Orlando International Fringe Theater Festival

The festival features 850 ticketed theatrical performances on indoor and outdoor stages, produced by local, national and international artists.

[4] Founders Terry Olson, Rick Kunst, and Andy Anthony originally came to Orlando as members of the SAK Theatre Company, which produced, performed, and managed live audience participatory comedy shows at Disney’s Epcot.

When Disney failed to renew their contract, SAK refocused on launching its own Orlando theatre venue, hosting a troupe of performers who traveled to Renaissance fairs and fringe festivals.

[5] In the early 1980s, a group of SAK's touring artists, led by Olson, performed at the Edinburgh Fringe.

The festival hosted 35 performance groups from as far away as Uganda, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Canada with two new venues added to meet demand.

[11] In 2002, a fire broke out in the old Bryan Hotel on West Church Street, where Orlando Fringe stored its schedule boards, podiums, and archives.

[13] The 11th Annual Orlando Fringe Festival shifted to May to make it easier for local theme park employees to participate.

Orlando Fringe moves its year-round operations to Loch Haven Park, housed inside the Lowndes Shakespeare Center.

[26] Executive Director Alauna Friskics said of the cancellation, "We have worked countless financial scenarios and considered all stakeholders.

During the opening ceremonies, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer proclaimed that Fringe Today would count as the 29th festival for the organization.

[31] In January 2023, Orlando Fringe opened the 9,100-square-foot Fringe ArtSpace, taking the place of Mad Cow Theatre at 54 W. Church St., with the mission of offering "artist-focused programming" focused on "building a dynamic, inspiring community of artists and arts lovers with the purpose of providing artists a safe environment to create, experiment, collaborate and showcase their creations.

The exhibition includes a gallery, art market, workshops, classes, crafts, demonstrations, selfie backdrops, and events.

The stage offers free cross-genre live music, live art, dance parties, dance troupes, stand-up comedy, comedic improv, poetry competitions, literary readings, and promotional snippets for official Orlando Fringe shows.

Visitors to the festival can grab a drink, pull up a chair, and take in the sights and sounds of the two free outdoor stages.

Memberships included special early ticket buying and access to an air-conditioned tent on the Fringe Lawn.

Donor perks start at $25 where members receive entry to the exclusive Club Fringe Lounge inside the Orlando Museum of Art.