Applications Are Open Through Early December for the 2026 Cincinnati Fringe Festival and Serials! Season 16
Cincinnati, OH – Know Theatre of Cincinnati is excited to announce the opening of applications for their two wildly popular theatrical incubator programs: the 23rd Annual Cincinnati Fringe Festival (May 29 – June 13, 2026) and Serials! now in its sixteenth season, running every other Monday for five performances between January 26th and March 23rd, 2026.
The Cincinnati Fringe Festival is a 14-day festival of new work and live performance from local, national and international indie theatre artists that takes place annually over the first two weeks of June. The Cincy Fringe is a curated festival and each Primary Lineup application is reviewed by three arts professionals on the basis of diversity, innovation, passion, regional singularity, and for the project’s ability to be produced within the constraints of the Fringe structure. Applicants can submit to five different categories of programming: Primary Lineup, Special Events, Fringe In Development, Conceptual Fringe and Kids Fringe. With a Pay-What-You-Wish Application, a $125 Producer’s Fee, and a 50/50 box office split, the Cincinnati Fringe Festival aims to reduce the financial barrier for theatre artists to enable them to make exciting choices and take chances with their work – not their wallets. The deadline for applications is Tuesday, December 9, 2025; Applicants will be notified of their application status by February 2, 2026.
Serials! exists with the intention of giving local artists the opportunity to see their ideas onstage in a supportive, growth-oriented environment. Playwrights are encouraged to submit their ideas for serialized scripts that can be brought to full conclusion through no more than five episodes, to be performed live on the Know Theatre Cabaret Stage. Prior to each performance, each production is given time to do a technical rehearsal in the space and producers receive a 50/50 box office split. At the end of the five performances, the audience votes for the show that they wish to see performed in its entirety during a weekend run on the Know Theatre Cabaret Stage.
This year the Know Theatre welcomes new producers for Serials! After four seasons of production under the keen-eyed and loving care of Liz Carman, the Know is pleased to announce that Serials! Season 16 will be helmed by local theatre makers, Alexx Rouse and Zach Robinson of A to Z Productions. Rouse has been personally involved as a writer and producer since Serials! Season 2 and Robinson since Serials! Season 3. Serials! has been integral to their personal as well as professional stories, as the two theatre makers met during Serials! Season 3, fell in love, and have since collaborated on many successful productions including All’s Faire, a Ren Faire who-done-it comedy musical that has gone on to be professionally produced multiple times.
The application for Serials! requires the submission of a title, short and full descriptions, a 5-page writing sample, cast size, the request of a 1-5 episode arc, special production requests and the production team’s general availability. The application for Serials! Season 16 closes Monday, December 15; applicants will be notified of their selection by Friday, December 19, 2025.
Applicant Information
Applicants interested in applying to the Cincinnati Fringe Festival can find the Applicant Handbook, FAQs, and Application at https://cincyfringe.com/
For questions regarding the application or the festival, please contact Fringe Producer, Katie Hartman at katiefringe@knowtheatre.com
Applicants interested in applying to Serials! Season 16 can find the Applicant Handbook and Application at https://www.knowtheatre.com/serials-16/
For questions regarding Serials! or its application, please contact Serials! Producers, Alexx Rouse and Zach Robinson at Serials@knowtheatre.com
Ticket and Performance Information
Serials! Season 16 will take place on Mondays at 7:30pm: January 26, February 9 & 23, and March 9 & 23, 2026
Tickets and passes are now on sale for Serials! Season 16 and may be purchased by phone at (513) 300-5669 or purchased online at https://www.knowtheatre.com/serials-16/
- Single Tickets: $17 ($15 plus $2 processing fee)
- Five-show Pass: $75
The 23rd Annual Cincinnati Fringe Festival: May 29 – June 13, 2026. Passes will go on sale when the 2026 festival lineup is announced on Monday, April 6, 2026 at cincyfringe.com. Single tickets will go on sale on Monday, April 27, 2026.
Know Theatre of Cincinnati exists to build belonging through bold theatre.
Serials! Season 16 and the 23rd Annual Cincinnati Fringe Festival are made possible by the Morse and Betty Johnson Family Foundation.
The 23rd Annual Cincinnati Fringe Festival is sponsored by Norah and Joe Mock of Cutler Real Estate.
Know Theatre is supported by the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the annual ArtsWave Campaign, the region’s primary source for arts funding.
The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Know Theatre with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.
Know Theatre is also supported by the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, which provides a simple, powerful, and highly personal approach to giving.
Know Theatre is a member of Theatre Communications Group and an Associate Member of the National New Play Network.
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