

Theater auditions: ‘Dog Powered Robot and the History of the Future’

Here’s an audition notice for a Fringe show:

Hard Rock unveils fringe pin

The Hard Rock Cafe will unveil the winning design for its Orlando Fringe commemorative pin Feb. 15 at a public party, with free food and a cash bar. Find out the winner of the recent contest, and you’ll be able to prove your true Fringe fanaticism by ordering one for yourself. Here’s more:

Theater auditions: Three Tod Kimbro shows

Here are audition notices for three different shows by writer Tod Kimbro — My Illustrious Wasteland, planned for March; a new version of Suckers at the Fringe and Media, planned for June:

Theater auditions: ‘The War on Terriers’ for the Fringe

Here’s an audition notice for a show for the 2011 Fringe:

Fringe sets date for February fundraiser

Is it already time for the Fab Fringe Fundraiser? That musty mean that the Fringe itself — the 20th annual, this time around — is almost upon us.

I’ve reviewed all but one of those previous 19 Fringes and can hardly wait for the 20th. So here’s news of the fundraiser and, below that, a list of stuff the Fringe could use. Help these folks out if you can. It’s pretty much the most fun you can have legally in Orlando.

Theater auditions: ‘Bitches of the Kingdom!’ Fringe show

Here’s an audition announcement from the Oops Guys for their upcoming Fringe show:

Fringe 2011 show wins prize up north

Good news from the Oops Guys, the former Orlandoans who are bringing Bitches of the Kingdom! to the 2011 Fringe. The musical, which is also called Disenchanted! and is the tale of a bunch of Disney princesses gone sour, just won a full production from the New Jersey Playwrights Contest.

Garden offers discount for Fringe fans

The Garden Theatre is offering $5 off tickets for the Beth Marshall Presents production of A Christmas Carol if you know this code from the Orlando Fringe.

Just buy your tickets online (at gardentheatre.org) and, when you get to the place to enter a discount code, type “FRINGERULES” (minus the quotes).

Theater auditions: Eyewitness’s all-male ‘Lysistrata’ for Fringe

Here’s an audition notice from Eyewitness Theatre Company of Manchester, England, for its show for the Orlando Fringe: