Skip to main content
Pelham Fringe, home

Packed on Friday, sold out on Sunday

The first Pelham Fringe Festival put five new plays, live music and improv on The Picture House stage on October 2 and 4. Friday was packed. Sunday sold out.

A full house at The Picture House, seen from the side, with three performers on stage at the far left.

The house was packed on Friday night. Sunday afternoon sold out.

The first-ever Pelham Fringe Festival played The Picture House on October 2 and 4, 2026: five original short plays, with live music and improv between them.

The cast crowded into a group selfie, smiling up at the camera.
The company, in a group selfie just before the show.

Village of Pelham Mayor Chance Mullen gave a welcome speech.

Kate McDaniel shaking hands with Mayor Chance Mullen at center stage, while a man in a blazer applauds at right.
Kate McDaniel shakes hands with Mayor Chance Mullen on stage. Emcee Jim Ewing stands to the right.
Mayor Chance Mullen standing on stage in a green polo shirt and jeans.
Mayor Chance Mullen on stage.

Every play on the bill was new writing inspired by a Pelham Fringe event. Jeffrey B. Fuerst (A Pair of Mopes) and Rich Feldman (Radio Silence) wrote for an "After the Influence" event based on the work of John Patrick Shanley. Joni Fritz (How Can I Help You?), Bette Carlson Siler (So Sorry to Kill You, Poor Little Man), and Andrew O'Brien (The Company We Keep) wrote theirs after an evening themed on Theresa Rebeck. For Andrew, it was a playwriting debut!

Four actors on a purple-lit stage, three seated on stools and one standing behind a draped table with glasses and a wooden box.
Radio Silence. Written by Rich Feldman. Directed by Rich O’Brien. Left to right: Kate McDaniel, Tony A. Watts, Kathleen “Boon” Mary Carthy, Rich O’Brien.
Two men seated at a small table and a woman standing at a microphone, under a projected neon sign reading Rheingold Extra Dry.
A Pair of Mopes. Written by Jeffrey B. Fuerst. Directed by Cathy Reinking. Left to right: Jonathan Hicks, Sean Dagony-Clark, Lizzy Kircher.
Three actors at a table with a blue cloth in the middle of the stage, with two more cast members in grey coveralls seated at either side.
How Can I Help You? Written by Joni Fritz. Directed by Carolyn Marie Wright. Left to right: Jill Friedman, Emily Aronoff, Karen Pursel, Laura Lee Botsacos, Carolyn Marie Wright.
Five actors around a red-checked restaurant table, one waiter in an apron at left, in front of a projected street cafe.
The Company We Keep. Written by Andrew O’Brien. Directed by Maria Provenzano. Left to right: Andrew O’Brien, Maggie Solimine, Renée Hewitt, Kate McDaniel, Bette Carlson Siler.
An older woman seated in an armchair under a blue knitted shawl, between a woman in a red cardigan and a man in a green jacket.
So Sorry to Kill You, Poor Little Man. Written by Bette Carlson Siler. Directed by Melissa Flower Gladney. Left to right: Janine LaManna, Judith Reagan, Michael J. Fanuele.

The audience agreed that the performers were outstanding, and thanked them with a standing ovation.

What a great organization and TURN OUT! My friend said the girl in your play reminded her of Marisa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny! It was a fun night.

Maryann
Kate McDaniel smiling on stage in a black jumpsuit, beside a table with three glass jars and a wooden box.
Kate McDaniel, Founder and Artistic Director of Pelham Fringe, on stage.

Plays were only part of the evening. The doors opened to a reception with live music, and improv ran between the plays. Jean Garner led the trio at the opening reception, and Ellen Weiss led at the end, while James Ahn Brandfonbrener played piano, Gabriel Schmid-Doyle played upright bass. Jim Ewing, Carolyn Marie Wright and Jill Friedman were featured between plays as the "ACME Moving and Improv Company," performing hilarious improvised scenes while changing the sets.

A singer in a sequined jumpsuit at a microphone, with an upright bass player and a keyboard player, and Kate McDaniel's bio projected on the screen above.
Live music: a vocalist with upright bass and keyboard, and Kate McDaniel's bio on the screen behind them.
The three ACME improvisers in grey coveralls and black caps moving bistro chairs and a table on stage.
ACME Moving and Improv Company, the improv team who also did the set changes, moving chairs on stage.

Plenty of people did double duty. Andrew O'Brien wrote The Company We Keep and played its "Waiter." Carolyn directed How Can I Help You?, performed as its "AI Voice," and was part of the ACME Moving and Improv team. Karen Pursel, Janine LaManna and Maggie Solimine all acted and sang.

Bravo to each and every one of you that made the magic of live, engaging theatre occur for a sold-out audience at The Pelham Picture House yesterday!!! I consider myself one of the fortunate few to witness a collective of gloriously talented folks right here in lower Westchester making a huge impact on the future of the performing arts!!!

Phyllis

Pelham Fringe's first table read, on October 29, 2025, drew thirty-two people to August: Osage County. Eleven months later, the company filled The Picture House twice.

The packed auditorium from the back of the room, rows of audience members facing the lit stage and the Pelham Fringe banner.
The house from the back of the room, with the stage and the Pelham Fringe banner at the far end.
A long line of performers standing hand in hand across the stage for the curtain call.
Performers line up hand in hand across the stage.

That's a wrap on the first Pelham Fringe Festival. Expect more from us very soon.

More stories