Find Me: A Modern Rock Opera | Fringe ArtSpace

FEB 23 - MAR 3, 2024 Presenting Sponsors:

Grant Sponsors:

The Collective is a deep dive incubator program designed to grow artistic companies and organizations who want to reach the next level and produce full-run productions at Fringe ArtSpace. In May 2023 and after interviewing over 50 applicants, three incredible organizations were chosen to participate in the inaugural season of “The Collective” incubator program at Fringe ArtSpace. Along with participating in learning and workshop sessions, each group will create productions that will become the core artistic product for the Fringe ArtSpace season beginning in Spring 2024. THANK YOU to the Downtown Development Board for their generous funding and investment in downtown performing arts!

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CONGRATULATIONS WITHOUT FEAR THEATRE! HAVE A GREAT RUN!

Welcome to FIND ME: A Modern Rock Opera.

We are thrilled you found us.

“What is most personal is most universal.”

Unbeknownst to Carl Rogers, his statement above has become the cornerstone of Without Fear Theatre’s creative partnership.

FIND ME’s story has been greatly inspired by Millennial and Gen X women discovering their neurodivergence later in life. We wanted to ask, what if you could meet your diagnosis? But in its most pure form it is about the moments we have all faced in life where we realize something new about ourselves.

Sometimes you learn something great and joyful, sometimes it’s a challenge or disappointing; more often than not it’s a mixture of all four. We wanted to explore the full range of those experiences because it is our hope that no matter who takes a seat in the audience, they will be able to relate, they will see themselves and feel their experiences.

Thank you so much for joining us on this momentous occasion for our company. If you find us in the lobby afterward, please say ‘hello!’

-Amanda, Dan & Lern 3.

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Without Fear Theatre’s mission is to uplift the Central Florida community by exclusively producing new works that feature live music and are created by local artists in a highly collaborative creative process.

Every new production has a charitable giving initiative.

Without Fear Theatre is lead by local artists Amanda Scheirer, Dan Drnach and Lauren “Lern” Morrison.

Without Fear Theatre has chosen the ARRE Foundation for this show's charitable giving initiative and will be collecting donations throughout the run of the show www.arrefoundation.org/donate

Robert and Michelle Scheirer, Rachel and Brendan Sullivan, Lori Lucente-Nelson, Marisa Nelson-Rutz, Zarin Barnes, Genevieve Bernard, Mallory Vance, Melissa ‘Fritz’ Fritzinger, Alauna Friskics, Desiree Montes, David Mitchell, Emma Webber, Chris Trovador, Kylee Taylor, Jenn Thibodeau, Sean Patrick Philibin, Anthony R. Smith, Ashleigh Ann Gardner, Laven at Stonehearth Apothecary, Kurt Bippert & The Orlando Shakespeare Theatre Props Department, the amazing ArtSpace Tech team, and finally our phenomenal cast and band!

We couldn’t have done it without you!

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The NeuroSpicy Art Market will take place in the BlackBox before each performance and will feature the art of Anthony R. Smith, Ashleigh Ann Gardner, Genevieve Bernard, and Stonehearth Apothecary.

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A GRAB TY I L A I SPEC IL! A T K COC

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FIRES OF ENTHUSIASM

SAGACITY

“The way to find yourself is in the fires of your enthusiasm.” - Earl Nightingale, Author & Speaker (20th Century)

n. foresight, keen perception: ability to make good judgements.

A neurodiversity-affirming story of two strangers learning to connect using more than words. The live band acts as narrator with a 1970’s rock flair.

Alone in her apartment, Allie is eagerly awaiting a guest she’s never met. When she finally arrives, Allie is stunned that the person she’s been expecting is nothing like Allie imagined. Together, two strangers learn to connect through more than words. With a live band acting as narrator, inner voice, spirit guide & kid’s TV show…yes, you read that last part right; FIND ME explores our most vulnerable relationship, the one we have with ourselves.

Photography by: Amanda Scheirer & Chris Trovador

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UP NEXT!

THE 19TH* MAR 5, 2024

SEUSSICAL APR 12 - 21, 2024 12.

