Viual Fringe has already sold 12 pieces! Congrats to all the artists who were so awesome that someone bought their work so fast! There are 156 pieces in Visual Fringe this year, so take some time to check out all the unjuried art at the 2009 festival.

Brian Feldman, dully appointed Grand Marshall of Whatever, opened the line for the first night of shows of Albert Pergande's The Mayor of Orange Avenue. The show is based (I don't know how faithfully) on real Orlando people, places, and events, with the evil Central Hospital wanting to take over the whole block, and the sappy little antique shop that seems to have all odds against it.

The Mayor of Orange Avenue

Pink Venue

5/14 THU 9:50PM, 5/16 SAT 12:00PM, 5/17 SUN 7:10PM, 5/19 TUE 7:40PM, 5/20 WED 11:40PM, 5/23 SAT 4:20PM, 5/24 SUN 3:20PM

Download VoiceMail Review 01
fringe_2009_voice_01_mayor_sister.mp3
Length: 2:01

Two shows by local companies:

Sister Mary Ignatious Explains it All to You
Yellow Venue
5/14 THU 11:30PM, 5/16 SAT 5:00PM, 5/18 MON 6:00PM, 5/20 WED 7:40PM, 5/22 FRI 10:00PM, 5/23 SAT 1:40PM, 5/24 SUN 7:40PM

The Mayor of Orange Avenue
Pink Venue

This year at the Fringe, Blogging Fringe has created a game we hope you're really going to love. The object is to earn Whuffie, which is the most valuable currency known to man.

What's a Whuffie?

Whuffie are virtual points which represent respect, a "Reputation Currency". You earn whuffie as people credit you out of respect, gratitude, pity, lust, love, or any other motive for popularity.

"Whuffie recaptured the true essence of money: in the old days, if you were broke but respected, you wouldn't starve; contrariwise, if you were rich and hated, no sum could buy you security and peace. By measuring the thing that money really represented — your personal capital with your friends and neighbors — you more accurately gauged your success".

We all know Radio Rickshaw, and follow closely their coverage of the Fringe. John and Dan's official "Fringe Season" has begun, and here are some of their offerings:

Orlando Fringe Festival Preview 2009
This is an episode from the Fringe Preview on April 13th, recorded live with dozens of performers.

Episode 85: John’s Playhouse
This is an episode with Ryan Price (that's me) as a special guest, talking about Blogging Fringe's plan for this year.

Episode 78: Wayburn and Cory’s Bromance
A few episodes back, they had Wayburn Sassy on as a guest.

• 
  johnvalines: Fringe preview was a great time. Nice to be around so many artists all at once. Special thanks to @brianfeldman for taking the Mike role!!!
• 
  johnvalines: Fringe preview was a great time. Nice to be around so many artists all at once.
• 
  yowdance: The Fringe Preview was a blast! Lots of great acts this year. Great job everyone! :)
• 
  mbatchelor: Good job all performers at fringe preview!
• 
  mattsimantov: @BrianFeldman nope didn't make their fringe preview video
• 
  Orlando_Fringe: RT @BrianFeldman: Wish I could have been on stage during @OrlandoPuppet's @Orlando_Fringe preview act. Lots of fun! #fringe
• 
  Orlando_Fringe: RT @metromixorlando: Fringe preview is like the Oscars, it always runs long, great night though
• 
  OrlandoCoaster: Home from the Fringe preview. But seriously..4 hours? It didn't seem many groups adhered to the 3 minute rule. Makes for a loooong night.
• 
  metromixorlando: Fringe preview is like the Oscars, it always runs long, great night though
• 
  brianfeldman: Wish I could have been on stage during @OrlandoPuppet's @Orlando_Fringe preview act. Lots of fun! #fringe
• 
  Orlando_Fringe: RT @AnnaMac66: Anna's parting words from Preview Night: "Talk Art, Buy Art!" #VF09 #fringe #ofringe
• 
  Orlando_Fringe: Good night from the 2009 Orlando Fringe Preview! Remember, tix go on sale next Monday @ http://OrlandoFringe.org !! #fringe #ofringe
• 
  AnnaMac66: AnnaMac66Thank you @Orlando_Fringe for Tweeting about Fringe Preview! #fringe #ofringe #VF09
• 
  AnnaMac66: Thank you Orlando_Fringe for Tweeting about Fringe Preview! #fringe #ofringe #VF09
• 
  Orlando_Fringe: Now: Arfnotz Productions "The Mayor of Orange Avenue" musicalizes their preview. http://is.gd/sdVe (expand) #fringe #ofringe
• 
  Ultrasuede: Just got home from fringe preview. These guys and gals are fucking amazing.
• 
  AnnaMac66: @emmabunny No vagteeth for me, thanks! Fringe Preview night is going full force, my love! #fringe #ofringe #VF09
• 
  Orlando_Fringe: RT @AnnaMac66: I concur. RT @BrianFeldman: Carbon Productions has mastered the art of @Orlando_Fringe preview w/ Normal People in 3D #fringe
• 
  AnnaMac66: I concur. RT BrianFeldmanCarbon Productions has mastered the art of @Orlando_Fringe preview w/ Normal People in 3D. #fringe #VF09
• 
  metromixorlando: At Fringe preview, waiting for Act 2, have some must-sees already #ofringe
• 
  khphotographics: Having a great time at the fringe preview and feeling much better!
• 
  Orlando_Fringe: "The Executives Present: FREE KITTENS!" wraps Act I of Fringe Preview. http://is.gd/sdPU (expand) Be back in 10 minutes! #fringe #ofringe
• 
  Orlando_Fringe: @kangagirl preview of "PIE FACE! The Adventures of Anita Bryant" won't be seen tonight, but catch it next month! http://is.gd/sdQg (expand) #fringe
• 
  brianfeldman: Carbon Productions has mastered the art of @Orlando_Fringe preview w/ Normal People in 3D. #fringe
• 
  Orlando_Fringe: Touching tribute to John Goring by Beth Marshall prior to the Playwrights Round Table Fringe preview. #fringe #ofringe

Mark Baratelli's incredible arts and culture blog is going after Fringe in a big way. This year, the Daily City will bring you an opportunity to give back to Fringe.

Find helpful links, ALL the reviews, festival info, shows, and awards, ALL ON ONE PAGE. That's mobile-phone friendly, and you can't beat that. Mark is a genius, and he's proved it once again.

You all remember Mark from his shows like Improv Cabaret and How Do You Feel?, but Mark has also been the man behind the curtain of the official Fringe web presence for the last few years.

Some of your Fringe Faithful have a few things to say about this year's festival, and they've put it in video form. For the lazy, just read the bullet points:

• Save your pennies - Buttons are $8 this year
• Keep it green - your second program is $1
• Tickets will be at the Orlando REP as well. That's Fabulous!

The Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival invites you to show your love for Fringe by attending I Heart Fringe, this year’s Fab Fringe Fundraising event, at 6:00 pm on Monday, February 16th at the Lowndes Shakespheare Center in Loch Haven Park.

The event will feature performances by veteran Fringe favorites, including VarieTEASE, Voci Dance, CineDance Jazz Dance, Pepe, Jeff Jones, and Checkerboard Productions,

From the United Arts of Central Florida group on Facebook:

Now is the time to let members of the Orange County Public School Board know that arts education matters for our children and should be maintained even in difficult financial circumstances.