Tag Archives: Cincinnati Fringe Festival

“If you are searching for a relief from modern cynicism and despair, look no further than Destiny U.S.A.” – The UBYSSEY

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TOP 12 FRINGE SHOWS TO SEE – Toronto Star
Outstanding New Work and Outstanding Production – Toronto’s Now Magazine
2019 Best Production – Vancouver, BC – Fresh Sheet

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––At the 2022 Cincy Fringe Festival
Written & Performed by Laura Anne Harris
Featuring three Deaf Actors: Natasha Bacchus, Tamyka Bullen, and Sage Lovell
ASL consultant: Kat Campbell
Directed by: Krystal Osborne
Projection/captioning design: Matthew Koutzun
Sound Design: Alex Eddington

In 2016, when Laura moved from Toronto to Syracuse, New York, she wasn’t expecting to be residing in Trump’s America. Gaining her first job as a Relay operator for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing causes her to question whether she can discover the hidden humanity of the American people. Destiny, USA weaves together three stories: Laura moving to the US for the first time and working as a relay operator for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, romantically meeting her husband, and dealing with her mother’s illness in Canada while she lives in America. All are told through storytelling and poetry. While this is mainly autobiographical, some details have been changed to protect the anonymity of the Deaf callers. The performance integrates partial closed captioning and features performances from three Canadian Deaf actors: Tamyka Bullen, Natasha Bacchus, and Sage Lovell through ASL video projection.

Laura Anne Harris (Writer/Performer) is a writer/performer/director, born and raised in Victoria, B.C. She received an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia. She has toured two award winning solo shows: Pitch Blonde and The Homemaker across North America. Most recently Pitch Blonde was produced
at the Ware Centre in Lancaster, PA and the Toronto Centre for the Arts. She premiered her first full length play Red/Rouge at the IF Festival in Bangkok, Thailand. This summer she will be touring her third solo show Destiny, USA to Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Victoria, and Vancouver on the Canadian Fringe circuit. Her show
has been produced professionally at the Belfry Theatre’s 2020 Spark Festival and part of Pi Theatre’s 2022 season. Instagram: @lauranneharris Twitter: @destinyusatour Website: www.lauraanneharris.com

Krystal Osborne (Director) is a Performance Artist, Playwright and Director originally from Lowell, MA. She moved to NYC at the age of 18 and pursued her BFA from Adelphi University. From there, she was privileged to study and work with amazing creators. Directing highlights include: Our Lady of 121st St (Adelphi), Chasing Pavement (LGT, NYC), Baby Boom (LGT, NYC), Cinderella (LGT, NY) Resignations (Algonquin, NYC), Molly Maguires, AD (NITF, NYC), and Diviners (BTG, CNY). Awards Include: Achievement in Directing, Best Show of Week (x3), Best Show of Overall Festival (x3), Best Design Elements, and more. She was also a comedic writer
for American Like Jesus (PIT, NYC), Smut Show (Comix, NYC) and more. Krystal is currently a Producer, Instructor, and Collaborator with Breadcrumbs Productions and is thrilled to be directing Independence at Wunderbar in June 2019. KrystalOsborne@Gmail.com

Destiny, USA – Art Academy of Cincinnati Room 204
SAT JUNE 4th 3:45 PM/ TUES JUNE 7th 7:15 PM/ FRI JUNE 10th 7:15 PM/
SUN JUNE 12th 5:30 PM/ THUR JUNE 16th 9:00 PM

Running Time: 60 minutes
Individual Tickets: $16

Two Idiots. High Art. F*ckin’
Improvised.

MAKE A F*CKIN’ SHOW, YOU P.O.S. – part duo improv, part workshop showing, part unhinge clown experiment, part trauma bonding and 100% hilarious!

Performer/creator/clown/snake oil salesmen duo, Bradley Kristian Wrenn and Sarah Knittel, are taking over the Cincinnati Fringe Festival with “MAKE A F*CKIN’ SHOW, YOU P.O.S.” Coming to the city from parts unknown (Philadelphia), MAFSYPOS is a mad experiment springing from the darkness of plague times. Birthed from the vital need to spill the duo’s messy process onto the stage and return to live performance as quickly as possible.

Brad and Sarah are long-time collaborators and Fringe Festival royalty with heaps of theatrical accolades and 45 years of improv experience between them. In less than 55 minutes, they will create a live-directed masterpiece from scratch in front of the audience. Will it be an earth shattering opus? A disastrous failure?

About the Artist
Bradley Wrenn – a theater artist dedicated to “joyful play and absurd whimsy”. He is co-artistic director of The Berserker Residents, a company dedicated to original comedic productions that spring from improvisation and curiosity. His work has been hailed as “daft, ephemeral and joyous” by the Scotsman and he has been praised for his “refusal to relinquish that unrefined creative spirit” by the New York Times. The Berserker Residents’ shows include: The Jersey Devil, The Giant Squid, The Annihilation Point (NYTimes Critics Pick), The Lapsburgh Layover (commissioned by Ars Nova, NYTimes Critics Pick
and Village Voice Critic Pick), The Very Merry Xmas Carol Holiday Adventure Show (commissioned by Theater Horizon and published by PlayScripts), It’s So Learning (Presented by FringeArts and ASU Gammage), The Post Show (Presented at The Assembly in Edinburgh, Scotland) and Broccoli, Roosevelt and Mr House (commissioned by FringeArts). His work has been presented nationally and internationally at the Abraham’s Art Center, The San Francisco Mime Troupe, The Annenberg Center, The Assembly in Scotland and ASU Gammage. He has been artist in residence with FringeArts, Drew University, Ars Nova (company in residence) and the University of the Arts. He has also worked as a deviser, writer and producer with Swim Pony Performing Arts, Pig Iron Theater Company and director Nell Bang-Jensen.