VIDA MAR 22 - 30, 2024

Overture Roll Away Party Farm Take It In Stride Just Us Two Come A Little Closer Brinner Party Farm Time Take My Breath Away First Glance Party Farm (the trifecta) Hectic Straight Shot Come A Little Closer Reprise (1 & 2) Last Place Loser Find Me

AY W A As I turned to face another day LL With the dirt on my clothes from where I’ve been O R I’m feeling so tired I feel alive I’ve got no way of knowing just how to survive So I reach in the pocket of my favorite jeans I’m coming up empty right away There’s nothing much there, but a handful of change And a funny feeling I’ve got to seize the day As I’m left here now with my head in the sand There’s got to be some other way Counting down time until the end of the day And all I’ve got to do is roll away Picking up stones on this empty Road Dust flying high into my eyes All the while, knowing I’m not alone Just got to find a place I can call my own I pull my hat… down to shade my eyes The sun is getting stronger every day But I’m not blinded, cause all I see Is my feet will take me where they want to be As I’m left here now with my head in the sand There’s got to be some other way Counting down time until the end of the day And all I’ve got to do is roll away As I’m left here now with my head in the sand There’s got to be some other way Counting down time until the end of the day And all I’ve got to do is roll away

E IT K TA

DE I R T IN S

I take it in stride I take it in doses I, I am surrounded By you and me And how it used to be So I take it in stride

Cause nine o’ clock never seemed to me, The time find what you want to be And everything is left alone I’ll pick it up when I get back home tonight When everything’s alright Find yourself talking to yourself Do you have something to say When you ask you if you can make through the day When everything’s ok When you take it in stride Take it in doses And I, I am surrounded As I find you here again A thought rings through my mind Are you just as the way you were before Do you feel it anymore Or are you just the same And afraid to play the game So I take it in stride I take it in doses And I, I am surrounded

M R A F TY R PA Oink, moo and cock-a-doodle-doo Come on everybody, party farm It’s always somebody’s birthday, party farm Cookies, cake, and ice cream, party farm Every day is a holiday at party farm It feels like Christmas morning, party farm So many presents, party farm Happy New Year, party farm Every day is a holiday at Party farm Is that an Easter basket? party farm I got my jack-o’-lantern , party farm Happy anniversary, Party farm Every day is a holiday at party farm Let’s go watch the fireworks, party farm I found a four leaf clover, party farm Help me with this piñata, party farm Every day is a holiday at party farm We have a special way To party everyday No matter what you celebrate We are the ones that just can’t wait Count the candles on the cake

WO T US T JUS

I know it ain’t easy You take what you need to survive Living life out of a suitcase You feel like you’ll never arrive Take the time that you need

When you feel like you’re ready to lighten your load Do it alone or call out for help?

I’ve got two hands that are ready to hold That’s why I want you to know If it’s just us two You can lean on me I’m gonna lean back on you Who cares if we fall We can’t know it all But if you lean on me We might make it through You don’t have to believe me If I told you, I’ve stood in your shoes I was a vagrant, a traveler, a mist in a meadow I was nothing with nothing to lose The choices were hard But hard turns to tough Still there’s nothing I’ve come to regret I ain’t seen it all but I’ve seen my share And there’s something’s I’d like to forget And even yet If it’s just us two You can lean on me I’m gonna lean back on you Who cares if we fall We can’t know it all But if you lean on me We might make it through

TLE T I Come a little closer AL Move a little nearer E M ER CO LOSPlease let me know if I’m coming in clearer C Do the words I’m saying

ER N N BRI

We can have grilled cheese for dinner A can of Campbell’s soup Or maybe brinner?

Just a big bowl of Fruit Loops

Make sense when I am speaking And will they tell the truth, to all that I am thinking About you… and about me too Everything I’m learning Each and every chapter Helps me tell the difference between sad & happy laughter And tears, both of our tears Hold your breath and remember what you read It can’t be as tricky as it seems Just a little patience Quiet understanding Over & over, until we stick the landing My dear, I’ll take it from here Hold your breath and I’ll count to ten We can make it if we try Every step moves closer to goals that I am reaching We understand each other, because both of us are teaching

We’ll watch cartoons from the 80s and later just for maybe Bake cookies or homemade bread Or instead we can just go to bed It’s funny how you think how every time you sleep this is the time that I’ll catch up But all the circumstances from all my past romances keep my eyes from staying shut But its you that keeps me grounded Because I am surrounded by something that means so much Like a crutch I lean on you I lean on you So break out the Uno cards and lets drink wine til we’re sick

