By Liz Eichler
The shows are over, the pins are packed, and the Cincinnati Fringe 2025 withdrawal has officially begun. What a celebration it was.
More than just a theatre festival, Cincinnati Fringe is a gathering of communities: artists, supporters, writers, designers, full-time performers, lifelong dreamers, board members, and more. For two buzzing weeks, Over-the-Rhine pulsed with creativity, camaraderie, and theatrical experimentation.
Cincinnati Fringe 2025: Two Weeks of Art, Energy, and Empathy
Running from May 30 through June 14, Cincinnati Fringe 2025 brought a whirlwind of performances and events. Weekdays offered two shows per night, while weekends could pack in four. Between shows, audiences gathered to eat, drink, debrief, and dive deeper into the festival spirit.
This was the first full festival under new Know Theatre leadership—Bridget Leak (PAD), Ri Moodie (Managing Director) and Katie Hartman (Festival Producer)—and a few changes stood out. Most notably: babies! Theatre millennials are raising Gen Alpha in real time, and the presence of new parents balancing art and family brought extra warmth to the community.
New Venues and Familiar Vibes
This year expanded its footprint with new sponsors and venues: Miami University’s 13th & Vine space, First Lutheran Church, and Coffee Emporium joined longtime sites like Know MainStage and Gabriel’s Corner.
“What I loved this year was how walkable and centralized everything was,” said reviewer Shawn Maus. “Everything orbited Papa Fringe HQ (sponsored by Joe Mock with support from Norah). And the audiences? Simply the best. A vibrant mix of folks from all walks of life—laughing, leaning in, and living for the unexpected. Fringe people are my people.”
Puppets Ruled
Reviewer Alan Jozwiak observed, “Puppets ruled.” With seven puppet-based shows (especially shadow puppetry), he hoped this trend would cross-pollinate future productions. It was a banner year for hybrid forms. Many shows included dance, and a few were framed by podcasts. LGBTQIA+ issues abounded, but nothing brought current issues to the forefront as Traitors.
Fringe for Every Generation
Jozwiak also noted generational trends among audiences. While seasoned Fringe-goers packed Arsenic and Old Spice, younger fans gravitated toward shows like Trumpets!, Yes anD&D, and those that explored modern relationships, gaming and pop culture. As we get older, we start realizing we’re not the youngest and hippest generation anymore (and have to look up terms on Urban Dictionary).
Fringe Late Night: Unscripted Magic
Some of the most memorable moments happened after hours: Fringe-a-oke backup dancers (including co-director Hartman), a Booze-y Clothing Swap, an artisan tea swap, the Gay Spelling Bee (Ben Miller-Jones & Justin King), Rabbit Night with Jon Bennett, The Kinda Weird Puppet Slam, and deep post-show conversations with artists, such as Cory Howard (The Campfireball) or Bruce Ryan Costella (Muttnik). These unscripted Fringe moments often revealed as much as the shows themselves.
Fringe People Wear Many Hats
Aiden Sims, former Fringe cover model and new LCT reviewer, summed it up: “My single-year badge accumulation felt like an accomplishment: artist, media, staff, bartender!” Highlights included performing as Spider Woman in (Late Night show) Hot Dish!, reviewing shows, and riding shotgun on Katie Hartman’s scooter to and from Box Office gigs.
A Community Turned Out in Support
“I ran into Cincinnati theatre royalty—from CCM legends to Cincy Shakes regulars,” Maus said. “It reminded me how rich our local scene is.”
Even as Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (Jaja’s African Hair Braiding) and Cincinnati Shakespeare Company (Mrs. Dalloway) ran their professional regional theatre productions, their casts and crews showed up to support Fringe. Theatres like Falcon, SCPA, NKU, CCM, Playhouse, Covedale, and Carnegie also made strong showings.
Theatre + Streetcar + Ice Cream
“I tasted my way through downtown between shows,” Maus added. “Shoutout to Simply Rolled Ice Cream (perfect palate cleanser) and Coffee Emporium for late-night buzz. I finally rode the streetcar! And some of the best conversations happened on the picnic benches outside Know. That’s the magic of Fringe: great art, great people, great vibes.”
