The lottery for the 2018 Orlando Fringe was held at Orlando Shakes last Monday night, with over three dozen festival hopefuls in attendance to watch Patty Sheehan randomly select productions. Local favorites including Margaret Nolan, David Lee and Michael Wanzie made the cut, as did returning international acts T.J. Dawe and Rob Gee. But with 300-odd applications for only 88 slots, many shows were inevitably shut out; wait-listed notables include Rob Ward, Jeff Jones and Jester Theater. Celebrate (or mourn) the results at the Winter Mini-Fest on Jan. 3-7; while there, say "welcome home" to former Fringe executive director George Wallace, who is moving back from Indianapolis to lead the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida.
Orlando Ballet's artistic director, Robert Hill, recently announced that Arcadian Broad will be the first recipient of the company's newly established Artist in Residence program. The 21-year-old Broad, who has been performing with Orlando Ballet since age 16 and trained at Juilliard, will compose and choreograph a new interpretation of "Alice in Wonderland" for the May 2018 Contemporary Wonders program.
Tickets are now available for The Bigot, a touring off-Broadway drama by Gabi Mor and Eva Mor running Feb. 17-25 at Orlando Shakes and March 2-11 at Sanford's Spotlight Theatre. The play concerns an aging white man who openly hates minorities; the New York Daily News said it has "topicality and resonance" in the age of President Trump.
NOW PLAYING Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings, through Dec. 16 at CFCArts ... Wanzie's Not Quite Right Christmas Special, through Dec. 17 at Savoy ... Book of Mormon, through Dec. 17 at Dr. Phillips ... A Christmas Story: The Musical, through Dec. 17 at Athens Theatre ... Daddy Long Legs, through Dec. 17 at Winter Park Playhouse ... Born Yesterday, through Dec. 17 at Mad Cow Theatre ... Annie, through Dec. 23 at Garden Theatre ... It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, through Dec. 30 at Orlando Shakes ... Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, through Dec. 30 at Parliament House ... Who Killed Santa? through Dec. 30 at Dangerous Theatre.
UPCOMING
It Was a Very Good Yule, Dec. 15-23 at Mad Cow Theatre ... One Man Christmas Carol, Dec. 22-24 at Blue Bamboo ... School of Rock, Dec. 26-31 at Dr. Phillips Center ... Native Gardens, Jan. 3-Feb. 4 at Orlando Shakes.