How to love, how to care, how to pull you out of that thousand yard stare And come back to me, back where you belong come back to me, back where you belong Come a little closer Move a little nearer

E TIM

The richest & the poorest man Have the same thing to say The only thing with value Is the time in a day Spend it on the one you love And things will be ok Cause the only thing with value Is the time in a day Don’t you be fooled, don’t believe that it’s a race You can’t speed it up or slow it down You and I like the hands of time Will move at our own pace Just to help the world as she spins around As she spins around Seasons, come and seasons go each in their own way cause nature knows the perfect time to make a little change Rain will fall wind will blow and the summer seems to stay Mother Nature takes her time When she makes a little change We’ll go through phases like a moon We rise and set just like the sun Then before you know it babe and all too soon Time decides and another change begun Yea With every little change you know that something stays the same Its what we find when there’s nowhere left to hide Seconds turn to minutes And the minutes travel on Hours pass like sand in a glass whether you are here on gone There might come a day when you feel something deep inside Make the most of the time and it will turn out right Something might be calling you that you desperately want to find Promise me you’ll take the time to figure out what’s right And you can use everything you’ve learned You’ll look at life like its something new Time can make things better But time can also make them burn Make the best of time and it can make the best of you Just the best of you The richest & the poorest man Have the same thing to say The only thing with value Is the time in a day

I’ll start to let down my guard Alexa shuffle songs by Stevie Nicks And we’ll sing in harmony like Christine McVie Til our throats are dry And if we cry we might feel better

MY Y E TAK AWA TH One by one, it all fits into place A E I always believed, that it would BR You’veLike shown me ways To understand the world Like I never believed that I could Synchronized, now we’re hand in hand Every time is just like the first time I’ll follow you, and you’ll take me there Just don’t let me fall far behind Until now, the colors of the world Never took my breath away You and I can take the blue from the skies Pour it out on the way Now I’m not afraid of tomorrow Time only matters when it’s ours The minutes they might turn into hours We’ll be on our way to the stars Until now, the colors of the world never took my breath away You and I can take the stars from the sky Never lose our way I finally found someone who can take my breath away.

You and I can take the blue from the skies Pour it out on the way

ST FIR

CE N GLA

This mirror used to show someone who had it all figured out Was ready for a little fun A smile that burned just like the morning sun No lines no gray no signs slowing down or showing my age Is it me or the glass that made it all rearrange and start to look strange?

It will hit you like the first glance Of the last thing that you want to see And it takes you by surprise cause all you recognize is the one thing you don’t want be Can I afford a second chance?

Start it over make it all brand new I never said I’m perfect but I believe I’m worth it So tell me if you think so too But say it in a first glance And I don’t know just who to believe That this is the face that everybody else sees Cause that’s a stranger looking back at me It’s a trick of the light like a thief in the night Try to rob me of everything I hold tight Do I have what it takes to just stand and fight With what I’m seeing tonight What I’m seeing in the first glance of the last thing that I want to see It’ll take you by surprise cause all you recognize is the one thing you don’t want to be Can I afford a second chance?

Start it over make it all brand new I never said I’m perfect but I believe I’m worth it So tell me if you think so too But say it in a first glance It’ll hit you like the first glance of the last thing you that you want to see And it takes you by surprise cause all you recognize is the one thing you don’t want be Can I afford a second chance?

Start it over make it all brand new I never said I’m perfect but I believe I’m worth it So tell me if you think so too But say it in the first glance

E M D FIN

T HO S HT G I It was meant to be a straight shot A No confusion, no curve that we learn STR

while we try to move on A straight shot Communication is the nerve that we cut When we’re feeling numb I got my lines crossed Loss momentum Time erased the patterns Now we’re back to square one Just a straight shot Im out of control, the louder I shout The more I come undone Walk the wire, don’t look down One wrong step & its over now Back and forth, we went back again I can’t recall & amp; I don’t remember when It fell through the cracks it all went to shit Punched in the gut and then I was hit With a straight shot Out of nowhere, blinded by love In the dark of the night Just a straight shot Between the eyes with laser precision Then out went the lights Got my lines crossed Run for cover, hide all the mirrors And stay out of sight From a straight shot Takes me down, with a hole in my heart I’ll never get it right

It’s only make believe that you and I could stumble through it all Still have the sense to smile I’m lost in the scenery of picture-perfect concepts in your mind.

