FRINGE THEATER KICKS OFF SEASON WITH SAVINGS!

Fringe Theater Key West announces a season “in service” to the community and offers patrons a great way to save on pre-season purchases!

“We were finalizing plans for our season when Irma stormed into the Keys,” Fringe board president Janet Bengel explains. “Pretty quickly we realized that we wanted to make some changes that would allow us to offer more community-focused experiences.”

With that goal in mind, Fringe decided to open its season with a free play reading of a holiday classic that would give a large number of people the opportunity to perform and would serve as a reminder that it really is a wonderful life that we live! The season is filled with short run shows in multiple venues, supporting the Fringe’s tagline: We Take You Places!

It’s a Wonderful Life, the radio play, is directed by Glenda Donovan and features Bob Bowersox, Stephanie Miller, Tony Konrath, Bob Smith, Kate Miano, Deborah Ann Snelgrove, Wayne Dapser, Brad Gottschalk, Dustin Hoffman, Peggy Guidotti, Neal Ruchman, David Lebwohl, Alicia Merel, and Bob Rowand. Free readings will be held at 7pm at Duval Square (Dec 7), Side Bar at Aqua (Dec 8), Marathon Community Theater (Dec 9), and Bottlecap Lounge (Dec 10). The show will also air on Dec 7 on Island Radio 106.9 (and livestreams at island1069.com).

Lillian Baxter is back by popular demand! This feel-good “one-woman” show is the brainchild of John Vessels and Jay Schwandt who return with all new material that tracks Lillian’s musical rise to obscurity. Cabaret comedy meets beautiful renditions of the great American songbook. An Evening with Lillian Baxter runs Dec 21-24 and 26-31 at 7pm in the Little Room Jazz Club.

The Regina Monologues, by Rebecca Russell, gives a modern voice to the six wives of King Henry VIII. The play is directed by Rebecca Tomlinson and features Diane May, Erin McKenna, Lisa Elena Monda, Melody Moore, KeriAnn Marshman, and Ellen Rickert. The Regina Monologues runs Jan 18-21 at 7pm in the Parish Hall at St Paul’s Episcopal Church.

The Gin Game, by DL Coburn, pits two feisty nursing home residents against each other over a contentious card game. This Pulitzer Prize winning play is directed by John Reynolds with Carole MacCartee and features Don Bearden and Vanessa McCaffrey as the would-be friends. The Gin Game runs Feb 15-18 and 21-24 at the Key West Woman’s Club.

Bernstein on Broadway, presented by Bobby Nesbitt and Vincent Zito, showcases a stellar musical cast to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the birth American composer, Leonard Bernstein. Performers include Bobby Nesbitt, Susie Speidel, Susan Powell, Richard White, Jono Mainelli and Vincent Zito. Bernstein on Broadway runs two nights only, March 15 and 16, at The Studios of Key West. (A limited number of VIP tables are available.)

Conch Republic Re-Visited, book by Monnie O King with lyrics and music by Gayla D Morgan, closes Fringe’s mainstage season with the jubilation and fun that has become synonymous with the fast paced musical comedy. This show reminds us why “we seceded where others failed!” The show is directed by Rebecca Tomlinson with musical direction by Megan Constantine.

All Fringe shows begin at 7pm. Seating is typically limited, so patrons are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance. Well in advance. In fact, Fringe is offering a special discount on all tickets that are purchased now!

“Our ticket prices are already among the lowest in town, but we wanted to make sure – especially this year – that community members had an opportunity to see our shows,” Janet Bengel concluded. So, any ticket purchased by December 20 can be purchased with a 20% discount just by using the code FRINGE20 at checkout via the website www.fringetheater.org.

Fringe’s mainstage season is only the beginning of its community outreach. Another radio play is being planned for March, and Fringe favorites like the Playwrights in Paradise workshop, the monthly Plays Out Loud reading series, and Fringe’s popular Shakespeare in Schools program are all in the planning stages for the months ahead. In addition, two summer productions are in the works, including an original reading by Tony Konrath.

To learn more about the shows or programs, to purchase tickets, or make a donation, please go to www.fringetheater.org, email [email protected], or call 305-731-0581.

Fringe Theater Key West is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to enrich, educate, and entertain.

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