Fire broke out in the old Bryan Hotel on West Church Street.
It was where Fringe stored schedule boards, podiums, the colorful air tubes, and our archives. No programs or photos survived.
Everything was lost.
A new staff member, with a master’s degree in arts management, Alauna McMillen, worked the budget and made tough choices to help Fringe survive. Almost 20 years later, Alauna McMillen Friskics is now the Executive Director and did the same thing to help the organization survive the COVID-19 pandemic.
Joel Springman, owner of serveral bars and restaurants on Wall Street Plaza, stages a fundraiser with a $10 cover and free food, drink, and entertainment.
The Back Booth, held a benefit with a $5 cover charge, music by Dirty Candy and Where’s Moo, and $5 raffle tickets on sale for various prizes.
Visual artists created an auction called Art Helps Art and donated the proceeds to Orlando Fringe.