Sarah Knittel – A Philadelphia based theater artist, festival co-founder, and clown. She helped found Free Fringe Philly festival, which creates accessibility to Fringe work in Philadelphia by eliminating costs and ticket prices while supporting the artists. Free Fringe Philly won a coveted arts spot on the Best Of 2021 list from Philly Magazine. Sarah on a stage has been described as “totally engaging” and “the work of a pro, fearlessly engaging the audience from start to finish, until we are all practically co-stars, or at least co-conspirators.” (Broad St Review) Hailed “Philly Actors Who Are Better Than You (at acting)…” (Phindie) The creator of Ben Franklin Sex Party and NIGHTMARE FUEL, a brutal clown show, which won the “Spirit of the Fringe” award in 2019 at Cincinnati fringe. It was also one of the recipients of 1812’s Jilline Ringle Fund. It garnered four stars in Edinburgh Fringe and was lauded as “a quintessential niche fringe experience” by the Wee Review. Sarah has also worked as a deviser and writer with Pig Iron Theater Company, Automatic Arts (inaugural artist in residence), Eva Steinmetz, Johnny Showcase and the Kimmel Center of the Arts.

Venue: Art Academy Room 663 (A663)1212 Jackson St Run Time: 55 min

• 6/4 at 6:45 pm
• 6/5 at 8:30 pm
• 6/7 at 6:45 pm
• 6/9 at 6:45 pm
• 6/10 at 8:30 pm
• 6/11 at 3:15 pm
• 6/12 at 8:30 pm

Instagram: @sarahhmonster @bradleykristian

This Queer and Campy Musical will play 5 shows as part of the Cincy Fringe Festival Running June 3-18, 2022

(CINCINNATI, OH) – The Cincy Fringe Festival is the place to be for cutting-edge performance content, and the new musical comedy, TEXAS ANNIE: THE LEGEND OF THE MOAN RANGER by Jennifer Howd and Roz Mihalko, brings the house down with LGBTQI+ inclusive flair!

Produced by local duo Jennifer Howd (Multimedia Artist and Award-winning Screenwriter) and Maggie Perrino (Theatre Director for The Carnegie), TEXAS ANNIE follows the musical adventures of a down-and-out salesgirl at an adult toy store whose life is turned upside-down when the Governor of Texas outlaws the use of intimate devices. On the run to deliver orders to eager customers across the Lone Star state, Annie must outsmart the Governor’s Texas Ranger henchman, Wolf Johnson, who is always hot on her heels. Can Annie change herself, her love life, and the Governor’s mind before the final curtain? Grab a ticket to find out!

A campy satire in the style of John Waters and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, this adults-only musical is based on a real Texas law passed in 1973 that made owning more than 6 intimate devices a felony in the state. Although the law was overturned in 2008, it technically remains on the books. Which means, presently, you can (legally) own more guns than intimate devices in Texas. Other states, such as Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, and parts of Georgia all have versions of this law that are still being enforced to this day.

TEXAS ANNIE Co-Writer/Co-Lyricist and Co-Producer, Jennifer Howd is thrilled to be debuting the show at the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. “As a proud member of the Cincinnati queer community, I’m excited to be bringing fun, LGBTQIA+ inclusive content to the city—especially during pride month.”

“It’s a really funny show with a deeper message,” adds show Producer and Director, Maggie Perrino. “We hope anyone who sees it is inspired to live and love in whatever ways are most authentic to them.”

Co-Writer & Co-Lyricist, Roz Mihalko couldn’t agree more. “TEXAS ANNIE is all about spreading good vibrations with love, laughter, and song. And with all the myriad challenges folks are facing these days—gay or straight—couldn’t we all just use some upbeat, heartwarming fun to help us get through these crazy times?”

Performances of TEXAS ANNIE will take place at Know Theatre of Cincinnati, located at 1120 Jackson St, Cincinnati, OH 45202.

Show times are: Sat, 6/4 @ 5:15p; Sun, 6/5 @ 9:00pm; Sun, 6/12 @ 3:30pm; Tues, 6/14 @ 9:00pm; and Fri, 6/17 @ 9:00pm.

Tickets can be purchased via The Cincy Fringe Festival’s website.

CONTENT ADVISORY: Production includes sexual content, adult themes and language. Not appropriate for children under 17.

About The Writers: Writer/Producer Jennifer Howd is a non-binary, queer multi-disciplinary artist, author, and avid meditator. Roz Mihalko is a queer trans woman playwright, screenwriter, and author. For more information about Jennifer, visit JenniferHowd.com. For more information about Roz, visit rozmihalko.com.

For more information about TEXAS ANNIE, visit: TexasAnnieMusical.com.

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CAST:

• Texas Annie: Hattie Clark
• Ashley Killjoy: Lydia Knoll
• Governor Killjoy: Justin Glaser
• Prudence Killjoy/Granny: Martha Slater
• Rainbow: Katerina Reynolds
• Dr. Goodbody/Ensemble: Chloe Price
• Wolf Johnson: Matt Krieg
• Brad/Sam Houston: Royce Louden
• Candi/Ensemble: Hope Pauley
• Sr. Christian/Ensemble: Robert Fields

PRODUCTION TEAM:

• Writers: Jennifer Howd and Roz Mihalko
• Music Composers: Steve Goers and John Woods
• Producers: Jennifer Howd and Maggie Perrino
• Director/Choreographer: Maggie Perrino
• Assistant Director/Company Manager: Kyle Taylor
• Music Director: Steve Goers