Yes, It's finally here! That is to say, Orlando Fringe is here. I would like to present the following list in no particular order, even though it says "top 5". This is also based on my experience of day 1, not of everything about the day.

• ONEymoon - $11 - Brown - starring the hilarious (and tap-dancing) Canadian Christel Bartelse, following her alter ego Caroline on her dating escapades and her honeymoon of one to the Islands after making a commitment to... herself. The premise of this show was not exciting to me, but the execution is top-notch, and this one will draw some fans.
• Medicine - $11 - Yellow - TJ Dawe, whose shows are always based on real life, where he talks about self-discovery on a Peruvian tea, complete with Shamans. This would have been even more awesome if he had not run over time. That's what I get for attending opening night. The Fringe runs on time. Remember that there is no late entry, no refunds or exchanges, and no re-entry once the doors have closed.
• Sangria Soda - $2 - sold by the pizza vendor in the corner of the Green Lawn of Fabulousness
• Wood Fired Pizza - $10 - several varieties available, though I don't remember seeing any with meat. We tried the Margherita and the Four Cheese Pesto. Each pizza is a 10-12 inch thin personal pizza. This is one of 4 such mobile wood-burning ovens in the state, and I'm told.
• Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly "Clouds" - $5 - from Peg and Pete's food truck. If you are a Cloud Virgin, you are in for a treat. This basket of 5 fluffy-crispy-gooey confections is possible to share, but not easy once you've taken the first bite. Also, something called a Cloud has got to be light on the calories, right? ;-)

You'll notice that both shows I saw are from out of town (out of the US, in fact). Here's a tip: go to see any National or International act on the opening weekend of the festival, (that is, people who are not from Florida or the US). The great ones will all sell out next week, as word of mouth spreads. You can be ahead of the curve by taking a chance on an out-of-towner!

The 2012 Fringe Festival Producer tells us all that is new at the 21st Orlando Fringe, and shares his Fringe Crush.

Lots of news!

• Billboard Campaign
• Fringe First Fridays
• National / International Preview Opening Night replaces the gala
• Family Friendly and Mature Preview April 16th
• Kids Fringe at the Manello Museum (across the street from the Green)
• New Orlando Fringe Website
• Documentary Film about Fringe is being made
• 80 shows - more than ever
• Expanded Outdoor Stage - featuring local Bands
• Miss Hiccup returns with Osara Soup

One of the stand-out contributions to the Creative Mind Experiment was the Dog Powered Robot, created by Evan Miga and friends (including his Pomeranian, Fisher). Found via The Daily City.

About the Creative Mind Experiment:

See how differently creative minds interpret the same inspiration.

All of the creators agreed to participate without knowing what their source of inspiration would be. They were given a 3 min and 33 sec piece of music and asked to create “something” in that time frame. They can use any medium they wish and as little or as much of the music as they desire. The only rule is that they must create something that was inspired by something they heard or felt in the piece of music.

See what creators like Bob Kodzis (Creative Catalyst/Improv Actor), Brian Feldman (Performance Artist), Jordan Woods-Robinson (Blue Man/Actor/Fiddle Player), Evan Miga (DRIP Creative Engineer & Graphic Designer), Lindsay Cohen (Writer/Actor), Ryan Price (Community Builder/Hacker), Richard Paul (Improv artist), Brandon Roberts (Producer/Director/Actor, Creator of the PB&J Theatre Factory) , Tisse Mallon (Photographer/Creative Mind), Melissa Cowen (Child Dance Prodigy), Comedians, Musicians, Choreographers and more separately create.

Each creation is placed one right after another so you can see just how differently they think even when inspired by the exact same thing. 8 creators will participate in every show. View the show-by-show schedule to see when your favorites will appear!

Producers:
Jessica Mariko (Also the creator of DRIP http://www.ILoveDRIP.com/ and FRESH http://www.ValentinesDayOrlando.com/)
Linda Eve Elchak (Also the creator of Nao Dance Collective http://www.naodance.com/)

Found on John's YouTube channel:

“Pepe come here,” Blue shouts...
Copied from Rob Ward: Nipple Tape, Furries, and Gas Masks, Oh My - Pepe Makes a Cameo in VarieTEASE, this post about Pepe is the definition of a "Fab Fringe Moment".

Blue then calls the full cast together for a pre-show energy circle, some motivational words, and a prayer of sorts (to the theatre gods?). I like being a part of this. Performing as Pepe is one of my favorite things in the world to do, but oddly enough before a show, it can be a little lonely, so it’s nice to connect with a big cast … and there’s a lot of love in this circle. Good feeling.

Also today in the blogosphere, Katie Ball continues her marching rampage through the 2010 Fringe, with a post entitled, "MORE, MORE, MORE!".