As to say, I’m left behind But I will be there waiting You, with a word you break my heart, but with a look you bring me all together You, brush the paint outside the lines and that’s where you’ll find me So we’ll just spin and glide routinely, moving all throughout our lives Could we brave a change?

Counting the pennies that we find and set aside and say, will save just for a rainy day But will it ever stop raining?

You, with a word you break my heart But with a look you bring me all together You, spin around till you go blind, but that’s where you’ll find me Another night goes by and every thought I’ve had throughout the day Simply fades away An unspoken comfort that we hold to like a child, holds to a prize, and I can sympathize Cause paint always dries The spinning subsides The thoughts will return Spend the pennies we earned Cause we’re on the same page Shouting lines from backstage So the players just have to play And you, with a word you break my heart But with a look, you bring me all together Yeah you, every time you close your eyes That’s where you’ll find me

WRITER/DIRECTOR......................................Amanda Scheirer COMPOSER/LYRICIST.............................................Dan Drnach STAGE MANAGER.................................................Lern Morrison LIGHTING & SOUND DESIGNER...........................Kylee Taylor LIGHTING/AUDIO TECHNICIAN............Matthew Alexander LIGHT BOARD OPERATOR...........................Taylor Falzarano SOUND ENGINEER...................................................Jacob Wohl SOUND ENGINEER.................................................Juan Alfonso AUDIO ASSISTANT.............................................Tyler Hampton

ALLIE.......................................................................Laura Swindoll AUTUMN...................................................................Cat Cutenese AUTUMN................................................................Jenny Ornstein

ACOUSTIC GUITAR..................................................Dan Drnach ELECTRIC GUITAR....................................................Micah Boyd BASS........................................................Xander Dillman-Meyer DRUMS...............................................................Aaron Bohlander

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AMANDA SCHEIRER (Writer/Director/Founder of Without Fear Theatre) has cultivated a long career in the arts as a writer, director and performer (and coffee enthusiast). Studying and working in the entertainment industry internationally has gifted Amanda with quite the collection of adventurous, provocative, and funny stories which she has used to create several internationally produced plays and musicals as well as her first novel “How to Say I Love You”. Amanda enjoys the many hats she’s worn over the years, but is especially proud of the one that reads ‘mom’.

DAN DRNACH (Composer/Lyricist) is an award-winning songwriter with over 25 years of professional performing experience in central Florida alone. Dan would like to thank the cast, crew, and this incredible band, as well as his beautiful family for their support and understanding. Hope you enjoy the show.

LAUREN “LERN” MORRISON (Stage Manager & Co-Founder of Without Fear Theatre) is putting on a new hat for this show: the actor becomes the stage manager for Find Me: A Modern Rock Opera! She is a co-founder of Without Fear Theatre and is thrilled to be back with Amanda, Dan and the gang to bring this new and exciting show to life. While she works closely with Without Fear Theatre, she is also a local Orlando performer and is the Theater Director at Gateway Center for the Arts. She would like to thank Orlando Fringe for allowing Without Fear to be a part of The Collective and her fellow founders Amanda and Dan for being the coolest Party Farmers. Alexa, shuffle songs by Stevie Nicks!

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LAURA SWINDOLL (Allie) is a professional actress, voiceover artist and host with over 30 years of experience. Favorite roles include Ma Strong in Urinetown: The Musical, Marmee March in Lil' Women: A Rap Musical and Allie in Find Me (yep, she's already listing it.) You can hear Laura's voice in the paint aisle at a Home Depot near you (wow! So glamorous!) as well as the critically acclaimed Dept of State training video 7 Simple Steps- a Guide To Buying Cars. When she's not performing, Laura can be found at home watching cheesy B-movies and turning up her speakers to 11.

She wants to thank Amanda and Dan for creating such a wonderful show and including her in the party farm.

CAT CUTENESE (Autumn) is beyond thrilled to be working with such an incredible group of humans to bring this story to life!

Previous roles include Sami in The Red String and Choir for Josh Groban’s Bridges Tour. You can find her most days down I-4 at the big spinning globe. Much love to Mom and Anya the dog!

