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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