Some people consider Memorial Day the “official” start of summer. Personally, I measure the start of summer by another event entirely: the Cincinnati Fringe Festival! And the 22nd Annual Cincy Fringe has now commenced, so here are the shows I’ve seen thus far:



Arsenic and Old Spice by Silver Linings Productions (Cincinnati, OH)
Playwright Liz Coley is back for another Fringe with a killer script (pun intended). Arsenic and Old Spice is about bakery owners Nevile and Barry and their own special brand of end-of-life choices to “friends and family”. Things are going along swimmingly until their influencer daughter (played flawlessly by the always delightful Eileen Earnest) goes viral with some unwanted publicity.
While the scene changes need to be tightened up a bit, it is an excellent show: heartfelt, harrowing, and hilarious. Excellent work done by Director Gina Kleesattel as well as cast and crew.
Remaining Performances at Gabriels’s Corner:
- June 1 at 4:15pm
- June 7 at 8:45pm (ASL interpreted)
- June 8 at 4:15pm
- June 13 at 7pm
Important note for the artists who perform in Gabriel’s Corner: if you think you’re loud enough, go even louder. That space eats up voices like it has been fasting for decades.
Tea Time by Erika MacDonald (Covington, KY)
With a tag line like “It’s about tea! It’s about time! F**k off, I’m steeping”, I was immediately sold on Other Erika Presents’ 2025 Fringe offering. (I love tea and I love the F-word, so match made in heaven.) But to paraphrase the illustrious words of Joe “Papa Fringe” Mock, an Erika story is never only about what you think it’s about: it’s always about so much more.
Ms. MacDonald is an adept storyteller who knows how to keep an audience captive and who weaves her stories together with many different types of proverbial cloth. There are stories; there is dancing; there are laughs; and of course, there is tea. “But what the heck is this show really about, Kat?” you find yourselves asking. It isn’t up to me to tell you. All I can say is beware because you might just fall in love (or a bit more in love) with this incredible artist. Erika’s ability to be creative, a wee bit kooky, and still so utterly human is not easily matched.
Remaining Performances at Gabriels’s Corner:
- June 1 at 7pm
- June 5 at 7pm
- June 6 at 8:45pm
- June 11 at 7pm
Kids’ Fringe: Forging Legends by Skribble Skratch Productions (Cincinnati, OH)
What do you do when you are held back from recess? You read books and let your imagination take you on a journey (or several).
Inspired by legendary African-American folk tale heroes John Henry and Flatboat Annie, Director Lauren Carr brings a show fit for every member of the family. Three performing artists play a multitude of characters, mirroring the vast imaginations we have as children which we hopefully carry into adulthood. As the best friends create their own hero characters who have decided to battle climate change, the audience is right along with them for the ride. A wonderful blend of universal relatability while empowering Black voices, Forging Legends will be enjoyed by both the young and young at heart.
Remaining Performances at Know Theatre:
- June 1 at 2:15pm
- June 7 at 2:15pm (ASL interpreted)



The Second Circumcision of Lili Rosen by Lili Rosen (New York, NY)
Lili Rosen is a fascinating person. As a person who describes themselves as a “recovering Catholic”, I was particularly amused when I read that Ms. Rosen considers herself a “recovering lawyer”. Self-described as a trans woman of Hasidic “experience”, her personal journey has been eventful, to say the least. Her Fringe offering touches on her coming out story previously addressed in full in another show and adds a new twist: her most controversial decision yet.
Per usual, no spoilers here – but this is a raw and unflinching peek into one of the paths those who wish to be their true selves must take. It is in telling stories like this that we can only hope the future generations will not have to face such backlash over self-discovery.
Remaining Performances at Know Theatre:
- June 4 at 6:45pm
- June 6 at 8:30pm
- June 8 at 8:30pm
- June 10 at 8:30pm
Plan V: The Rise of Reverence by Eleanor O’Brien, Dance Naked Creative (Portland, OR)
If someone is unfamiliar with the world of Fringe, I imagine this show might be an example of what they might think all Fringe shows are like. Eleanor O’Brien’s edgy Plan V is a cornucopia of deliberate character work.
Set in 2035, the satirical comedy offers a radical solution to the threat fascism has against humanity: Reverence. The audience are attendees of an underground gathering where stories of trauma and triumph are shared as part of a movement about female pleasure. Plan V is loud, proud, and makes no apologies–an excellent opponent to a certain office-holder of the current era we might know.
Fair warning: if you’re not a fan of the “P” word, this show might not be for you.
ONLY ONE PERFORMANCE REMAINS at Know Theatre: June 1 at 8:30pm.
WINNING: Winning by Sweet Action Theatre Company (Toronto, ON)
One of the things Fringe has taught me is to judge in advance sparingly. In past, the idea of what can accurately be described as an hour-long pantomime would not have been high on my list of priority shows. However, choosing to see WINNING: Winning by Gordon Neill of Sweet Action Theatre Company was a smart choice. When physical comedy is good, it is very, very good – and Mr. Neill is very, very good. He knows exactly how long to go with a “bit” (for lack of a better word) and has sprinkled video and audio media throughout to assist with keeping the momentum.
If you need a little laughter with your motivation and some highly relatable messages to boot, this is a fun and solid piece of art with a beautiful message.
Remaining Performances at Coffee Emporium:
- June 4 at 6:45pm
- June 6 at 8:30pm
- June 8 at 6:45pm
- June 11 at 6:45pm
- June 13 at 8:30pm
The Sweet and Lowdown of Kat’s Reviews: Fringe 2025 pt 1
What a whirlwind first two days – and there is so much more to come! You have plenty of time to catch these and other shows in this year’s lineup. You also still have time to grab your ALL-ACCESS PASS (or start out with a FLEX PASS and see how she flies). If purchasing individual tickets is more your speed, be sure to choose the “Love Your Artists” option when possible.
Cincinnati’s Summer Theatre Party is here – so Happy Fringe-ing and thank you for supporting live theatre!