JENNY ORNSTEIN (Autumn) is no stranger to non-speaking roles, as she has two decades worth of experience across several Orlando theme parks. She is honored to share this role with Cat, and the stage with an incredibly talented band and co-star, Laura.

There is always so much to learn, and she will come out of this experience with love and growth in her craft. Thank you Amanda for this opportunity, Lern for being a kick ass SM, and the crew of Fringe ArtSpace for all they do. John Devennie, I love you 3000.

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MICAH BOYD (Electric Guitar) is a Mississippi born musician, local historian and documentarian. Loves Elvis and his wife and dog too.

XANDER DILLMAN-MEYER (Bass) is joining us from right off I4 exit 87. Not only a bassist, Xander is a multi-instrumentalist and occasional Delancey street visitor at Universal Orlando Resorts.

He’s excited about this show and is happy to be a part of it.

AARON BOHLANDER (Drums) returns to the ArtSpace stage after playing drums for the original musical Ophelia the Musical this past December.

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KYLEE TAYLOR (Lighting & Sound Designer) is a Lighting Designer and Sound Engineer from Orlando, Florida. She is currently working as the Technical and Facility Coordinator at Fringe ArtSpace and is a Stage Manager and Technician for BlueLaLa Entertainment. Past Credits include Lizzie! with Florida Theatrical Association (Lighting Designer), A Quarter of a Century with BMP Productions (Lighting Designer), Varietease XX with The Imagination House and BlueLaLa Entertainment (Stage Manager, Assist. Lighting Designer), and Fringe: The Afterparty at the Orlando Fringe Festival (Lighting Designer). She would like to thank her family, friends, and boyfriend for their support.

MATTHEW ALEXANDER (Lighting/Audio Technician) is thrilled to be a part of another exciting project at Fringe ArtSpace! He earned his BFA in Theatre from Florida International University, and has been working throughout Central Florida since 2018. He’s thankful for the Fringe and ArtSpace teams, and looking forward to making more theatre with this stellar bunch!

TAYLOR FALZARANO (Light Board Operator) has been a technician at Orlando Fringe ArtSpace for over a year now and is so excited to be participating in their second Fringe Festival! She is also a student at the University of Central Florida in the Design and Technology program in the Theatre department. Favorite credits include programmer/light board op for Metamorphoses (Theatre UCF) and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (Fringe). They would like to thank their ArtSpace besties, incredibly supportive family and friends, and partner for their continuous love and encouragement.

JUAN ALFONSO (Sound Engineer) studied Theatre at Florida International University, where he acquired his technical prowess; dabbled in acting; and discovered his twin loves of writing and directing. A fellowship with the Miami Light Project honed his skills, which he uses to help share incredible stories with talented people.

Chief among his technical achievements is sound designing a collegiate production of Kingdom City.

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PRESIDENT Doug Davis TREASURER George Fender

VICE PRESIDENT Marcus Williams SECRETARY Dr. Cheryl Robinson

PAST PRESIDENT Matt Broffman Wayne Dictor | Jason Flowers | Katie Hanewall Robert Hertenstein | Leah Patterson | John Payne-Rios | Michael Marinaccio

INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Scott Galbraith OPERATIONS DIRECTOR: Melissa “Fritz” Fritzinger ARTISTIC AND MARKETING DIRECTOR: Desiree Montes CREATIVE LEARNING PRODUCER: Genevieve Bernard DEVELOPMENT MANAGER: Emma Parker Webber FESTIVAL PRODUCER: Tempestt Halstead MARKETING MANAGER: Chris Trovador COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER: Yanely Aguilar FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGER: Jennifer Thibodeau ASSISTANT FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGER: Sean Philibin TECHNICAL & FACILITY COORDINATOR: Kylee Taylor LIGHT BOARD OPERATOR: Tyler Hampton SOUND ENGINEER: Jacob Wohl AUDIO ASSISTANT: Juan Alfonso OPERATIONS ASSISTANT: Scott Browning DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT: Clark Levi EDUCATION COORDINATOR: Mallory Vance BEVERAGE MANAGER: Charlie Jones ACCOUNTANT: Becki Cassidy PUBLICIST: Ilene Leiber, Passion PR Consulting

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Info at orlandofringe.org