It’s our last episode for 2026- that means AWARDS and a special guest, Darren Lee Cole, Producing Artistic Director of SoHo Playhouse NYC! Darren’s theatre life began with a kidnapping, sort of, when his eighth-grade English teacher marched onto football practice with a clipboard and drafted a group of boys into the school play, and fringe has followed him ever since. Today, SoHo’s International Fringe Encore Series gives festival standouts from around the world their next step to off-Broadway. We end the episode with Darren helping Lauren hand out the 2026 What the Fringe?! Best of Fringe Awards! This episode is a bit longer, but WTF, it’s well worth the time!

Find SoHo Playhouse online at: www.sohoplayhouse.comand www.fringeencoreseries.com

Keep up with SoHo Playhouse on IG& FB: @sohoplayhousenyc

Find What the Fringe?!

IG: @whatthefringe_productions

Online: ⁠www.whatthefringeproductions.com ⁠

YouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media

Music: Orchestra of Sound

Logo: Ruby Makes Things

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Episode Breakdown

[0:00] Introduction

[5:36]- Darren’s Theatre Origin Story

[9:01]- The Value of Theatre Education

[18:20]- The Beauty of the Fringe Community

[25:00]- The Vision of SoHo Playhouse NYC

[30:05]- SoHo Playhouse Upcoming Season

[39:58]- The Future of SoHo Playhouse

[43:26]- Best of Fringe Awards 2026:

An Evening with Dame Granny Smith

Nun Slut

Outside In

Don Toberman Ping Pong Champ

Just To Be Close To You

Small Minded

Watership Down

the statue of liberty is nora from a doll’s house by henrik ibsen

Big Stuff

The Van Gogh Shogh

Steve Burns: Alive

You and me (and Whoever Comes Next)

[1:07:50]- Ending Fringe Story

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Local fringe festivals are one of the best ways to provide a platform for artists. This week we visit with Brenda Fashugba, co-founder of Lagos Fringe in Nigeria. Since its inception, the festival has been supporting the work of local artists, from helping fund their fringe expenses to providing show development advice to artists. And also hear about how a toilet epiphany turned into a chance of a lifetime, WTF?!

Find Lagos Fringe online at: www.lagosfringe.com

Keep up with the fringe on IG: @lagosfringe

And with Brenda on IG and FB: @brendauphopho

Find What the Fringe?!

IG: @whatthefringe_productions

Online: ⁠www.whatthefringeproductions.com ⁠

YouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media

Music: Orchestra of Sound

Logo: Ruby Makes Things

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Episode Breakdown

[0:00] Introduction

[4:27] From Computer Science to Theatre

[8:46] Building a compassionate arts community

[12:53] The Obama Leaders Africa Fellows

[17:50] Creating space for women over 40- The Usual Suspects Podcast

[19:28] How Lagos Fringe supports Artists

[28:42] Mentor artists and providing platforms

[36:50] Ending and Awkward Fringe story

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Improv! Music! And Posters! Oh My!! This week Lauren visits with fringe friend Kat Kuo. Kat lives in Rochester, NY, where she began a musical improv troupe, and is a big supporter of her local Rochester Fringe. Not only is Kat a hilarious improviser, by day she is a graphic designer and photographer, and gives some insight into why these elements are vital to promoting your fringe show. And, WTF kind of improv will Kat and Lauren get into during the interview?! Find out now!

Find out more about Kat and Mouth Harpo:

Mouth Harpo on IG: @mouthharpo

Kat Kuo: IG & FB @katkuo.design and @katkuo.improv

Find What the Fringe?!

IG: @whatthefringe_productions

Online: ⁠www.whatthefringeproductions.com ⁠

YouTube: What the Fringe

Editor: Renowned Media

Music: Orchestra of Sound

Logo: Ruby Makes Things

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Episode Breakdown

[0:00] Introduction

[3:55] Storytelling through many avenues

[10:22] Parenting, Improv, and Making Space for Art

[12:46] Why performance photography matters and making posters that pop

[23:30] The Origins of Mouth Harpo, Kat’s Improv Team

[26:09] The Secret Sauce Behind Musical Improv

[33:007] Ending Joke: The Legendary Sock Solo

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