The two annual weeks of lively “fringe” theater in Cincinnati concluded over the weekend with performances and awards on Saturday evening, June 14. My postings on my Facebook page, Rick Pender’s Theater Stages & Scenes offered further comments about these shows. Here’s a rundown of the productions that earned special recognition:
• Audience Pick: 1 GAY WEDDING AND ABSOLUTELY NO FUNERALS from Ben & Justin Present out of Cincinnati.
• Critics’ Pick: ELEANOR’S STORY: LIFE AFTER WAR from Ingrid Garner out of Los Angeles, CA.• Dr. Robert J. Thierauf Producer’s Pick: AMERICAN’T from Jon Bennett out of Adelaide, Australia
• Linda Bowen All-Access Pick: TYMESHA HARRIS: A CABARET OF LEGENDS out of Orlando, Florida.
• David C. Herriman Artists’ Pick: WINNING: WINNING by Gordon Neill from Sweet Action Theatre Company out of Toronto, Ontario.
• The Henrietta Barlag Spirit of the Fringe Award went to venue technician Ella Skolnicki. Sue Terwilliger and Michelle Wagner were recognized as Volunteers of the Year.
Three other shows earned “Encore” performances on Saturday evening based on their volume of sales for their five regular performances. As recipients of these added offerings, they were not eligible for anyof the Fringe “picks,” but the “Encores” represent recognition equivalent to the picks. These were the best-sellers of the 22nd Annual Cincy Fringe:
• TEA TIME by Erika Kate MacDonald out of Covington, Kentucky.
• THE FAMILY CROW: A MURDER MYSTERY by Adam Francis Proulx out of Toronto.
• TRAITORS by Stix Newman out of Cincinnati.
The 23rd annual Cincinnati Fringe Festival happen May 29-June 13, 2026 — mark your calendar for the next iteration of Cincinnati’s Summer Theatre Party. To keep abreast of Fringe news: www.CincyFringe.com