Ella Widau, new LCT reviewer and social media intern, agreed: “I brought friends to several shows, and exploring nearby restaurants was part of the fun. I focused on experimental theatre and stuck to three main venues. Everyone was so kind and welcoming. It’s not just about the shows—it’s about the people.”
Cincinnati Fringe 2025 Award Winners
The awards ceremony, held during Saturday night’s Fringe Late Night, recognized standouts across categories:
- Audience Pick of the Fringe — 1 Gay Wedding and Absolutely No Funerals by Ben and Justin Presents (Cincinnati/Columbus, OH)
- Critics’ Pick — Eleanor’s Story: Life After War by Ingrid Garner (Los Angeles, CA)
- Dr. Robert J. Thierauf Producer’s Pick — American’t by Jon Bennett (Adelaide, Australia)
- The Linda Bowen Full Frontal Pick — Tymisha Harris: Cabaret of Legends by Dynamite Lunchbox Entertainment (Orlando, FL)
- David C. Herriman Artists’ Pick — Gordon Neill WINNING:Winning by Sweet Action Theatre Co. (Toronto, ON)
- Henrietta Barlag Spirit of the Fringe Award — Ella Skolnicki, Miami University Arts Admin student and technical support superstar
- Volunteers of the Year — Sue Terwilliger and Michelle Wagner (ticketing, guiding, orange shirt rockstars)
These followed Saturday Fringe Encores including Tea TIME by Erika MacDonald (Covington, KY), The Family Crow: A Murder Mystery by The Pucking Fuppet Company (Toronto, ON), and Traitors by Stix Eris (Cincinnati, OH).
Other Must-See Favorites
Throughout the Fringe, reviewers gave high praise to:
- Stuck by Brooklyn’s Wicked Cat Productions
- Muttnik by Bruce Ryan Costella from Orlando, FL
- Somewhere Over the Holler by Cincinnati’s Pones
- Arsenic and Old Spice by Liz Coley, Cincinnati
- and so many more! Go to the Fringe Website to see what you missed!
Conceptual Fringe: Bold & Boundary-Breaking
This year’s new Conceptual Fringe offered four experiences that pushed boundaries, and I hope this is continued!
- Amica Hunter, past Cincy Fringe Award winner, invited audiences into her creative process beneath the Know stairs. She also led THINK TANK performances at Miami University’s venue.
- Performance Gallery, the only group to perform all 22 years of Cincy Fringe, offered DANCE (Deborah Brock-Blanks & Steve Hayes), SING (Mark Messerly), and SIT (a relaxing soundbath by Hayes).
- Ashley Goos (Miami University) premiered Invisible Women to critical acclaim.
- James Sorge (Cincinnati) offered an immersive VR dance experience with In Perspectivation.
Kids Fringe + Fringe Development
Two standout shows debuted for young audiences: Forging Legends and La Luna Verde/The Green Moon. Fringe Development shows—Z is for Zebra, The Mother, and In the Presence of —showed immense promise and are ready for their next stage. (see reviews in the LCT Grid).
Limited Run, Maximum Impact
Shows with only 1-2 performances aren’t eligible for top awards, but they made big impressions:
- [Title of Memoir] or 2.5 Pots of Coffee a Day is Too Much and Other Advice I Didn’t Think I Would Need to Hear or On How Judith Light Saved My Life p.s.Please thank…
- A Clockwork O’Fringe
- Alphas: On Fire! A Comedy Variety Show
- Plan V: The Rise of Reverence (a runaway hit!)
- trueFRINGE
- Yes anD&D
See reviews for all these shows in the LCT Fringe Festival Review Grid.
I’m Steeping
A new mantra emerged from Erika MacDonald’s Tea Time: “I’m steeping.” It’s the perfect metaphor for that reflective in-between time—between jobs, ideas, shows, or acts.
Cincinnati Fringe 2025 Had It All
Fast-paced storytelling. Slow-burn reflection. Wild experimentation. Honest connection.
From powerhouse solo acts to collaborative ensembles, this year proved once again: the Cincinnati Fringe Festival isn’t just alive—it’s thriving. This jewel in the Queen City crown shines bright every June.
Again, see what you missed by reading reviews on the LCT Fringe Festival Review Grid.
Fringe 2026
Planning will soon begin for next year’s Fringe, scheduled for May 29 to June 13, 2026. See you there!