”T-O-T-A-L-L-Y” is an inspiring story of a woman taking back her personal power. No bra burning or picket signs in sight, instead the irrepressible Kimleigh Smith uses sassy dialog, a sultry R&B voice and some sexy-ass dance moves to show her transformation from a teenage valley girl into a hot HOT woman of substance. Anyone, male or female, will be encouraged by T-O-T-A-L-L-Y 's story of facing crippling adversity, owning it, and then kicking it to the curb.

“Goblin Party Interactive” - Oh my God this was so much cooler than I could even imagine. It's the movie Labyrinth done Rocky Horror style, but joined by a range of clever puppets, dreamy kite work and puppeteers Heather Henson and Marsian's hysterical portrayals of the lead characters Sarah and the Goblin King. My suggestion: round up a crowd of friends, take the kites and ears you made at the Ibex tent, medicate however you see fit and then jump into the fray. TOO MUCH FUN.

“Some Other Day” is a beautifully simple story told by two artists who are proud to share the tradition of old Vaudevillian showmanship. Whether altering the space/time continuum, dabbling in the supernatural or bringing applause with just a smile, Schave and Reilly keep doing what they do best – being freaking adorable. “Some Other Day” is 50 minutes of genuine sweetness; it may not be for everyone, but the world would be better if it was.

"Canuck Cabaret"
I love Canadians, and what better way to celebrate than by witnessing the Canuck Cabaret? Hosted by Fringe sweetheart Paul Hutcheson and the saucy Sharon Nowlan, this variety show features new guests with each performance. I was lucky to get to see Schave and Reilly do an amazing juggling routine - so clever that my friends and I are still trying to figure out how they did it. And Paul and Sharon delivered a number of performances that ranged in tone from beautifully and serenely cosmic to the universally well-regarded theme of poo. I loved the show and actually wish I could go every day.

Denna asked Jay Hopkins about his involvement with "Is This Seat Taken?" and "Six Guitars" to complete her mission for the Game. Here is the result:

Play The Game! Pick up missions (and new add-on missions) in the big Round Room - look for the sliver briefcase.

Jeremy Seghers
had a wonderful night at Fringe! I highly recommend Lucky 9, The Shakespeare Show & The Bike Trip. Looking forward to Cody Rivers & Peg O'Keef tomorrow.

Paul Castaneda
Was so happy to see great performances yesterday from Lana Hancock Stevens, Katrina Johnson, Kevin Sigman, and Sarah Lockard to name a few. Love Fringe!

Ibex Puppetry
Check out our review in the Watermark! Don't miss the next Goblin Party Interactive @ Orlando Fringe 5/25 at 9:20pm
http://www.watermarkonline.com/index.php/lgbt-arts-culture/stage/4218-Or...

Katie Ball
Can't do big write ups today, y'all - applying for a position with the Orlando Shakes and needing to get my butt back out to the Fringe. Will say that I had three home runs yesterday - "Some Other Time" [sic] was beautifully sweet, "T-O-T-A-L-L-Y" was inspiring and empowering, "Goblin Party" was so much freaking fun!!! Imagine Rocky Horror interaction but with Labyrinth!! Great times yesterday. More soon.

One of the missions of The Game, "Ask an Artist Why they Made their Show". So +1 for me, and +1 again for making a video and posting it!

Posted from Katie Ball's Facebook Note, The Ibex tent at Fringe is THE BOMB.

The Ibex tent at Fringe is my new favorite place. Last night I spent well over an hour creating what director Mike Marinaccio dubbed “Bad Bunny Ears”. Good/Bad, not Evil ; ) Made with pipe cleaners, fabric, hot glue, feathers (and with a good bit of guidance from puppeteers Heather Henson and Marsian), I felt my already low blood pressure drop further still.

If you aren't into making ears you can make a kite! It's free, folks, great great fun and free. Go make something awesome and then take it to Ibex's interactive Goblin Party. I want to get a big posse together for that, who's game?

Posted from Katie Ball's Facebook Note, And so it begins... Fringe's Opening Night!

Last night's opening was a quiet one but still so great. Missed the ribbon cutting because it was still so damned hot, so my buddy Emily and I had the contingency plan of drinking at Peacock first : ) Though we were both very well behaved because we knew we had a long night ahead of us and wanted to be in shape for it. The bartender had never heard of Fringe, and while I never like to be one of those clutch the pearls “You've never heard of...?” people, this one continues to surprise me. But it also kind of excites me because there are so many more people the regulars can help bring into the fold. The bartender and dred boy next to me sounded pretty well sold when I talked to them about Schave and Reilly's show, with the dred guy saying 'It's not every day someone talks about Buster Keaton at a bar.'